WDC Established After 1956 Presidential Election
Our Start
Woman's* Democratic Of Montgomery County, MD (WDC) was launched after the 1956 election, the talented and enthusiastic women who ran Adlai Stevenson's Bethesda campaign headquarters decided to establish a club for Democratic women. The founding luncheon in January 1957 featured Eleanor Roosevelt, who spoke to 250 women at Normandie Farm Restaurant in Potomac. By 1960, WDC had become a vital force in both county and national politics, with the Democratic National Committee (DNC) enlisting members for various activities and to staff offices for Democratic Inaugural events. In the 1960s and ‘70s, the Club ran the Bethesda-Chevy Chase campaign headquarters for the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee (MCDCC). To finance the office, the Club sponsored events ranging from sales of food and Democratic novelty items to the famous biannual VIP auctions at the Mann farm in Poolesville.
Today
Today the Club continues to strongly support Democratic candidates and the MCDCC. Our members can be counted on to volunteer for key campaign responsibilities and for the Democratic tent at the Montgomery County Fair. At luncheons and forums, members meet and question top newsmakers, political analysts, journalists, and local and national candidates. WDC sponsors a biennial trip to Annapolis to meet with state lawmakers and co-sponsors the Women’s Legislative Briefing. Every four years, WDC sponsors our famous post-primary “Kiss and Make-Up Party.” Our website and our emails keep members updated on legislative activities, political meetings and ways to become involved.
*Woman's is the original spelling of the club's name.
Past Presidents
2022-2023 Diana Conway
2021-2022 Leslie Milano
2019-2021 Diana Conway
2017-2019 Fran Rothstein
2015-2017 Linda Kolko
2013-2015 Beth Tomasello
2011-2013 Jane Merkin
2009-2011 Susan Elwell
2005-2009 Darlene Montgomery
2005 Jane Lawton
2003-2005 Dorothy Barthelmes
1999-2003 Carole Brand
1997-1999 Rebecca Kahlenberg
1995-1997 Miriam Silver
1991-1995 Daphne Bloomberg
1989-1991 Natalie Bouquet
1987-1989 Madeleine Sigel
1985-1987 Dorothy Barthelmes
1983-1985 Susan Messitte
1981-1983 Anne Healy
1979-1981 Kelly Pelz
1977-1979 Roberta Hochberg
1975-1977 Madeleine Sigel
1973-1975 Dorothy Barthelmes
1971-1973 Marilyn Goldwater
1969-1971 Grace Orlansky
1967-1969 Mary Lou Freidman
1965-1967 Margaret Carpenter
1963-1965 Paula Locker
1961-1963 Virginia Sprecher
1959-1961 Peggy Mann
1957-1959 Barbara Pryor