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In 1925, women became eligible for membership, and seventeen were immediately accepted. Then, in 1926, when Mrs. Frank Whitehall and Mrs. Clarence Jackson became members, an entertainment committee was formed with them as members. Mrs. Jackson was chairman up to 1934. Years later Frank Gain was chairman of the entertainment committee from 1982 to 1999, except for 1989, which he spent in the Persian Gulf. His sixteen years as chairman eclipsed Mrs. Jackson's former record of eight years.
The committee continued a tradition initiated by the wives of members who had conducted all the fairs, suppers, clambakes, and weekly dances. The Chelsea Ladies Euchre Club was a very active group for many, many years. The committee held card parties once or twice a week and raised money that was used to furnish the clubhouse. By 1927 it had raised $800 to be used to pay off part of the mortgage on the ballroom.
Currently (1995), both men and women serve on the committee. Indeed, new members are required to serve on the entertainment committee so that they may become acquainted with the other members. There is a regular sequence of parties, beginning with the Commodore's Ball in January followed by the commodore's cocktail party in the spring, the celebrations of Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day, and the last-chance cocktail party in the fall.
Not all of the recreation has been organized. In the early days the members gathered during the summer evenings on the south lawn to enjoy the refreshing cool breeze and watch the sunset. Ice cream, sandwiches, and other snacks were purchased at the "summer house," which was located behind the old steward's apartment. There is still an informal picnic every Wednesday evening during the summer .
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