Honors Program Theses

Award/Availability

Open Access Honors Program Thesis

First Advisor

Anne Woodrick, Honors Thesis Advisor

Keywords

Charities--Iowa--Cedar Falls; Cedar Falls Woman's Club (Iowa); Women--Attitudes; Baby boomer generation--Attitudes; Generation Y--Attitudes; Charities--Public opinion;

Abstract

This research seeks to explore the main factors women in Cedar Falls become members of the Cedar Fall Woman’s Club and what benefits they have gained in respect to their social and emotional health through this organization. The Cedar Falls Woman’s Club has had an important presence in the community for over a hundred years and has been an active partner of both Sartori Hospital and the University of Northern Iowa. However, in recent years it has seen a decline in new members and a lack of participation from the current members. With other philanthropic organizations shutting down their chapters in Cedar Falls and throughout the country, it is important to understand why these organizations are becoming less popular and what do their members value about them and how can we emphasize that in recruiting initiatives. Better understanding these two aspects can help bridge a divide between the longstanding civicminded baby boomers of the community, and the vibrant and results-driven millennials that make up a large percentage of Cedar Falls due to the presence of UNI. Research is based on archival records as well as two open-ended interviews with current members of the Woman’s Club to gain an understanding of their own experience and perspective on the club’s place in the wider Cedar Falls Community.

Year of Submission

2019

Department

Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology

University Honors Designation

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the designation University Honors

Date Original

5-2019

Object Description

1 PDF file (33 pages)

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

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