FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT

Dear Members and Friends,



As your CFWC President, my recent travels have been more than just meetings – they have been a journey into the very heart of our community. While we accomplish so much through emails and Zoom, nothing compares to the energy of a handshake, a shared meal, and the meaningful connection of being face to face with the members who bring our organization to life.

Traveling from district to district, I have been inspired by the remarkable dedication of our members. At the CFWC Orange District Convention on April 10, the awards presentations were truly impressive, and the installation of Linda Queen as President by Marcia Willett—complete with a royal robe and crown—was as memorable as it was unique. Members added to the celebration by wearing attire representing the year their clubs were founded, creating a vibrant and meaningful tribute to our history.

The following day, April 11, I attended the CFWC Southern District Convention in San Diego, where Karen Reed welcomed members and guests to a “Fairy Garden” themed installation. The creativity on display—from fairy wings to beautifully adorned floral headpieces—made for a magical and uplifting experience.

At each meeting and convention, hearing the passion in members’ voices as they share their projects and the impact on their communities reaffirms the importance of coming together in person. These moments remind me that what we do matters deeply—not only in the work itself, but in the connections we build along the way.

My visits are not only about leadership; they are about relationships. From laughter over coffee to heartfelt conversations, these experiences truly define the spirit of CFWC. They are the glue that binds our federation together and a reminder that we are part of something larger—a supportive and dedicated family.

Every interaction, whether formal or informal, helps me better understand how we can continue to support and uplift one another. I return from these travels with a renewed sense of purpose and deep pride in all we accomplish together. Our strength lies in our unity and in the genuine friendships we cultivate.

Thank you to everyone who welcomed me so warmly, shared your stories, and made these visits so memorable. I look forward to the journeys still ahead and to the continued work we will do together.

In Federation and Love,

Sonya

CONVENTION INFORMATION - KATHI McGRAW, Co-Chair

CFWC CONVENTION    May 14-16, 2026

Ontario Airport Hotel & Conference Center

The Deadline for meal reservations is this week. Please make sure your letter is in the mail by April 20^th. The best thing to do is to use Zelle at this time. The instructions for using Zelle are found in the Call.

Saturday May 14 will open with the LEADS reunion breakfast. This is always a fun event for those members who have been a LEADS candidate from their district. The next event will be the Chairmans’ Faire. This is when you have a chance to meet your state chairmen and find out about different projects in their area. At 10:00 am there will be 3 workshops: Shot@ Life Advocacy by Lois Fitzhugh, Kathy Holm & Sonja Hults; Let’s Get Ship Shape – Making sure our Clubs are welcoming and easy to find by Cindy Sanders, CFWC 2nd VP; When is a Picture worth 1000 words? Using social media to gain attention by Jolie Frankfurth, GFWC 1st Vice President.

The Saturday lunch will feature the program “Shelter to Soldier”. This organization adopts dogs from local shelters and trains them to become psychiatric service dogs for post 9/11 and Gulf War veterans. Come meet the dogs and their volunteer handlers.

We will also be presenting the charters to 2 new clubs in Area C. So do not delay and send off those registrations today.

ENVIRONMENT - NANCY B. JONES, Chair

Project Penny Pines

How do you promote Penny Pines? By providing clubs with a collection jar and collecting at your District Convention!

That’s what Southern District did - with a special twist. President Karen Reed ran a competition between tables to see which club/table could collect the most “clinking coins and silent dollars” for Penny Pines in their own custom-labeled jar. Members at the winning table won prizes and bragging rights. The results were amazing - a total of $1195.78 was collected from the 115 attendees - which will fund almost 18 Penny Pines plantations at $68 each. Thank you Southern District for supporting Project Penny Pines at your April Convention! 

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT & OUTREACH - ANNE COCHRAN, Chair

April is designated as Whole Health Month at the VA, focusing on empowering veterans to take charge of their well-being, health, and personalized care plans. Let’s all help to realize their goals.

EPSILON SIGMA OMICRON (ESO) - REGGIE MATTOX, Chair

I want to pass along a few reminders as our club year comes to an end. Please sign-up for the ESO Breakfast at Convention (if it is not too late). We have a great speaker, Lynne Screen, coming. At this breakfast all those who received ESO Certificates since the 2025 convention will be recognized. All certificate paperwork must be in my hands by May 1 to be included in the 2025-2026 recognition list. The paperwork received after this date will be forwarded to the next ESO chairman. If you sent paperwork to me and have not received your certificate please contact me.

Secondly, there will be no Zoom meeting for ESO in April. We will not have a book exchange table at Convention, but I will have a table at the Chairman’s Fair and I hope you will stop by for a visit. Thank you for a great year!

Just a thought ......

"For every two minutes of glamour, there are eight hours of hard work."

--Jessica Savitch