05-2017 Florida Clubwoman - GFWC Florida

May 2016

Northwind Traders Newsletter

Letter from the President Hello my dear friends,

May 2017

GFWC Florida Spring Convention was the Cat’s Meow and thanks to all who attended and made it a Great Gatsby kind of weekend. [See a few fun pictures on pages 4-5!] My friend John Spring, The Piano Man, wants to come again so hopefully he will be able to join us for Spring Convention 2018. It was an award winning weekend with 65% of the clubs in Florida reporting, representing 75% of our membership and of those who reported, 66% won awards. See, it does pay to report. Information on all winners is posted on the gfwcflorida.org website under the Resources tab (not the drop-down list, but the actual tab itself). You will also find the GFWC reports listed there as well. Of special note were a few significant winners: The LEADS winner is Heather Brott from the GFWC Sebastian River Junior Woman’s Club in District 10; Volunteer of the Year is Margie Harper, GFWC Crystal River Woman’s Club, District 5; Outstanding District Director is Patty Fisher, District 2; the Ginny Winsemann Outstanding Junior Director is Joy Post, District 9; the Unity in Diversity Award was presented to Candace Jackson and Vi Zonfrelli, District 8; and the following were the Outstanding Clubs by Category: Category 1—GFWC Woman’s Club of Crestview, District 1 Category 2—GFWC Brandon Service League, District 8 Category 3—GFWC Treasure Coast Women, District 10 Category 4—GFWC High Springs New Century Woman’s Club, District 5 Category 5—GFWC North Pinellas Woman’s Club, District 14

And the GFWC North Pinellas Woman’s Club was named the Lois B. Perkins Outstanding Club of the Year for 2016. (Continued on page 2)

In This Issue Executive Board/ Committee News ........2-6 District 1 News .......... 7-12 District 2 News ........13-15 District 3 News ....... 16-18 Important Dates .......... 18 Volun-Tour Aruba ........19 Hacienda Cruise ..... 20-21

August Clubwoman Article Assignments District 9 District 12 District 13 Woman’s Clubs Due July 25, 2017 to GFWC Florida Clubwoman Managing Editor: Gina King Granger [email protected] Junior Woman’s Clubs Due July 18, 2017 to GFWC Florida Clubwoman Junior Editor: April Simons [email protected]

(President’s Message continued from page 1)

Thank you for all that you do in support of your communities throughout the year. You all are truly Living the Volunteer Spirit – and loving it!!! I hope you are planning to travel with us as we cruise to Costa Maya in Mexico and Havana, Cuba on the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line starting on January 29, 2018. Look for details on the website at gfwcflorida.org (or find the flyer and form on pages 20 & 21). See you on board.

Mary C. Powell, President GFWC Florida Federation of Women’s Clubs

Mary C. Powell, GFWC Florida President

GFWC Key West Woman’s Club GFWC Florida President Elect Sharon Oliphant and her husband Tom recently toured the historic GFWC Key West Woman's Club. The history of the club house and the club was presented by President Dawn Martin and Docent Mary Ann Finley. Established in 1915 this beautiful historic home is right on Duval Street in Key West. Over 200 members strong, this club has many great events that help fund and support their charitable giving exceeding $100,000 in 2016.

Historic Sign of the Hellings House home of GFWC Key West Woman's Club.

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(Continued on page 3)

Docent and club member Mary Ann Finley with Tom and Sharon Oliphant.

Florida Clubwoman May 2017

Docent Mary Ann Finley, GFWC Florida President Elect Sharon Oliphant and Key West President Dawn Martin.

Antique Cabinet dating back to the 1700s.

From the GFWC Florida President Elect The saying goes “Time flies when you are having fun” or “The older you get, the faster time flies by.” Either way, how can one year of this current administration already be done? We have accomplished so much in the past twelve months, I am amazed. When you look at the reporting numbers, projects and financial support we have given back to others, it is truly a blessing to be a part of this great organization. Sharon Oliphant, GFWC

A thought I read a few weeks ago that I would like to share: Florida President Elect In volunteering, everyone’s time is worth the same: nothing and everything. The same motivations that inspire us, do not have us seeking recognition, however those we serve recognize us. It’s nothing, and it’s everything. We all matter, if we serve from home, at a soup kitchen, at our local library, help our neighbors, our friends or someone we have just met. I hope that you will think about how you can continue to serve our GFWC Florida. It is at times “nothing” but it is (Continued on page 4)

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(President Elect continued from page 3)

“everything.” Every act of giving back, is important and is needed. Nothing prepares you for the act of giving back, we just do it, because it is the right thing to do. When people ask you why or how do you do it? Just answer: It is the theme of my life to give back. Then tell them about the over 90,000 members that are coming together around the world–at times it is nothing, but it is everything to someone. Sharon Oliphant GFWC Florida President Elect

Scenes from the GFWC Florida Spring Convention

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2017 GFWC Florida LEADS Graduates 5


From the Junior Director Wow! What a fabulous “Great Gatsby” weekend we had at our Convention in April. I am so proud of all of the clubs and their accomplishments. It was an honor to give out the awards with GFWC President Shelia Shea and GFWC Florida President Mary Powell. And how great was it to have our GFWC Director of Junior Clubs, Jolie Frankfurth, in the house for Sunday awards! We could not have asked for a better weekend. Juniors are getting ready for our Summer Planning coming up on July 22 in Seminole, FL. This is all open to all Junior members. Please plan to join us as we have a great line up of topics to help clubs with current issues they are Kelly Holmes, GFWC FL Director of Junior Clubs facing. And we will have some fun! The flyer and registration information is on the GFWC Florida website home page. In the midst of getting ready for Junior Summer Planning, President Powell and I are already getting ready for Beach Blanket Bingo in the fall. This should be a really fun and casual Fall Board. So make your plans now to attend September 22-24, 2017. Finally, I’m so proud of our very own Jolie Frankfurth, GFWC Director of Junior Clubs, and the recent release of the GFWC Junior History. This was distributed to your Junior District Directors. If you have not seen the document yet, don’t worry, it will be posted on the website soon under the Junior section. It is a wonderful history based on research compiled by Jolie and a team of other Juniors from the GFWC Archives. I hope you all have a wonderful summer. In Junior Love,

Kelly Holmes GFWC Florida Director of Junior Clubs

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District 1 News GFWC Santa Rosa Woman’s Club GFWC Santa Rosa Woman’s Club (SRWC) is growing as it serves. The group launched a fall membership drive with an October Wine and Cheese party at a member’s home, which increased the club’s membership by 33 percent, adding ten new members. And those members started volunteering immediately by making halos and headbands for special needs children at the Greater Gulf Coast Arts Festival. As a member of the Gulf Breeze Chamber of Commerce, SRWC entered a float in the Christmas Parade and walked away with the Top Hat Award. The club also won the District 1 Silver Tray for the most blue ribbons in the District Arts and Crafts Show. Member Patty Manhire won District Best of Show with a hand-blown emerald glass bowl.

Since November Santa Rosa Woman’s Club has added ten new members. Pictured following the Yellow Rose Installation service are Angi Huntley, sponsor, Sandy Jones, Tiffany Finelli, Beverly Sigurnjak, Kim Lien, and Martha Brenenstahl, membership.

In other GFWC activities, SRWC hosted District 1 clubs and state officers Sharon Oliphant and Shannon Bailey for “Dishing It Up with GFWC” leadership training. Santa Rosa Woman’s Club did some leadership building of its own by crafting a 33-page Club Leadership Manual, exclusive to SRWC. Simultaneously, members reviewed and revised Bylaws and Standing Rules. They also designed and ordered red club shirts. Activities included a show and tell of photos of family and friends in the military, making beaded bracelets for Special Olympics participants, creating paper hats for children at the Gulf Breeze Expo and Gulf Breeze Celebrates the Arts, tying and distributing bows for From Blue to Better child abuse awareness campaign, and touring the USO. Of course, a blue hat contest, riding on a Christmas float and Christmas caroling kept members laughing. Program wise, two Canine Companion dogsin-training and one pup sponsored by a member visited the November meeting. Other programs included Ocean Hour Beach Clean Up, Children in Crisis, The USO Needs You, Gulf Breeze Hospital Health Academy for High School Students, and Pick an Art Bowl for Manna Food Pantry. Member Darcie Jackson Service-pup-in-training Zen visited the November meeting. He is sponsored by SRWC member Linda Bozorgnia.

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(District 1 News continued from page 7)

of Project Hope Worldwide spoke on the project’s mission, and as a result of member and club donations, a house in Nicaragua will be named honor of Santa Rosa Woman’s Club. Home Life and Arts CSPs joined forces to lead craft workshops for Christmas and St. Patrick’s Day at Bay Breeze Assisted Living and Retirement Center. Home Life also organized a beauty day and glamor photo day for residents, plus Christmas gift baskets. Residents also received a painting of their choice for their room, thanks to Home Life’s coordination with the community college beauty school, a photographer and an artist. The club also teamed with local restaurants for creative fundraisers. Members collected and donated 231 pounds of food to The Manna Food Pantry and five large boxes of individually packaged snacks for troops visiting the Naval Air Station USO.

Clubwomen from Gulf Breeze, Crestview and Fort Walton, honored Carolyn Pfeiffer for 50 years of membership in GFWC with a cake, crown, bouquet and standing ovation.

SRWC, which has been a volunteer organization in Gulf Breeze for 53 years, honored member Carolyn Pfeiffer for 50 years of GFWC membership at the March meeting, complete with cake, crown, bouquet and a standing ovation. For more SRWC news and photos visit the club’s Facebook page GFWC-Santa Rosa Woman’s Club.

GFWC Woman’s Club of Crestview The GFWC Woman’s Club of Crestview, Inc. has been busy this year. As of May 1, 2016, we have cooked and served 627 dinners. We had several of our ladies attend Fall Board in September. We liked the changes that the board had made so that everyone could attend all the workshops. Boy, our Ladies sure know how to have a good time. We held our Membership Tea at the end of September 2016. We invited our friends and the (Continued on page 9)

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neighborhood to join us. From that Tea we had six guests to come and 4 ladies joined our club. Prayers are answered. In October our Club had a luncheon for Crestview’s Sister City, Noirmoutier, France. We cooked a good Southern meal for 45 guests from France and 22 sponsors from our City of Crestview. Some of our visitors had never eaten Chicken Dumplings and were very pleased. We had 6 door prizes (Our Club’s COOK BOOK). All our visitors were given a ticket when they come in, the winning numbers were drawn and all winners were MEN, can you believe that? Our Club hosted the District 1 Recording Workshop in November. Two ladies from GFWC FL conducted the workshop. Thanks, Some male visitors from our sister city in France and all 6 winners of our 6 door prizes that month which ladies, you did a great job. were our Club’s Cook Book! On the 1st Sunday in December we had a Drop-In-Tea and invited all our friends and neighbors to attend the event. The cost was $5. We decorated our Club House with seven Christmas trees and all kind of wreaths on the windows and walls. We prepared a variety of appetizers and finger foods for this event. We had a total of 70 people attend this event. Due to the success, this is something that we may do again next year. You can find out more about GFWC Woman’s Club of Crestview, Inc. by clicking this link to go to their website.

GFWC Fort Walton Beach Woman’s Club GFWC Fort Walton Beach Woman’s Club has had a year full of accomplishments for our club and for the community we serve. GFWC Fort Walton Beach Woman’s Club’s Community Improvement Project, the Bud and Dorie Day Patriots’ Trail, won 5th place and was recognized at the GFWC National Convention held in Baltimore, Maryland. The Fort Walton Beach Woman’s Club, in partnership with the Greater Fort Walton Chamber of Commerce and the City of Fort Walton Beach, constructed a walking trail and nature preserve to honor Colonel George “Bud” Day and his wife Dorie. Colonel Day served as an Air Force fighter pilot during the Vietnam War. After being shot down behind enemy lines, he survived five years imprisonment alongside Senator John McCain, and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism. Dorie Day, a member of Fort Walton Beach Woman’s Club for over 30 years, supported her husband and the wives of other war prisoners throughout the ordeal. Mrs. Day stated it best when she said, “It is an opportunity for our town to take an unused natural trail and carefully design and develop the tract recognizing the charitable and historic accomplishments of an American Patriot, my partnership with him, and the tears and years of dedication to bring our Prisoners of War home.” The Trail was completed in two phases and now includes the Docie Bass Park and Playground at its conclusion. (Continued on page 10)

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Each year on November 11, in recognition of the completion of the Patriots’ Trail, the club sponsors its annual 5-K Run/Walk entitled the Home of the Brave. We partner with the Northwest Florida Track Club and this year over 150 people took part. Monies raised go to support the trail, our club and a charity of choice. This year we raised funds for our local First Responders. Club President Cissy Wyninegar and Public Is- 5th Place Community Improvement Award Winner - GFWC Fort sues Chair Kathy Pacheco pre- Walton Beach Woman’s Club sented the $500 check to Fire Commissioner John Johnston of the Ocean City Wright Fire District. The funds will be used to purchase needed lifesaving equipment. In August the club commissioned artist Eric Henn to create a mural at Choctawhatchee High School honoring former students who were killed in military action. At the September dedication there were over 80 family members, many traveling through the hurricane that swept across the big bend of Florida that weekend. Each family and sponsor was awarded a dedication plaque. At the ceremony a long table held a larger candle representing Choctaw. There were 16 individual candles which were lit in turn by an ROTC student who answered for the fallen. The Final Roll Call was a moving experience Running the Patriots’ Trail during the 2017 Home of the for all who attended and brought closure Brave 5K Run to family members. In October we held our Founders Day Celebration recognizing the 95 year anniversary of our club. Along with birthday cake and refreshments, the club partnered with Heritage Park and Cultural Center to provide historic photo displays and a first person guest speaker who portrayed former president of the Camp Walton Woman’s Club, Mrs. W.C. Pryor. She reviewed the clubs acThe mural includes plaques with each fallen student’s biography. (Continued on page 11) 10



complishments from the 1920s to the present. We share this longevity with the Milton Woman’s Club which is over 100 years old and Crestview Woman’s Club which is celebrating their 100th anniversary in the near future. Our Education CSP attended a reception at the Northwest Florida State College Foundation Scholarship Annual Scholars and Donors luncheon in Niceville, Florida. We were honored because our club provides a scholarship of $1,000.00 to cover books and tuition. This year two scholarships were awarded. Sharon Carpenter is a non-traditional student who is her family’s primary care giver. She re- Planting trees for the club. L-R: Liza Jackson, Frances turned to college after a thirty-five year Peacock, Martha Buck, Louise Brooks, Mrs. William C. hiatus last year. Mrs. Carpenter plans to Pryor, Unknown, Rose Pryor (photo by Arturo Studios). become a middle school math or science teacher. Stevie McGrady is a twenty-five year old student and this semester begins working towards her Bachelor’s degree in Management and Supervision. Her future plans include seeking employment in the medical field. Currently, Ms. McGrady is working part-time at a home improvement store. The GFWC Fort Walton Beach Woman’s Club continues to be active and take part in their community. Upcoming events include partnerships with the Emerald Coast Advocacy Center and the Emerald Coast Exchange Club on projects and pinwheels to increase child abuse awareness, partnership with the Kiwanis and the Garnier Beach Garden Club to plant butterfly gardens for conservation, and a dinner theater fundraiser. We are 95 years young, still growing, achieving and moving forward.

GFWC Milton Woman’s Club Two GFWC Milton Woman’s Club members serve on Santa Rosa Education Foundation (SREF). SREF is an on-going club project. SREF is a member of the Florida Consortium of Education Foundations in Florida. One member, Paula Lou Mapoles, has been on the board for 26 years representing GFWC Milton Woman’s Club as a community partner with SREF. Our club is the only community service organization on board with 25 community leaders. Second club member serving on SREF board is Dr. Anthea Amos, Campus Dean at Pensacola State College, Milton Campus representing the college as an education community leader. SREF projects include: Teacher Grants; Take Stock in Children College Scholarship Program; Teacher of the Year Recognition and Golden Apple Banquet; Rookie of the Year Teacher Recognition; The Little Red Schoolhouse Teacher Supply Depot; and Years of Service Appreciation Teacher Pins. Our club name is featured on SREF website as a member of SREF Board of Directors; Sponsor of Years of Service Teacher Appreciation Pins; and Partnership with SREF sponsoring the Little Red Schoolhouse Teacher Supply Depot. (Continued on page 12)

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A Club project since 2011, “Years of Service Appreciation Teacher Pins” is a partnership project with SREF honoring teachers and their years of service as teachers in Santa Rosa District Schools with wearable small pins that feature design of a schoolhouse with a red apple. Pins can be worn on blouse/shirt or on lapels. Pins represent five-year increments up to 40 years. Club prepared packages for 315 teachers for 2016. SREF board members are responsible for presenting pins at each of the 33 schools. Our two SREF board club members visited eight schools for presentations. For 2016, there were 315 teachers that received teacher appreciation pins for their years of service combined to- Paula Lou Mapoles (left) and Dr. Anthea Amos (right), GFWC Milgether represented 4,325 years of teaching in ton Woman’s Club members and Santa Roase Education FoundaBoard Members distribute “Teacher Appreciation Pins Years of Santa Rosa District Schools. Santa Rosa Dis- tion Service" to 315 teachers in 33 Santa Rosa District schools. trict Schools have over 1,859 teachers dedicating their days to ensure that the district’s 25,000 plus students are inspired to reach their full potential. The GFWC Milton Woman’s Club was notified by Aleta Millham, volunteer with Milton First Baptist Church Food Pantry, for assistance during Santa Rosa District Schools two-week Christmas break. She asked if our club and Mae Edwards United Methodist Church (UMC) would be partners with their food pantry to provide 66 pre-K students at T. R. Jackson Pre-K Center in Milton with food to help them through the two-week Christmas break. All of these 66 students receive a free breakfast and lunch during school week and would not have access to these meals provided by the school during the two-week Christmas break. 66 decorative cloth tote Christmas bags were needed for delivery to students two days before Christmas two -week break. Mae Edwards UMC and our club provided 23 of these bags. The remaining 43 bags were provided by Milton First Baptist Church Food Pantry and T. R. Jackson Pre-K Center volunteers. Mae Edwards UMC youth ministry and our club, as partners, donated 23 decorative cloth Christmas bags with each bag containing 2 jars of peanut butter, 2 jars of jelly, and 2 loaves of bread; 23 backpacks stuffed with teddy bears and school supplies. Our club’s in-kind donations were 132 loaves of bread—each of the 66 families received 2 loaves—66 decorative cloth Christmas bags; 23 backpacks filled with 23 teddy bears, school supplies and pouches filled with pencils and erasers. Our donation photo featured on Mae Edwards UMC Facebook. T.R. Jackson Pre-K Center “Peanut Butter & Jelly Project” for 66 students during two-week Christmas break.

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District 2 News Blountstown Woman’s Club Blountstown Woman’s Club celebrated 30 years of service in April and after reporting for the first time in years took home several awards from the State Convention. Club Secretary, Sandy Voss was the District LEADS Graduate, they had three members attend GFWC Florida Day of Service for Hacienda Girls Ranch and held Big Kettle Drum Band Fundraiser for Hacienda Girls Ranch which raised $1500. They are busy volunteering at the Pioneer Settlement, giving out scholarships to graduating Seniors and a Alderman delivering Port Pillows to Mofscholarship program for Police Officers. Sally Blizzard Rhonda fit Cancer Center in Tampa raised $788 in the Senior Citizen Rockathon. The club is partnering with Blountstown Bizzie Beez and are making and distributing Port Pillows for those that have a port catheter, the port pillow attaches to a seatbelt to protect the port from being irritated. Port Pillows are being sent to cancer centers all over the United States by mail and by other GFWC Florida Woman’s Clubs personally delivering them to the centers.

Chattahoochee Woman’s Club Chattahoochee Woman’s Club honored Chattahoochee Elementary School’s Teacher of the year, Rookie of the year and School Related Employee of the year, as well as provided lunch to the School teachers in May. They took books to the school and read to the students and gave each student two books to take home. Their fundraisers included chances for a Dessert of the Month fundraiser which raised $610 and had a Spring Fashion show at their beautifully decorated club house that netted $725 for the show and $147 opportunity basket with the proceeds going to Hacienda Girls Ranch.

Woman’s Club of Chipley Woman’s Club of Chipley is busy marketing their club and becoming more visible in the community through Facebook and new club shirts. One of their annual fundraiser is the Bridal Expo that raises money for their many projects.

Gulf Coast Woman’s Club Gulf Coast Woman’s Club has been busy collecting new and gently used books and distributing them to local laundromats. Public Issues committee is collecting clothing for rape and domestic violence victims to wear home when their own clothing is taken as evidence. They also act as monitors for the Teen Court juries. The club is selling their cookbooks and the proceeds go to local food banks, please contact them if you are interested in purchasing their (Continued on page 14)

Gulf Coast Woman’s Club Membership Tea 2017

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cookbook. Club President Teri Floore and club member Marcy Sieg helped club members in the district that were unable to attend the Spring Convention by transporting their clubs District First place arts and craft items to the State competition. Club Member Helen Longo won 3rd place in the Photography Contest Living Things and Sylvia Dee won Second place in the Photography Contest Still Life.

GFWC Emerald Coast Junior Woman’s Club GFWC Emerald Coast Junior Woman’s Club have been busy this quarter gearing up for their 1st Annual Superhero 5k, to be held June 17, 2017 8 A.M. Sheffield Park, Lynn Haven, FL which will benefit the Guardian Ad Litem for the 14th Judicial Circuits, as well as volunteering as Guardians Ad Litem. Their Club President was the District 2 Junior LEADS Graduate.

GFWC Marianna Woman’s Club GFWC Marianna Woman’s Club Arts Dept. invites club members and the public to its monthly art workshops providing a fun and creative project each month. This has also proves to be a way to attract new members. Once they find out how much the club does for the community and how much fun they have doing it, that some attendees join the club. International Outreach raised over $700 for Shot@Life by having monthly opportunity drawings on donated homemade cakes. Their best and easiest fundraiser by far is “Woman Can Change the World” which has the club divided into two Marianna Woman’s Club member, Jane groups and each group takes home a pint jar and return it Powell, Volunteer of the Year for District 2 every month with their loose change in it. So far, the club members have raised close to $5,000. The team that raises the most money will get special privileges at a meeting. Marianna Woman’s Club is proud of their member Jane Powell for being selected as the District Volunteer of the Year.

GFWC Woman’s Club of Panama City GFWC Woman’s Club of Panama City raised over $1200 on their March bunko fundraiser and did an outstanding job with their Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre—Pasta, Passion & Pistols. The cast was their own club members and an Italian meal was served. The play was for two nights, with a different ending both nights. A fun time was had by all and a great fundraiser indeed. The club held a Federation Luncheon in April with GFWC FL Member at Large and Leadership Chairman, Bev Payne, as guest speaker. The District Spring Workshop was hosted by WCPC and the club house was decorated beautifully and served a wonderful lunch. GFWC Florida Conservation Chairman Cheryl Lunn was guest speaker. GFWC Woman’s Club of Panama City Murder Mystery Dinner Cast

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GFWC Philaco Woman’s Club of Apalachicola GFWC Philaco Woman’s Club of Apalachicola founded the Apalachicola Memorial Library. A former President, Margaret Key, willed her entire estate for the building of a new, larger library. The money plus a 450K grant has allowed the city to build a new, larger library that is now a bricks and mortar building that will open soon. The club will be awarding two $1,000 Scholarships to graduating Seniors. This club was honored to receive monies for their scholarship fund from another club that was closing its membership.

GFWC Wewahitchka Woman’s Club GFWC Wewahitchka Woman’s Club has been approved by FDOT for the “Adopt a Highway” program and is looking forward to cleaning a stretch of the Hwy. The club’s Domestic Violence Committee developed a strategic plan in partnership with the Gulf County Domestic Violence Task Force. The first fundraiser event will be held March 19th with a Golden Oldies dance, and silent auction. The club honored one of their own by hosting a surprise party for Betty Holloway for her 64 years of service to the club. Ms. Holloway is an active member and attends meetings regularly. The club will be honoring two graduating Seniors with $1,000 Scholarships this month. Betty Holloway has 64 years of service to GFWC Wewahitchka Woman’s Club Club member Rhonda Alderman has partnered with Blountstown Woman’s Club to deliver port pillows to cancer patients at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. Most clubs in District 2 have reported new members this year, including GFWC Wewahitchka Woman’s Club who had a 52% increase in membership this past year! District 2 was thrilled to take home 19 awards at the Spring Convention—every club that reported took home at least one award. Honor Score Certificates were presented to Gulf Coast Woman’s Club, Marianna Woman’s Club, Woman’s Club of Panama City, Philaco Woman’s Club of Apalachicola and Wewahitchka Woman’s Club. District Director Patty Fisher was awarded Outstanding District Director Award.

District 2 at “Roaring Into Leadership” Dinner at Spring Convention

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GFWC Florida 2017 Outstanding District Director Award was presented to Patty Fisher, District 2 Director


District 3 News GFWC Tallahassee Junior Woman's Club On February 26, the GFWC Tallahassee Junior Woman's Club held our second annual “Spring Into Art” fundraiser at the beautiful GFWC Tallahassee Woman's Club clubhouse, home of our sponsoring club. The event took place on a beautiful Sunday afternoon and included local artists and their art, food trucks, a silent auction and some “interactive” art projects. Local artists displayed a variety of their work including paintings of all kinds, jewelry, fiber art, ceramic/clay items as well as other unique pieces, creating a fun shopping experience. In lieu of an admission fee, we collected full size personal hygiene items to be donated to the Big Bend Homeless Coalition's HOPE Community (an emergency shelter for woman and children) and youth socks to be donated to the Leon County Schools' Shoe Club (a program funded completely by GFWC Tallahassee Juniors that provides sneakers and socks to underprivileged school age children). There was also a book/magazine swap and sale plus a bake sale. Several community partners helped host interactive art projects that both adults and children could enjoy at no cost, including painting, making pinecone bird feeders and creating art with recycled products. Proceeds from the event went directly to the many organizations that the club supports.

Bake Sale staffed by members Javacia Floyd (left) and Shonna Gay (right).

Display of some club projects and collection spot for hygiene items and youth socks.

on page 17) GFWC Tallahassee Junior Woman's Club‘s 2017 Annual “Spring Into(Continued Art” Show

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GFWC Woman's Club of Tallahassee The GFWC Woman’s Club of Tallahassee has had a very exciting year, especially for our 90year old clubhouse, located in the heart of Midtown, Tallahassee. We were voted the #1 Wedding Venue in town in a first-ever competition run by our newspaper, and we had to use social media to attract votes from our community. The finalists competed in a gala event, complete with giveaways and sample refreshments in front of 1,500 attendees! We got hit hard by Hurricane Hermine in September, but our stucco structure suffered no damage. Power was out for days and our 100 year-old live oak trees lost thousands of branches, all over the sidewalks, parking lot, road, and gardens. Our members spent one entire day picking up sticks to clear the grounds for a wedding held 2 days after the hurricane—with the power still out! Good news for our clubhouse is that we have almost paid off our mortgage! We had to do extensive remodeling in 2003 and obtained a mortgage at that time. Through the recession, a couple of other non-profits with old buildings in Tallahassee got into financial trouble and some of them lost their buildings, but we survived with a combination of tightened belts and gracious benefactors, and now we have the building free and clear once again. Now we have replaced all the lighting with efficient LED lights (over 100 bulbs!), and are planning to paint inside and out this summer. We held our Annual events during the year—the garage sale in August, which now extends over 3 days and raises about $6500 for our projects, and Holiday Happenings, an art show and sale before Christmas, and our Spring Tea, which raised money for the food bank’s Summer Backpack program. We got out into the community at least once a month throughout the year. We set up a family library for a new homeowner of a Habitat House, selecting books and reference material appropriate for the ages of the family.

We set up the craft booth at St. Mark’s Wildlife Refuge Annual Monarch Butterfly Festival, making origami butterflies and butterfly masks with the children. We continued to use our sewing and recycling skills and participated in a community pet (Continued on page 18)

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adoption event by providing soft washable crate mats made from repurposed material such as old comforters and sheets. We gave one mat to each person who adopted a new pet, and gave the rest away to folks for a small donation. Then we donated that money to 2 animal rescue groups in our area. We are not really all crazy cat ladies (yet!) but we do love our animals. We provided refreshments for the League of Women Voters’ two nights of Candidate Forums before the primaries, to attract more citizens and to allow the LWV to focus on the candidates. As our President’s Project, we adopted 4 female veterans who reside at the Veteran’s Village, while they are working on reentering the community and finding employment and permanent housing. Each resident may stay 6-12 months, but generally come to the Village with few belongings. Through donations and fundraising, we have provided them with Christmas gifts, birthday parties, basic clothing and toiletries, and then load them up with items they need once they move into permanent housing. We sent a sizable contingent to the Hacienda House workday in March and had a great time seeing all Florida members at Spring Convention in April.

Important Dates to Remember June 22-26, 2017 GFWC International Convention Palm Springs, CA

October 7-14, 2017 Fall Tour of Officers

June 9-11, 2017 JASM

January 13, 2018 Incoming DD & JDD Training At Headquarters in Lakeland

July 28-29, 2017 EC Summer Planning

January 26-27, 2018 EC Winter Planning

September 22-24, 2017 Fall Board Rosen Plaza, Orlando

May 4-7, 2018 Spring Convention Rosen Plaza, Orlando

October 26-29, 2017 GFWC Southern Region Hosted by Georgia

June 22-26, 2018 GFWC International Convention St Louis, MO

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GFWC Florida Federation of Women’s Clubs Federation Motto: In great things, Unity; In small things, Liberty; In all things, Charity. Organized February 21, 1895

Admitted to the General Federation of Women’s Clubs January 25, 1898 GFWC is one of the world’s largest and oldest nonpartisan, nondenominational, women’s volunteer service organizations. To learn more about GFWC and to locate a Club near you, visit:

www.gfwc.org

Contact Us GFWC Florida Federation of Women’s Clubs 4444 Florida National Dr Lakeland, FL 33813 Phone: (863) 647-2642 Fax: (863) 647-2642 [email protected]

Visit us on the web at www.GFWCFlorida.org GFWC FL President Mary C. Powell [email protected] GFWC FL Director of Junior Clubs Kelly G. Holmes [email protected]

GFWC The Florida Clubwoman is an official publication of the GFWC Florida Federation of Women’s Clubs. Managing Editor: Gina King Granger [email protected] Juniors Editor: April Simons [email protected]

@GFWCMembers

GFWC Florida @GFWCFlorida

Florida Juniors @GFWCFLJuniors