For the first time in its 130-year history, the Worcester Club has named its first woman president: Moira Moynihan-Manoog.
The club, founded in 1888, announced its new officers in a press release Thursday night, including Moynihan-Manoog, a firm principal at MSW Financial Partners in Worcester.
Nominating chairman and previous president John Spillane nominated Moynihan-Manoog.
“Our members share my great enthusiasm for Moira’s leadership in this role as its marks and welcomes an exciting new era in the long history of our club,” Spillane said in a statement.
Moynihan-Manoog said she’s looking ahead to being part of the “rich history” of the club, which will include expanding the role of women within the club.
“Together, we are transforming the club into a sustainable entity that will be relevant for generations to come,” she said.” We have an ambitious agenda, completing beautiful renovations, increasing membership, and yes, expanding the role of women within the club.”
According to the club’s announcement, women weren’t elected to membership until 1988. Now, the club has more than 50 female members.
While founded as a men’s club, women were allowed entry through a private doorway off of Oak Street as long as they were accompanied by a member.
Moynihan-Manoog said she remembers her mother, sister and herself used the infamous back door years ago.
“While I was too young to realize the significance of such an entrance, I will say that entering the club was always special regardless,” she said. “Not only have we celebrated engagements, graduations, and anniversaries at the club, but we have also marked sad occasions like family members’ passing within the clubhouse.”
Now, the new club president hopes to increase the number of women members, which currently sits at 20 percent. Her family and husband’s family have both long been members of the club, and Moynihan-Manoog hopes to continue that history.
“I am honored to follow in their footsteps as the first woman president of the Worcester Club,” she said.
