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Published on 01/19/1998 All articles from this issue

LAH social club carries on 40-year tradition

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By Marjorie Kellogg-Van Rheeden

Special to the Town Crier

On Jan. 13, the Los Altos Hills Club celebrated its 40th anniversary during a luncheon at The Forum, Cupertino. Fifty-eight attendees enjoyed a nostalgic look back.

The program was planned by long-time member, Nina Steiner, who recently read about a 1909 40th anniversary in "... And Ladies of the Club" (written by Helen Hooven Santmyer) and was surprised to discover that her grandmother was part of such a group.

"As I planned this program, I felt I was carrying on a family tradition," Steiner said.

The club, which meets the second Tuesday of each month for a luncheon and program, is considered one of the best kept secrets in Los Altos Hills.

The reason became apparent when the club's evolution was revealed by the only known charter member still in the area, Lorna Corbetta.

An early Los Altos Hills resident, founder and first president of the club, who now claims to attend once every decade, Corbetta told how it began.

"A neighbor, Lorraine Shanafelt, and I met for coffee in January 1958. The townspeople had voted for incorporation, so we thought it would be a good idea to start a welcome club for new residents," she said. "We got a few neighbors together, put an ad in the Los Altos News and soon the "Los Altos Hills Welcome Club" was launched."

Corbetta was well qualified, having formed a welcome group while living in Urbana, Illinois. She became president of the Los Altos Welcome Club.

On Feb. 11, 1958, 11 women met at the Corbetta home for the first the Tuesday meeting. They established the name, "Los Altos Hills Welcome Club," and limited membership to 70, with $5 annual dues.

Members discussed the formation of sub-groups - bridge, (the one activity that has remained constant), golf and cooking. They chose to keep small in order to better fulfill the club's purpose: "a nonreligious, nonpolitical organization for newcomers to promote social contacts and develop friendships."

The Los Altos Hills Club continues to offer opportunity for social interaction. In time, the descendants of present members may also find a grandmother in some old scrapbook or newspaper article.