LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring the Women's Club of Farmingdale upon the
occasion of its 100th Anniversary

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to commend those
illustrious organizations within the State of New York whose focus and
intent have made a substantial impact on the quality of life in their
communities; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor the
Women's Club of Farmingdale, New York, upon the occasion of its 100th
Anniversary; and
WHEREAS, The Women's Club of Farmingdale will proudly celebrate this
auspicious occasion on Thursday, May 2, 2013, at Ellsworth Allen Park;
and
WHEREAS, The success of the Women's Club of Farmingdale is in direct
correlation to the efforts of its members, past and present, whose
involvement is, and always has been, characterized by an impressive
commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and an uncompromising standard of
excellence in all endeavors on behalf of the organization and the Farm-
ingdale, New York, community it serves; and
WHEREAS, The Women's Club of Farmingdale was founded 100 years ago by
Abigail Leonard, a retired math teacher who moved to the community at
age 60; she had a more practical, civic-improvement model in mind, so
she and her group in conjunction with a local newspaper editor, founded
the Farmingdale Public Library, and the Club pushed successfully for
improvements in local schools; and
WHEREAS, The hundreds of Club members who followed would help to
construct a fountain on the Village Green along with a gazebo in a pock-
et park on the north end of Main Street; this group would go on to
conduct numerous other beautification projects; and
WHEREAS, Fourteen women attended the first meeting on March 7, 1913,
and Chairwoman Abigail Leonard led the group for a decade; in 1915, the
Club submitted a petition to the village board to create a library; it
took eight years of work with the collaboration of Jesse Merritt, editor
of the FARMINGDALE POST, to get an operating library; and
WHEREAS, Initially, the Library was a single room in the Kolkebeck
House, which was owned by the school district, on Main Street; the Club
asked the community to donate books and gracefully received a total of
700; and
WHEREAS, Meanwhile in 1916, the Women's Club of Farmingdale organized
an effort for an annual community Christmas tree, a tradition that
continues today; because Abigail Leonard walked to many meetings at
night in the dark, she had an idea for the Village to install street-
lights and pave the streets; and
WHEREAS, In 1917, the Women's Club of Farmingdale made a contribution
to the village for 123 street signs, and in the process, the village
also paved the streets; in 1931, the group worked to get the first
woman, Abigail Leonard, elected to the Farmingdale School Board; and
WHEREAS, The Club created several gardens, including one on Merritt
Road on what had originally been a swamp, along with another on Hemp-
stead Turnpike; and
WHEREAS, Abigail Leonard, who died in 1943 at age 93, was a suffragist
leader; she organized a group of 100 women and men in 1917 to lobby and
march in support of the 19th Amendment to give women the right to vote;
today, she would be pleased by the longevity of the Club and its dedi-
cation to its original goals; and

WHEREAS, Ably led by President Maria Ortolani, the projects of the
Women's Club of Farmingdale continue; currently a 50-member group, its
new proposal is one which provides blankets, books and stuffed animals
for homeless children in shelters all across Long Island; members are
also making quilts for residents of nursing homes along with supporting
a food pantry at St. Kilian Roman Catholic Church; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when organiza-
tions of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
the great State of New York; and
WHEREAS, In light of its commitment, dedication, and successful
efforts, it is the sense of this Legislative Body to extend its highest
commendation to the Women's Club of Farmingdale; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor the Women's Club of Farmingdale upon the occasion of its 100th
Anniversary; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Maria Ortolani, President of the Women's Club of Farmingdale.