When you join a woman's club, you not only help the community, you make friends.

"You meet so many nice people," said Vivian Moon, president of the Mercer Woman's Club. "It is a cross-section of different religions and different politics, and we encourage both ... you get to talk to people from both sides of the politicial spectrum and you get a wider frame of mind than just your families and work."

"When you belong to a club, gotten three or four new members," said Vivian Moon, club president. Two members died last year and another moved.

The lack of members made it difficult for the club to continue its fund-raising efforts.

"We really don't have enough members anymore to work," said member Dorothy Hurtt. "We don't have enough people to man the booths (at events)."

"It's not the number," Mrs. Moon said. "Physically we are not able to raise the money."

So, the members decided to disband.

"We sent the state a note asking what else to do," Mrs. Moon said. "They told us, there's nothing else necessary."

After the club folds, its members have the option of being a "member-at-large," which means they may attend county meetings but not vote, or they can join another club.

Mrs. Moon said club members are in the midst of sorting through memorabilia. She said a book containing the club's history and meeting minutes are going to the Mercer County Historical Society. Members are taking some of the other items home.

"It would have been nice just to have been a social club, but we're not used to that," Mrs. Moon said. "We've always been willing to pay dues and support it. When you can't do that anymore it's sad."