Afterhours Party After the Prom

In 1986 Worthington Activity Club organized the first "Afterhours", an all-night party for students following the Worthington High School Junior-Senior Prom. In previous year many students had planned and attended motel parties, where alcohol had been served prior to and after the prom. The City of Worthington responded by passing an ordinance outlawing teen motel parties. The Afterhours party was organized in order to offer students a fun and safe alternative. The party was held at the new Westerville Athletic Club. The name Afterhours was chosen by a student committee of juniors and seniors who helped to plan the party. Many activities were planned, such as swimming, racquetball, "walleyball," disk jockey and dancing, movies, and door prizes given throughout the evening and a grand prize at the end. Documents presented here include a publicity flyer, letter to parents, event ticket, schedule, rules and procedures.

The Activity Club was founded in 1937 as the Personality Club by Mrs. Miriam Mackay, who saw a great need to form and organization dedicated to assisting youth with their social and personal problems. The club was originally formed with sponsorship by the Worthington P.T.A. Among the first activities of the group was the remodeling of formals for girls who were in need of them. Guidance concerning proper dress, manners and hostess etiquette were in demand. Although the club's focus was initially on girls, boys soon became interested and were also included in the programs. Over the years interests broadened, and the group was reorganized as the Activity Club. Social dancing classes for students from grade 4 to 12 became a major activity of the club during the 1940s and 1950s. Interest in dancing declined during the 1960s. Following a brief renewal of interest in dancing in the late 1970s, the emphasis on dance programs was discontinued.

During the 1980s the purpose of the Activity Club broadened to fulfill changing needs. New projects were initiated, such as workshops on leadership skills, College Previews, College Fairs, and coordination of the Baccalaureate Service for graduating seniors. The Activity Club began sponsoring the Junior-Senior Prom "Afterhours" in 1986, and a "Cards Camp," a middle school drug, alcohol and tobacco prevention program in 1988. Following the opening of Worthington Kilbourne High School, the club split into two separate Activity Clubs, one for each school.