News & Notes – July 11, 2019

2019 GFWC Annual Convention in Austin

This year’s Convention was one for the books! We’d like to start out by thanking the 2019 Convention Sponsors: Shot@Life, Heifer International, Prevent Child Abuse America, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Canine Companions for Independence, LoLo B Designs, Operation Smile, Terri Lynn Fundraising, UNICEF, and March of Dimes.

Whether you didn’t get a chance to go this year or you were an attendee and want to relive the best moments, here are some convention highlights:

• Speaker Joe Starita discussed Susan La Flesche, a GFWC clubwoman who became the first Native American to receive a medical degree. Clubwomen moved by his talk lined up to purchase his book about how about how Susan overcame racial and gender bias.
• Many members received awards for their outstanding work and commitment to the Volunteer Spirit this year.
• Selena Rezvani was announced the 2019 Croly Award winner for her video journalism titled, “Interrupting Gender Bias Through Meeting Culture.” Tedx Talks are revolutionizing the journalism scene by giving field experts the opportunity to share their knowledge and experience for free distribution.
• The star power of the Juniors’ Lip Sync Challenge Fun Night, where eight groups of clubwomen dressed up and gave passionate performances that would impress even the original singers.

Everywhere we looked, we saw the smiling faces of clubwomen at #GFWCinAustin19. But don’t take our word for it, see it yourself! Check out the Convention Facebook album and order your photos from Lolo B Designs now.

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State President’s Project: GFWC Minnesota, Jean Walker

The 2018­-2020 Administration theme is GFWC Minnesota Supports Our Stars. Honoring veterans went hand-in-hand for Jean Walker. She was the 2018-2019 American Legion Auxiliary Department of Minnesota President, and her dad was a WWII army veteran.

Her first project involves working with the Veterans Honor Flight of ND/MN to transport veterans to Washington D.C. for a two-day tour. Tour sites have included the WWII, FDR, Iwo Jima, Korean, and Vietnam War Memorials, the Arlington National Cemetery (with a changing of the guard ceremony), and the National Archives. The cost to send one veteran is $1,100, which includes the flight, hotel, meals, and D.C. transportation. Collectively, GFWC Minnesota raised enough money to help send two veterans on the flight (and will do it again next year). Members and clubs made donations. There was a silent auction at the State Convention and one club collaborated with the local Lions Club at their annual turkey bingo to raise funds. An Honor Flight representative was presented with a check at the State Convention.

When the veterans returned home, there was a crowd at the bottom of the airport escalators and by the elevators waving flags and carrying “Welcome Home” signs. There was also a band playing patriotic songs. The faces of the heroes when they saw the crowd was priceless! The local TV stations recorded the warm welcome and a video was shown on all the local morning news shows.

The second project is Eagles’ Healing Nest in Sauk Centre and Haven for Heroes in Anoka. These facilities house veterans with visible and invisible wounds. Eagles’ Healing Nest helps veterans reintegrate back into the civilian world and their families. The Haven for Heroes is a place for homeless veterans until they can get their own housing. At the State Convention in May, members brought lots of supplies for both facilities; Eagles’ Healing Nest representatives took them back to veterans. Members made tie blankets and baby bundles to deliver to Haven for Heroes for newborns.

View GFWC’s Pinterest for additional photos.

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Volunteers in Action

The Ojai Valley Woman’s Club (California), GFWC Women’s Club of Odessa (Delaware), and the Lawrenceville Woman’s Club (Georgia) are featured on GFWC’s Blog.

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

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Thank You Tuesday

July’s #ThankYouTuesday theme is “Celebrate Members.” Take the opportunity to share a celebratory story about a member you know who deserves recognition on our Facebook post!

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Unclaimed Convention Raffle Prizes

There were a few Convention Raffle items that were not picked up:

• Hostess with the Mostest (pearl jewelry set)
• Presidential Patterns (handbag and two printed scarves)
• Sea You at the Beach (Handwoven Rattan bag, Bold B necklace, Brighton ring/earring holder, key chain)
• Black and White Set (Black clutch purse, black and white beaded jewelry, black and white scarf and bracelet)
• Rest and Repeat (2 night weekend stay at JW Marriott Austin with $100 gift certificate)

If you were the winner of one of these prizes, please contact GFWC Executive Coordinator Stephanie Potell with the name of the item and your winning raffle ticket number.

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Parliamentary Pointers

by GFWC Parliamentarian Deen J. Meloro

It was a pleasure to speak with several groups of members at the wonderful GFWC Annual Convention in Austin. Many members asked what a parliamentarian can and cannot do.

A parliamentarian cannot speak during a meeting. The only exception would be if a presiding officer asked her to explain something. That’s extremely rare and should be avoided whenever possible. The parliamentarian’s job is to be an advisor and a consultant. If there’s something she wants to bring to the attention of the president, such as the vote needed for the item under discussion or that a quorum was lost when three members left the room, she should write a note and slide it over to the president. Since the president makes the final ruling, she has the right to follow the advice of the parliamentarian or ignore it.

• A parliamentarian cannot give her point of view at any point during the meeting. A president, under unusual circumstances, may ask the next ranking officer to preside over a meeting in order for the president to be able to give her point of view. The president does not re-assume the chair until the entire question being discussed has been decided. The parliamentarian cannot do this. This applies to all meetings.
• A parliamentarian cannot vote, unless the voting is done by ballot. Unlike the president, she does not vote to make or break a tie.
• A president may choose to consult with the parliamentarian before a meeting, especially if she or the parliamentarian suspects there may be a problem with an item to be discussed in the meeting. A parliamentarian may be asked by any member for her advice or counsel.

The parliamentarian accepts these terms whens she agrees to uphold this important appointment.

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Club’s Anniversaries

Anniversaries

50th

Country Shore Woman’s Club (New Jersey)

60th

Roxbury Woman’s Club (New Jersey)

70th

GFWC Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake (New York)

Woman’s Club of Franklin Lakes (New Jersey)

75th

Contemporary Club of Hasbruck Heights (New Jersey)

80th

GFWC Double Springs Study Club (Alabama)

Woman’s Club of Pennsville (New Jersey)

85th

Woman’s Club of Peekskill & Cortlandt (New York)

Floral Park Junior Women’s Club (New York)

100th

Carrizozo Woman’s Club (New Mexico)

110th

Walden Woman’s Club (New York)

120th

Flemington Woman’s Club (New Jersey)

125th

Woman’s Club of Arlington (New Jersey)

Clio Club of Roselle (New Jersey)

Woman’s Club of Verona (New Jersey)

Gold Pin Recipients

Maryann Donnan

Women’s Club of Milton (Delaware)

Liana Smith

Abington Heights Civic League, Inc. (Pennsylvania)

Carol Merker & Kathleen Lechner

GFWC Laguna Niguel Woman’s Club (California)

Hilda Nuckols

Woman’s Club of Cumberland GFWC (Virginia)

Ila Knabe & Lorane Dismuke

GFWC Decora Study Club (Texas)

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