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July 29, 2021
View our Important Dates page for upcoming events and milestones.
Convention Registration Closes Wednesday, August 4
Whether you want to learn more about how to be an effective advocate or help make a difference for people around the world, the 2021 GFWC Annual Convention offers a little something of interest for everyone. For example, the GFWC Affiliate Organization Workshops will cover a variety of informative and engaging topics.
These workshops include:
- Shot@Life will offer a workshop on how to use education, advocacy, and fundraising to champion global vaccines as one of the most effective ways to save the lives of children in developing countries.
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will present a 30-minute video about opportunities to volunteer, fundraise, and support their mission of helping children.
- Canine Companions will share their knowledge about service dogs, puppy raising, and how you can be part of their work through volunteer opportunities throughout the country.
- Hugh O-Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) will conduct a workshop focused on how their programs educate, motivate, and empower students to help them to be impactful leaders in their schools and communities.
- March of Dimes will provide an overview of the many ways that you can engage with their organization to help moms, babies, and the military.
- Operation Smile will discuss the overall mission of Operation Smile and how you can get involved.
Besides attending these workshops, all of the Business Sessions from August 28–August 30 are excellent opportunities to reconnect in-person. The full text of the Bylaws and Resolutions are available to print out so that you can prepare to participate.
Make the most of this August and register for Convention by August 4 through the GFWC Member Portal.
Get Your Run for the Roses Pin!
Run for the Roses recognition items will be distributed at the 2021 GFWC Annual Convention Registration Booth for donations received at GFWC Headquarters by August 12. GFWC will accept single contributions of $1,000.00 or more to collect all three items onsite, however, if you are working toward the next recognition level, staff will not be able to process those donations for a new cumulative total at the Convention. Donations received at Headquarters after August 12, as well as those received at the Convention to be applied towards a new cumulative total for the next recognition level, will be recognized at the fall Region Conferences.
Attendees will receive a notice with their Registration materials indicating the recognition item(s) they are eligible to collect at Convention.
$202.20 – $499.99 – Bookmark
$500.00 – $999.99 – Bookmark and Ornament
$1,000 and Beyond – Bookmark, Ornament, and Jeweled Rose Pin
Help GFWC sprint to the finish and proudly show your commitment to GFWC’s Campaign for the Future. Make your donation through the Member Portal today!
Volunteers in Action
This week’s GFWC Blog features GFWC Florida and GFWC Brunswick Woman’s Club. Read about how clubwomen from across the state came together to provide relief to first responders at the site of the condo collapse in Surfside, Florida, and how members donated hundreds of dollars’ worth of food and supplies to a facility offering assistance to people being treated for cancer and their families.
Have a success story to tell? Email PR@GFWC.org to have your club project considered for the blog.
Participate in Raffle at Convention to Win Prizes and Support GFWC
Purchasing raffle tickets at the 2021 GFWC Annual Convention is a great way to raise funds and show your support for GFWC programs and projects. Along with helping the Federation, you will also have the chance to win some great prizes: gift cards to electronics, jewelry to handbags, and much more.
You can participate in the raffle by purchasing tickets when you register for Convention through August 4, for only $20 per sheet. Additional tickets will be available onsite on Saturday, August 28, and Sunday, August 29, for $25 per sheet as well.
Heifer International’s Ingenuity in the Pandemic
While vaccinations have made it possible for many people in the United States to enjoy a more “normal” summer, the COVID-19 pandemic remains a serious component within the work being done by GFWC Affiliate Organization Heifer International. Program activities have been affected in all 21 countries where Heifer has projects. Value chains have been disrupted, costs have increased, and transportation restrictions have made it difficult for farmers to get their food to markets. Despite these setbacks, Heifer is helping ensure our project partners have the resources to adapt. Each farmer wants to provide for their families and communities; Heifer’s partners are committed to building strong systems for the “new normal.”
In the beginning of the pandemic, many countries, like Nepal, enforced strict lockdowns to slow the spread of COVID-19. A country-wide lockdown meant that farmers had a difficult time getting their produce to markets, causing it to rot and go to waste. In consequence, consumers no longer had access to fresh foods. To solve this problem, the Lekbesi SEW Cooperative in Nepal took quick action! The group acquired a “transport pass” to collect their produce and sell it to consumers using an agri-ambulance. Farmer Moti Sara Saru said, “When the cooperative began the ambulance service and began going from door-to-door collecting the vegetables and handing us our money, we felt as though a guardian had come to our rescue. We are very happy.” On its first day of operation, the agri-ambulance transported more than 770 pounds of vegetables! The innovative ideas from Heifer’s cooperatives are helping farmers earn an income and keeping communities well-nourished.
Legislative Corner
GFWC joins the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence and many other advocates for victims of crime in applauding Congress for enacting the VOCA Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act of 2021 (VOCA Fix, H.R. 1652). The House-approved measure passed the Senate on July 21, by a vote of 100-0, after defeating an amendment 40-60. President Biden signed the bill on July 22.
The GFWC Legislative Action Center had been activated to urge the Senate to approve the House-passed bill; 1,874 key contacts were made to Senators. Thank you for participating in this important effort to fund programs to assist victims of crime. More than 1,700 victim rights organizations, government agencies, and 56 Attorneys General supported the legislative fix. We are proud that GFWC could be a part of this tremendous effort.
The VOCA Fix bill will address the catastrophic cuts in Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) assistance grants by ensuring that monetary penalties associated with criminal acts, whether obtained through criminal convictions as under current law or from deferred or non-prosecution agreements, go to serve and compensate victims and survivors. VOCA funds are not taxpayer funds, but federal criminal fines and fees that are deposited in the Crime Victims Fund and are administered by the Department of Justice.
Domestic violence and sexual assault programs rely on VOCA grants as their largest source of funding to provide lifesaving services to survivors. Over the past five years, the Crime Victims Fund had seen a significant reduction in receipts, resulting in programs cutting services and laying off advocates. Funding will now be restored to local domestic violence shelters, rape crisis centers, legal services programs, and child abuse treatment programs in every state.
“This is a victory for survivors, a victory for advocates and programs, and a victory for grassroots engagement,” says National Coalition Against Domestic Violence President & CEO, Ruth M. Glenn.
State President’s Project: Liz Lynch, South Dakota
Since there was not a GFWC South Dakota State Convention in 2020 due to COVID-19, the first State Convention of the Administration took place in June 2021. During the Convention, GFWC South Dakota State President Liz Lynch encouraged members to support GFWC Affiliate Organization Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) at the local level for her special project. Liz Lynch’s goal is to have each of the five GFWC South Dakota clubs raise money to donate to their local high schools to support one student who is chosen to represent their high school at the HOBY State Leadership Seminar.
At the State Convention, attendees were able to make silent bids on a basket full of goodies. The winner of the silent auction was GFWC South Dakota First Vice President Pamela Hallman with a $100 bid. Liz Lynch matched the bid amount, and the $200 will be donated to the Yankton High School HOBY representative in 2022. Clubwomen also learned more about HOBY during the State Convention and were asked to host a fundraiser for the organization if possible.
High school representatives can also attend club meetings after the State Leadership Seminar to discuss their leadership experience, and club members were asked to encourage the representatives to be active and tell other students about HOBY opportunities as well. This is an ongoing project that will continue when school starts again in the fall.
GFWC Marketplace: Silicone Phone Wallet
The GFWC silicone phone wallet will make carrying your important cards easier by conveniently attaching to the back of your phone. With space for carrying two cards, the wallet uses a patented 3M adhesive to help it stay on most phones and phone cases without demagnetizing your cards. The wallet is great for when you would rather not carry your full wallet or purse. Order yours today.
There have been reports of mail service delays in many communities throughout the United States. In order to speed up processing of your order, we request that you pay for your order at time of purchase in the Member Portal. For details on mail service in your area, visit the USPS Service Alerts page. |
