News & Notes – February 13, 2020

Puppy Brock Graduates

Canine Companions for Independence puppy Brock, named in honor of GFWC International President Mary Ellen Brock, graduated in a side placement. Brock walked proudly across the stage with his forever person.

Brock was placed as a facility dog with Rebeka Beresh, an assistant prosecuting attorney for the Seneca County Prosecutor’s Office in Ohio. Brock is helping with victims and witnesses of crimes when they come to the office for filing protection orders, trial preparation, and case reviews. He is utilized to help prosecutors connect and build rapport especially with children. Using the interactive commands for retrieving, tugging, and pushing allows the children to speak up by giving them the “power of commands.”

We are so happy for Brock and love that he was placed in an environment where he will be helping children and others!

Volunteers in Action

GFWC continues to thank all the clubwomen who participated in a project on MLK Day. Read our third MLK Day-themed post and share your thoughts on this week’s GFWC Blog!

Have a success story to tell? Email pr@gfwc.org.

Show Off Your Photography Skills 
by Tammie McCoy, GFWC Photography Contest Chairman 

It is time to review all of the photographs that were taken by club members during 2019 for potential submission to the photography contests. The World in Pictures (still life, living things, and scenes) and GFWC Volunteers in Action contests are judged at the state level. State chairmen and State Presidents set the submission dates and the procedures for judging within each state. Then one photograph from each category in The World in Pictures (3) and one photograph for GFWC Volunteers in Action is submitted to GFWC Headquarters by May 15. Clubs may submit one A Year in Pictures Contest photograph to GFWC by May 15.

All photographs must meet the following requirements. All entries must be 8” X 10” and mounted on a rigid board that does not exceed 3/8” in width. All entries must have a label affixed to the back noting the contest name, the photographer’s name, email and mailing address, phone number, supporting club name and state, title, a brief caption providing a few details about the photograph, and an arrow indicating the top of the photograph. All entries must be accompanied by a completed GFWC Creative Arts Waiver.

Arbor Day: Tree Tidbits

Trees can save you up to 25 percent on your energy bills. A shade tree can cool your home or office building by 20 degrees in the summer. Trees also serve as a windbreak in the winter. Participate in the Arbor Day Grand Initiative on April 24 and leave your mark this Federation Day!

Submit a Creative Writing Entry
by Shirley Holly, GFWC Creative Writing Chairman

What makes a good story good on paper? Use the six traits of writing.

1. Ideas – this is the main content of your work. Make sure the content is clear. Focus on details that are informative, but not necessarily details that the reader already knows – like the grass is green or the sky is blue.
2. Organization – there should be a sequence – beginning, middle, and ending.
3. Voice – this is where the writer imparts his/her personal tone to the writing. Does it sound like the writer and is the reader able to understand how the writer feels?
4. Word Choice – use words that clarify or expand the idea.
5. Sentence Fluency – make sure that sentences are complete and easy to read aloud.
6. Conventions – make sure spelling, grammar, and punctuation are correct. Is there a title, and are the correct letters capitalized?

States may submit one winning entry in the different categories as listed below. Please do not send a first, second, and third entry in each category, as they will only be discarded.

Categories

Member: Short Story & Poetry – Each state may submit one member short story and one member poetry.

Youth Contest: Short Story & Poetry – Each state may submit two entries in each category listed below. One short story and one poetry per category.

Category 1 – Grades K, 1, 2
Category 2 – Grades 3, 4, 5
Category 3 – Grades 6, 7, 8
Category 5 – Grades 9, 10, 11, 12

Please submit all entries postmarked by April 1, 2020:

Shirley Holly. Chairman
10 Nelson Drive
Barnegat, NJ 08005
shirleyholly@earthlink.net

Please do not put entries into special folders. They will only be taken out for the judges.

Buy a Convention Program Ad

Are you getting excited for Atlanta? Start planning ahead and purchase an ad in the 2020 Convention Program to recognize your club or fellow Federation sisters. Use our Convention Program Ad form to order and pay for your ad by March 27!

Newsletter and Website Contest Reminders

Both the Newsletter and Website contests are great opportunities for your club to show off its presentation, creativity, and efficiency. Entries for both contests should be sent to Communications and Public Relations Committee Chairman Patti Poe (not GFWC Headquarters).

ppoetfwc59@gmail.com 

Patti Poe, Chairman
7187 Rock Springs School Road
Nocona, TX 76255

Entries for both contests are due on March 15. Learn more about the rules by reading the Club Manual, also available under “My Digital Library” when you login to the GFWC Member Portal.

Login and Renew Your Magazine Subscription

Are you receiving your Clubwoman Magazine? There is a feature in the GFWC Member Portal that allows you to renew your one-year GFWC Clubwoman Magazine subscription online! After logging in, go to the Marketplace tab and then select “Education Add-Ons.” A one-year Clubwoman subscription should then be the only option on the next page.

Having trouble logging in? Try selecting “Forgot your password?” and entering the email address with which you are receiving this News & Notes. You will then receive a prompt to check your email for a temporary login code. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any difficulties logging in.

Parliamentary Pointers 

by GFWC Parliamentarian Deen J. Meloro

Many clubs like to celebrate the devotion of certain members by naming them “honorary members,” but what this means can differ from one club to another.
Some clubs give the designation to long-time members who can no longer attend meetings. Others give it to past club presidents, and still others give the title to members who have served the state in addition to serving their club.

In order to name an honorary member, this designation has to be in your club bylaws. It should be in the section entitled “members,” which is usually ARTICLE III. The bylaws must state how the decision is made to name a member an honorary member. What rights are afforded the honorary member? Robert’s Rules of Order states: “Rights carried with the honor include the right to attend meetings and to speak, but not to make motions or vote unless the person is also a regular member, or unless the bylaws provide full membership rights.” If the bylaws confer full membership rights, then this member would have the right to run for office. The bylaws should also state if this is lifetime honor or a temporary one.

Your club should be paying dues for this member unless she does not attend club meetings, due to age or moving away.

Under some circumstances non-members may be given the title “honorary member.” This would be someone who has done an extraordinary amount of work for your club or provided the club with special services.

Club Anniversaries and Gold Pin Recipients

Anniversaries

60th

Aurora Women’s Club (New York)

70th

GFWC/JWC Cranford (New Jersey)

90th

Long Valley Woman’s Club (New Jersey)
Woman’s Club of Lyndhurst (New Jersey)

100th

GFWC Marietta Woman’s Club (Georgia)
Woman’s Club of Marion (Kentucky)

105th

Belmar Woman’s Club

115th

Buffalo Federation of Women’s Club (New York)

125th

Century Club of Amsterdam (New York)
The Haddon Fortnightly (New Jersey)
Woman’s Club of Merchantville (New Jersey)

Gold Pin Recipients

Margaret Seymour, Nancy Webb
Gainesville Woman’s Club (Florida)

Ellen McGlade
The Woman’s Club of Bethesda (Maryland)

Joanne Springer, Doris M. Boyd
GFWC The New Century Club of West Chester (Pennsylvania)

Mary Lou Henderson
Woman’s Club of Rock Springs (Wyoming)

Sylvia Knight, Peggy Sood
GFWC Ossoli Circle (Tennessee)

Shirley Rupert, Jane Steely, Ethel Setman
Woman’s Club of Quakertown (Pennsylvania)

Joanna Isley
Burlington Woman’s Club (North Carolina)

Pat Sidun
Suburban Woman’s Club of South Plainfield (New Jersey)

Florence Morgan
South San Francisco Women’s Club (California)

Marketplace: Purple and White Infinity Scarf

Are you in need of a fresh new accessory? The GFWC infinity scarf is made of lightweight and slightly sheer fabric. Our custom looped scarf provides high fashion appeal so you can look and feel your best, whether you are dressing up or down! Wrap yourself in this soft and silky viscose scarf, a perfect stylish GFWC accessory. Get yours for $20 in the GFWC Marketplace.