“I have an old house, and so seeing the building, I wondered what was there.”

It was a sunny Sunday morning, and a visit to the Women’s Club of Wisconsin was on my radar. Located on E Kilbourn Avenue, the building was open to the public for Doors open Milwaukee. It remains a timeless and elegant space, with a history dating back to 1876. I spoke to WCW member Lauren Poppen about her involvement with the club, what they do, and what it means to her.

Katie Martinez:  Is this your first time participating in Doors Open Milwaukee with the Women’s club?

Lauren Poppen: This is the second time that I’ve organized Doors Open. We came back last year after not participating since 2016.

Katie Martinez:  And are you a member of the Women’s Club?

Lauren Poppen: I am a member of the Women’s Club!

Katie Martinez: For how long?

Lauren Poppen:  I joined as a trial member in December of 2019, and joined as a full member, just before the pandemic in 2020.

Katie Martinez:  Oh wow! And what drew you to the club?

Lauren Poppen The building, actually. Oddly enough, I came to a non-member event, and was in awe of the ballroom, and this beautiful building. I have an old house, so seeing the building, I wondered what was there. So, I looked it up. I was like, “What is a women’s club?” and so I sent an email to the generic website and inquired about it. A member on the membership committee reached out to me and said, ‘Why don’t you be my guest, and come to this event and see what the club is like?’ That’s where it all started.

Katie Martinez:  What would you say is the overall message that the Women’s club puts out there?

Lauren Poppen: Service and learning are big aspects, but the relationships here that you can have—I feel like it’s something that we’re losing in our world today. This is like a place to call home, it’s a place you can go. There was a member who had her birthday on a Friday evening and didn’t have any plans, and she lived alone. And she came to the club and there was a table of friends to join her, to have a birthday dinner with.

You know —it’s that. Just a ‘Hey I’m kind of lonely tonight, I’d like to have dinner with friends. I don’t want to call anybody; I’ll just stop at the club and there’ll probably be a table of people I can join.’

Katie Martinez:  That’s always incredible, anything else you’d like to add?

Lauren Poppen: One, I would like to add that men are allowed to be members of the Women’s club. There was an instance of a couple that was very active here and she died. But her husband really enjoyed the club and asked if he could still come to events here, so he was allowed to take over her membership. And second, part of the reason some of them do join is the programming that is offered. This is a very different experience, It is not just a place to come and eat, this is a place to come and be yourself, and learn some things and have a lot of fun with other people too. I want everyone to know about this place.