ABOUT US
The ODU Faculty Wives Club began in the winter of 1950 when about twenty women met to socialize. The Trophy Room in the Old Administration Building was the meeting place. Virginia Rice Webb, wife of the first president, Lewis Webb, Jr., was elected president. When the membership of the club grew to more than forty, the meeting place was changed to the Old Academic Building, originally a public
school building.
During the 1960s the club quickly adapted to the needs of its members, developing interest groups, creating bylaws and publishing a handbook and newsletter, Furbelows. The Faculty Wives Club's purpose was to serve the interests of the ODU community, acting as a connector between the University and the surrounding cities.
By 1979, the direction of the club began to change and the organization was renamed the ODU Women's Association to include female faculty and staff. And, in 1990, the organization became the ODU Faculty Wives and Friends inviting individuals outside the University who wanted to become affiliated.
As a service organization, one of its early philanthropic activities was at the Center for the Visually Impaired in the ODU Library tape recording books for visually impaired University students.
Through its many activities, the organization mixed fun with fundraising. Its several monthly Interest Groups such as book clubs, Mah Jongg and card games, lunch and tea outings, and more, are mixed with past fundraisers such as Mah Jongg Madness, Primrose Chari-Tea and Blue Couture Luncheon and Fashion Show.
To further its goal of service to the University, in 1992 the organization established a scholarship fund to award $1,000 annually to a returning female student. As of 2013, the scholarship fund has been increased to $2,000 and $1,000 contributions were made both to the Library Festival and the Women's Center.
In 2015, the membership voted to change the name to ODU Monarch Community Alliance and establish a $25,000 ODUMCA Endowment at ODU. The $2,000 yearly scholarships from this endowment have been awarded to Laura Rettinger, Wendy Childress, Quiana Burnside and Madeline Gaquin.
In 2020, we awarded two $2,000 scholarships; Trixia Horner, a senior majoring in Cyber Operations and Laura Trommer, a junior majoring in
Graphic Design.
If you would like to make a tax deductible contribution to our endowment, please send a check made payable to ODUMCA with ODU Educational Foundation on the note line and mail to ODUMCA, P.O. Box 6263, Norfolk, VA 23508.
