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GFWC Delaware organized a march on The Green in Dover on August 26 to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment. A short program included a welcome by Past GFWC Delaware President Carolyn Forbes, member of The Dover Century Club, who was instrumental in arranging the event. Dick Carter, Chairman of the Delaware Heritage Commission, read a proclamation from the Delaware State Legislature and presented a copy to DSFWC President Rita Hollada. Hollada of the Selbyville Community Club welcomed those in attendance. She also stated that woman’s clubs throughout the country were instrumental in achieving the passage of the 19th Amendment. Twelve-year old Grace DiAntonio recited the 19th Amendment with her Grandmother Carolyn Forbes.

The march around The Green included members of other women’s organizations. Women were in white-period costume with purple sashes. The march ended in front of the Old State House where an historical marker commemorating Delaware’s struggle for women’s right to vote was dedicated.

After participating in the unveiling of the Women’s History Museum, (State Capitol, Feb 14, 2020), Cheryl Kappes, President of GFWC Glendale Woman’s Club (Arizona) knew she wanted to develop an educational program to honor the 100th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage. The club created Flat Frances, designed to replicate Flat Stanley, with the goal of helping her reach every corner of the state by August 26, 2021.

The general public was invited to view the club’s first ever Suffrage Centennial Mini Museum at the clubhouse. The stars of the Mini Museum were the history panels depicting suffragists’ 72-year battle to the ballot. “Failure Is Impossible” was the play of the day, with a cast of characters that did not disappoint.

On August 26, The Miami Woman’s Club (Florida) organized a “Stroll to Celebrate 100 Years.” All clubs in GFWC Florida’s Southern District XI were invited to participate by meeting at Bayfront Park in the heart of Miami. All who “strolled” wore long white-period dresses, hats, sashes, and carried yellow roses.

The Stroll wove its way down Biscayne Blvd, a main artery in Miami and then ended at the statue of Julia Tuttle. Known as “The Mother of Miami,” Julia Tuttle was a powerful force in the building of the city. The club added a “Votes for Women” sash to the statue of Julia. As the steps leading up to the passage of the 19th Amendment were read, the club placed yellow roses in the statue’s arms and at its feet.

GFWC Battle Ground’s (Washington) “Suffragette Women” waved at passers-by on August 26 to honor the historical importance of National Women’s Suffrage Day. They positioned themselves across the street from City Hall and near the club’s GFWC Little Free Library. The costumed occasion brought attention to the adoption of the 19th Amendment. Club women in the General Federation of Women’s Clubs all over the country played a large part in the adoption of the amendment in 1920, a century ago.

The wearing of corona virus masks, sunglasses and shadows from the 1920’s wide-brimmed hats makes identities of the participants difficult. Pictured, left to right, are Gloria Walck, Johanna Hyatt, Paulette Stinson (GFWC-Columbia District President), Mary Lee Miller (Club President) and Wendy McDaniel. The sign that was easiest to read by passers-by was “Votes for All.” Hyatt made the sashes, “Votes for Women.”

Fifteen clubwomen of the GFWC Woman’s Club of Denville-Rockaway (New Jersey) area attended an event that celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the women’s right to vote.

Pictured with the President of the GFWC Woman’s Club of Denville-Rockaway area Janet Walker are (from left), Denville New Jersey Mayor Tom Andes and club member Ruth Gimbel, holding the suffrage flag that was presented after the mayor presented a proclamation to our club. Also in the photo is Kellie Doucette, District Director to Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill of the 11th District, New Jersey.

Members of the Stones River Woman’s Club (SRWC) in Nashville, TN, celebrated the 100th Anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment in several ways. The 19th Amendment extended the right to vote to American women. SRWC President Betty Cannon obtained yellow ribbons for the members to use as yellow was a color favored by the suffragists. More than half the membership tied the ribbons to their front doors or mailboxes. President Cannon also notified the members of the re-enactment at the Tennessee State Capitol of August 18, 2020 so they could watch it live or later on video.

The GFWC Casper Active Service Club (Wyoming) celebrated the Suffrage Centennial by having tea (and lunch) at the Lavender and Lace Tea Room. The club discussed the PBS show, “The Vote,” and shared articles and stories about the amazing 72-year battle that the amazing women fought and won to give us this privilege!

The club also highlighted the amazing women in Wyoming who became voters in 1890, when it was still a territory. The club also talked about the late GFWC member Helen Bardo, who spearheaded the drive for accessibility for disabled people that led to the ADA becoming law.

On August 18, 2020, several members of the San Gabriel Woman’s Club (Texas) met at the Williamson County Courthouse to acknowledge the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution. Citizens of Georgetown also joined in the celebration.

The club was established in 1974 by women who had the “volunteer spirit.” Nancy Snead, the club’s Federation Counselor, spent many hours organizing the event. Mrs. Snead enlisted her granddaughter, Bailey, to make a sign.Then she put an ad in the newspaper and spoke with the Mayor of Georgetown. Mayor Ross sent a “Proclamation” recognizing this event being celebrated by the San Gabriel Woman’s Club.

Mrs. Snead talked about the history of the women who were dedicated to achieving the right to vote. She was very proud of her five granddaughters who participated in the event.

The GFWC Paradise Valley Junior Woman’s Club, Phoenix, AZ celebrated these women’s achievement through a presentation, “GFWC Arizona: Statehood and The Suffrage Movement” that was developed by one of their members, Debbie Grieder. It was shown via their Zoom meeting August 26, 2020.The presentation chronicled the rode to statehood and the suffrage movement led by Frances Munds, Pauline O’Neil, and Elizabeth Brawley Hughes.

Frances Munds  (left, above) and Pauline O’Neil (right, above) were members of the GFWC The Monday Club of Prescott, the oldest GFWC Arizona club in the state, which is still active today. When enfranchisement was left out of the state constitution in 1912, they led a campaign to have the bill added via the state’s initiative process to the November 5, 1912 ballot. They had six weeks to gather the necessary 3,342 men’s signatures and file the initiative, which was accomplished thanks to a massive effort during the heat of the Arizona summer. They then spent months campaigning across the state to insure the vote was positive in their favor. On November 5, 1912, the suffrage amendment passed with 68%, the highest vote for suffrage in the nation. All counties in Arizona voted in favor and Arizona became the 10^th state to grant women the right to vote. It was a proud moment for the leaders of the Arizona Women Suffrage Organization and for Arizona.  Frances Munds was elected to the Arizona State Senate in 1914 and Pauline O’Neil would represent Maricopa County in the House from 1915–1920.

The Woman’s Club of Fredericksburg, Inc. (WCF) organized and participated in a celebratory march on August 26, 2020 in honor of the 100^th Anniversary of the ratification of the 19^th Amendment giving women the constitutional right to vote. They were joined by four community leaders: Fredericksburg Mayor, Katherine Greenlaw, Fredericksburg City School Superintendent, Dr. Marci Catlett, Germanna Community College President Dr. Janet Gullickson, and Stafford County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman, Mrs. Meg Bohmke.

The Mayor read a proclamation declaring the week of August 26, a time to commemorate and celebrate the sacrifices made by hundreds of women to see the ratification of the 19^th Amendment.

GFWC Woman’s Club of Fredericksburg, President Beverly Rawlings, introduced each of the women leaders. They shared their thoughts on the 19^th Amendment including the history of the suffrage movement, the struggle to pass and ratify the Amendment, and he courageous work of numerous women including Susan B. Anthony and Ida B. Wells.

The women were joined by a group of members from the WCF dressed as suffragists and donning yellow roses in honor of the members of the Tennessee Legislature who courageously voted to ratify the 19^th Amendment on August 19, 1920, thus becoming the 36^th state to do so. On August 26, 1920, Secretary of State, Bainbridge Colby ratified the Amendment and it officially became the 19^th Amendment to the United States Constitution.

The Woman’s Club of Fredericksburg began their celebration earlier in the year by discussing the history of the suffrage movement and participating in a trivia game via their newsletter, The Scoop.

Nearly 100 clubwomen from GFWC Florida Districts 8, 12, & 14 were joined by members of the GFWC and GFWC Florida Executive Committees as they gathered via Zoom to celebrate the Women’s Suffrage Centennial. The program included a skit called Failure is Impossible by actors from a local college and guest speaker Doris Weatherford—renowned author, professor, and member of the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame. Sixteen ladies highlighted the contributions of GFWC clubwomen to the women’s suffrage movement and shared vintage photos, and many women dressed as suffragists and participated in a costume contest.

GFWC Rhode Island had a big celebration in January at the last in person state meeting. At the time, guest speaker Secretary of State talked to more than 60 GFWC Rhode Island members and guests about the importance of women getting out to vote. On August 16, 2020–2022 GFWC Rhode Island still celebrated, while social distancing. Rhode Island State President Debra Capuano met Past State Presidents Karen Leach (2018–2020) and Janet Trombetti (2014–2016) and 2020–2022 President-elect Paula Altruda Andrews at Goddard Park in Warwick, Rhode Island in the rain for the beautiful citation presented by Rhode Island Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea.

The GFWC Women’s Club of South County has observed the importance of women voting in their town, registering people to vote. They had trained their members in early spring for this activity.

Salem Area Woman’s Club (New Hampshire) together with Care for Our Troops collected items to be put into care packages for a unit of 600 members, including 50 women who will be deploying soon. Along with the requested items, notes of appreciation, and thanks were sent to encourage our troops.

For more than two years, the Clifton Community Woman’s Club has been making a hot lunch once a month for The Lamb Center, a day shelter for the poor and homeless in Fairfax County, Virginia. Before the pandemic, the club was feeding 80–100 guests each month. With COVID-19 The Lamb Center is not able to provide a sit-down lunch for the guests, so it asked the club to bring sandwiches, bottles of water, chips, fresh fruit, cookies, hard boiled eggs, and raw veggies each month instead. Clifton Community Woman’s Club members began making all kinds of sandwiches (turkey, roast beef, ham, cheese, tuna, egg salad, etc.), bagging up carrots, celery, grape tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, and grapes, and putting together a fantastic assortment of individually-wrapped goodies for The Lamb Center guests.

At a cookout in June 2019, the Cartersville Woman’s Club (Georgia) discussed a service project to make little dresses to go to girls during mission trips. The project then launched and members who sewed made dresses, while others held cutting parties or donated materials.

Member Martha Stone received her dress pattern that July. After completing her first 10 dresses, she was hooked! After Martha’s first 100, she set a goal of 500 dresses to complete in a year … and then raised it to 1,000! Each little dress was as unique as the girl receiving it; matching headbands with bows completed the outfit. She even used a doll dress pattern to make smaller dresses for girls suffering from malnutrition.

While other members have temporarily shifted to making masks during the COVID-19 crisis, Martha has never lost sight of her mission. On July 23, 2020 dress number 1,000 was completed … and Martha continues to serve as an inspiration. As Club President Sharon Cannon said: “we are inspired by how one woman’s giving heart has brought such joy to 1,000 little girls’ lives.”

Weeding the GFWC Hudson Women’s Club Butterfly Garden at Bensons Park in Hudson, New Hampshire is a project that isn’t stopped by social distancing. Members can stop, drop, and weed, anytime they are walking in the town park. Keeping gravel paths weed free and pulling out invasive bittersweet go much faster when you can talk to another gardener ten or fifteen feet away! The pergola, purchased with prize money won in the GFWC Community Improvement Contest (2012) and installed by Habitat for Humanity, finally has some plants thinking about climbing up the posts! Club members have heard several families explaining the butterfly life cycle to young children with the help of our signage. The garden is a certified Monarch Waystation.

Since the start of the shelter in place in California, members of GFWC Corralitos Woman’s Club have made more than 400 cloth masks, which were donated to three area hospitals, three animal hospitals, the local YMCA, independent visiting nurses, Salud Para La Gente community services, Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance, Community Action Board, local businesses, and the club’s general membership. More than $2,600 in donations were received as a result, and these funds were given to six local nonprofit organizations that all provide food and emergency assistance: Grey Bears, Meals on Wheels of Santa Cruz County, Pajaro Valley Loaves & Fishes, PV Prevention & Student Assistance, Second Harvest, and Teen Kitchen Project. Currently the club is busily knitting “mask extender” comfort straps for a local hospital.

Pictured is Lindsay Pavlovich, RN, modeling a mask and a sampling of the colorful assortment of masks.

The GFWC Florida High Springs New Century Woman’s Club provided a delicious pizza luncheon for residents at the Plantation Oaks Senior Living Residence located in High Springs. To bring a little cheer during these “trying times,” members donated the funds to have 22 pizzas delivered to the center. The staff was able to meet the members of the club outside and shared how excited the residents would be to receive this special treat. It really meant a lot to help make others smile!

GFWC Dunwoody Woman’s Club (Georgia) has not let COVID-19 stop it from completing charitable projects in its community. In addition to taking donations to local food pantries, JoAnn Kostkan, Arts and Culture Chairman, worked with the Foundation for Hospital Art and organized a club art project while members were sheltering in place. Members and their grandchildren painted six panels that will form a beautiful dragonfly mural to be donated to a local hospital in Georgia. Members also painted a picnic table that is now located at a local coffee shop – Crema Espresso Gourmet.

The City of Dunwoody Economic Development Department partnered with local restaurants to add or expand outdoor dining with the Painted Picnic Table Project to meet social distancing requirements. Dunwoody non-profit organizations volunteered to help assemble and paint the tables; businesses donated picnic tables and painting supplies.

Dunwoody Club President Susan Crawford coordinated a team of members to sew fabric face masks for the staff of the local police department. The masks can be washed and reused and will help extend the life of the N95 masks. The Dunwoody Woman’s Club has been an active part of the community since 1971 and will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year.

After a long stretch of hot humid weather, the GFWC Woman’s Club of West Allis (Wisconsin) decided to “cool” off. The club collected more than $500 and purchased 30 box fans at a discounted price with free delivery from Ace Hardware for the Milwaukee Homeless Veterans Initiative. The club also collected two used fans and one new fan. A big thank you to Elliott’s Ace Hardware for being a wonderful partner to “cool” the veterans and their families.

GFWC Woman’s Club of West Allis Fan Project Coordinators Sharon Plucinski (left) and Linda Taylor (right) with Ace Hardware Staff (center)

The five members of GFWC Woman’s Club of Little Silver (New Jersey) made and donated 250 masks to Monmouth Medical Center during the early stages of COVID-19. Club President Kathy Doty also made the Tree of Hope out of felt.

Winifred Steele-Burnett, LSWC Recording Secretary and Club President Kathy Doty

In June, the GFWC Mississippi Florentine Evening Club provided gift cards from the hospital coffee shop, muffins, cookies, and other baked goods to the 4th floor ICU nurses and doctors at St. Dominic Hospital as they heroically face COVID-19 on a daily basis.

The Women’s Club of Farmingdale (New York) was very proud to present a $1,000 music award to Jonathan Doty, a Farmingdale High School 2020 graduate. The Olive B. O’Connor Music Award is presented every year to a qualifying candidate by GFWC New York. The winner must be a resident of New York State, be graduating from an approved New York State (NYS) Education Department high school, private school or academy, and have had preparatory instruction, either in voice or instrument, at the high school level. The award must be used for continued musical education and be approved by the NYS Music Award Chairman.

Women’s clubs throughout NYS submitted the names of qualifying students before the March 1 deadline. Jonathan’s application was submitted by Bea Ferrari, a WCF sponsoring club member and retired FHS teacher. Jonathan has been singing since he was in 6th grade and studying voice since 8th grade. He has been performing high school musicals since his freshman year where he has had the male lead every year. These include “Horton” in Seussical, “The Baker” in Into the Woods, “Nick Piazza” in Fame, and most recently “Link Larkin” in Hairspray. Also included in his resume are many performances in “outside” theatre shows. At FHS, Jonathan was part of the mixed chorus for four years, vocal jazz for three years, and the select barbershop quartet for three years. He was Bass Section Leader and has gone to All County Mixed Chorus for two consecutive years. In addition to singing, Jonathan plays the French horn and has been one of the Drum Majors for the FHS Marching Band.

Several years ago, the Women’s Club of Farmingdale (New York) created an Ambassador Fundraising Program to raise funds for International and Global Issues inspired by their parent organization, The General Federation of Women’s Clubs, Inc. in Washington, D.C. The Ambassador Program consists of monthly lunches at local restaurants chaired by a rotating schedule of members. In the past, funds raised have been used to support a member’s daughter who is involved in building schools in Uganda in remote areas and, in addition to education, the schools promote healthy exercise for a healthy mind.

Currently, the Ambassador Program sponsored “Speak Up for the Poor,” whose mission it is to transform the world on behalf of the poor, especially creating a new reality for girls in poverty. By building an international network of people and organizations that run Girls’ Education Programs, Safe Homes for girls and Justice programs to investigate and defend human rights abuses, they have rescued girls born into brothels, rescued girls from sex trafficking and rescued girls from exploitation and abuse. They have helped and encouraged these girls to stay in school, find a path to success and inspired them to live up to their fullest potential. Unfortunately, hundreds of girls remain on their waiting list.

With the club’s $1,500 donation, Speak Up for the Poor was able to build and dedicate a beautiful Learning Center wing and purchase four bicycles for the girls to use as transportation. For more information, please go to: www.speakupforthepoor.org.

The Domestic Violence Committee of the GFWC Woman’s League of the Lowcountry (South Carolina) assembled and delivered comfort kits to Hopeful Horizons in May. Hopeful Horizons is a children’s advocacy, domestic abuse and rape crisis center, providing safety, hope and healing to survivors. This nonprofit center serves four Lowcountry counties. The kits will be used by the therapists working with the children. Each kit contained educational workbooks, a journal, colored pencils, crayons, playdoh, and a fidget toy as well as a weighted blanket to offer comfort and security during the interview process.

In addition to the kits CCI Hearing Dog Huxley presented CCI Hopeful Horizon Dog Adobe with a $100.00 gift card.This project by the Domestic Violence Committee was made possible by a $1,000 grant from S.C.F.W.C Progress Foundation.

GFWC West Side (Pennsylvania) recently donated funds to the Pennsylvania Regional Food Bank, the Al Beech West Side Food Pantry, and the “Dinner for Kids” program. GFWC West Side is dedicated to helping their local community and area nonprofits.

At the general meeting of GFWC Woman’s League of Mt. Holly (New Jersey), back in March, Home Life Chairman Elaine Hollowell, introduced a new project to raise funds to purchase a little red wagon for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The wagons are used to transport children to surgery, medical treatments, and many times just for a little ride with their families. Her goal was to pass around a tiny replica of the wagon asking members to contribute their spare change for the next few meetings, to work toward buying one wagon for $100. The meetings came to an abrupt end shortly after this due to COVID-19 and members have not had another meeting since. That did not stop their amazing, generous, and committed group of ladies from supporting this worthy project by mailing their donations to Elaine.

To date, members and anonymous donors have collected enough to purchase eight wagons for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The GFWC Woman’s League of Mt. Holly were able to bring smiles not only to the children, but their families as well.

GFWC Women’s Club of Indian River (Delaware) held their awards presentation from the Delaware State Federation of Women’s Club on June 2 at the pavilion of Warwick Park on the Indian River. The awards were presented by President Carla Pyle and some of her officers. The officers toured the state visiting each club to present these awards.

In honor of Memorial Day, the members of the GFWC High Springs Woman’s Club (Florida) placed flags on the graves of deceased veterans at the High Springs Cemetery and the Pine Hills Cemetery. The 295 flags were donated by American Legion Post 149 in Newberry. A penny was placed on each headstone to show someone visited the grave. To remember our veterans with health issues, the club served lunch donated by Wendy’s for the veterans living at the Mayflower Assistant Living facility in High Springs. Goody bags and chocolate covered Oreos made by one of their members were a big hit with the veterans. The residents created and signed beautiful cards thanking Wendy’s and the Woman’s Club.