The year 2020 is a big one for women. It marks the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote in America and Joan of Arc’s canonization, as well as the 50th anniversary of thec first women becoming officers in the Army. The year is also big on a local level, as The Sedona Women celebrate two decades strong.

In the spring of 2000, Helen Wolfe organized the first meeting for the all-women group at local Italian restaurant Dahl & DiLuca.

“I knew Sedona could use an organization for women which would create friendships, then together, make a positive difference in the community,” Wolfe, who now lives in Wyoming, said. “It was a winner, from the very first meeting.”

Around 60 women attended that first meeting, and the numbers kept growing, as Dottie Webster, an original board member, recalled.

“What a few busy years that was, learning how to write our application for a 501(c)(3), write by-laws, create programs, our vision statement and intention for the organization, and get speakers, find meeting places, create committees, etc.,” Webster said.

Now over 200 members, an “organization” is an understatement. With a president, vice president, secretary and treasurer, as well as committees for communications, community service, membership, programs, scholarships, social events, trips, welcoming, fundraising, celebrations, website updates and even public relations, The Sedona Women is run more like a small country.

From giving the Verde Valley Sanctuary and Adult Community Center makeovers, to volunteering with the Giving Angels of Arizona, the Sedona Food Bank, Sedona Winds and Rainbow Acres, as well as creating a scholarship for those who wish to continue their education, The Sedona Women have made it a priority to help the community from Day One.

The Womens’ current president, Rosemary Anderson, joined in 2012 and was immediately impressed.

“What attracted me was that I saw a fun, diverse group of well-organized women who were not afraid to jump into an array of community volunteering and to get their hands dirty,” Anderson said. “This was not a ‘stand back and write a check’ group. Our commonality is a love of Sedona and a desire to understand the area better and to support the beauty and way of life we have here.”

And what makes the group so successful? The founder, current president and original board member all agree: It’s the women, of course.

“I think knowing that when women work together for a common goal, it gets done,” Webster said. “Women generally come from their heart as well as having such diverse skills and talents. There is such a treasure trove of experience in this group of women to just about cover everything you would or could imagine. I think women are better task masters than men in many ways as we ran households, businesses and families.”

“What I have learned is that women work very differently together than if we included men,” Anderson added. “The process is not better or worse, but more empathic. I enjoy doing things with my sweetheart, Fred, and I also enjoy my time apart with only women. Spending time with women makes me feel supported and heard.”

“Attend one of the meetings [and] you will understand immediately that women, together, supporting each other and the town where they live, makes for community,” Wolfe said.
Of course, The Sedona Women have seen a slew of changes in their 20 years, the most obvious being technology.

“When we first began, we had sign-up sheets. I called everyone who came to the meeting the month prior,” Wolfe said. “Calling was a huge source of satisfaction.”

“I never expected it to become the big fundraising group as it is today in so many ways,” Webster noted as another change to the group that has taken place. “That was never our intention, but everything evolves and you have to let that happen with each new board, etc., through the years. That eventually became the wishes for the membership over time with the Helen Wolfe Scholarship for adult women, and all the other great things that came of helping other groups with their projects. It is what it is today.

“As our dear departed original board member, Judith Keene, would say, ‘the Universe would provide how it would unfold over time and we could not control that.’”

Keene’s statement is more than apt today, in the ever change-making world of COVID-19. Besides meetings and volunteer events, The Sedona Women have enjoyed elaborate holiday parties, luncheons, luaus, tastings, fairs and getaway trips over the decades.

In March, The Sedona Women ceased any in-person meetings or gatherings of any kind, though on Monday, Aug. 31, a handful of Women volunteered to prep and pass out dinners at Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church, armed with masks and gloves.

“COVID has affected The Sedona Women a great deal, but I try to look for the silver lining rather than bemoan what we can no longer do,” Anderson said. “This is our 20th year anniversary and we are celebrating our talents and strengths all year long. “We meet regularly via Zoom, which I believe anyone can figure out if they want to; we still offer a monthly program and are even sprinkling in extra webinars of local interest to keep our members engaged; we offer safe, hands-on ways for members to support our community and we’re becoming very inventive with our fundraising.

“I think a shake-up like this humbles us and makes us dig deep for solutions. It allows us to see who we really are and what’s important to us.”

On Aug. 11, Sedona Mayor Sandy Moriarty put out a proclamation that Wednesday, Sept. 9, would be “The Sedona Women 20th Anniversary Celebration Day,” in honor of the Women “making a difference by providing a welcoming atmosphere where new social connections and friendships are encouraged and celebrated in a safe, apolitical space that respects the diversity of [the] membership and the inclusivity of [the] community; and … whereas, the city of Sedona actively embraces a strong sense of ‘community’ by encouraging collaboration, knowledge, support, friendship and service.”

Moriarty will kick off the “20 Years of Making a Difference” celebration on Zoom Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. More information can be found at thesedonawomen.com.

“I believe and hope [The Sedona Women] may still be around doing good things to support the community and women for another 20 years,” Webster said. “It is truly better to give than receive and I have received so many gifts from the membership. We have all learned and grown from having created The Sedona Women, ‘Dames Who Make a Difference!’ The original slogan.”