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MLK Day of Service was a huge success for our GFWC Clubs all over the globe! Clubs and Federations all over have truly made this MLK Day a day on and not a day off. Read and comment on the first grouping of many great projects that our GFWC Clubs have participated in below.

The GFWC Pea Ridge Woman’s Club (West Virginia) had a very rewarding day at the City Mission of Huntington. Kyle Bryant, a local barber, wanted to give back to the community by giving free haircuts to the men at the Mission. Home Life Community Service Program Chairman Stephanie Carter arranged for Kyle to visit Mission and provide free haircuts in honor of the MLK Day of Service. Members went and served doughnuts and coffee to the gentlemen waiting to get their hair cut. Kyle cut more than a dozen heads and beard trims. The men were so happy and you could tell it was a real boost to their self-esteem. The smiles on their faces were priceless. Local television stations came out to cover this great event and spread the word.

GFWC Jubilee Woman’s Club (Alabama) chose to participate in MLK Day of Service by making no-sew fleece blankets. Club members completed 17 blankets to be donated to Lighthouse of Baldwin County, a shelter and crisis center for survivors of rape and domestic violence. The fleece fabric was donated by a group of women from a local church. It was an honor to serve with all the other clubs in the country on such a meaningful day!

In observance of MLK Day of Service, GFWC Murray Woman’s Club (Kentucky) members donated snacks to Main Street Youth Center. The snacks were provided for Main Street Youth Center’s their after school program.

GFWC Junior Woman’s Club of Walpole (Massachusetts) hosted, cooked, and served a “soul-satisfying” meal for Breaking Bread. Breaking Bread is a program offered by Walpole Families of Faith, which invites local individuals, businesses, and organizations to serve a free, hot meal to individuals and families every Monday evening. GFWC Junior Woman’s Club of Walpole has been participating in Breaking Bread for years. A member is in charge of securing dates (typically 2–3 times per year), another member takes on the role of head chef, and additional members serve as kitchen helpers, servers, and bakers. It’s a wonderful opportunity for club members to come together and support their local community in a special way that “feeds the soul” of all who participate.

GFWC Arlington Juniorettes (New Jersey) joined GFWC Clubs across the country in completing a service project on MLK Day of Service. With the help of local business partners, The Observer Newspaper, Arlington Pharmacy & Surgical, and Midtown Pharmacy, members placed boxes out to collect feminine hygiene products (pads, tampons, and feminine wipes). The products will be placed in smaller discreet packages that will soon be made available in local schools, food pantries, and community centers for easy access.

GFWC Georgia joined together to make donations to Georgia Cares. Georgia Cares is a state organization helping survivors of sex trafficking. Monetary and in kind donations were made.

GFWC Greater West Palm Beach Women’s Club (Florida) observed MLK Day of Service by donating more than $500 worth of food, diapers, wipes, formula, children’s clothing, backpacks with school supplies, and hygiene items to the Guatemalan-Maya Center. The Guatemalan-Maya Center is a local organization that helps migrants and their families. President Mary Evelyn Mitchell and Jeff Anne Pike met with the director the week before and obtained a list of items they needed. Members donated $20.20 each. In addition to money, some members donated children’s clothes and food.

GFWC Woman’s Club of Smithfield (Virginia) organized books and cleaned the community room at the Jersey Park Complex. Every Wednesday afternoon, GFWC Woman’s Club of Smithfield host an after school tutoring program for at-risk students at the Jersey Park Complex. Club members volunteer their time to teach and assist with homework for students who need extra help. They also provide an after school snack. Members cleaned, mopped, and helped make the room a little bit brighter. Students entering the room commented on how nice it looked and smelled!

GFWC Woman’s Club of Cayce (South Carolina) created cancer care caps for local cancer patients out of fleece. This is the second year that GFWC Woman’s Club of Cayce did a cut and sew session as their MLK Day of Service project. This year they cut 137 caps and sewed 11.

GFWC Meadowlarks had a “Little Free Pantry” donated to them from St. Mark’s Church. Many of these boxes sit outside churches throughout Cheyenne to enable community and church members to fill them with nonperishable goods, toiletries, and other items. Community members in need can take from these boxes for their families. The box that GFWC Meadowlarks received was placed in the local AMVETS Post 10 building, with whom GFWC Meadowlarks partner. AMVETS painted the pantry, and GFWC Meadowlarks filled it with goods for community members.

GFWC High Springs New Century Woman’s Club (Florida) filled bags with snack items and water for the homeless and others that just needed an extra boost. The care bags will be donated to the High Springs Police Department to be carried in their patrol cars. The bags are greatly appreciated and will be put to good use. Several of them are used when officers encounter people without any food.

GFWC Woman’s League of the Lowcountry (South Carolina) hosted a holiday party for the members of Jasper County Boys & Girls Club in Ridgeland, South Carolina. At the party, cookies, milk, and ice cream were served. In addition to snacks, holiday gifts were given to the boys and girls. A $1,750 check was presented to Heather McDonough by club officers Sharon Quinter, and Mary O’Brien. The donation was provided to help cover the December tuition for the 70 children who attend the after school program.

On November 7, GFWC Mississippi clubwomen from across the state participated in Read for the Record, organized by Jumpstart, in partnership with Mississippi Public Broadcasting. More than a dozen of members and juniorettes read Thank You Omu by author Oge Mora to more than 400 children and adults in daycares, schools, and nursing homes. It was a great experience for all!

Wednesday, November 20, the GFWC Women’s Club of Farmingdale (New York) had a great representation at St. Kilian’s Outreach Center. Members of GFWC Women’s Club of Farmingdale donated several dozen bags filled with grocery items for Thanksgiving. A special thanks to Rosemary Emigholz for stepping up to chair the club’s Welfare Committee and her helpers who made this generous contribution possible.

GFWC High Springs New Century Women’s Club (Florida) celebrated its 120th birthday with a birthday bash. City officials, members from GFWC District 5, and community members attended the party. GFWC High Springs New Century Women’s Club received a “Certificate of Appreciation” from the city for their contributions to the community. Members with 50 or more years of service to GFWC were honored with gifts. Their Past President was honored with beautiful roses. The table centerpieces were birthday bags filled with all kinds of personal items. The items were things that domestic violence survivors could benefit from when they are forced to relocate. After the party, the bags were donated to Peaceful Paths, a local domestic violence shelter. In honor of the club’s 120th birthday, two grants of $120 each were awarded to two committees for an upcoming project they have planned.

GFWC Service Guild of Covington (Georgia) participated in the Annual Christmas Parade in Covington on December 7. Their theme this year was “Frosting our Community with the Volunteer Spirit.” Their frosty the snowman and six angels won a first place Blue Ribbon Award! Kathy Rhoades participated as Frosty while Unice Stevens, Teri Jones, Pam Barnes, Carolyn Bennett, Paula Wilkins, and Denise Stanford dressed as snow angels. A special thanks to GFWC Service Guild of Covington’s ‘Member Hubbies’ Robert Rhoades and Joe Wayne Barnes who help make the float work!

Members of GFWC West Side Women’s Club (Pennsylvania) recently volunteered to paint the windows at the Community Counseling Service in Wilkes-Barre for the holidays. This project was organized by the Luksha-Roche family to commemorate the 22-year anniversary of Edward Luksha passing. Edward was a former therapist with Community Counseling Services.

Pictured at the event are GFWC – West Side Club Members Rosemary Luksha, Irene Mackiewicz, Deidre Kaminski, Terry Ross, Bonnie MacDonald, and Barbara Roche (absent from the photo: Tara Rhodes).

GFWC Circleville Junior Women’s Club (Ohio) invited the community to remember and honor the veterans and military men and women on Veterans Day weekend. The club members placed tables in eight different locations to bring awareness to the military tribute that began over thirty-five years ago. A single table is set in the dining halls of Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force as a reminder to honor those who lost their lives on the battlefield. The club has brought this awareness to Veterans Day weekend to celebrate the many men and women that have served and are serving to protect us and our families. Restaurants, libraries, clubs, and centers promoted their displays with education and remembrance cards. The club has also donated the book America’s White Table by Margot Theis Raven to the PC Library to help educate families and children on the depth of sacrifice that members of the military give to defend freedom. Whether it is called Missing Man’s Table, Fallen Comrade Table, or America’s White Table, these symbols were shared and explained for all to understand.

Pictured – Members of the club with a White Table” set up.

GFWC Women’s Club of Farmingdale (New York) Co-Presidents, Cheryl Parisi and Lorraine Stanton, together with Lynn Connolly, club treasurer, have spearheaded a new philanthropic undertaking. Monthly Ambassador Lunches are being held locally as mini-fundraisers for a program entitled “Speak Up for the Poor.” Speak Up runs a Girls Education Program which sponsors girls in poverty to stay in school and on the path to success. Their long-term goal is to help thousands of girls in poverty finish their education, get professional training, and then return to serve their community and country as servants to the poor from girls in poverty to themselves being advocates for the poor. The September and October ambassador fundraisers were chaired by Lynn Connolly and Edie Allen, respectively, at the Nutty Irishman. These mini-fundraiser lunches will continue throughout the club year.

Members of GFWC West Side Woman’s Club (Pennsylvania) have been in sharing in the volunteer spirit. GFWC West Side Woman’s Club have donated and served in many community events throughout the year. Here’s a look at what GFWC West Side Woman’s Club has been up to:

1. GFWC West Side Woman’s Club recently participated in the Ruth’s Place 12th Annual Walk for Hope. By participating, club women showed their solidarity with women experiencing homelessness in Luzerne County. This event featured a fair and a 2-mile walk that educated people about the reality of homelessness in Wilkes-Barre. Ruth’s Place is a program of Volunteers at America, a national nonprofit spiritually-based organization providing local human service programs and opportunities for individual and community involvement. Locally, in addition to Ruth’s Place, the organization also provides a variety of services such as pregnancy counseling, shelter for homeless women, child care, and elderly transportation.

Pictured at the event are Amanda Zellner, VOA Government Relations Director; Deidre Miller Kaminski – Second Vice President, GFWC of Luzerne County; Becky McCuen, GFWC West Side; Carla Finn,GFWC West Side; and Jodina Hicks, Executive Director, Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania.

2. GFWC West Side Woman’s Club spent an evening recently wrapping presents for Valley Santa. This is the club’s second year helping Valley Santa.

Pictured are Club members Christina Kinsman, Mary Ann Augaitis, Aileen Whalen, Eileen Gallagher, Diane Sickler, Irene, Mackiewicz Mary Ladish, Karen French,Tara Rhodes, Diane Fort, Maggie Wallowak, Melissa Perry, Jean Pieczynski, Ruth Visoky, Carol Bubblo and Club President Gina Rushkowski.

3. GFWC West Side Woman’s Club sponsored a tree at the Parade of Trees at Grotto Pizza at Harvey’s Lake. The Club is supported Victims Resource Center in Wilkes-Barre with proceeds from the vote. The theme of the tree is “Women in Action – Volunteering!”

Pictured decorating the tree are GFWC – West Side Club Members: Left to right Donna Comitz, Tina Stella, Aileen Whalen, – Marianne Furtak, (on ladder) Deidra Kaminski, Eileen Gallager and Betty Bauman

4. GFWC West Side Woman’s Club passed put toy soldiers as a reminder to keep our soldiers in our prayers. They expressed their gratitude to our Men and Women in the military who dedicate their lives in protecting this great nation. May we remember them in our thoughts and prayers. With respect and honor we thank you for your service!

Pictured: PA GFWC Second Vice President Heide Cebrick, President GFWC West Side, Regina Rushkowski

5. GFWC West Side Woman’s Club donated a variety of holiday gifts to a homeless family at the Catherine McAuley Center, to help them enjoy the Holidays!

Pictured are: Donna Comitz, Christine Kinsman, Cathy Scoda ,Carol Bubblo, Peggy Hanlon, Becky McCuen, Karen French, Home Life Chairman, Gina Rushkowski – Club President, Mary Ladish, Carol Grogan, MaryAnn Augaitis, Ruth Visoky and Irene Mackiewicz. Not pictured: Margaret Jackson, Diane Fort, Melissa Parry, Pat Saracino, Tina Stella, Carol Crolick, Ginny Zdanowicz, and Shelley Russin

6. GFWC West Side Woman’s Club served dinner at the St. Vincent DePaul Soup Kitchen.

Pictured Is Gina Rushkowski – Club President, Karen French – Home Life Chairman, Marge Gushka, Alice Sawchak, Terri Ross, Patty Bernoski, Ginny Zdanowicz and Irene Mackiewicz

GFWC Lake City Women’s Club (Michigan) is involved with so many activities within their city. Their hard work and dedication has granted them The Community Spirit Award. This prestigious award at the Annual Chamber of Commerce Banquet took them by complete surprise. In fact, only three awards are presented at the annual banquet and LCWC along with an active member, Tiffany Ziegler, received two of them.

Michelle, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce praised the club for their unending volunteer involvement in their community. Michelle cherished the fact that whenever a need arises, GFWC Lake City Women’s Club (LCWC) are there with ideas and volunteers to get the job done. LCWC brings pride and enjoyment to everything they touch.

Tiffany Ziegler, owner of Main Street Spectacles and proud member of GFWC Lake City Women’s Club, was presented with the award for Business of the Month. Besides being a thriving business, she is well known for her personal attention to detail and always looking for ways to help her community. She has set up a program to provide glasses for low income students at nearby schools.

GFWC Lake City Women’s Club is very proud and humbled to be recognized for the Community Spirit Award and promises to continue their mission to make the world a better place, one activity at a time!

Four GFWC Florida Clubs, GFWC Crescent City Woman’s Club, GFWC Woman’s Club of Palatka, and GFWC Woman’s Club of Welaka collectively organize the charity Pink Out Putnam, a group that supports breast cancer awareness. The Pink Out Putnam committee presented a check for $12,000 to the Board of Directors of the Putnam First Cancer Fund.
These women and a few others have worked very hard for the last two months doing a variety of activities to raise funds for this cause. They flocked yards, ‘pinked out” homes and businesses, sold smoked pork butts, bagged groceries for tips, and set up their “POP stuff” table anywhere they could.

The GFWC organization has a long history of stepping up and doing what it takes to help their communities. These women are dedicated to their role as volunteer leaders in their respective clubs and are involved in many other service projects as well. They are definitely living the volunteer spirit!

Pictured here (in pink) with the board of directors are committee members Mary Dawn Christopherson, Jimmie Clark, Dee Craft and Deb Johnson from the GFWC Woman’s Club of Welaka. Elizabeth van Rensburg and Kay Register from the GFWC Woman’s Club of Palatka and Mindy Estep and Carol Horner from the GFWC Crescent City Woman’s Club. It was these three clubs of Putnam County that started this charity together.

GFWC Potpourri Club of Glenwood (Minnesota) assisted GFWC Minnesota State President Jean Walker carry out her project, “GFWC Minnesota Supports Our Stars.” The stars are our Veterans, their families, and our Military. This entails raising money for a veteran to go on an honor flight and supporting the Eagle’s Healing Nest in Sauk Centre and Anoka. For four years, clubwomen donated items to help meet housing and clothing needs for the veterans’ home.

As a part of GFWC International President Mary Ellen Brock’s 7 Grand Initiatives, club members raised money and send it to the Armed Forces Service for women in the military. The Center serves as an oasis for active duty military personnel, reservists, National Guard, and dependents as they travel through the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport. It is a one-of-a-kind facility and unique to Minnesota.

Club members attended the Veterans’ Day program at MAHS as a group. Thanks to school children, musical groups, program speakers, and organizations for a moving program and refreshments! The club’s fall efforts have been enlightening and gratifying

Pictured is Dee Hanson, member of GFWC Potpourri Club of Glenwood (Minnesota), with bags of items for the veterans at Sauk Centre’s Healing Eagle’s Nest.  

GFWC Ossoli Circle (Tennessee) held their annual Founders’ Recognition Day on Monday, November 18, 2019. In preparation for the program, President Janie Bitner gathered 100th Anniversary Suffrage items from the local Suffrage Coalition Director Wanda Sobieski, Suffrage Coalition Board members, and artist Mary Ruden. Members used the suffrage items to decorate the tree in the foyer of the clubhouse, and GFWC Ossoli Circle plans to leave this festive tree up through August 26, 2020. Member Lou MuNutt’s program focused on the founder of GFWC Ossoli Circle, Lizzie Crozier French. She was a self-described suffragist. Member Renee Hamilton presented a Power Point, “Women’s Suffrage Movement 1780’s-1920”. This was a great way to celebrate the wonderful history in the struggle for women’s right to vote!

GFWC Georgia North West District hosted its Fall District meeting and like all District meetings the goal was to promote and meet the challenges set forth by our International President and GFWC Georgia’s State President, Tina Daniel. During the beginning of Tina Daniel’s term, she challenged Georgia clubs to grow by 10% and the North West District leaders are doing their best to meet that challenge as well as the challenge of collecting items for the 7 Grand Initiatives established by International President, Mary Ellen Brock.

As a way to promote and encourage support to the 7 Grand Initiatives, the District created one of a kind centerpieces that highlighted each of the 7 Grand Initiatives. These centerpieces were built with each learning style in mind. Some people are visual and remember things better when seeing them in person. Some members are tactical and remember things through physical movement. By having something our members can physically see, touch and feel definitely helps them remember and underscores the importance of meeting these grand initiatives in addition to giving them something to discuss. Handouts were placed with each centerpiece and members were encouraged to visit each table to take a handout while visiting with friends at each table.

Throughout 2018, nine clubs of GFWC Illinois ( GFWC Joliet Junior Woman’s Club , Darien Woman’s Club , GFWC Indian Head Park Woman’s Club , GFWC Illinois Federated Woman’s Club of Greater Belleville, GFWC Illinois Plainfield Junior Woman’s Club , Morris Woman’s Club , GFWC Macomb Woman’s Club , Morgan Park Woman’s Club ,  GFWC Illinois Effingham Women of Today,  GFWC Illinois Geneseo Woman’s Club) showed outstanding participation in the GFWC Signature Program, Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention.  Whether providing donations, sending kind words of encouragement, or volunteering at a local shelter, the following clubs showed their support and gratitude to those in need. Also featured in this blog are two volunteer activities supporting Veterans from members of the New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs and GFWC Woman’s League of the Lowcountry (South Carolina).

1. GFWC Joliet Junior Woman’s Club participated in the Will County Take Back the Night march, vigil and rally on October 4 at Joliet Central High School. Two members were on the planning committee which met monthly for this annual event to raise awareness about domestic violence, sexual assault, and other forms of violence against women. On the evening of the event, members hosted a poster-making table. Loved ones of survivors and members of the public were invited to create signs on poster board to be displayed during the 1-mile march through downtown Joliet. Members donated markers and poster board to be use for signs. GFWC Joliet Junior Woman’s Club also donated $250 as sponsors of the event. The club also collected $50.00 in-kind donations.

2. Darien Woman’s Club collected costume jewelry from members in November to use as Christmas gifts for the residents in the women’s shelter at Family Shelter Services. Necklaces, bracelets, and earrings were matched to make gift-boxed sets with a ribbon on them. Enough gifts were included so that each of the 28 residents would have a wide variety from which to choose. Members of Darien Woman’s Club collected $200 in-kind donations.

3. GFWC Indian Head Park Woman’s Club collected and shopped for Easter items, which were placed in plastic Easter eggs for the children at the Morris Constance Shelter. Eighty-eight items and $34.00 were collected. Pennies to quarters as well as candy, stickers, and more were placed in the eggs. Members donated fresh eggs, dye, cake mixes, and frosting to help residents decorate and celebrate Easter. GFWC Indian Head Park Women’s Club collected $188.00 in-kind donations.

4. GFWC Illinois Federated Woman’s Club of Greater Belleville throughout the year, donated milk, eggs, meat, fruit, and other grocery items to the Violence Prevention Center of Southwestern Illinois. In addition, members donated items on the center’s need list: birthday bags with a bag, card, cake mix, icing, and candles for children, Christmas stockings, hot wheels cars for the stockings, tree tinsel, and bows for presents. GFWC Illinois Federated Woman’s Club of Greater Belleville collected $389.75 in-kind donations.

5. GFWC Illinois Plainfield Junior Woman’s Club (PJWC) demonstrated a commitment to Will County Take Back the Night, an annual event to raise awareness for violence against women and children, to support survivors in their healing process, and to raise funds for local agencies which assist women and their families. Members gathered in the center of town on October 1 and planted 100 purple pinwheels facing busy Route 126. They also placed a sign next to the pinwheels stating PJWC’s dedication to the Will County Take Back the Night Event (TBTN). The purpose of the display was to raise awareness of domestic violence prevention and the TBTN event. The pinwheels were left on display for the month of October. On October 4, members attended the TBTN event and participated in the candle light vigil where the name of each survivor was read in memorial. In addition, members aided in the collection of food items, paper goods, and grocery store and gas station gift cards donated at the event for the Guardian Angel (domestic violence shelter). Club members have further shown their support as a Gold Sponsor of TBTN.

6. Morris Woman’s Club invited a group of women who were in a support group for survivors of domestic violence to a “Pampering You Luncheon.” These women were invited to a craft and luncheon time as a way to “pamper” them. Upon arrival, the women were led, stroke by stroke, in painting a picture on canvas. Next they were served a luncheon, including a selection of homemade pies, in a decorated dining area, along with favors at each place. There was a gift for each participant as well. Morris Woman’s Club collected $55.00 in-kind donations.

7. GFWC Macomb Woman’s Club set up a table in the entryway of a local grocery store to collect donations for the Samaritan Well (homeless shelter) and the animal shelter on Make a Difference Day. From 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., patrons of the store were handed slips of paper as they entered containing a list of needed items by the two local agencies. Customers were asked to consider purchasing something and turning it in to a woman’s club representative as they left the store. Club members were also asked to shop during this time so that they could contribute as well. Preparations for the event included contacts with the store and local newspaper, an article for the newspaper, development of handouts to patrons, and contacts with the animal shelter and Samaritan Well. Donations given to the homeless shelter were $689 worth of cleaning, personal hygiene, and disposable kitchen/dining items as well as $200 in cash. Collected for the animal shelter were over $631 worth of cleaning supplies, pet food, litter, and toys and an additional $227.00 in cash. While the residents of these shelters are not all abuse survivors, domestic violence contributes to homelessness for people and animals.

8. Morgan Park Woman’s Club supported A New Direction (AND) Beverly Morgan Park by donating women’s and children’s socks. Club members were asked to purchase new women’s and children’s socks with the suggestion that the socks be colorful and particularly fun. The socks were packaged in individual plastic baggies that included a slip of paper with the following message: As you begin your new life and Step Away from Abuse, we hope you will find comfort and warmth as you walk into your newly found freedom. Members delivered 141 pairs of socks, 36 for women and 105 for children to this domestic violence advocacy and counseling center. The club did the project because it brought joy to the clients of the center and let them know members cared about them. The head of and said how much everyone enjoyed the socks, especially the children. $423 in-kind donations were collected.

9. The GFWC Illinois Effingham Women of Today celebrated with a pajama party in December where members wore comfy PJ’s to their meeting and donated 32 pairs of pajamas to the Department of Child and Family Services. Members realized that children were being removed from their abusive homes during the evening hours with nothing wear at night. Having a warm pair of new pajamas helped to reduce the fear and confusion children felt during this stressful time. Members of GFWC Illinois Effingham Women of Today raised $250 in-kind donations.

10. GFWC Illinois Geneseo Woman’s Club cut and tied fleece blankets for two domestic abuse shelters. The blankets were packed with a stuffed animal or toy that matched the design on the blanket. The packages were delivered to the shelters to be handed out to the residents and past residents during the annual Christmas parties. A total of 60 blanket/toy packages were created and delivered to Winnie’s Place in Moline and a total of 60 blanket/toy packages to Freedom House in Princeton. The club collected $1320.00 in-kind donations.

Members of the New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs have collected more than 1,000 holiday stockings for service members. Individual clubs donate the stockings, from a few to a hundred per club. The stockings are being sent overseas through Operation Yellow Ribbon South Jersey, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting our troops. Holiday stockings are filled with items needed or wanted by soldiers, including candy, personal care products, packaged snacks like jerky and trail mix, wet wipes, foot powder, and many other products. In 2018, the state collected over 1,700 holiday stockings, and this year’s count is expected to be at least as many. Monetary donations are also collected to help with the cost of overseas shipping.

GFWC Woman’s League of the Lowcountry (South Carolina) held a tea on Saturday, November 9, 2019 at the Lakehouse Ballroom in Sun City Hilton Head, SC to honor area women who have served in the military. Twenty-eight women veterans attended the event along with thirty-five club members. One of the highlights of the afternoon was hearing from each of the honored guests share stories about their service. Guest speakers were Capt. Mary Houser, USN (Ret.), Col. Joyce Humphrey, USA (Ret.) and Martha Spisso who served with the Red Cross and as a “Donut Dollie” in Vietnam. Guests were entertained with a rousing rendition of Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy. Two of the honorees were randomly chosen to have their military information submitted, at the club’s expense, to Women in Military Service for America (WIMSA). As an ongoing project, the club will continue to honor our women veterans and seek to have each woman’s service registered with WIMSA.

What does preserving nearly 130 years of histories, stories, and accomplishments entail? Preservation efforts can take many different forms. The Women’s History and Resource Center (WHRC) strives to preserve the history of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) through maintaining and digitizing archival records and museum collections and ensuring that our information is accessible to all.

The WHRC’s newest project, an effort to digitize our Oral History Collection, is just one example of how clubs can preserve their own histories and save the voices of their past. Discover how clubs across the country have been protecting and maintaining their club’s precious histories and historic documents in the articles below.

Redwood City Woman’s Club Makes History a Priority
Submitted by Elaine Park, GFWC California

The Redwood City Woman’s Club has made preserving and honoring our clubhouse a top priority. As part of our preservation efforts, we recently embarked on a much-needed renovation of the main bathroom. The room was stripped down to the studs and then rebuilt to match the building’s 108 year-old craftsman style. Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was essential and the bathroom is now fully accessible to all.

To honor our clubhouse, we decided to nominate the building to the National Register of Historic Places. In order to conduct the necessary research, we formed a History Committee to oversee the process. Committee members spent the summer sorting, labeling, and filing 110 years of minutes, scrapbooks, committee reports, flyers, newsletters, correspondence, and financial records. Among these piles, we were excited to find a photograph of the clubhouse site before the home had been built and original club members from 1913. We also discovered the plans that were used to enlarge and modernize the clubhouse in 1939 and 1973, as well as board minutes specifying the changes.

The History Committee also decided to subscribe to Newspapers.com to enhance their research, which provided us with a wealth of information. Articles were found that detailed original club meeting reports in the home of our first President, Katherine Cumberson, and the progress of the clubhouse’s construction and grand opening. Of special interest to us were previously forgotten stories of club members, such as a duel with the Bachelors Club over a venue for a Calico Ball in 1911 and a grass fire that threatened to burn down the clubhouse in 1915.

The information enabled us to compile a comprehensive timeline for the club and clubhouse and put together a list of members who were active in Redwood City and the surrounding areas, from the club’s founding up until the present. We also created an index of our archives, inclusive of material that was found at Redwood City’s local history room and the San Mateo County Archives.

We are now planning on hanging copies of the photos we found, along with other historical photos we already had on display in our new bathroom. We have also posted the photos and some of the historical articles written about the club on our website.

The documents sorted by our History Committee have been archived and are organized and ready for the next generation of club historians.

The History of the Sioux City Woman’s Club Finds a Home
Submitted by Renee M. Beacom, GFWC Iowa

Materials chronicling the history of the Sioux City Woman’s Club languished for more than 100 years in dark closets and basements of club members’ homes. The documents amounted to thousands of pages that were handwritten and faded, unevenly printed by early manual typewriters, or crisp computer print outs. These documents were prepared over those 100 years by women of all ages and various talents with a common spirit of service. These women made a difference in the civic and personal lives of people in the Sioux City community. They created a precious history of their lives and accomplishments over the 108 years of the club’s existence.

Thanks to efforts led by long-time club member Nancy Cord, six very large boxes of club records were packed and delivered to the Public Museum in Sioux City, Iowa. Archives Manager Thomas Munson gratefully accepted the materials; which included annual year books; meeting minutes; and scrapbooks containing photos, stories, and news articles about club projects and activities. Materials will be processed and catalogued by the Public Museum and made available for research. Recent materials remain in club files for reference by current members and officers.

Our story is the story of women’s contributions to the development of arts, education, health, and culture in Sioux City, Iowa. At last, it is safely stored, preserved, and available for future research and study.

Preserving The History of the Woman’s Club of Indio 
Submitted by Mickie Reed, GFWC California

The Woman’s Club of Indio was founded in 1912. Until the early 1980’s, our club was diligent about preserving its history. All yearbooks, newspaper articles, and member information were collected and stored in the clubhouse. Like many early women’s clubs, the Woman’s Club of Indio was involved in the founding of many of the social institutions in its community. The club had a hand in establishing the local library, hospital, and even the local USO branch.

In 1980, membership began to decline and the clubhouse had to be sold. However, thanks to the efforts of a few faithful members, the Woman’s Club of Indio has increased recruitment efforts and been revitalized. Our recent spike in membership and enthusiasm has enabled us to begin to reassemble pieces of the past forty years of our history. Over the last two years, club members have begun making consistent efforts to carefully document current events and members. One particular project involved scouring the archives in order to learn the first names of our past presidents, as they had commonly used their husbands’ names.

To strengthen our recordkeeping and archival practices, we now write biographies of each member. We print the biographies, newsletters, and club Facebook posts on acid-free paper and store them all in protective archival boxes to deposit at the museum. We include copies of our general and board meeting minutes, treasurer reports, event flyers, as many pictures as we can collect, and sadly, some obituaries of our members.

We have asked members to share their histories with us and have discovered some amazing stories. Among our clubwomen are a former actress, an airline stewardess, sky-divers, and members who appeared in the Rose Parade. The stories are a testament to the strength of women and of our club members.

The Woman’s Club of Indio is now a thriving club with 121 members, and we are determined to keep our club and history alive.

Preserving the History of the GFWC West Central District
Submitted by Lorie Billehus, GFWC West Central District

Preservation of the GFWC West Central District began in 1949 when an official district historian was appointed. Over the last 70 years, we have collected scrapbooks filled with pictures, program documents, awards, attendance books, registers, and treasurer books. Thanks to the foresight of Past President Joyce Wahlquist, our District celebrated its centennial and 100 years of secretarial minutes were digitized.

Arrangements were made to have our minutes, along with scrapbooks, treasury, and secretarial books stored at the University of Minnesota Morris’ (UMM) Archives. The UMM was chosen as our primary repository; it is most central to all clubs in the District and easy accessible. Digitized disks went to GFWC Headquarters and the Minnesota Historical Society.

As each District scrapbook is filled, it is placed in the archives at the University and recorded by the District Historian. The secretarial reports are kept by the District with future plans of digitization.

Club members are aware that rapidly changing technology demands require developing future plans for digitization and storage of materials. Discussions are being held with UMM about submitting a grant to receive the necessary funding to do this work. We feel it is important to remember where we have been in order to move forward.

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The GFWC du Midi Woman’s Club of Huntsville, Alabama honored fallen veterans at the Huntsville Memory Gardens Cemetery. Members prepared and placed six hundred wreaths on the tomb stones of fallen veterans. The wreaths will later be removed to storage in January 2020. Additionally, the GFWC du Midi Woman’s Club designed and mailed post cards to honor the active and retired Veterans and spouses for Veterans Day. A GFWC du Midi Woman’s Club United States Military scrapbook is kept and updated by a club volunteer, which lists each active duty and retired military club member or spouse with a brief history of each.

GFWC Valamont Woman’s Club (Tennessee) members appeared on a local TV show to promote the placement of three flag boxes in the community. The project was shared by another club at the 2019 GFWC Annual Convention in Austin at a Lunch & Learn and brought it back to the GFWC Valamont Woman’s Club. The used flags will be given to the Boy Scout office for training purposes. The project was also highlighted in a newspaper article.

The GFWC Valamont Woman’s Club also had a baby shower for the female soldiers and wives of soldiers at Fort Campbell. Gifts bags full of goodies were brought and donations were made to purchase one big gift as a door prize. Plans are underway for the actual shower in January.

Lastly, the GFWC Valamont Woman’s Club folded patriotic napkins into lotus cups. These napkins will be delivered to the local Veterans’ Center to be filled with candy and handed out to the veterans.

This Veterans Day, November 11, the GFWC Viera Woman’s Club (Florida), and the new Viera chapter of the Guitars for Vets (G4V) non-profit, a wonderful charity supporting veterans who are ailing and injured, teamed up to host a Veterans Day benefit concert.

The concert was held at the Viera Holiday Inn. Seven local bands and artists volunteered their talents and time to be a part of the concert. This was the fourth year for Jill Hansen of the GFWC Viera Woman’s Club to chair this event, working with Brian Donnelly who founded the Viera chapter of G4Vets!

The Guitars for Vets mission is to help veterans find hope in the unlikely wood and strings of an acoustic guitar. The healing power of music helps soldiers cope. “I’m a veteran. I play the guitar and thought this would be a good idea”, says Brian, founder of the Viera chapter of G4Vets. The GFWC Viera Woman’s Club is proud to be a part of this concert fundraiser to raise money to help veterans participate in this structured non-profit program.

This year, 200 tickets were sold and the event included an auction of an acoustic guitar hand-painted by Diane Haroman, a handmade quilt created by VWC member Cheryl Snyder, and a vacation weekend at a Cocoa Beach resort, Blue Wave Cottages. Several local businesses do-nated door prizes and helped to also raise funds. This year almost $4,500 was raised.
Many thanks to Brian Donnelly and his band, Stay Tuned Acoustic Duo, Mike and Tammy Hans, FLORIDADAVE, “Sax Appeal” musician Dave Kujat (Kooj), Rich Brown, and Highway 1 Band.

The GFWC Woman’s Club of Plant City honored veterans and active military officers with a BBQ event on November 10 at the Teco Expo Hall. There were approximately three hundred veterans in attendance with their wives, husbands, or family which brought the total to nearly 500. The GFWC Woman’s Club of Plant City worked hard to provide sponsors, door prizes, and an amazing performance. There were ten World War II veterans in attendance with oldest being one hundred years old. Present at the event were veterans from the Korean War, Vietnam, Dessert Storm, Iraq, and Afghanistan. It was a day of remembering and honor.

The GFWC Junior Woman’s Club of Walpole (Massachusetts), started and closed the Veterans Day weekend with two long-standing events:

JWCW Red, White, and Brew: This is the 9th annual beer, wine and spirits-tasting fundraiser benefits the Walpole Veterans Committee. This group provides veteran assistance and community outreach to the hyper local community. For the last 9 years, funds raised have provided meals, gift cards (food, gas, etc.) set up an educational scholarships.

Veteran’s Day Coffee Reception: The town of Walpole honors its veterans with a ceremony in its town center. This beloved tradition draws a wonderful cross section of the community. Young and old gather to pay their respects. The GFWC Junior Woman’s Club of Walpole hosts a complimentary coffee reception complete with all the trimmings. Refreshments are then delivered to the Walpole VFW.

The GFWC Junior Woman’s Club of Walpole looks forward to these events every year and club members are quick to volunteer in any way they can. It’s a wonderful way to come together as a club and thank local community members!

For Veterans’ Day 2019, Marna McDermott and Marsha Travis of the GFWC Woman’s Club of Cranbury teamed up for a special project to thank Veterans currently residing in Cranbury, New Jersey. Marna searched Township records and asked countless people for help in developing a comprehensive list of veterans in Cranbury. Marsha compiled the names into a spreadsheet, got Executive Committee approval for the wording, and printed the notes and envelopes. Below is a picture of the card which features a simple silver border and the Woman’s Club Lily motif as a watermark. The cards read:

The Woman’s Club of Cranbury wants to thank
you and your family for the sacrifices you have
made as a member of our military. Your selfless
bravery protected our freedoms when we needed you most.
May we never forget that freedom isn’t free.

Above is a picture of the card which features a simple silver border and the Woman’s Club Lily motif as a watermark.

Above, we see Marna and Marsha at the Post Office, ready to mail their heartfelt thanks.

The GFWC Nampa Woman’s Century Club presented a check for $2246.00 to Kenton Lee, founder of The Shoe That Grows. He was a guest speaker at the Western States Region Conference in Boise, Idaho and shared information about this worthwhile project. The Shoe That Grows is a nonprofit organization that donates shoes that grow five sizes to kids who are in need of protective footwear. Kenton recently delivered 2,000 shoes to Nairobi, Kenya. The Shoe That Grows is the International Outreach project for GFWC Nampa Women’s Century Club.

On October 21, GFWC La Crescenta Woman’s Club (California) hosted a “Baby Shower” for the YWCA Domestic Violence Program. Sylvia Chinn, from the YWCA Domestic Violence Program in Glendale, provided the club with information on the organization and how to support a survivor. The evening consisted of some fun baby games and donations of diapers and baby food.

YWCA Glendale works every day to provide services and education to the community and works to end domestic violence.

Pictured above from left to right: Sylvia Chinn (YWCA), Cindy Charles, Catherine Sulzberger and Michele Pashayi.

On September 14, GFWC La Crescenta Woman’s Club hosted a Shoe Drive that supported the Soles4Souls as part of GFWC’s Grand Initiative. More 925+ Pairs of shoes were donated! This could not have done this without the community’s support and support from club members!

Pictured above from left to right: Stella Plunkett, Marilyn Wright, & Chairwomen Michele Pashayi & Barbara Edwards

This summer the members of the GFWC Poultney Woman’s Club (Vermont) came together to collectively create 28 child size hospital gowns for their service project. Some members donated fabric and materials to make the gowns while others sewed the gowns from a pattern provided by Operation Smile.

“This project has been a huge success. We currently have 28 members in the Poultney Woman’s Club and all members participated in one way or another to make the Smile Project great.” said Jaime Milazzo, Poultney Woman’s Club President.

On Thursday, October 17, the members of the GFWC Poultney Woman’s Club gathered the gowns and displayed them for a group photo at their monthly meeting. The gowns were delivered to the GFWC Vermont club meeting on Saturday, October 19 to be packaged up and sent to the Operation Smile project.