FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT

Dear Members and Friends,

I hope that you are “Igniting Your Leadership” along with “Your Volunteer Spirit” as we move forward in 2026! This is an exciting time for our Federation as the LEADS candidates from throughout California will be meeting at the CFWC February Winter Board in Santa Clara, California February 26 – 28 for LEADS training and selection of the CFWC LEADS.  

GFWC Federation Day is celebrated annually on April 24^th to commemorate the founding of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs on that date in 1890. This is a day to celebrate our organization’s history of volunteer service, unity, and the ongoing mission of improving communities worldwide. Jane Cunningham Croly officially founded our Federation and along with honoring her we honor our leaders and clubwomen who came before us and through their hard work and dedication inspire us as we move forward to make a difference. Did a particular member motivate you to make a difference in your community and beyond? Start planning events to commemorate GFWC Federation Day and highlight those whose guidance, encouragement, and dedication “sparked” your desire to move forward on Federation’s Trail.

Ideas for Celebrating GFWC Federation Day:

• Host a Celebration Event, perhaps a “Federation Tea” or a “birthday party” to commemorate the founding, which can also serve as a recruitment event to attract new members.
•  Volunteers in Action Week: Join projects from April 24–30 to demonstrate volunteer spirit.   
• Organize community clean-up or similar service project to demonstrate the impact of your club.

Please ensure emphasis is placed on community improvement, volunteerism, as well as history and tradition, highlighting the enduring contributions of our organization. Let us “Spring into Action” and continue efforts to make a difference.

Yours in Federation and Love,

Sonya

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT and OUTREACH - ANNE COCHRAN, Chair

Do you want to know what you can do for veteran's? Here is one website that you can assist them with or let them know is is available: Vet Tix provides tickets to all branches of currently-serving Military and Veterans, including immediate family of troops KIA. Vet Tix secures tickets to sporting events, concerts, performing arts, educational and family activities across the nation. VetTixers.org . sign up online.

CFWC EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING - PAYMENT INFORMATION

For those that would like to pay your State Board registration fee of $160 using Zelle, here is the information you will need.

Step 1 - Add Zelle recipient using this title below: Califfedofwomengfwc1 and use this email: jilldrescher@att.net

Add State board on the memo line. The funds will go directly to our State account with Bank of America.

Step 2 - Your registration will not be complete until you email a copy of the Registration Form (photo or scan) to: club1270deventer@yahoo.com or mail the registration form to Tami Miller, 1270 Deventer Drive, La Verne, CA 91750

Please Note: Hotel room reservations are limited so if you have not made your reservation yet, please use the link in the call.

ENVIRONMENT - NANCY B. JONES, Chair

Did you know about the GFWC relationship with the Audubon Society? The National Audubon Society launched in 1905, on the heels of American conservationism and a growing movement to protect birds. As with many efforts to conserve nature, women led the way: The first Audubon Society was organized by two Boston environmentalists, Harriet Hemenway and Minna B. Hall, in response to the widespread slaughter of waterbirds, the gorgeous feathers of which were used to make women’s hats. The pair’s efforts in Massachusetts soon helped inspire similar organizations across the country. In 2021:Dr. Elizabeth Gray joined Audubon as the 11th Chief Executive Officer, the first female CEO in the organization’s history. With thanks to GFWC Environment Chair Sharon Oliphant 

ARTS & CULTURE - KELLY DAVIS, Chair

An art show, or exhibition, is a public temporal display of artworks-like paintings, sculptures or digital pieces in a specific space, such as a gallery, museum, or community center to educate, entertain, or sell art, often curated around a theme or single artist to tell a story or explore an idea.

Project Title: Art Show Hours 15 Donated $0 In Kind 0

Colton Woman’s Club held its annual Art Show in April. Six members participated with nine entries. The categories were Color Photography, Black and White Photography, Members in Action Photography, Painting, Writing, Hand Crafts and Quilting. The entries were judged by outside members of the Community, a retired special education teacher with26 years of experience and a Redlands Art Association member, art teacher. Both really took their time to review the art displayed and write notes of appreciation/ comments for the members. The judges were excited to participate and received a $10 Starbuck gift card a a token of appreciation and thank you. Winner received a beautiful color butterfly garden lamp.

Club: Colton Woman’s Club

Chairman: Kelly Phelps/ Financial Reviewer/ Arts Chairman

CREATIVE WRITING CONTESTS - OLMA M. O'NEILL, Chair

Express your thoughts – Share Your Voice

2025 has come and gone! I’ve bet you have some stories to share…

Here are some reminders regarding the Creative Writing Contest:

All entries must be written during the 2025 calendar year. 

There are only TWO categories: 

1. Short Story, and 

2. Poetry.

• Microsoft Word files only.
• Authors must be amateurs. Earnings from writing may not exceed $500 annually. 
• Entries may not have been published prior to the competition and must be original works by the author.
• Short stories are limited to 2,000 words. 
• Poetry entries can be any style with a minimum length of eight lines and a maximum of 50 lines.
• Entries are limited to one per member per category.

GFWC Member Contest: Authors must be dues-paying members of an active per capita club.

Youth Writing Contest: Entry must include the name of the GFWC Club and State Federation submitting the author’s work. See the contest forms on the CFWC website for Grade Level categories.

CFWC Writing Contest Info. and Forms can be found on the CFWC website, under the Forms tab at: https://www.cfwc.org/forms/

Writing Contest: Entries due to CFWC by Monday, March 2, 2026

(Contestants should contact their District’s Contest Chair for their District Deadlines)

For more information: olma.oneill@gmail.com | 650-580-7018 (call/text ok)

Just a thought ......



"Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen,

others make it happen."

---Michael Jordan