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On Saturday October 19, the women from GFWC North Pinellas Woman’s Club gathered at Florida Sheriff’s Youth Ranch in Safety Harbor, Florida to celebrate GFWC Advocates for Children Week. The Youth Ranch is home to 20 young people who live in foster care, and it is extra special because they focus on sibling groups, allowing the family unit to stay intact in what is already a difficult time for these young people. With help and support from the club women, all of the kids were able to create a beautiful “All About Me / Future Me” poster to be displayed at an upcoming banquet at their facility. The young people were encouraged to start with a visioning board where they wrote words about things they like to do now, and visualized what the future could hold for them. The club women provided help and encouragement with the visioning process. Once complete, some children scoured donated magazines for photos of their visions, while others captured their goals and dreams on paper through hand-drawn artwork. It was a powerful morning of self-exploration and visioning for everyone.

Since its inception in 2014, GFWC Woman’s League of the Lowcountry (SC) has chosen Pink Bags of Hope as its signature project each October in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Members fill the bags with items for women undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Utilitarian items such as snacks and candy, hand sanitizer, game and puzzle books, and a shawl for warmth are included along with inspirational things like small poetry books or journals to record one’s thoughts and feelings. As the club grows its membership, so does the number of filled bags to a record 80 in 2019. Distribution is through a local medical facility.

The GFWC Northwood Women’s Literary Club made an impact in their community in 2019! They donated $1,500 and solicited additional funds and support from the Northwood Economic Development Foundation and the Northwood American Legion to beautify the Main Street of Northwood, ND. Together they completed a vacant corner lot by adding two large pergolas and encouraging people to purchase stone tables, seating, and planters in memory of their loved ones.

The Club also sponsored their third Art/Wine Stroll during their city’s annual Old Fashioned celebration. Members sold approximately 275 tickets and profited more than $2,300. Six venues housed a range of art exhibits by Northwood-connected artists. Each location provided wine tasting and finger foods.

Preparations have begun to sponsor July 2020 entertainment in the newly constructed 400 seat auditorium. Expanding the arts has truly been a focus this year!

Finally, the Literary Club organized and hosted a community program on the Opioid Crisis. The guest speakers included a county coroner, a Captain in the Sheriff’s Department and a States Attorney. Each spoke from their unique perspective and answered questions from the audience. Plans are underway to host a community program in 2020 with the topic being human trafficking.

On October 10, 2019, GFWC New Hampshire was inducted into the NH Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence’s HALL OF FAME. The Coalition recognizes an individual and an organization annually for their tireless efforts on behalf of victims of crime and support of survivors.

From Lyn Schollett, Executive Director of the Coalition:

The General Federation of Women’s Clubs NH has hundreds of committed members all across our state who have demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to community service. Many of their advocacy efforts center on preventing child abuse, domestic violence, and sexual assault; and connecting their fellow Granite Staters to local resources like crisis centers and mental health services. The Coalition has been fortunate to partner with this incredible organization for many years. Their members have hosted phone banks, attended legislative hearings, organized events, volunteered at a softball tournament/fundraiser, and have truly been the force of grassroots organizing that the anti-violence movement has depended on. We are inspired by their sense of community and stand in awe of their ability to drive change.

Recognition from US Senator Jeanne Shaheen:
Senator Jeanne Shaheen
October 10 at 6:32 PM ·

The New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence has worked tirelessly to empower survivors of domestic and sexual violence in New Hampshire. Wishing its members a successful dinner and I thank and congratulate this year’s honorees, Tom Velardi and GFWC New Hampshire, for their continued and vital work on behalf of survivors to ensure that they are heard, helped and have the support needed to seek justice. –J.S.
In addition to the noted activities above, GFWC NH passed a resolution to support crime victim’s rights, wrote letters to the editor, served as keynote speakers, been featured in informational/promotional videos, volunteered at a softball tournament/fundraiser, and testified to their state legislators. They are also working with the Coalition to develop the Go Forth with Confidence NH Scholarship, for a male or female survivor of domestic or sexual violence.

As Tina Smith, GFWC NH Signature Program Chairman, said in her acceptance speech:
To us, this is not just an award, this is gives us motivation to continue our work with the Coalition. GFWC NH is now in their Hall of Fame, but we will always continue to stand beside them to end domestic and sexual violence.

NFWC Education Chairman Donna Lefler presented The ESO Diamond Award to Nancy Galaway of the GFWC Fairmont Woman’s Club at the NFWC District IV Convention on October 9, 2019 at Exeter, Nebraska. The Diamond Award is for reading 1,000 books in the ESO program.

The club has seven members in ESO. Lea Johnson and Pat Gage are working on the Pledge Level, which are 16 books from 4 categories. Inez Logan and Karolyn Glenn have completed the Star Level and Donna Lefler and Nancy Seward have completed the 2nd Century level, Nancy Galaway has completed the 10th Century level.

Learn more about the Epsilon Sigma Omicron (ESO) is a reading program.

Donna Lefler (left) and Nancy Galaway (right)

The theme of the Nampa Idaho Senior Faire was Super Heroes and members of GFWC Nampa Woman’s Century Club looked the part at their informational table! Many women were introduced to the club and were invited to attend our next meeting. The booth also won best booth!

On October 1, the GFWC South Baldwin Woman’s Club held its 2nd Annual Gulf Shores Goes Pink. All municipal buildings, bridges, and palm trees at Gulf Place were lit pink at dusk. This was a free community barbecue at Gulf Shores Fire & Rescue Station 1 in Gulf Shores. All donations were made to the Guardians of the Ribbon: the Pink Heals of Lower Alabama. The Pink Heals were formed to bring awareness to breast cancer—and pink was for the moms. Cancer is not age nor gender specific. All club members have been touched by cancer in some way, whether it be themselves, a family member, a neighbor, or a caregiver. The GFWC South Baldwin Woman’s Club, the Pink Heals, and Gulf Shores Fire & Rescue care! Money raised for the Pink Heals stays in the community to help those who need it the most.

On September 28, 2019, members of GFWC Colorado gathered together to participate in a special project which was organized by the staff of Mesa Verde National Park. The project took place just after members had unveiled an interpretive sign at the Park. The sign was funded by GFWC Colorado, which told the story of the part early club members had in helping to establish Mesa Verde as a National Park. The work project was folding paper sacks to be used for Luminarias at the park during their Christmas programs. Club members and their families were given instructions on how to fold the bags, which then had sand put inside and were topped with a candle. The bags will line the trails leading up to the cliff dwelling that will be decorated with the Luminarias on December 12. There were a total of 1,600 bags folded and members completed the task in less than an hour! The staff at the park was extremely grateful for this help; they stated it usually takes them, with some volunteers, more than a month to get the bags completed. Members were happy to help and enjoyed their time together, laughing and interacting with park staff. It was a great partnership! After checking out the photos below, see the article that ran in The Journal.

The GFWC Acorn Club of Seaford (Delaware) recently unveiled two historical markers in its community, which were presented by Delaware House of Representative Minority Leader Dan Short. Others in attendance were Seaford Mayor David Genshaw, State Senator Bryant Richardson, representatives from the library, and Acorn Club members.

When GFWC Northwest Suburban Woman’s Club (Illinois) petitioned Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi concerning HR 2793 as part of GFWC’s Brand Initiative for clubwomen to make a 1,000 contacts to representatives in support of Miranda’s Law, they decided to go big! Instead of sending postcards and letters, the club members put together, signed in RED and sent a 2×3-foot petition to the congressman’s Washington, DC office. It was a very satisfying project for the club to feel like their voice would be heard!

The Oregon City Woman’s Club (Oregon) was on hand helping Start Right School Supplies. In addition to donating, club members counted inventory, tracked monetary donations, and helped to pack and sort 1,600 backpacks for students from kindergarten through high school who would not have all of the necessary supplies for a successful school year otherwise.

Each year on September 11, the GFWC High Springs New Century Woman’s Club (Florida) creates baskets of goodies and fruit to honor their first responders. The baskets are presented to the High Springs Fire and Police Departments, the Fort White Sheriff’s station, the Fort White Fire Department, and the Alachua County EMT station. Members signed a thank you card to include in each basket. It’s a small gesture to show appreciation to the wonderful people that care for their community and keep it safe.

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!