Spokane Club Picks Gilkey As President

The Spokane Club, Spokane’s prestigious private social club, has selected the first woman president of its 106-year history.

Priscilla Gilkey, vice president of community relations for Empire Health Services, will preside over her first meeting June 25. She has been a member of the club since 1974 and was named to the board in 1993.

Gilkey said she was encouraged that the Spokane Club has created an environment “in which it’s the individual, not their gender, that counts.”

The Spokane Club has 2,300 members. Women have been admitted since 1910, and were granted voting privileges in the 1970s, said club historian John Tuft.

As president, Gilkey will be responsible for making the members’ interests known to management. She’ll direct the once-monthly board meetings, and also attend committee meetings.

Other new officers are: Duane Brandenburg, executive vice president of Farmers and Merchants Bank, vice president; Joyce Schroeder, homemaker, secretary; Donald Kiesbuy, certified public accountant, treasurer; Gordon Budke, partner at Coopers and Lybrand, president-elect; Tim Fennessy, attorney with Layman, Loft and White, ex officio.

, DataTimes