This September, the Andover Service Club (ASC) begins its 55th year of service to the Andover community and neighboring towns.

When most women were “stay-at-home” wives and/or mothers, a group of Andover ladies came together in 1958 to establish the Andover Service Club. Ladies were (and still are) encouraged to come together to enrich their own lives and to reach out to the community in service. They wrote the following mission statement: 1) To be of service to the people of the community and the state; 2) To broaden and strengthen the social and intellectual life of its members. By-laws for the club were written and they, with the mission statement, are the guidelines followed to this day.

Monthly meetings are now held from September to June where the agenda includes committee reports, the planning of fundraisers and special events, special programs for each meeting (such as speakers, book reviews, slide presentations, etc.), an annual in-house auction, and field trips.

In the early 1990s, the ASC Thrift Shop was founded, which has since grown to be a valuable community service and major financial source of fundraising for the ASC Merit Scholarship Program, as well as for 14 Andover and surrounding community organizations.

To commemorate 50 years of service, a business directory entitled Andover Service Club, Our Town Andover was published in 2009. It was distributed to all residents and includes information pertaining to town government and business.

Membership in the club is open to all women in Andover and surrounding communities. For more information, e-mail Mary Ofenloch at MaryO.ASClub@nulllive.com. The Andover Service Club is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.