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A Look Back at GFWC History with the International Past Presidents

Five of the GFWC International Past Presidents at the 2015 GFWC Annual Convention in Memphis, Tennessee.

For two years, the GFWC International President resides at GFWC’s Headquarters on 1734 N Street, located just south of DuPont Circle in Washington, D.C. It becomes her home as she invests all of her time into GFWC. Living at this National Historic Landmark is just one of the many duties required of the International President during her administration.

Serving as the official representative of GFWC, each International Past President has left a truly remarkable mark on GFWC that is still felt today. From Charlotte Emerson Brown, GFWC’s first president in 1890, to Babs J. Condon, GFWC’s 50^th President, the Federation has been led by inspirational leaders who ensured GFWC was meeting its mission of improving the lives of others through volunteer service.

As Women’s History Month comes to a close, join us on a glimpse of the past as we look back on the accomplishments and contributions of just a few of the many International Past Presidents. These incredible leaders are true examples of Living the Volunteer Spirit.

Mary Elizabeth Preston
1978-1980
Kentucky
During her term, Mary Elizabeth Preston, the 32^nd GFWC International President, promoted family unity and free enterprise.

“The private enterprise system has been the financial pillar of our society, the family has been the moral and philosophical pillar. While they both stand, our country is held aloft and free; if they should fall, America falls with them,” she said.

She also helped to establish the Korean Federation of Women’s Clubs, traveling to Seoul, South Korea in 1978. She then spent a week in the Soviet Union, along with First Vice President Juanita Bryant and Second Vice President Jeri Winger. In Moscow, the GFWC leaders met with leaders of the Soviet Women’s Committee and discussed the roles of Russian women.

After the discussion, Mary said that she had “a better understanding of Russian women. I have to believe that they too would like world peace. All the women of the world would. Our governments may work in very different ways, but as women, we have many common concerns.”

Marijo Shide
1980-1982
North Dakota

As GFWC International President, Marijo Shide worked to increase awareness of GFWC and encouraged clubs to put GFWC in their club name.

“Clubs and State Federations saw the value of the GFWC Brand. If a reporter didn’t know what GFWC was, that gave them a great opportunity to tell them,” she said.

Marijo promoted programs including crime prevention, energy conservation, the Community Improvement Program (CIP), CARE, and National Family Week.

Marijo enjoyed interacting with clubwomen and having the opportunity to serve. She also loved living at GFWC International Headquarters and having access to the Archives.

Juanita Martin Bryant
1982-1984
North Carolina
The opening of the GFWC Women’s History and Resource Center on May 1, 1984 was one of the highlights of Juanita Martin Bryant’s time as GFWC International President from 1982-1984. Vice President George Bush cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony, officially opening the center, which stores GFWC Archives and documents the history of women volunteerism. As a self-described history buff, Juanita is proud that the WHRC is still going strong today, and that it is used by individual researchers, universities, and historians.

Working with the mentally and physically handicapped, especially through the Special Olympics, was Juanita’s special project during her administration. She attended the International Special Olympics in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1983. Another highlight of her presidency was attending the National Multiple Sclerosis Conference in Houston, Texas, where she presented the MS Volunteer Award to Frank Sinatra.

Juanita also travelled internationally through the CARE project, visiting projects in Hawaii, Guam, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, and Saudi Arabia.

Looking back at her administration, Juanita says that she enjoyed the opportunity to visit and meet with clubwomen not only in the United States, but around the world as well.

“I feel very strongly that our volunteer work is a great contribution. It doesn’t trickle down from the top; it wields up from the bottom. The great success of GFWC is because it is organized not only in clubs, but on regional, national, and international levels. I think that is a major thing that has made GFWC so successful during this 126 years,” she said.

Jacquelyn Pierce
2006-2008
Illinois
As the 46^th GFWC International President, Jacquelyn Pierce’s administration focused on Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention. Participating in the writing of the Violence Against Women Act was one of the highlights of her time as president.

Jacquelyn is proud of GFWC’s recognition in the United States Senate in 2006. Then-Senator Joseph Biden (Del.) called “a gem among our midst” for our work in domestic violence awareness and prevention, as well as GFWC’s history of support for the Violence Against Women Act.

Jacquelyn had the opportunity to visit the Dominican Republic in 2007 with Reaching Out Internationally Chairman Nancy Jones, participating in the Plan USA Global Women’s Fund in Action.

“It was a very humbling experience for me to be able to write a personal check in the amount of $800 which enabled the women of the village of Azuna to purchase their first commercial sewing machine so that they could make the school uniforms that their children were required to wear. Presented on behalf of GFWC, that small donation made a difference. The women could now be gainfully employed and the uniforms could be made at a cost much less than if purchased in a retail store,” she said.

Jacquelyn’s administration theme was “Empowering Women One by One.”

“I have always thought that if you looked at a banner in the front of a convention hall, the words on that banner should define, without question, the mission of the organization. To me, GFWC, first and foremost, empowers its members, and it does so on an individual basis. Ask any club member what GFWC means to them and their answer will involve their personal empowerment,” she said.

Rose M. Ditto, Ph.D.
2008-2010
Kansas
Rose M. Ditto, Ph.D., served as GFWC’s 47^th International President. Her administration focused on health programs, specifically healthy self-worth. As president, Rose enjoyed the opportunity to share her passion for the importance of the development of healthy self-worth and emotional intelligence.

Serving with Missi McCoy, GFWC Director of Junior Clubs, the Executive Committee, and the GFWC Staff was another highlight. Rose also enjoyed attending GFWC Region, State, and club meetings and representing GFWC at events.

“Through my travels to GFWC Regions, States, and Clubs, I was always amazed by the projects and volunteer achievements proudly reported,” she said.

“GFWC — A Vision of Possibilities” was Rose’s administration theme, inspired by the song “I Am a Promise” from the musical “Kids Under Construction” by the Gaithers. The words are, “I am a Promise, I am a Possibility, I am a Promise with a capital P.”

“These describe each and every GFWC member as we have unlimited possibilities for serving others in our families, clubs, and communities,” Rose said. “GFWC’s historical accomplishments speak loudly, the present accomplishments continually build, and the future accomplishments are within our reach.”

The volunteer spirit and the giving nature of GFWC members have impacted the American spirit and culture which have reached all over the world, Rose said.

“At one time the voice of GFWC was very strong and quite influential, however, as our membership has lessened, so has our voice. The challenge now is to continue impacting those around us and within our reach—families and communities. The American dream is just not to have more, but to give more for the betterment of others,” she said.

Mary Ellen Laister
2012-2014
Arizona
Mary Ellen Laister strongly supported the GFWC Signature Project: Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention and the Success for Survivors Scholarship. In 2013, GFWC awarded eight scholarships of $2,500 each for a total of $20,000.

Mary Ellen is proud to have raised over $20,000 in 2012 and 2013 to award these scholarships. Reading the applications and hearing the stories of these women was an emotional experience.

“When I read those applications, I wanted to cry, I wanted to scream. It gave you every emotion in the world,” she said.

Mary Ellen met one of the scholarship recipients during her administration, and said the young woman was so grateful that it brought tears to her eyes.

“It was so important that we made their life better,” she said.

According to Mary Ellen, the most exciting part of being president was traveling to the Regions and attending State Conventions, which allowed her to meet clubwomen and hear about the impact they were making in their communities.

“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and I was very fortunate to be the 49^th president,” she said.

The Red Dress Fashion Show at the 2013 GFWC Annual Convention in Hollywood, Florida was a huge hit, Mary Ellen said.

“I felt I had a very positive two years,” Mary Ellen said.

For a full list of GFWC’s International Past Presidents, click here. Stay tuned for a look at GFWC Past Directors of Junior Clubs on the GFWC Facebook Page.

Sharing the Joy of Reading: Read Across America 2016 Recap

By Mary Ann Pierce
GFWC Education Chairman

Promoting literacy is a year-round activity for GFWC clubs, but Dr. Seuss’s birthday on March 2, known as Read Across America Day, gives members an opportunity to share their love of reading. Clubwomen across the country participated in this annual event, reading to elementary school students, dressing up as Dr. Seuss characters, and truly living up to the famous quote, “You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child.”

Clubwomen love to read. From belonging in Epsilon Sigma Omicron to sharing their favorite books on GFWC’s Facebook page, members are enthusiastic about reading aloud to children and increasing literacy rates in their communities. Clubwomen impress me with their love of literature but also their willingness to share this love. Every day should be celebrated with reading to a class, a grandchild, a friend, or just for your own pleasure. As a former teacher, I found the more a child is read to, the more their reading ability improves. GFWC has supported libraries, schools, and our children’s future success in school. Let’s continue to keep that legacy strong.

We hope you enjoy this collection of quotes and photos from some of the clubs who participated in Read Across America 2016! Check out the GFWC Education Community Service Program in the 2014-2016 Club Manual for project ideas related to education and literacy.

GFWC Dublin San Ramon Women’s Club (California)
Ten club members were assigned to public schools in the community to read to elementary school students. They came prepared with Dr. Seuss books and hats, as well as pictures and articles about Dr. Seuss. Clubwomen taught students the importance of being a good reader, and served as ambassadors for GFWC.

One volunteer was asked by a student if she was Mrs. Seuss. Another volunteer was asked if she was a grandma and if she knew Dr. Seuss!

“The bottom line is we left with a smile on our face. And we spent the day being positive ambassadors for GFWC,” said Joan Ernst, the club’s president.

Pat Martin and Marilee Stefenhagen represented Norwalk Woman’s Club as guest readers at Lampton Elementary School.

GFWC Norwalk Woman’s Club (California)
Pat Martin and Marilee Stefenhagen represented the Norwalk Woman’s Club as guest readers to a second grade class at Lampton Elementary School.

As a retired librarian, this Read Across America celebration gave me the chance to dust off my storytelling skills and share puppets again with the second graders,” Marilee said.

Pat and Marilee were even treated to lunch after reading to the class.

“My granddaughter went to this elementary school, so I especially enjoy coming back to this campus to interact with the children,” Pat said.

The GFWC North Pinellas Woman’s Club celebrates Dr. Seuss’s Birthday.

GFWC North Pinellas Woman’s Club (Florida)
The GFWC North Pinellas Woman’s Club loves to celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday every year.
This year, the club visited two elementary schools and read to classrooms at two different schools. Members also conduct book and craft activity second graders at one of the schools every month. This month’s craft was a Cat in the Hat paper plate craft. Even though every child received the same pieces, every face was as individualized as the kids themselves.

“We have as much fun as the kids! One of our members even has Cat in the Hat slippers she wears when we read,” said

Doris Hoenig of the Stone Mountain Woman’s Club reads to a group of children.

GFWC Stone Mountain Woman’s Club (Georgia)
Barbara Luton, president of the GFWC Stone Mountain Woman’s Club, participated in Read Across America Day along with several other members of the Stone Mountain Woman’s Club.

“The class was very attentive which made it so much fun for me to read. I thought the books might be a little young for fourth graders, but they participated and really seemed to delight in Dr. Seuss’ funny words,” Barbara said. “It always amazes me and thrills me that children of any age love to hear the books read to them.”

Under the leadership of Education Community Service Project Co-Chairs Doris Hoenig and Kathy Gallo, several other members of the Stone Mountain Woman’s Club also read to students at the school.

“The best part about reading to the children was that after I finished reading, I got lots of hugs,” Doris said.

The Woman’s Club of Parsippany-Troy Hills donated “Oh Say Can You Say” and “Great Day for Up” to the Parsippany Library System to celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday on March 2. Pictured are club members Cathy Haney, Mary Ann Coyne, Stephanie LiCausi, Janet Reilly, and Joan Garbarino; and library staff members Melissa Okerblom, Corinne Markey, Jenn Carlin, and Rose Schulman.

GFWC Woman’s Club of Parsippany Troy-Hills (New Jersey)
In celebration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday, members read to the children at the Parsippany Child Day Care Center. Clubwomen also donated a copy of “What Pet Should I Get” to the Day Care Center Library and provided afternoon snacks to the children at a Dr. Seuss party! As part of their annual Dr. Seuss Project, copies of “Oh, Say Can You Say” and “Great Day for Up” were donated to the Parsippany Library System.

“Reading to the children is always so much fun! They were really excited about having visitors read to them and had lots of funny comments and questions. Our club has been involved with the Parsippany Child Day Care Center since the 1960s. It is an important endeavor for us,” said Joan Garbarino, Dr. Seuss Project Leader and Cathy Cerbo, Education Chairman.

Denise Sellers and Deborah Mervine of the Haddon Fortnightly.

The Haddon Fortnightly (New Jersey)
Members purchased three books about inspirational women and girls, and distributed these books in a local laundromat, along with a note inviting a child to take the book home to read. The books included “Malala Yousafzai: Warrior with Words,” “From Amelia to Zora: Twenty Six Women Who Changed the World,” and “Girls Think of Everything: Stories of Ingenious Inventions by Women.”

“I have found tremendous joy in going into a classroom with a book I love, taking along all sorts of homemade props and stuffed characters from the story and trinkets to enhance the experience, and having a group of children gathered in front of me, totally caught up in the story,” said Denise Sellers, the club’s Education Chairman. “Their rapt attention, their anticipation as the tale unfolds, their laughter as characters do silly things … together we ride the story to the conclusion, then have a wonderful time sharing our thoughts and feelings about what we read.”

Denise’s enthusiasm for books has spread to other members, inspiring the club to buy books for a pediatric cancer center waiting room and a Chinese food takeout restaurant, as well as donating copies of “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” to a middle school science classroom in a needy school district in Texas through a Go Fund Me site. The club also donates books to the local library in memory or in honor of members from time to time.

Making an International Impact: GFWC Affiliates Around the World

By Elaine Ko-Talmadge
GFWC International Affiliates Chairman

In 1889, Dr. Emma Brainard Ryder of the New York City Sorosis Club placed an advertisement in a newspaper in Bombay, India, inviting young women of all classes and nationalities to a meeting about forming a women’s organization. Dr. Ryder received a great deal of backlash for her plan. Some missionaries said that men would not permit women to participate, and residents of Bombay argued India’s caste system would make forming a club difficult.

Despite this doubt, 47 women attended the first meeting, and 30 women became charter members. Thus, the first GFWC International Club was created. GFWC Founder Jane Cunningham Croly sent a message congratulating the new club. “Tell them the world was made for women also,” she wrote.

Throughout the 19^th and 20^th centuries, clubs like Bombay Sorosis continued to form around the world. At one point, GFWC was present in 55 countries. Today, GFWC has International Affiliates in Aruba, the Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, Cyprus, Ghana, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, Taiwan, Curacao, and Ukraine.

International Affiliates are supported by the GFWC International Liaison Committee. The committee consists of a chairman and three committee members who work to promote GFWC membership services, benefits, and resources. The committee also hosts members who attend GFWC International Conventions and Region Meetings. I was proud to be selected as the 2016-18 chairman.

My international life began in 1960 when I married my college sweetheart from Korea. During our 30 years of marriage, we had four children and hosted 17 international exchange students from all over the world. It just seemed natural that I would be part of GFWC International Programs.

When GFWC asked me to represent the Federation at the United Nations, I was thrilled and attended meetings pertaining to women, children, and families for a number of years.

My only regret is that I do not speak all the languages of our International Affiliates. Most of the officers speak English, but it is difficult for those who do not to attend GFWC meetings and conventions.

I look forward to the next two years, and hope to bring more clubs into our Federation. Remember, all GFWC clubs are welcome to become a sister club to International Clubs. Please contact me at elainekotalmadge@gmail.com for more information.

Here’s a brief overview of what some of our International Affiliates have been up to:

American Women’s Club of Toronto
The club’s It’s Teatime Fundraiser raised over $2,000 for Nellie’s Shelter, which assists those in need of food, shelter, and support. The American Women’s Club of Toronto will celebrate 100 years in 2017.

The Federation of Women’s Lyceum Clubs Ammohostos Cyprus
The club’s lifetime project is the Children’s Holiday Resort, a camp for children from economically disadvantaged homes. The project started in 1931 and now includes training in the arts and education, as well as community health services for women and the elderly.

Ukraine Women’s Club
The war in Ukraine has affected children and their families, both young and old. The Ukraine Women’s Club has tried to help make life a little easier for the children by hosting a camp in the summer, providing food during the year, hosting a Princess Ball for children without parents, and collecting clothes and utensils for families escaping the war. The GFWC Cookeville Junior Women’s Club (Tennessee) and the GFWC Heritage League (Nebraska) recently sent children’s vitamins, liquid ibuprofen, and DynaRub to the club, as medicines and fruit are very expensive in Ukraine.

Women’s Club of Aruba
Aruba celebrated its 80-year anniversary in 2014. Last December, the club provided clothes for 300 less-fortunate children. Members recently delivered 2,500 sports bottles to students across the island as part of their Save the Earth Project.

The Women’s Club of Osculda
The Women’s Club of Osculda, located in Curacao, was founded in 1963 for organizing seminars and study mornings. The goal was to help women take care of the economic and social affairs of their families and advance women’s sense of responsibility as members of society. Today, members promote women’s health, and recently formed a parent’s group in the schools.

International Women’s Club of Porto Alegre
The International Women’s Club of Porto Alegre, Brazil, established in 1964, helps children from the slums find a better life. Members run a children’s club for students, helping them complete their homework and learn leadership skills.

Recently, members bravely entered a march against government corruption to show the world that, as women of all different classes, they are all affected by government malfeasance, and reform is necessary.

GFWC Baroy Woman’s Club
The GFWC Baroy Woman’s Club, located in the Philippines, partners with local officials and nongovernmental organizations to implement the KidzFeeding Project, a daily meals program that works to combat undernourishment and malnutrition in children three and younger in Baroy. The project provides training to parents on the kind of meals they should provide their children. The club plans to bring this program to other villages and seeks help funding this project. Only $0.65 is needed to provide one meal to a child.

American Women’s Literary Club
The American Women’s Literary Club of Lima, Peru celebrated its 90^th birthday with a new cookbook called “Fresh Flavors.” The club’s signature event is Noche de Musica, held every year at the U.S. Ambassador’s residence. Money from these events has gone towards building a classroom for a school, funding educational supplies, and providing financial support for teachers at the Instituto Pedagogico.

International Women’s Club of Merida
The goal of the International Women’s Club of Merida, Mexico is friendship, service, and self-improvement. The club mentors young women and provides scholarships for higher education.

National Council of Women of Taiwan
The National Council of Women of Taiwan was established in 1950 to enable women’s groups in Taiwan to work with nongovernmental organizations. The National Council of Women of Taiwan advocates for women’s issues, cares for elderly, handicapped, and indigenous people, and promotes environmental protection and child welfare.

Taipei International Women’s Club
The Taipei International Women’s Club has promoted education, public welfare, international friendship, and cultural exchange since 1951. The club recently donated to victims of a typhoon in the Philippines and the Taipei Benevolent Society for the Blind.

Grand Bahama American Women’s Club
The Grand Bahama American Women’s Club is marking 50 years this month. The club is also planning for its 13^th Annual Philanthropic Golf Tournament, which raises money for scholarships and grants. Recently, clubwomen provided 1,600 vision and hearing screenings in local schools.

Love Your Heart: Tips for a Healthy, Happy Lifestyle

As the number one killer of women, it’s important to know the steps you can take to help prevent heart disease. That’s why this February during Heart Health Month, we’ve reached out to GFWC clubwomen with experience in the health care industry, and asked them how women can protect their hearts and live a healthy lifestyle. Check out the following tips for ways you can take control of your health, starting today.

Follow a Healthy Diet

Tricia Wagman, a registered nurse who works as a patient educator and certified diabetes educator, says that healthy eating is all about planning. She suggests making a list before going to the store to ensure your diet is a balance of calories from foods such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, skinless chicken and fish, nuts and legumes, and canola, olive, and grape seed oil. She also advises adding beans, eggs, and unsalted nuts as other protein options.

A good place to start is fresh fruits and vegetables. Since salt should be limited, consider picking up some fresh herbs in the produce section to add flavor, Tricia said.

“Think of adding color and make a rainbow of veggies on your plate,” she said. “Fresh or frozen vegetables are a better option. If canned vegetables and fruits are your only option, look for ones packed in water without added sugars, fats or salt.”

When cooking meats and fish, Tricia advises grilling, broiling, or baking the meat. Frying should be avoided. A healthy diet also includes plenty of water.

“Limit juices and soda in your meal plan,” Tricia said.

Portion sizes should also be considered, Tricia said, so be sure to read food labels and be aware of serving sizes when shopping.

Exercise Every Day

Exercise is key to maintaining a healthy weight and preventing heart disease. But that doesn’t mean you have to buy a gym membership and put on the spandex, Tricia said.

“Start out simple with adding steps to your day. The goal is 10,000 steps a day,” she said. “Get up every hour at work in your office and walk around to get the blood moving. Go for a walk at lunch or take the dog for a walk after work. Get your children up and moving and walk or push them in the stroller to the park. Challenge the children to play a game of Wii sports. Put on some music and dance around the house.”

Walking can also help with stress, depression, and anxiety, said Tammie McCoy, who has been a nurse since 1985.

“Walking is great exercise and is free. Walk at least 30 minutes most days for the best benefit,” she said.

Limit Caffeine and Alcohol Intake

Women should avoid drinking more than one glass of alcohol per day.

“If you drink alcohol, drink red wine,” said Barbara Whitaker, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. “Red wine is considered to have the most heart-healthy resveratrol. However, studies show it might be other lifestyle factors that are important. It is known that more than a glass or two a day can lead to other health issues. If you don’t drink, don’t start just for the resveratrol.”

Stop Smoking

“If you smoke, stop,” Barbara said. “This includes e-cigarettes. If you use a nicotine patch or gum, wean them as soon as possible.”

Some studies suggest that quitting smoking can decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease by 50 percent, Tammie said.

Get regular check-ups and know your numbers

According to Celene Post, a registered nurse, you should be aware of your blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, cholesterol (both good and bad), and body mass index (BMI.)

“Talk to your healthcare provider – no questions are stupid!” she said. “Know your numbers, treat your risk, and you will be on your way to a healthier lifestyle!”

It’s important to keep diabetes under control, Barbara said. “I see the results of poor control in the vascular lab every day,” she said. “It’s not pretty.”

Reduce Stress

Reading a cozy mystery, meditating, getting a message, relaxing, watching a comedy, or doing a craft are just some ideas Barbara gives for reducing stress.

“Incorporate ‘me’ time in your day,” she said.

Know the Signs of a Heart Attack

According to Jane Carver, a Certified Emergency Nurse, there is no age limit on heart attacks, Women as young as 30 can have an attack.

“Women die sitting at home,” Jane said. “Any emergency room would prefer that you come in and not have a heart attack than have a heart attack at home, waiting to see if you get better.”

Jane advises that women experiencing the warning symptoms listed below should call their doctor, especially if the feelings are new, worse, unexplained, or they have other heart disease risk factors. If they’re severe, or you have any signs of an impending heart attack, call 911.

Symptoms include:

Shortness of breath: Often the first symptom.
Unusual fatigue: Overwhelming exhaustion, too tired to do anything
Digestive changes: Terrible heartburn with nausea.
Weakness: No strength, like having the flu.
Chest or upper back discomfort: May or may not be crushing pain.

Symptoms come and go, but may increase in intensity and number as the attack nears. Women may have six or more different symptoms that become more intense and pile on top of one another. Jane reports that of the hundreds of women heart attack survivors, 95 percent of the women suspected something was wrong in the months leading up to their attack.

Visit The Heart Truth website for more information on heart disease and women.

About the Authors

Jane Carver is a Certified Emergency Nurse with over 30 years of experience in the emergency room. She currently serves on the GFWC Credentials Committee.

Tammie McCoy has been an active member of the GFWC Mississippi Pontotoc Woman’s Club since 1997 and currently serves on the GFWC Communications and Public Relations Committee. She has been a nurse since 1985. She has worked in staff and leadership nursing positions in home health, flight nursing, and emergency nursing. Tammie has been a member of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program Faculty at Mississippi University for Women since 1999 and has been department chair since 2007.

Celene Post will mark 44 years of nursing in July. Her nursing experience includes hospital and nursing homes, hospice, marketing, and home care. She currently works in health management and serves on the GFWC 125^th Anniversary Celebration Committee.

Barbara Whitaker currently serves as GFWC Parliamentarian. She is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (APRN, CRNA) with over 30 years of experience in practice with United Anesthesia, Inc. at West Virginia University Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center in Parkersburg, West Virginia.

Tricia Wagman is a registered nurse who graduated from Boston College and worked at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston on a cardiac and oncology unit. She now lives in Maryland and works at Carroll Hospital and LifeBridge Health Center as the patient educator and certified diabetes educator. Tricia is a member of the GFWC Junior Woman’s Club of Westminster and serves as Special Assistant to GFWC International President Babs J. Condon.

End Human Trafficking in Your Community

If you’ve been following the GFWC Facebook and Twitter pages, you may have noticed that we’ve been sharing facts about human trafficking throughout the month of January to mark Human Trafficking Awareness Month. These facts, provided by GFWC International Outreach Partner U.S. Fund for UNICEF, included the shocking statistic that over 5.5 million children worldwide are victims of human trafficking.

Human trafficking may feel like it’s a problem that happens somewhere far away, but the truth is that it’s been reported in every U.S. state. That’s why it’s more important than ever for clubwomen to work together to end trafficking.

Mansi Mehta, Manager of Civil Society Partnerships at the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, hosted a webinar for GFWC members last week to share ways that we can work together to end trafficking. Clubwomen learned about how to speak to their clubs and local communities about stopping human trafficking.

While Human Trafficking Awareness Month has come to a close, there are many ways we can continue to act throughout the year, including:

Learn the signs of human trafficking
Visit www.polarisproject.org/recognizing-the-signs to learn more about common signs child victims of trafficking may show, including working long and excessive hours, being nervous or anxious, and appearing malnourished.

Get informed about human trafficking
UNICEF USA offers both a podcast series and a toolkit that can help you learn more about this issue.

Be aware of and decrease your slavery footprint
Visit www.slaveryfootprint.org to learn more about how victims of human trafficking are exploited and how you can ensure the products you purchase don’t use exploited workers.

Host a screening of Not My Life
Not My Life shows human trafficking both around the world in the United States. Email endtrafficking@unicefusa.org to get a copy of the film. You can also host a facilitated discussion following the documentary.

Check out more tips covered in the End Trafficking Webinar by clicking here.

2015: Year in Review

2015 was a landmark year for GFWC as we celebrated 125 years of Unity in Diversity. Below, we look back on the year’s greatest moments. Stay tuned for the 2015 Annual Report, a full recap of the year’s activities that will appear in the January/February issue of Clubwoman Magazine.

View the story “2015: Year in Review ” on Storify

Living the Volunteer Spirit During the Holidays

By Mary Ellen Brock
GFWC First Vice-President

When the holidays come around, it’s often easy to get caught up in your own plans. From gift shopping to meal preparation, it’s certainly a busy time. We often need to take time to pause from our own holiday celebrations and remember those who are less fortunate than us.

Eberspacher House — The GFWC Seward Woman’s Club (Nebraska)

With 14.5 percent of people living below the poverty line in the United States, many families suffer during the holidays and don’t even have enough money for dinner, let alone an extravagant holiday meal. While wrapping presents for our own friends and family is fun, it’s important to keep in mind our neighbors who may be struggling to make ends meet.

GFWC clubwomen are always doing something to help others and improve their communities. Between Holiday Home Tours that raise money for scholarships and club projects, toy drives that ensure all children have a present to unwrap, and Santa’s Workshops that give money back to the community, members are committed to making sure everyone has a happy holiday season.

Clubs in every state have creative and innovative projects that spread the holiday cheer. For example, the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club (Nebraska) has partnered with the Eberspacher House, a 1906 Victorian, to host “Christmas Past at the Museum.” The event featured beautiful Christmas decorations and included a soup luncheon. Members raised money for their club and also for the Eberspacher House.

In Tennessee, the GFWC Cookeville Junior Woman’s Club hosts the annual Santa’s Workshop, an art and crafts show which is now in its 38th year. Since the event started, over $500,000 has been raised and given back to the local community. With only 27 members, the GFWC Cookeville Junior Woman’s Club proves that with some hard work and holiday cheer, anyone can make a big impact.

To help families in need, the GFWC Verona Junior Woman’s Club (New Jersey) has set up Adopt-A-Family wish trees throughout the community. The trees include ornaments with wish lists from families who need some help this holiday season. The Woman’s Club of Parsippany-Troy Hills is also participating in an Adopt-A-Family program in New Jersey, and has donated over $1,500 worth of clothes, toys, and other gifts for a local single mother and her three children.

GFWC Denville-Rockaway — The GFWC Woman’s Club of the Denville-Rockaway area (New Jersey)

Another club in New Jersey is making a difference this December by playing the role of Santa. The GFWC Junior Woman’s Club of Jefferson is offering to send letters from Santa to children in the community for $4 each, with all proceeds benefiting the Jefferson Township food pantries.

The GFWC Woman’s Club of the Denville-Rockaway area (New Jersey) filled hundreds of Christmas stockings with items such as soap, combs, shampoo, lotion, tissues and toothbrushes/toothpaste and donated them to the local social service agencies and to a Veteran’s group home located nearby.

Holiday Home Tours are often a Christmas Tradition, but in addition to being a fun activity, they also serve an important purpose. For the GFWC Temecula Valley Woman’s Club (California), proceeds from its 31st Annual Holiday Home Tour benefit the club’s project, “Canine Support Team.” The GFWC Woman’s Club of Antioch is another California club that hosts a Christmas House Tour. This year’s theme is “Peace on Earth,” and all the money raised from the event go to scholarships for local high school students and help the club maintain its historic clubhouse.

In Florida, the GFWC Brandon Junior Woman’s Club hosts a “Hope for the Holidays” shopping event, featuring local vendors online and at the clubhouse. Shoppers can feel especially good about their purchases at this event, with proceeds going towards the club’s Annual Children’s Holiday Party for 90 underprivileged children in the area.

Wearing a pair of cozy pajamas over the holidays may be something we take for granted, but some children often go without this warm item of clothing. The GFWC West Virginia Club of Shinnston provided extra comfort for children in crisis at the Genesis Youth Center by donating 26 pairs of pajamas. It’s often something simple like this that makes a difference for a child during the cold winter months.

Speaking of something cozy, the GFWC Kannapolis Junior Woman’s Club and GFWC Kannapolis Woman’s Club (North Carolina) made Build-a-Bears and donated them to Main St Mission’s Christmas with Dignity Program for children in need. The clubwomen enjoyed making the bears and feel even better about helping children enjoy Christmas.

These are only a few of the many thoughtful deeds clubs are doing this December. With nearly 3,000 clubs across the country, this holiday season is a little brighter, thanks to GFWC members who uplift others by Living the Volunteer Spirit.

View more photos of holiday volunteer projects on the GFWC Pinterest Page.

Wreaths Across America 2015

On December 12, GFWC International President Babs J. Condon, GFWC staff, and clubwomen participated in the annual Wreaths Across America Day at Arlington National Cemetery. Clubwomen Jennifer Nowak and Lisa Vartanian, members of the Wilbraham Junior Women’s Club, traveled all the way from Massachusetts for this special event. Below, Jennifer explains the history of Wreaths Across America and shares her special experience at Arlington Cemetery.

The History
Wreaths Across America began in 1992, when Morrill Worcester, the owner of Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine, had a surplus of holiday wreaths. Worcester remembered visiting Arlington National Cemetery at the age of 12, and decided he had an opportunity to honor our veterans. He arranged to place the wreaths at Arlington in sections that were receiving fewer visitors with each passing year.

As plans were underway, a number of other individuals and organizations stepped up to help. James Prout, the owner of local trucking company, generously provided transportation all the way to Virginia. Volunteers from the local American Legion and VFW Posts gathered with members of the community to decorate each wreath with traditional red, hand-tied bows. Members of the Maine State Society of Washington, D.C. helped to organize the wreath-laying, which included a special ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

After many years of this wonderful tribute, a picture circulated on the internet in 2005 brought the project national attention. Requests poured in of people wanting to help, share stories, and thank Morrill Worcester for honoring our nation’s heroes.

In 2006, simultaneous wreath laying ceremonies took place at over 150 locations around the country. The Patriot Guard Riders volunteered as escort for the wreaths going to Arlington. The “Veterans Honor Parade” continues to this day as the wreaths travel the East Coast in early December.

In 2007, the Worcester family, along with veterans and other groups and individuals formed Wreaths Across America, a non-profit 501-c (3) organization, to continue and expand this effort.

The mission of this group is simple: Remember. Honor. Teach.

This year, Wreaths Across America distributed 900,000 wreaths to volunteers across America to place and honor our nation’s heroes. To know that individuals, organizations, and corporations purchased each one of those 900,000 wreaths is heartwarming.

Arlington National Cemetery: December 12, 2015

This trip began back in September, when I talked with President Babs Condon about a return trip to D.C. to attend Wreaths Across America. Without a hesitation, my sister-in-law and fellow clubwoman, Lisa Vartanian, were both ready to go back to help. We traveled once again, all the way from Massachusetts, and arrived late Friday night to a warm welcome at GFWC Headquarters. It was the beginning of a perfect weekend.

On Saturday morning, I woke up early and joined President Condon, President-Elect Sheila Shea, Chief Operating Office Rosemary Thomas, and Lisa as we traveled to Arlington early enough to see the Convoy enter the cemetery. We gathered at the front door at the WIMSA Memorial, where staff members Michelle Furman and Melanie Gisler joined us. Another clubwoman, Millie, also joined us after reading about the event in News&Notes. At nearly 60 degrees, the weather could not have been better.

The number of volunteers that came to show their respect and honor our veterans was astounding. They came in every age, from very young to very old, and every age in between. There were civilians like us, as well as military in uniforms, and veterans proudly displaying hats and apparel from their branch of service, who were a part of this inspiring day.

The Veteran’s Honor Parade began with Maine Police vehicles leading, followed by other vehicles that traveled from Maine, then the beautifully decorated trucks that carried the wreaths. Volunteers then followed the vehicles in and proceeded to different sections. While walking along, the white headstones lined with exact precision gave us goose bumps as we remembered each headstone stood for a person who protected and defended our country.

Soon the trucks cargo doors were opened and the wreaths were passed from one volunteer to another. I said a prayer of thanks for the dedication of our veterans before placing a wreath on a headstone.

As we looked around, it was heartwarming to see how quickly wreaths were placed on the headstones, when it seemed so calm and serene. It was inspiring to see how many people gathered at this hectic time of year to honor those who have fallen. It was humbling to see how many Americans sacrificed so much for their nation.

Soon the trucks were emptied, boxes broken down, and the debris cleaned up. Then it was time to walk and enjoy the beauty of the pristine white headstones with green wreaths and red bows, knowing that someone thought of each hero today.

To say the day was incredible would be an understatement. It was a day that reminds me to stand tall, and makes me proud to be an American.

Jen Nowak has been a member of the GFWC Wilbraham Junior Women’s Club since 1994 and currently serves as Treasurer.

Shot@Life and GFWC

Shot@Life truly enjoyed the 2015 GFWC Annual Convention which took place from June 12-15 in Memphis, Tennessee. We can’t believe that it has already been a month!

There is a lot to be learned from the inspiring group of amazing women that helped create kindergartens and public libraries in the United States. Today they are as active as ever helping to provide children worldwide with a chance a Shot@Life.

The convention was a lot of fun – from dancing in blue suede shoes at the Shot@Life Awards Banquet to sipping lime green cocktails at the GFWC Social Hour. We had a lot of fun and we learned a lot too! Therefore, I thought to share some of the content of the event with you!

We were fortunate to host many activities at the event including the following:

Champion Building Workshops: Click here to view the presentations and notes from the two workshops that we hosted on June 13.
Awards Banquet: Click here to view the slideshow (of pictures of GFWC women in action) that was displayed at the event.
Post-event photos: To view a slideshow from the photos taken from the Awards Banquet with our Elvis Tribute Singer, click here.
Awards Winners: Shot@Life recognizes and awards GFWC women for their fundraising efforts. Click here for the September 2014 – September 2015 list of award winners as of June 1. We are making it easier to win in 2016! Click here to learn about the new 2015-2016 Lifesaver Award program with GFWC.

Shot@Life would like to extend extra special thanks to the GFWC Champions of Shot@Life and to all of those who participated in the 2014-2015 Awards Program. We truly appreciate your efforts!

If you would like to learn more about how you can fundraise for Shot@Life, please contact as at info@shot@life.org or visit www.shotatlife.org.

We look forward to having even more fun next year at the 2016 GFWC Annual Convention in Baltimore. I am already planning my outfit for the lime green fashion show!

With best wishes,
Alan Kissick

Invite Your Friends to LIKE GFWC’s Facebook Page!

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead

Clubwomen are always there to help, so let’s help spread the word about our organization! An easy (and free) way to spread the word is through social media. Use the power of Facebook to share our story!

GFWC’s Facebook page hit 5,000 LIKES last week. Let’s double that by Convention in Memphis (June 12-15)!

How do I ask people to “LIKE” our page?

Here are a few easy steps.

1 – Go to the GFWC Facebook Page (or any group page that you have already “liked”). And see the highlighted area that says “Invite friends to like this page.”

2 – Click on the “invite friends” and a pop up will appear with a list of your friends.

3- Click on the “INVITE” tab and you are finished! You can select the friends on your list that are GFWC members, or people that you know support your club and all that you do. They will receive a notice in their notification “world” that you invited them to like a page. You will also be able to see which of your friend have already “liked” the page.

Share your love of GFWC with all of your friends!