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The GFWC Meadowlarks, a club new to GFWC Wyoming, has been very busy over the summer. Members painted hallways at the local homeless shelter, COMEA House. They also served a delicious lunch to a Habitat for Humanity Crew, staying to visit and eat with them. They’ve planned ahead for future projects like entering a craft fair in October to raise funds!

Literacy is a high priority for the Women’s Club of Farmingdale (New York) and so they were pleased to learn about International Literacy Day in a recent issue of News & Notes. For many years now, the club has renewed a special program where members donate a new security blanket, an age-appropriate children’s book (many times a Dr. Seuss book), and a stuffed animal, all nestled inside a new canvas tote bag. By providing objects of reliable comfort, this undertaking reduces trauma and advances the emotional and cognitive well-being of children. These totes are then donated to their local children’s homeless shelter in time for the Christmas holiday season. The club plans to continue this mission again this year.

The GFWC Ohio Junior Cyberlinks Club turned their downtown community teal in recognition of September as National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Members wore teal while hanging the teal ribbons on lamp posts and trees. They also posted signs encouraging people to know the signs of ovarian cancer. Among women in the US, ovarian cancer is the eighth-most common cancer and the fifth-leading cause of cancer death. The greatest number of cases occur in women over the age of 60. The club partnered with Erin Flanagan Lonsway, founder of the Rose Mary Flanagan Ovarian Cancer Foundation.

Front from left to right Stephanie Furano, GFWC OHIO President Linda Crish,
Renee Maiorca, Cyberlinks President Pam Vines.
Back row left to right: GFWC Ohio Director of Junior Clubs Esther Gartland, Sharon Drummond,
GFWC Ohio Assistant of Director of Junior Clubs Mary Witkowski, and Erin Flanagan Lonsway.

This summer a team of Village Improvement Association volunteers staffed the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk Information Kiosk on Mondays and Tuesdays as they have for the past nine years. More than 55 VIA volunteers worked over 300 hours to keep the information flowing to beach visitors. From assisting a famished soon-to-be mother locate the nearest place to get breakfast to locating someone’s lost cellphone, gracious assistance from local residents helps maintain Rehoboth Beach’s reputation as an exciting and welcoming place for all, which keeps the vacationers returning year after year.

Just in time for Labor Day and in support of GFWC’s Women in the Military Grand Initiative, members of the GFWC Lilburn Woman’s Club (Georgia) Public Issues committee took turns during the construction phase of the first Habitat for Humanity home built for female veteran Octavia Moore. Then they assembled and delivered a beautiful housewarming basket which was presented during the Dedication Ceremony. After finding out Octavia’s favorite color was royal purple, members collected purple bath towels, throw rugs, kitchen goods, and vases sprinkled in with a few Fall outdoor garden art pieces. The club thanked Octavia for her service and there was not a dry eye in the house when she received the keys to her new home.

Pat Baker, Patty Gabilondo, Marine Veteran and homeowner Octavia Moore, and Air Force Veteran Christine Peredney

Pat Baker and Patty Gabilondo hard at work.

The Oconomowoc Woman’s Club (Wisconsin) is getting ready for their largest fundraiser of the year: their annual style show and luncheon. Fox 6 News’ Mary Stoker Smith and Oconomowoc’s Ralph Garcia will be the guest commentators. Their style show will feature fashions from local outlet stores and boutiques. There will also be a large raffle for attendees! All proceeds from the event go to local charities, including AngelsGrace Hospice, Lake Area Free Clinic, & Zachariah’s Acres.

The GFWC High Springs Woman’s Club (Florida) members made beautiful “Angel Gowns” for children who are unable to go home with their parents. Wedding gowns, prom dresses, and First Communion dresses are donated to create them. Accessories include baby blankets and bracelets. A heart is made from the same fabric, including an angel charm, for the parents as a keepsake.

When GFWC Georgia President, Tina Daniel, issued Georgia Women’s Clubs the conservation challenge of producing a garment out of recycled, reused or repurposed materials, the Marietta Woman’s Club (Georgia) rose to the challenge with their “eco-chic” creation. Their Victorian rococo-inspired ball gown was created out of more than 500 grocery bags collected by the club and the Cobb County Girl Scouts. The 12 foot long cathedral train, adorned with Target bag ruffles and flowers cut from recycled plastic water bottles, was highlighted by a bow quilted from the covers and pages of 30 back issues of Clubwoman Magazine.  The garment won the “Most Creative” recognition. The Marietta Woman’s Club will celebrate its 100^th Anniversary in 2020 by showcasing the dress for local school children to promote conservation efforts to “recycle, reuse, re-purpose.”

Just in time for the start of the school year, the Women’s Club of Farmingdale (New York) partnered with friends and other groups to donate more than 50 backpacks filled with a large assortment of school supplies to St. Kilian’s Outreach Program. This annual tradition benefits local school-age children in grades K-12. Teachers and outreach volunteers sort through all the supplies and set aside special days in August for families in need to get materials for their children.

The GFWC South Baldwin Woman’s Club (Alabama) stays busy by supplying food, clothing, and gas cards to clients at the Home Health Agency. This year, they also donated hygiene items and school supplies to a local school. Later, a guidance counselor who worked there personally contacted them: “I have a student in need of clothing. Is this something your club could help with?” Club donations allowed the club to purchase five outfits for the student! It shows how the community recognizes their efforts! The club’s next next big project will be the 2^nd Annual Gulf Shores Goes Pink in October, a free community event which will raise money for people with breast cancer and their families.

The GFWC Lilburn Woman’s Club (Georgia) has been putting on their Lilburn Daze, a festival that raises money for their philanthropy, for 46 years! They have one beloved vendor who has been a part of almost every one. In 1976, a young woman with a special talent of making fudge spotted an article in a Farmer’s Market brochure looking for vendors for the third annual Lilburn Daze hosted by the Lilburn Woman’s Club. On a whim, she called and asked if they would be interested in having someone like her participate in the event. At that moment in time everything changed for Estelle Roberts and Lilburn Daze – the “Fudge Lady” was born!  For the following 43 years, Estelle has been a vendor at Lilburn Daze and hasn’t missed a single year! Every year all of the club members ask the same question as the annual Lilburn Daze committee comes together to plan the event – “Will our famous “fudge lady” return?” The club is proud to say that once again, this year’s answer is a resounding yes. Estelle will be back with her wonderful fudge in delicious flavors such as chocolate, peanut butter, pecan chocolate, black walnut, and almond coconut. It’s incredible to see GFWC clubs making community connections that can last for decades!

In support of the Women in the Military Grand Initiative, the Mulvane Federated Women’s Club (Kansas) have been sending emails, cards, and care packages to a deployed female soldier. The solider provided a list of items that she liked, ranging from her favorite chewing gum to preferences for hygiene items. The first package included locally-made beef jerky, and she commented that her friends really enjoyed it, so the club’s second package included even more jerky so there was plenty to share! Jean Horstman, corresponding secretary of the club, said, “When I mentioned to my husband that we were doing this project, he teared up. When he was in the service, those care packages were few and far between, but meant so very much to him. Thank you for setting our group on the path to work on such a worthwhile and rewarding project.” We’re so glad to see all the incredible ways that clubwomen support women in the military!

World Senior Citizen’s Day is coming up on August 21, and the Iranian Federated Women’s Club (California) let us know how they’re helping seniors in their community. They noticed that the seniors in their community who don’t speak English experience extreme isolation. To help them join the larger community, the club is collaborating with the Cupertino Senior Center to support programs (including technology classes, free informational lectures, a travel program, and more) that will hopefully combat that isolation and be a great resource.

The Murray Women’s Civic Guild (Utah) cut out mittens to be donated to the homeless shelter and a few other facilities. They created mittens of all sizes so that parents and children alike will be ready for Utah’s cold winter this year.

At the San Bernardino District Summer Conference, California clubwomen collected $61 in loose change for Operation Gratitude, a district-wide project. The organization emailed Public Issues Chairman, Linda Brooks saying they were in need of personal correspondence for troops, veterans, first responders, and book camp recruits. So she laid blank cards with instructions to write notes, and over 150 cards were made!

On July 31, 2019, several members from clubs throughout Southern California joined to support the all-volunteer, non-profit For the Troops. They packed “We Care” packages to send to members of the military. They contain basic necessities and some goodies as well.

Left to right are Shirley Palmer and Jackie Thomas,  GFWC Oak View Women’s Club; volunteers Melissa and her son; Leanna Kennedy,
GFWC Oak View Women’s Club; volunteer Helen; Shirley Scott, Simi Valley Women’s Club; Carina Solecki, Ojai Valley Woman’s Club; volunteers Christine and Zoey;
Lois Stewart, Ojai Valley Woman’s Club; Connie Biggers, GFWC Oak View Women’s Club; and Patti Bagley, Co-President of Ojai Valley Woman’s Club.

The GFWC High Springs New Century Woman’s Club (Florida) donated proceeds from their “Real Men Make Soup” fundraiser to the local police and fire departments. The police department will use the donation to purchased needed incidentals, and the fire department will use it to replaced parts of their CPR manikins. It was a great way for the club to thank first responders for the dedication to their community.

With 169 combined years of service to GFWC Western Fairfax County Woman’s Club (Virginia), seven women have left their marks on their club and community and continue to do so. The Greenbriar Civic Association (GCA) honored these women with the Greenbriar Citizen-of-the-Year award over a span of 15 years. Each year, residents nominate neighbors they deem deserving of this special honor for their service to the community. The GCA even changed the name of the community center to the Cale Community Center to recognize club member Barbara Cale and her husband for their many years of service to the community. 

Club members: Lois Price, Marion Brown, Barbara Levermann, Barbara Cale,
Eileen Chambers and Lee Conley. Not pictured is clubwoman Roasannah Moser, deceased.

From helping the local library raise more than one million dollars from biannual book sales organized by the Friends of the Chantilly Regional Library to helping keep the local paper, the Greenbriar Flyer, up and running for many years, these Virginia clubwomen are emblematic of what it means to be a Volunteer in Action.

Eleven clubwomen from the GFWC Woman’s Club of Denville-Rockaway (New Jersey) visited the New-York Historical Society to see the Hudson Rising exhibit, a topic that was featured at GFWC’s 2019 Women’s History Month Event. It included a display about how New Jersey clubwomen took up the cause to help save the Palisades cliffs along the Hudson River. It’s great to know that New Jersey clubwomen got the chance to see and learn about their own legacy!

This week, the GFWC Fayette County ESO (Indiana) delivered 141 pair of shoes to the Cincinnati Soles4Souls storage facility!

Another club to participate in the Soles4Souls Grand Initiative is the White Mountain Woman’s Club (Arizona), who worked with friends, family, and neighbors to collect 123 pairs of shoes.

Keep up the great work for GFWC’s Cooperative Project with Soles4Souls!

A clubwoman from Arkansas, Debbie Hall has been a member of GFWC for 35 years, a fact that she finds hard to believe. Currently serving as the Credentials Committee Chairman on the 2018–2020 Board of Directors, she reflects fondly on the rewarding journey of becoming increasingly involved with GFWC.

How did you get involved with GFWC and your club?

I joined the GFWC Junior Civic League of Fort Smith in 1984. Their big fundraiser was the Red Stocking Revue, which always needed more volunteers. Some of my good friends worked on the show and so I got involved. I joined the club afterwards and have been a member ever since.

When I first joined, I had four young daughters so I focused mainly on local club work. But as my children grew up, I had more time to get involved at the District level, then the state level, and finally the national level.

Which club project has been the most important to you?

I loved doing our Red Stocking Revue, but eventually it ran its course. For a number of years, we sponsored a Night at the Races and I enjoyed that. Our big fundraiser has always been to raise funds for Bost, Inc. It’s a wonderful agency for people with disabilities. It started out as a school for kids with special needs, but as our public school enlarged and the special education program grew, Bost, Inc. started helping families until their little one went to kindergarten. Then they provide more training and apartments and homes for when they become adults. Our club now helps Bost, Inc. with their huge fundraiser, Grape Escapes.

Has working in a school system influenced your experience as a volunteer or vice versa?

I’m now the financial secretary for Southside High School. I spent so much time doing PTA work when my children grew up that I knew everyone in our school. I subbed for our school system for five years and then the Principal of Southside offered me a half day job in attendance. My current job grew from there. Working with children of all ages is a joy to me, so I seek out those opportunities. I’ve taught Sunday school at Church, and worked with both Girls Scouts and our Youth Tennis Program.

You’re the Credentials Committee Chairman. What was your journey to that leadership position?

Since I love greeting and talking to our members and I love working with numbers and money, doing credentials is the right job for me. I have done it for years for our district and state, our regional meeting when it is our time to host, and have served on the Credentials Committee three times. This year, I am Chairman of the Committee.

What was your favorite part of the 2019 GFWC Annual Convention?

I always love Convention. I’ve enjoyed it even more working on Credentials because I love having something to do and somewhere to be at Convention. I like that the Credentials Committee gets to see and catch up with all the ladies as they register.

Since I love hearing an author speak about their work and getting a chance to meet them, I also loved having Joe Starita as a speaker this year.

What is the best lesson you’ve learned during your time with GFWC?

If you have something in your community that you don’t like, help to change it! Or, at least learn why it has to be that way.

What has been the most rewarding part about being a clubwoman?

I’ve loved being a clubwoman because I get to make friends with our members, both longtime members and new ones alike, while working to help our community. Through GFWC, my friends have expanded to include ladies across my state and now across the nation.

In 2020, we’ll celebrate 100 years that women have had the vote. The Ojai Valley Woman’s Club (California) celebrated a little early and definitely in style! They dressed as suffragists and marched in their local 4th of July parade to celebrate the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution so many decades ago.

Betty Paterson, Suki Sir, and Pat Essick (1st VP Ojai Valley Woman’s Club)

The GFWC Women’s Club of Odessa (Delaware) enjoyed an English Tea to remember the accomplishments of last year: donating over 100 pairs of shoes for Soles For Souls; distributing over 60 books to children’s libraries; writing letters to their legislators through the Legislative Action Center; providing an animal shelter with towels and blankets; collecting and distributing blankets to the homeless for MLK Day of Service, with one member cleaning a bench even while on vacation; and creating candy boxes to be distributed to patients in a veteran’s hospital on Valentine’s Day.

The Conservation and Education committees of the Lawrenceville Woman’s Club (Georgia) joined forces to stock a Little Free (Seed) Library at the Lawrenceville Housing Authority community garden. The garden is an on-going project of the Conservation committee. For the Seed Library, Conservation provided seed packets and seed saving envelopes while Education provided laminated Planting Guides and Harvesting Schedules. Now, with the inclusion of the Little Free (Seed) Library, the residents are able to maintain their gardens in the years to come. The club will continue to support other planned community gardens with the gardens’ own Little Free (Seed) Libraries. These gardens provide area residents with limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables a sense of pride knowing they are providing their families with healthier food choices. Local co-ops will benefit from donations of food the new gardens. Classes and reference materials are going to provide the gardeners with best practices on harvesting, preparing and preserving food.

The GFWC Park City Athenaeum Club (Utah) held their 1st annual Road-Clean-Up on May 7th. The club adopted a 2.1 mile stretch of Old Ranch Road, which is a well-traveled and beloved roadway in Park City.  The day was cold and rainy, but somehow the weather made it more fun, and members were just glad it didn’t snow!

The Maquoketa Woman’s Club (Iowa) continually participates in community outreach and seeks new ways to make a positive impact. After one of their club members mentioned that the chemo port that was implanted near her chest was uncomfortable when she wore her seat belt, the club sprang to action with a solution that will provide some comfort for patients. The club has now donated over 160 handmade “seat belt port protector bags.” These soft, cushioned mini-pillows can be attached to the seat belt strap and adjusted accordingly to bring comfort to patients who have ports, pacemakers, and other health-related implants. The club donate them to the University of Iowa Hospital where they’re provided for free to patients. This is an ongoing project and one that will keep us busy due to its popularity at the hospital. It’s wonderful to know that we can bring a small bit of relief to patients. On May 11, they also helped spruce up the welcome sign that greets visitors as they enter the city. The volunteers have adopted the sign area and will continually maintain the landscaping. They planted 180 brightly colored marigolds and mulched the flower beds. In addition, they’ll be re-painting the letters on the sign so it’s even more visible to passersby. Throughout the summer and fall they’ll also be on weed patrol to keep the beds clean and welcoming.

The GFWC Saxonburg District Woman’s Club (Pennsylvania) are happy to contribute to the Soles4Souls Grand Intiative. In just one month, they collected 75 pairs of gently used and some new shoes to donate. They were delivered to Larua Marks who will be taking them on a mission trip in July. She hopes to be able to take 5000 pairs of shoes with her by that time!

The GFWC- South Brunswick Islands Woman’s Club (North Carolina) participated in the March for Babies Walk in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  The club made baby blankets, 12 of which were donated at the local event, and 14 of which were donated to the national event. The club also raised $2,009.00! The club not only surpassed their 2018 collections in both dollars collected and blankets donated, but they were also recognized locally as 3rd place in donations for non-family member groups.