SI/Kansas City, MO, Celebrates 100 Years of Empowering Women and Girls
Congratulations to SI/Kansas City, MO (South Central Region), on celebrating the 100th anniversary of its chartering on May 19, 1926! The club was the 14th Soroptimist club chartered in North America and has spent the past century making an impact in the lives of women and girls in its community.
The effort to establish the club began in early January 1926, when Stuart Morrow, organizer of many early Soroptimist clubs, traveled to Kansas City and established temporary headquarters in the Commerce Building.
The club’s first meeting was held Thursday, January 21, at the Hotel Baltimore, with subsequent meetings taking place on Wednesdays. By mid-February, 36 women had enrolled as charter members. In early March, Alva O’Brien—who had previously worked with Morrow to charter SI/Spokane—arrived in Kansas City to oversee the club’s organizational activities. At the final weekly meeting in March, members held their first official business meeting.
Club charter member Alice Steele became the fifth American Federation President in 1936.
A Look Back at SI/Kansas City’s Chartering
January 1926 — Stuart Morrow arrives in Kansas City to begin organizing the club.
January 21, 1926 — The club holds its first meeting at the Hotel Baltimore.
Mid-February 1926 — Charter membership reaches 36 women.
Early March 1926 — Alva O’Brien arrives to help oversee organizational activities.
Late March 1926 — Members conduct their first business meeting.
April 28, 1926 — Draft bylaws are presented.
May 5, 1926 — Nominations for president are accepted.
May 12, 1926 — Officer elections are held, with voting limited to charter members whose dues had been paid in full.
May 19, 1926 — The charter banquet and installation ceremony take place at the Hotel Muehlebach.
The club’s first officers reflected the leadership and professional accomplishments of its founding members. Patience Hocker, assistant manager of State Life Insurance Company, served as president. Genevieve Turk, principal of Gladstone School, was elected vice president. Mabel Stafford of Kansas City Street Railways Company served as treasurer, and attorney Tiera Farrow served as secretary. Nettie Huff, Alice Steele, Lenore Anthony, Edna Forsythe, Lazelette Palmer, and Acenaithe Reid served on the board of directors.
One of those early leaders, Alice Steele, would go on to make Soroptimist history when she became the fifth president of the American Federation of Soroptimist Clubs in 1936.
Newspaper accounts indicate the club transitioned from luncheon to dinner meetings shortly after chartering. While records of the club’s earliest projects are limited, SI/Kansas City played an important role in shaping opportunities for younger women within Soroptimist. In 1931, the club established the second Junior Soroptimist club, following the first founded in Los Angeles in 1927.
The success of the program inspired other Soroptimist clubs to create junior clubs for young women who did not yet meet the professional or entrepreneurial membership requirements of Soroptimist. By 1934, the groups became known as Venture clubs and remained an important part of Soroptimist leadership development for decades. Their legacy continues today—2025-2026 SIA President Sue Riney first became involved with Soroptimist through Venture Club membership.
Congratulations to the members of SI/Kansas City on 100 years of leadership, service, and dedication to improving the lives of women and girls.
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