Download .pdf
Download .doc
 

2008 – GFWC-WI PROJECT IDEA BOOK

Dear GFWC-WI Clubwomen:

Thank you from the entire leadership team of GFWC-WI for your outstanding volunteer efforts during 2007.  The countless hours of work you have done has had an incredible impact on your communities and the world.

We recognize that clubs are always looking for new ideas, and that is why we have published this Project Idea Book for you.  This information has been compiled by the GFWC-WI Department and Special Projects Chairmen for your benefit.  Please take the time to read through it, not just to see what other clubs have done, but to find new and exciting ideas your clubs can use.  As you will see, you don’t have to spend hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars to make a difference.

1,363 GFWC-WI clubwomen spent over 101,303.75 hours working on 1,476 projects/programs, and donated over $793,082.81 in 2007.  Statistics for each individual program, along with the list of 1^s, 2^nd and 3^rd Place winners, will be published in the next issue of the WI Clubwoman magazine, due out mid-June.  

Congratulations on a job well done, and thank you again for taking the time to participate in the reporting process. 

Beth Griesser                                    Debby Tomlinson

GFWC-WI 2^nd Vice President             GFWC-WI Director Elect of

                                                        Junior Clubs  

Arts on the Community  - Shirley Mattox
 

A wonderful thing happened as I read the Arts Reports from across the state.  Some clubs that had not done the Mears Art Contest before, or had let it slip away, were connecting with their middle school art teachers and 7^th and 8^th grade students by recognizing the art talent in their midst.  I sensed a newly found pride and enthusiasm in those reports.  It is important for credibility to have judges who are art teachers, professional artists, or practicing artists.

   Clubs are finding new ways to approach the Helen Farnsworth Mears Art Contest.  Some of their ideas may super-charge your contest:

·         Exhibit students’ work in a working artist’s gallery using a traveling artist wall;

·         Encourage professional artists to leave their business card of approval on their personal favorite;

·         Exhibit Mears winners’ artwork during a Gallery Walk;

·         Design and send postcards announcing the Mears exhibit which mimics what is done for a professional art show;

·         Design a local website for the Mears contest listing information and rules from GFWC-WI website, photos of the artwork, students, judges and members hanging the show.  Kudos to this resourceful website: http://www.helenmears.info.

·         Approach local businesses, especially art-related, to sponsor the winners with gift certificates (matched by the club) or with store merchandise;

·         Ask judges to share their critique of the winning artwork as a club program.

   Many clubs have successful annual arts and crafts fairs, and antique shows.  As it may happen, the fairs no longer attract as many vendors or visitors.  One club, losing some of its steam, partnered with the local hospital health fair, thus doubled its audience appeal, added twelve exhibitors, and resulted in a successful fundraiser! Consider joining forces with other groups to foster your Arts in the Community projects and fundraisers.

   Club meetings can sparkle with programs of local artists, club artists, and celebrities sharing their talents and experiences as artists.  Attending community concerts, theater, film, and exhibits as a group creates a bond and supports local talent.  Stretch a bit, rent a bus, open the tour to the community, and expand everyone’s capacity for experiencing life through the Arts. 

CONSERVATION:  BEAUTIFICATION – Audrey Brunzlik

 “Go Green” - Replace standard light bulbs with LED bulbs in decorations that your city or area uses.  One club installed 13,000 bulbs in their Christmas decorations.

 Use solar lamps to light up areas where landscaping and flower beds are located.

 Have a community garden to raise vegetables and flowers for sale or to be given to a charity, such as a community table.

 Have a Home Tour or a Garden Tour to raise money.

 Celebrate Arbor Day by getting your community or schools involved in planting a tree or flowers.

 We have many bike trails in Wisconsin.  Scatter flower seeds along the sides of the trail.

 Pick up litter!  Help keep our parks, museums and other areas of our cities or country side clean.  Work with youth groups and get them to help.  Maybe they won’t be so apt to litter when they are older.

 Reward property owners for the beautification of their homes or properties.  Taking a picture and putting it in the newspaper is a good idea.

CONSERVATION:  RESOURCE CONSERVATION - Gail Gillmore

In reading the many reports submitted by 20 GFWC-WI clubs in Resource Conservation, I am pleased to report that 74 projects were worked on by 72 members, involving 1122 hours and $7,076 donated dollars.

Conservation:  Resource Conservation continued...

The many Wisconsin projects included such activities as:

·         Touring Wisconsin’s nature areas.

·         Listening to lectures on Resource Conservation

·         Donating dollars and time to help support many of the conservation activities.

·         Displays were produced to direct everyone’s attention to the many resources available for GFWC members to become involved.

·         Recycling efforts in various areas such as collecting aluminum tabs for Ronald McDonald house, inkjet cartridges, paper, aluminum cans, soup labels for educational supplies, etc.

·         Kind News subscriptions again have increased for 55 newspapers have been sent to classrooms in Wisconsin.

·         Roadside and park cleanups were scheduled and accomplished.

·         Many of the clubs are more involved in keeping our earth green, exploring container gardening and attempting rain gardens – Wisconsin’s 2007 Focus

·         Promoting Earth Day in the classrooms

·         Planting flowers and trees in various areas and maintaining them.

·         One club has a Woodsy Owl costume for a student to wear when visiting kindergarten classes and teaching about pollution.

I am pleased with everyone’s continuous efforts in conserving our resources.  The ultimate goal is to assure that conservation practices continue with future generations.

EDUCATION:  LIFELONG LEARNING – Michele Schaetz

High school scholarships are among the highest ranking projects in volunteer hours and club donations.  Even though the scholarship information is not detailed here, suffice it to say that this is something that many of the clubs do in our state, and for many it is where a large portion of their fundraising dollars are spent.  We should never overlook the fact that while other projects within this committee may be more unique or original, scholarship donations are a key activity for many of our clubs.  We are helping to shape the future by investing in our youth!

The Hartford Junior Women’s Club takes the High School Scholarship to the next level.  They realize that students need money to fund all four years of school, so they implemented the Continuing Education Program.  This helps a student returning for their later college years, rather than just the first.

Another type of scholarship given out in many clubs is one to help a female returning to school.  This is usually based on financial needs, and many are single mothers with restricted incomes.  This is a great way to give someone a second chance at school, and hopefully she will pass on her successes to her children, creating a positive cycle.

The GFWC Rhinelander Woman’s Club has a program called “Food for the Mind”, which involves donating books to food pantries.  They feel that “if parents need to visit food pantries, their top priority will not be to buy books for their kids”.  They donate both new and used titles, and children may select books to keep.  The club collected 1366 used books and 1034 new books, and distributed them to 9 food pantries.  This is a great way to make sure that those whose need is the greatest for educational materials are not overlooked.    

A few of the clubs participate in a program to outfit students with school supplies to help with learning.  The Durand Woman’s Club has initiated this program, and also asks area businesses for financial support.  They are able to collect materials all year long by storing them in a donated space.  Other clubs recycle material used from the previous year’s classes.  A lot of buying, cleaning, organizing, and stuffing (of student book bags) goes into this project.

The Amery Woman’s Club has also done a new twist on Books for Babies, providing books along with a library card to each newborn at an area hospital.  Their focus is on stressing the importance of reading at an early age.

 HOME LIFE:  HELPING HANDS – Lu Petters 

• Make a Therapy Vest for Infants & Children (March of Dimes)
• Help with activities for mentally and physically challenged people, like bowling, movies, teaching cooking and other things so they may enjoy a full life.
• Work with local Habitat for Humanity chapter, can be a board member
• Volunteer at St. Vincent De Paul thrift shop repairing dolls and clothing.
• Work with “Meals on Wheels” taking meals to shut-ins.
• Serve meals to the homeless, may include preparing.
• Volunteer at the local food pantry.
• Mentor children at YMCA – “Strong Kids”
• Help the elderly and sick with reading, cleaning, shoveling, meals, etc.
• Help at a nursing home, such as Bingo, gifts, sharing music, etc.
• Fill Food Baskets to be taken to needy families, names supplied by churches, social services and other community organizations.
• Be a Hospice, Hospital, Salvation Army or Red Cross volunteer.
• Contribute monetarily to the special organizations specified by GFWC Helping Hands like March of Dimes, Canine Companions, Disabled Veterans, Habitat for Humanity, Easter Seals, Heavenly Hats.
• Make hats for Heavenly Hats or other local cancer units to be given out to patients.
• Serve on local boards of charity organizations
• Monetarily or physically support local fund drives for special projects that benefit the community or charity organizations.
• Provide brown bags or other supplies to put food or clothing in for the needy.  Wrapping paper for gifts would be welcome.
• Support Toys for Tots, Coats for Children or like projects.
• Support “Dress to Work” programs designed to help a woman to get back into the workplace after being on welfare.
• Sponsor “Life Line” to make sure a person alone can immediately contact the hospital if he or she falls or become ill.
• Provide some fun events for needy families.
• Provide baby shower gifts for mothers in need.
• Assist at Blood Banks, making sandwiches, cookies, etc. and working.
• Donate items like filled suitcases or backpacks to Foster Care for children as they move from one place to another. (school supplies, underwear, clothing)
• Collect and donate soup labels for education and pop tabs. Also “Click for Cans” on the computer to support a favorite football team providing cans of Campbell’s Chunky Soup for local food pantries. 

 HOME LIFE:  DOLLARS & SENSE – Carol Schweinfurth

 Year 2008 brought a surge in identity theft, and the clubs responded by utilizing the “identify theft” program of GFWC’s Home Life Program.

 Ashland Monday Club invited their Chief of Police to give a program warning members about scams perpetrated in the area.  He also warned the club members about giving out the “pin” number on the back of credit cards or social security numbers over the telephone.

 Durand Woman’s Club members were given websites to check their credit rating, along with information about making smart decisions on donating to charities and organizations and the website to visit to stop receiving unsolicited mail.

 Monroe Woman’s Club had two guest speakers from Amcore Bank.  Their theme was “Protecting Yourselves from Being a Victim”.  They were told how information is stolen and how to prevent it.

 Possible solutions:

·         Shred as much personal information as possible

·         Install locked mail boxes

·         Don’t give out information over the phone

·         Install antivirus software and firewalls into your computer

·         Review all credit card statements

·         If you shop online, be certain the “http” is encrypted in your information

 Rhinelander Woman’s Club had a representative from People’s State Bank give a presentation on Identity Theft, who gave many tips similar to those listed above.

 Woman’s Club of Greenfield had a speaker from Robert W. Baird & Co. giving a crash course on investments in:

·         Annuities

·         Higher Yielding Investments

·         Long term bonds

·         Tax strategies

 He held private consultations after the meeting with any members wanting more personal assistance.

 GFWC-WI held an Identity Theft program at the Summer Board meeting in Tomahawk, and the First District held an identity theft program at their summer workshop.

 The big question is:  we can do all of this, but who protects us from our personal information being lost by credit card companies, banks, and department stores?

HOME LIFE:  WOMEN’S HEALTH – Phyllis Nielsen

Learn more about Shingles – get the free shingles Kit from the GFWC Materials Center.  Give a program and show the video to your community.  This is especially important for the elderly.

In February (Heart Month) send for the Heart Truth Kit from GFWC – or have a local speaker.

Visit good web sites:  www.webmd.com, www.mayoclinic.com, www.intelihealth.com, www.apta.org, or www.medlineplus.com for general wellness information.

Women’s Health Information Center – Phone number is 1-800/994-9662, or contact them at www.4woman.gov.  Good information available.

Program on Grieving – Support organizations in most cities.

Program on Foot Care

In November, Alzheimer’s month, have speaker describe the disease, treatments, and diagnostic tests available

Order various health hand-out brochures and distribute to members

 Have program on the Mentally Ill

 Exercises with Elastic from Rehab Services

 Provide monthly health tips or put them in your newsletters

 Encourage walking for good exercise.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS:REACHING OUT INTERNATIONALLY – Nancy Kehrberg

CARE

Three clubs reported making monetary donations totaling $205.

 PLAN USA

One club indicated their continued support of a young man in Paraguay.

 Clowns Without Borders

As part of an informational program regarding Clowns Without Borders, the local chairman expanded the idea to include children in local domestic abuse centers. She had the club members make clown masks.  The masks started out to be very simple with colorful paper faces and hats.  But then the members got carried away with enhancing the hats with fancy flowers and ribbons, bow ties and scarves.  Hope the children had as much fun as the club members did!

 Heifer Project International

Six clubs reported activities in this area.  Money was raised in several ways; one club had a community Easter Egg Hunt, which included collecting donations from the parents.  Another has a container passed at each meeting, raising enough for a goat.  Another club uses a “Piggy Bank” for their collection, raising enough money to purchase a llama.  A collection of “odd change” allowed for the purchase of bees and chicks.

 Operation Smile

This is the most popular project in the International Affairs department.  Eleven clubs reported, but this chairman feels many more participate but did not report.  Many boxes were mailed to Operation Smile Headquarters filled with hygiene supplies, small stuffed animals, Arts and Crafts supplies, and Smile Dolls, plus office and operating supplies requested.  The GFWC Edgerton Woman’s club made 100 tote bags along with other requested items.

Forty-two quilts were contributed by the GFWC Kenosha Woman’s club and eighty-eight Smile Bags by the GFWC Brown Deer Woman’s Club.

World Food Day (Food Banks)

Six clubs reported participating in the food banks in their communities.  Canned goods and money are donated.  One club received matching funds for their $600 donation, making a total of $1200.  A club member collected several good condition coats, had them cleaned, and together with scarves, gloves, lotions and shampoo donated them to the food pantry.  Several clubs’ members regularly give of their time to sort, stock and manage the food pantries in their communities.

Cultural Exchange

Foreign exchange students from Germany and Japan spoke at two clubs’ meetings.  They told about their backgrounds, compared the school systems in their homelands and here.  The Japanese student showed origami figures, chopsticks and silk fabric.  The two Steven’s Point clubs made monetary donations to the Portage County Polish Cultural Project.

 The Beloit Federation of Women did a lot of armchair travel through club programs.  A club member told of her trip to Haiti to help in the construction of hospital.  Members then went “From Venice Cruising the Dalmatian Coast”, saw “The Seven Wonders of the Modern World”, and the running of the Iditarod.  They also participated in a program about a computer school in Cameroon that a local fireman is actively involved in.  A contribution of clothing and school supplies was made to the school.

 Miscellaneous

Clubs find many ways to reach out a helping hand around the world.

 ·         A speaker on supplying wells and latrines for rural Cambodian villages.  Money donated for one well plus $250 for medical supplies.

·         Rang bells for Salvation Army plus donation of $350.

·         Providing used sewing machines, instructions and supplies in Nicaragua.

·         Scholarship money to two black-listed Chinese students and aid to abandoned children and infants with disabilities.

·         Club donated basic needs items for children for adoption in India.  Helped victims of Hurricane Felix in Nicaragua.  At Christmas participated in Operation Shoe Box (basic necessities and toys) for needy.

·         Woman’s Club of Racine donated through Russian Orphan Opportunity Fund to bridge the educational gap.  Work with the Russian Woman’s Club on this project.  Money was raised through a “Blessings Event” as thanksgiving for blessings received in their lives, $260 was raised.

·         Program entitled “Stalag Wisconsin” about the German prison camps in Wisconsin during World War II.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS: UNITED NATIONS – Beth Griesser

 Check out www.thehungersite.com and www.freerice.com.  Both of these websites will give free food to developing countries.

 Use the UNICEF trick or treat boxes and send donations in to the UNICEF Children’s program.

 Have a fund raiser and send donations to UNIFEM and the fund for women.

 An exciting new program for 2008-2010 will be UNICEF’s project of clean water, “TAP”.  Check this out on the UNICEF website.

Many of our Wisconsin clubs have used some interesting ideas to enhance projects suggested in the GFWC club manual in order to implement the Citizenship Program.  Here are a few:

Veterans

·         How about a “Veteran’s Giving Tree” on display in a public building, decorated with request slips for useful items which can be picked off and the item purchased and donated to the local V.A. Hospital?

·         Have a party (monthly birthdays?) at the residence home complete with games, prizes of useful items, snacks, and then top it off with cake and a sing-along.

Citizenship

·         Educate your community in proper United States flag etiquette.  Get your local businesses, schools and churches to assist in the distribution of flyers.

·         Does your local police department have a “Cops and Bobbers” program in which kids from all over sign up to go fishing (not just one day but all summer) at a near-by lake?  Volunteers provide boats and hands-on experience.  A few officers are in attendance, which allows the kids contact with ”the good guys”.

Historic

·         Volunteer to help with a public cleaning day, inside and out, at your local society or museum and serve lunch to all participants.

·         Sponsor an “artifact donation drive” in the community area – be general or be specific.  Pictures are always appreciated, or maybe old hats for the apparel room, or small kitchen utensils.  What about a garden area complete with gazebo?

PUBLIC AFFAIRS:  SAFETY – Laverne Hoerig

 Create new penalties for use of cell. phone – if the driver is at fault and if the cell phone contributed to the cause of the crash.

 Cell Phone Misuse – the dangerous use of cell phones wile driving as this is a problem that is on the rise.

 Start a Heart – Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) – involved in a project called Start a Heart.

 Survive Alive House – (outstanding project) house is actually a two story home that was built for area fire departments to be used for educational purposes teaching young children about fire safety.

 Older Adult Safety­ – the personal safety concerns of older adults, providing GFWC educational information in areas such as home security, consumer fraud, and other personal issues concerning the well-being of older adults.

 Better laws for control of fire arms

 Take Action on Domestic Violence & Community Sex Offenders

 Child Identification – involves updating fingerprints for children.  This is a big project and takes manpower from groups to be effective, and the local police department, assisting with identification instructions, photos, and obtaining personal information on the children.

 Bike Helmet/Bicycle Safety – get clubs actively involved in the promotion of helmet use.  Have a bike rodeo and involve local police departments, use helmets for prizes and incentives.

 Truck Weight – One of the continued projects for 2008 is working on Assembly Bill 678, which would significantly increase the maximum allowable weight for trucks operating in our state and many states.

JUNIORS SPECIAL PROJECT:  ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN:Shari Hanneman

The Stevens Point Junior Woman’s club is very diverse in their advocacy initiative.  This club actually runs a day care center!  The day care is targeted for high school students who have a child prior to graduating high school.  This allows the high school student to be able to work towards graduation while knowing that their child is being cared for in a safe, secure, and nurturing environment.    Stevens Point Juniors also are a benefactor of the Achievement Center which provides programs, education, and one-on-one assistance for children age birth to three and their parents.  The Center works to get early education and therapies to children who need educational assistance or have special needs.

The Brown Deer Junior Woman’s Club sponsored a community presentation entitled “Danger on the Internet”. This was a free event open to all and featured a special agent with the Wisconsin Dept. of Justice’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.  Topics included predator techniques identifying the most vulnerable kids and the importance of filters and monitoring software.  Also covered was the risk of online journals like My Space along with an eye-opening live demonstration of chat rooms.

One club did a makeover of two rooms at a local shelter.  They painted the walls, purchased new bedding, pillows and room accessories and then did the two bathrooms.  The members did the actual painting.  They were able to get a local Lowe’s store to donate the paint and painting supplies, and new light fixtures.

Purchasing gifts for Christmas was a common project.  Some clubs picked actual families and got a wish list from them and did the shopping for the mothers and children.  They tried to include the mothers in the process.

Collecting needed items for the shelters was a frequent project.

One club held a fund raiser; they netted $27,004.51 to fund children’s programming at the Shelter for items like playground equipment, computer access, and software for the computers.  Some of the funds were used for food and diapers and other necessities.

Suggested projects for clubs:

·         Donate cell phones and phone cards for victims.

·         Make “Bears That Care” bags containing a night shirt, a bear, book and blanket for abused children.

·         Hold a gently-used winter outer-wear drive for the shelter.

·         Create “First Night Kits”, which include pajamas, robes and slippers.

·         Collect soap, shampoo, toothpaste/brushes and feminine hygiene products for the local shelter.

·         Hold a candlelight vigil/recruitment booth to sign the “Million Voices Campaign pledge cards.

·         Do a “HUGS” collection – hats, underwear, gloves and socks for the kids at the shelter.

·         Volunteer at the shelter – help with “spring cleaning”, tutoring kids, office work.

·         Purchase tickets for a play, ballgame or to a museum.

Use your imagination on what they might need.

 GFWC-WI STATE PROJECT EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES FOR CHILDREN (EMSC) – Elizabeth Davy

About 40 GFWC-WI clubs stepped forward to help our EMS providers significantly improve emergency medical care of our youngest residents and visitors.  In 2002, less than 1% of our EMS departments carried Pediatric Jump Kit Bags (Ped Bags) on their ambulances.  But by the end of 2007, over 20% had at least one Ped Bag in their department!  These generous clubs and club members deserve a standing ovation for creating lasting, positive change to so many.  How did these clubs manage to make such a huge difference?  In many creative ways:

* School Coin Drives: Spooner Woman’s Club members funded Ped Bags for their County’s ambulances!  Over $1,500 of the $3,500 raised came from two school Coin Drives.  The EMS educated students, parents, and staff by bringing an ambulance and explaining the need for Ped Bags.  SWC turned this educational, fundraising event into a wonderful PR opportunity as well!

* Grant Writing: The Oconomowoc Junior Woman’s Club (OJWC) wrote and received a $3,000 grant to fund Ped Bags for ambulances without a nearby participating GFWC club.  Additionally, the club donated $500, members donated over $4,500, and a local bank donated $500 when asked by a member! 

* Wine Tasting Event: Ask 4^th District club members about this successful event!

Collaborate: Ask a Rhinelander Woman’s Club member how they funded 10 Ped Bags in 4 months.  And how they are using this same strategy to fund Vilas County’s 18 ambulances now! 

Talk!: Share the project need with others.  Kathy Glunz of Centuria Woman’s Club raised over $5,000 to fund Polk County’s ambulances by giving others the opportunity to help – friends, businesses, Rotary, a Health Foundation!

Present: Speak at a community service group meeting and ask them to donate a Ped Bag, match your club’s donation, sponsor an EMS department, or…?

Ask!:  Give your employer, bank, PTA, business, community group the opportunity to help save a child’s life by donating.  Ask Wal-Mart, Thrivent Financial, Red Hat & homemaker clubs, etc.

Auction Item: Does your club hold an auction? At the end of it, talk briefly on the need of Ped Bags, then let the attendees bid on supplies to fill a Ped Bag.  The bidders add their bid to the amount they owe.  Don’t hold an auction?  Give another group that does the opportunity to give back to the community by adding this “auction item” to the end of their program.

Children Can Help, too!: The Kids Who Can club, ages 4 to 12, collected coins at their meetings.  They presented a Ped Bag four months later to their “adopted” EMS department! 

Fundraising: Many clubs held assorted fundraisers to successfully fund Ped Bags!

Penny Drive: Ina raised $7,000 in one administration by collecting PENNIES!

* See www.gfwc-wi.org, under Special Projects, EMSC, for templates/information. 

 Wisconsin’s GFWC members act for positive change!  And Wisconsin’s children, their families, and the EMS who serve them are all grateful recipients of our proactive actions. There are many success stories - like the twins that were unexpectedly, and successfully, delivered in a bathroom with one of our Ped Bags!  We have dozens of emails, letters, and cards from EMS telling us what a difference these Ped Bags make – to them and the children they serve.  Please check out the white EMS Thank You binder at the EMSC Ped Bag table to read about the positive changes YOU have brought to the men and women who serve those in need of emergency care.

SPECIAL PROJECTS: EMPOWERING WOMEN – Sandra Pecha

The objective of the GFWC Empowering Women One by One Program is to motivate and educate GFWC members to become empowered, boosting self esteem and self image.  Empowered women go beyond the norm, beyond the traditional way of doing things and are motivated to move forward with the least amount of difficulty.

Wisconsin had six clubs send in reports on Empowering Women.  All clubs probably had some project or program that had to do with empowering women, but to report it is another thing.  Those six clubs had great statistics:

The GFWC Tuesday Club of Black River Falls reports having a Christmas party for all members and spouses.  However, the 6 ladies without partners never attend, so this year they were asked to accompany the program members and husbands.  They all attended, and the evening was a smashing success for 31 members and 26 guests.

 GFWC Menomonie Woman’s Club had several members at State convention and participated in the “We Are Women, Hear us Roar” program.  They had two women speakers who later joined the club.  They changed the meeting, time and place of meeting.  This has increase attendance and empowered women are now participating, including one City Council woman.

 GFWC Woman’s Club of Racine had a guest speaker give a presentation on girls and bullying.  The program is utilized at the middle school level.  A donation was made to continue the work of this agency to continue the program.

 GFWC Stevens Point Woman’s Club established a fund in the Community Foundation of Portage County.  The money had been in CDs in the club’s name.  The fund is called The GFWC Stevens Point Woman’s Club Fund, and when endowed, will grant money to projects in accordance with GFWC standards and guidelines.  An annual fundraiser will be held to increase the endowment, making it sustainable for the future.

 The Woman’s Club of Kenosha empowers their women through communication.  They maintain roadside signs, a history book, they use the GFWC logo on all communications, publish a newsletter four times a year, send in press releases, keep a scrapbook, have a memorial book, a club directory and the Alford Endowment.  This fund was established in 1973 for Gertrude Alford, who donated the house and land to the Woman’s Club along with a fund to maintain the vintage club house.  Money is drawn from the fund for club upkeep.

The Durand Woman’s Club uses empowering women on all communications.  They have the logo printed on the club yearbook, use ideas of empowerment at each meeting and talk about the accomplishments of their club members.  Monthly newsletters are sent to each member listing recognition and contributions by members.  They empower the club women to unify together in their club while diversifying in the community.  They attended the program at State Convention and shared the information with club members.

 I am sure many clubs did similar things but did not report.  Unfortunately, after spending much time on the International level putting this program together for 2008-2006, it will NOT be continued in the net administration.  My hope is that clubs continue to do projects that will encourage women to become empowered.

SPECIAL PROJECTS:  PUBLIC POLICY AND ADVOCACY – Nancy Honadel

·         Distribute “Welcome to Wisconsin” coloring books to 1^st Graders

 ·         Distribute ‘How a Bill Becomes a Law” to 4^th Graders

 ·         Host a Legislative smorgasbord in conjunction with another function and include materials about state and national issues and resolutions

 ·         Read “Watching Washington” and “Program Updates” in the GFWC Clubwoman.

 ·         Develop a directory identifying public officials by their duties and how to contact them

 ·       Monitor your elected officials’ voting records

SPECIAL PROJECT:  PUBLIC RELATIONS – Pat Raab

This club redesigned its club logo, incorporating it with the Federation logo – all legal through Federation, of course. The concept is so in-tune with the ongoing struggle of connecting the dots between Federation and the local club. With the club name surrounding the Federation logo pin, there can’t be any doubt that the club is affiliated with the General Federation of Women’s Clubs.

Oconomowoc Jr. Woman’s Club

One project that really caught my eye was this club’s decision to have a table at their local grade-school registration days. How better to be in touch with potential members? They had an information board about their club and its activities, plus members staffing the table to meet and greet the moms.  It was so successful it’ll become an annual activity.

Brown Deer Jr. Woman’s Club

 Flyers with tear-off tabs are posted around the community. Tabs have the club name and website address where they can get more information.

Brown Deer Jr. Woman’s Club

Club business cards are printed and distributed to all members. They are easily carried in a billfold or purse, handy to give out to potential members.

Brown Deer Jr. Woman’s Club & Clinton Jr. Woman’s Club

 Check your local cable TV access channel to see if they carry club announcements.

West Allis Woman’s Club

 New members are given the club’s t-shirt to wear at events the club sponsors.

Tomahawk Women’s Civic Club

Club information notices are posted at apartment buildings throughout the community.

 Shorewood Woman’s Club

After hearing a program about the Salvation Army’s efforts in disasters, this club’s members took on the bell-ringing holiday fund drive, working in conjunction with another community organization to solicit involvement. The effort raised $3,000 more than the previous year, and there was plenty of publicity about the club and this project throughout the holiday season. 

Oconto Woman’s Club

An old-fashioned sandwich sign posted on the sidewalk outside the venue where an activity is being held calls attention to this club’s activities in progress.

 Ashland Monday Club 

The book this club published for its centennial celebration hasn’t been put on a shelf – it’s displayed at all club events and for new member and orientation sessions.

 Woman’s Club of Racine

 Look for places in your community where you can get free publicity for your meetings and projects.

Junior Woman’s Club of Racine

What to do with those scrapbooks, club history and vintage books of minutes? Several clubs have turned them over to their local historical society, which keeps them relatively safe and also available as a resource for historical research.

Ashland Monday Club & Durand Woman’s Club

WHRC – Pat Hladilek and Annabelle Weishan

Contact your local television station about producing a program documentary about the history of your club. Include interviews with Past Presidents, who can share the highlights of their term in office.  Use pictures of club members and club events in the program.  Have the program aired on your local television station to provide the community with information about GWFC and your club.

Invite an expert from your local Library System or Historical Society who can speak and give an overview of what is required to follow genealogy to locate your ancestors.

Support your local Historical Society with a donation and also have members volunteer their time helping at the Society, possibly serving as docents or helping at special events.

Make a Club, as well as individual member, donations to GFWC-WHRC (Woman’s History Resource Center) at Headquarters in Washington, DC.

Support and become a member of the “1734 Society” (which helps with the restoration and upkeep of Headquarters) by sending in $17.34 - $173.40 or $1,734.00 to:  GFWC – 1734 N Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036-2990.

During Woman’s History month have a member give a dialog of the history of your club and GFWC.  Include information about “Notable Clubwomen”.

Plan a club trip to see GFWC-WI “Wisconsin’s Own Library” at its new location in the Ripon College Library.   Thousands of books by Wisconsin Authors are on display for your use and enjoyment.

Form a Club History Committee to start or update your club’s history starting with the founding of your club.  Make this information, along with pictures and new articles, available to your members at club meetings.