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August 12, 2021
View our Important Dates page for upcoming events and milestones.
President’s Pick
By Marian St.Clair, GFWC International President
Was it just me, or did July speed by for everyone? I often find the heat and humidity of summer overwhelming, but many of my most thrilling childhood memories are of July 4th celebrations in Jarratt, Virginia, a small town where my parents grew up. One year, my sister won first prize in the bicycle parade and, in another, I claimed first for climbing the greased pole. Yes, hard to imagine, I know! My memory is that I jumped as high as possible and then hung on for dear life.
I couldn’t resist, then, choosing a July project that celebrates patriotism, encourages pride in community, and shows that GFWC clubwomen can achieve their goals with tenacity and a can-do attitude. This month’s “President’s Pick” goes to the Cosmopolitan Club of Petal (Mississippi) for their ongoing project “Mile of Flags on Main Street,” which aims to place 1,000 American flags on Main Street in Petal each year for Independence Day and Veterans Day.
In 2020, club members rallied community neighbors and friends to support an “Ole Glory” campaign with $20 donations for the purchase of American flags, poles, and brackets for flag displays on utility poles in the community. This year, the club is expanding their reach by working with the Petal Area Chamber of Commerce. Many local community members have stepped up to donate to the flag fund and to offer other assistance.
Club President Meri Newell says it is important to the clubwomen to see the flags flying on patriotic holidays and notes, “It’s a reminder to all of us how blessed we are to live in this country.”
I couldn’t agree more. Congratulations to President Newell and the members of the Cosmopolitan Club of Petal on their winning project!
Soup’s on This January
January is National Soup Month, and we need your culinary talents! Submit your healthy, best-kept secret soup recipe by Friday, September 17, for a chance to be featured in the Winter 2022 GFWC Clubwoman Magazine. We’re looking for GFWC members’ original culinary creations of all kinds—broths, creams, purees, bisques, and chowders.
International President Marian St.Clair will review all of the recipes and handpick six finalists to cook and be tasted at GFWC Headquarters. Four of these soups will be published in GFWC Clubwoman Magazine, one President’s Pick and three others selected by Headquarters judges. Each submission should include:
- How many servings the recipe makes.
- A list of ingredients with exact measurements.
- Preparation instructions in the order that they should be followed.
- The cooking time and temperature.
Submit your original recipe by Friday, September 17, to PR@GFWC.org. With your submission, please include your full name as you would like it to appear in print as well as your club’s name and state. High-resolution (300 DPI) photographs of your prepared soup are welcome but not required.
Volunteers in Action
This week’s GFWC Blog features GFWC Research Club of Limerick (Maine) and GFWC Yucaipa Woman’s Club (California). Check out these stories of how clubwomen created fleece-tie blankets to be donated to a local women’s domestic violence shelter and hosted a “Christmas in July” donation event to benefit children at Ronald McDonald House Charities.
Have a success story to tell? Email PR@GFWC.org to have your club project considered for the GFWC Blog.
What to Pack for Convention
Welcome bag to be handed out at the table across from the GFWC Registration Booth
With registration closed and only a couple weeks left until the 2021 GFWC Annual Convention, it’s time to start packing your suitcase! Your hands will be full of important papers and notes, from the print outs of the Bylaws and Resolutions that you’ll need to pack and the Convention Program you’ll receive onsite. Bringing a binder or bag to hold these documents will help keep your hands free and all of your documents organized throughout your stay in Atlanta.
Most importantly, your health and safety—and of those around you—is a top priority. When packing for Convention, don’t forget to bring at least one comfortable face mask to wear during all events. If you enjoy accessorizing, consider bringing different masks to go with each of your outfits. All attendees and staff members onsite will be asked to comply with health and safety guidelines and precautions recommended by the CDC and federal agencies, including an executive order signed by Atlanta, Georgia, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms requiring people to wear face masks indoors in public places. The order mandates that individuals must wear a face mask regardless of vaccination status.
Perhaps the most space in your bag will be taken up by clothing to wear during Convention. Attire will include business casual clothing, “after five” cocktail options, and formal wear for some evening events such as the “Gateway to the World” Celebration Banquet Friday night. You can view additional details about the dress code and what to wear for different events in the Convention Agenda.
Using GFWC Logos for Club Publications and Promotions
Are you working on materials to attract new members or generate interest in your club’s next community service project? GFWC members have access to GFWC logos, emblems, and icons for marketing and publicity-related reasons. These files include the 2020-2022 Administration Logo, various formats of the GFWC emblem, and icons for each of the Special Programs and Community Service Programs.
All files are available within the “L” Resources folder of the Member Portal Digital Library. When you go to download one of these images, you will see three different versions—a JPEG, PNG, and EPS file. These file types can be used for a variety of different projects, including:
- Brochures and flyers. PNGs are an alternative if you are designing materials to be printed but do not have access to programs that can open an EPS file, such as Adobe Creative Suite. PNG files allow for a transparent background around the image, which can be useful when designing a brochure, flyer, or sign with various graphics and text that need to be laid out.
- Working with vendors. EPS files allow graphic designers and printers to proportionally resize a graphic without altering elements of a layout. EPS files also store the exact colors used. While you won’t be able to open the file without a professional design program, it is the best file for your club to send a vendor. Often, printers also prefer EPS files because this file format generates the highest-quality image for commercial printing.
- Websites. JPEGs, a very compressed type of file, allow web pages and social media profiles to load faster. However, JPEG files will feature the graphic on a white background.
- Newsletters. Similar to websites, online newsletters can benefit from using JPEG files because images will load faster when recipients open an email.
- Creating new file formats. An EPS file will allow graphic designers and printers to create many other, less commonly-used file types.
No matter which file type you decide is the best fit for your project, be sure to review the GFWC Stylebook that is available within the “S” Resources folder of the Digital Library.
State President’s Project: Lela Taylor, Washington
GFWC Washington State President Lela Taylor’s project for 2020-2022 was to be “Teddy Bears and Handbags.” She purchased about 80 small teddy bears from local Dollar Stores, and clubs and Districts were in charge of providing the handbags. The purpose of this project was to give kids teddy bears during the first year of the Administration, and the handbags were to be distributed to women experiencing homelessness or other difficult situations. Clubwomen planned to fill the handbags with necessities such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, hairbrushes, and more. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these projects could not be completed during 2020. Members will now be helping the teddy bears find their little human friends soon, and the handbags will hopefully give women in need a moment of happiness.
President Taylor decided in lieu of no in-person meetings, GFWC Washington would hold social Zoom meetings for members from the entire state. The meetings were enjoyed by clubwomen and very well attended. So far, GFWC Washington has held three social Zoom meetings, and members are considering continuing them even after in-person meetings start again.
Gold Pin Recipients
Norma Adams
GFWC Hillcrest Women’s Club (Ohio)
Beverly Briggs
GFWC Palatine Literary Society (New York)
Burnetta DePuy
GFWC Lincoln Woman’s Club (Illinois)
Joanne Pitzer
GFWC Pocono Mountain Women’s Club (Pennsylvania)
Claudia Tyler
GFWC Kentucky Oklona Woman’s Club (Kentucky)
GFWC Marketplace: GFWC Pop Socket Grip
This collapsible Pop Socket Grip makes it easy to hold on to your phone with one hand. Prop up your phone to watch a video, take a club selfie without worrying about dropping your phone, or simply show off your love of GFWC! Order yours today.
There could be some mail service delays throughout the pandemic. To speed up processing of your order, we request that you pay for your order at time of purchase in the Member Portal. For information on mail service in your area, visit the USPS Service Alerts page.
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