THE PRESIDENT'S PERSPECTIVE

Happy 250^th, America! And CFWC.

What a great time to showcase your club in the community by taking part in the patriotic festivities to commemorate America’s 250^th birthday.

And within your club an opportunity to hear about “American history moment’s” through your meeting agenda and learn about the important roles women played in early days. Women of all economic backgrounds, a little contrary, but accountable when hard choices might bring severe consequences. Campaigning for freedom, they created landmarks and milestones that have shaped the United States. Could be a project report in there somewhere…Civic Engagement, Women’s History, Education & Libraries?

135 of these 250-years of America is the contribution of the women’s club movement and the General Federation of Women’s Clubs.

In 1990 a special GFWC centennial project was publishing the book “Reaching Out: A story of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs” By Mary Jean Houde (Past President Illinois Federation of Women’s Clubs) the Mobium Press, 1989, Hardbound 485 pages. A valuable history resource, the story of club and federation action is told against a background of national and international events. Unfortunately, the book is out of print but is well worth the effort to find it at the library or online eBay for sale.

So, back to the revolution: Benjamin Franklin a great man of history and dedication, as he began each day would ponder “What good shall I do this day?” Food for thought, what good shall we all do today.

Continue to be useful, be loving, be federated.

Chris.

LEGISLATION & PUBLIC POLICY - KATHY HOLM, Chair

Thank you to the members who attended The Shot@Life Workshop at the past CFWC State Convention in Ontario. Lois Fitzhugh, Sonja Hults, and I shared important information concerning the emergency need for immunizations.

One of GFWC’s Legislative Priorities is to support funding of Global Immunization Programs and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI). GFWC is proud to partner with Shot@ Life and the United Nations to advocate for full funding for global vaccination programs for children. Now is the time to urge Congress to provide full funding in FY 2027. We have already seen an increase in measles and polio cases around the globe and here in the United States. Go to gfwc.org, click on Advocacy, then click on Legislative Action. There will be a letter you can sign and send to your congressman. Also, please follow the steps below under the shotatlife.org website.

Immediate Legislative Steps to Take:

1)    Go to shotatlife.org

2)    Click on “Take Action”

3)    Highlight Global Immunization and then click

4)    Fill in the Contact Information

5)    Add a personal message (optional)

6)    Hit Submit!

Just a thought ......

"Keep your face always toward the sunshine - 
and shadows will fall behind you"

--Walt Whitman