Women of Igloo No. 15, part of the Alaska Pioneers Organization, stopped by the Long Term Care center on March 20 to give out spring goodie bags to residents. Pictured from left to right are Lorraine Kagee, Debra Werner, Kathie Angerman, Susan Wise-Eagle, and Betty Abbott.
The Pioneers of Alaska is one of the older social organizations in the state. According to the organization's website, the first group of pioneers, or "Igloos," was founded in Nome in 1907. The purpose of the Pioneers of Alaska is twofold, to preserve community history and to serve as a social outlet for members. At first it was a men-only club, but women were allowed in around 1912, according to the Pioneer website. From the first Igloo in Nome, the group spread across the state. The Wrangell Men's Igloo, also known as Igloo No. 21, was founded on May 30, 1921. The women's Igloo, No. 15, was chartered on May 16, 1980. There were 49 original members of the women's igloo, according to Kathy Angerman.
"I'm one of the charter members," she said with a chuckle. "Unfortunately, there were 49 of us and only 12 are left."
The Pioneers of Alaska are interested in increasing public knowledge of their organization, said Gayle Gross, and to let people know what it is they do. The Women's Igloo has a heavy focus on caring for Wrangell's elderly, she said. They volunteer and regularly donate time and revenue to the senior center and to long term care residents. In December, for example, they donate clothing and blankets to the long term care residents.
They also give out gift bags on the first day of spring.
The men's and women's Igloos also hold a joint picnic every July at Shoemaker Park.
Preserving community history is another major aspect of the Pioneers of Alaska, Gross said. Every Igloo is tasked with the job of preserving records of life in their town. This includes club membership rolls, state and local history, and stories from around their community.
"That's one thing that's kind of, for me, wanting to be a Pioneer is to hear people's stories," Gross said. "It's fun to hear stories."
The men's Igloo meets every third Thursday at St. Philip's Episcopal Church, September through May. The women's igloo meets every first Saturday at the senior center. There are some membership requirements people must meet, for anyone interested in joining.
According to the Pioneers of Alaska website, members must be "of good moral character" and must have lived in Alaska for 20 years. To learn more, visit http://www.pioneersofalaska.org.
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