Women's club helps area's less fortunate

     By Tina Allen
     View staff writer
      The Los Prados Women's Club is proving itself to be an ideal social venue for residents of the Los Prados community, which is nestled around a golf course near Lone Mountain Road and Jones Boulevard.
      But perhaps more importantly, the club is emerging as a vehicle for members to reach out to those less fortunate in the entire Las Vegas Valley -- which is a primary reason Edwina Stranghan founded the club in January 1997.
      After her husband passed away, Stranghan told herself she needed to do something useful for the community, so the former Texas businesswoman went to work.
      "Back in Texas, wherever I lived, if they didn't have a women's club, I started one," said Stranghan, who moved to Las Vegas with her husband in 1993. "I've always been a businesswoman, so this idea of putting together something like this and getting activities going, kind of came easily."
      The Los Prados Women's Club is about the sixth club Stranghan has formed.
      "People get to know each other this way," Stranghan said. "We get a lot of interest from people new, coming in, because it's one way they begin to get acquainted."
      Since the club's inception, members -- about 130 in all -- have raised money for the Salvation Army, SafeNest, Child Haven and PetSmart Charities through rummage and bake sales, fashion shows and other programs. Last year $1,200 was distributed to the four organizations. The next rummage and bake sale is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 19 at the community clubhouse.
      Vi Pert, vice president, said members also collect barrels of food to help fill the Salvation Army's food bank and donate what they call "ditty bags" filled with toiletries, such as shampoo and soap, to the homeless each month.
      "We are trying," Pert said of the fund-raisers.
      But not without a little fun -- at the club's last monthly luncheon, members were entertained by the Happy Hoofers, a tap dancing squad who managed to recruit the entire crowd in a "chicken dance."
      Meetings usually include a guest speaker or entertainment, and sometimes both.
      The majority of members are retired, said Stranghan; however, she emphasized: "We don't expect to reach everybody, but it's available for everyone."
      The club meets for lunch at 11 a.m. the second Friday of each month at the Los Prados Club House. Membership is $10 per year. In addition, a number of side groups have formed within the Los Prados Women's Club, such as book and quilting clubs.
      Those interested in attending a luncheon should call Pert at 655-4178 or Norma Donley, first vice president, at 656-4532 for reservations three days prior to the meeting.
      Board members are: Pert, president; Donley, first vice president; Marilyn Kennon, second vice president; Diane Cahill, secretary; and Pauline Raner, treasurer.
      Chairwomen are: Joyce Holland, in charge of lunches; Shirley Banks and Amanda Kurtz, who arrange programming; Rose Marie Arcieri, who creates the newsletter; Nodgie Mathews, greeter; Helen Gaither, historian; Waneta Goshorn, miscellaneous; and Gloria Pianko, in charge of special events.