The 100 Club was founded in 1979 by a group of women from Cape Town’s business and professional circles who were also known for their active interest in welfare and community projects.
With the untimely death in March 1998 of its chairperson and founder member, Adele Searll, the committee and the members, changed the club’s name to ‘The Adele Searll 100 Club’. A gesture of respect we hold dear today.
The committee appointed June Druker, as chairperson, she was followed four years later by Judith Dodds. In July 2006, Jackie Lange took over the post and in 2011 Anet Pienaar Vosloo became chairperson. In January 2017 Suzette Raymond held the position and in 2020 Rebecca Harvie was elected chairperson of The Adele Searll 100 Club. The COVID period interrupted in-person meetings for quite some time, but as chairperson Rebecca and the committee hosted amazing speakers through the Adele Searll 100 Club professional online meeting platform.
Steering the Club into the next decade, giving it a fresh new look with a clear focus on members and embracing the club’s roots: Business, Networking and Philanthropy have been key to the Club’s continuation and relevance.
From its inception, the Club’s motivation has been to attract members from all sectors of the community successfully bringing together individuals who are representative of our diverse society. The Adele Searll 100 Club offers members the opportunity to network, both professionally and socially and is able to attract speakers of the highest calibre in all fields, ranging from President Nelson Mandela and Dame Margaret Thatcher to other well-known authors, politicians, businessmen and theatrical personalities.
In 1983 the 100 Club Bursary Fund was established to support students at tertiary institutions throughout the Western Cape and this fund has now become the raison d’être of the Club. Two of our bursars have even gone on to study at Harvard, and so far more than 150 students have received financial aid from the Club, which also supports social causes and charity organisations on a regular basis.
The Adele Searll 100 Club is totally self-supporting and non-profit making – the running costs are covered solely by the income generated at our events and meetings. Our speakers generally offer their services gratis, a gesture for which we are eternally grateful as the Club could not otherwise survive. As a thank you the Club makes a donation to a charity of the speaker’s choosing out of the philanthropic budget.
Club members are committed and concerned citizens and their loyal support over the years has allowed the Adele Searll 100 Club to grow and establish the high credibility it now enjoys.
Members
We currently have 150 members. Originating as a ladies’ Club, we have however also opened the membership to men. In general, we are targeting young professionals, who have an active interest in supporting education and philanthropic causes as well as networking.
Marketing
Alongside our Website, please follow us on social media: Facebook and Instagram to hear more about “Business, Networking, & Philanthropy”.
Collaborations – We partner with organisations that fit our profile, for example, Vintage with Love – a non-profit organisation which collects gently worn clothes. They host a sale once a year where all funds raised are donated to literacy and feeding projects and Rio Largo Olive Oils, who have designed a specific Olive Oil Decanter for the Adele Searll 100 Club.
Events and Speakers
Initially the 100 Club met monthly for luncheons at the Mount Nelson Hotel and later at the Table Bay Hotel. Following Covid the Club has moved with the times and now organises bespoke events and talks at various venues around Cape Town and from time to time offers professional webinars and online speakers. Some events now take place ‘after work’ to attract a wider, working audience.
Speakers over the last few years have included:
2020:
February – Anton Musgrave (futurist)
March – Joseph Jaffe – in person (Adele Searll Connect)
May – Minister Bonginkosi Madikizela – online
June – Ted Blom (Energy) – online
July – Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen (Chef) – online
August – Dorianne Weil (Phycologist) – online
September – Dot Milton (skin Specialist) and Taryn Coghlan (Nutritious) -online
October – Dr. Irshaad Ebrahim (Sleep doctor) – online
November – Walk in Dylan Lewis Garden
2021:
February – Anton Musgrave – Futurist and economist – online
March – Natacha Berkowitz Epidemiologist – online
June – Tim Harris (CEO Westgro) – online
June – Brenda Wilkinson – Harvest Lunch in the Olive Orchid – Rio Largo Olive Oil
May – Liz Biden (Royal Portfolios) – High Tea at La Residence in Franschhoek
July – Helen Zille – online
August – Roza Phillips – Female Futurist – online
September – Cayley Christos Owner of Red Rock Films International and Head of Production for award-winning and heart-warming Netflix Series Penguin Town – online
October – Margaret Hirsch – Healthy Living
November – Ina Paarman – Walk in her garden and talk
December – Launch of the Adele Searll Rose Collection by Giuseppe Ciani Jewellers.
2022:
February- Anton Musgrave – Futurist
May- Rencha Droganis – Africology
June- Brenda Wilkinson- Rio Largo
July- Ann Lamont
August- Geordin Hill-Lewis
September- Lunch at Liam Tomlin’s The Bailey
October- Professor Renata Schoeman
December- Habits Fashion Show at The Cape Quarter
2023:
February -Andre Du Toit – The Big Positive Guy On Positivity
May -Jan Glazewski- Author
June -Daniel Fourie- Agricultural Specialist – online
August- Doris Viljoen- Futurist
September- Ian Merrington on the impact of AI
November- Joseph Jaffe son, author and coach on Forever Changed
December- Marc Lottering
Club Objectives:
- Continue to grow our member base, to make a greater impact in society, also in memory of Adele Searll herself.
- Continue to support at least 4 Bursars and maintain sustainability for the Bursar Programme.
- Encourage and nurture the member connections we have, as a Club as well as between members, building business networking opportunities.
- Facilitating access to topical and relevant speakers for our members.
Logo and the rose painting done by one of our bursars, which the logo was designed around.
