FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT

Dear Members and Friends,

Thank you for your dedication and commitment to improving our communities over the past year. California continues to boast the largest membership in the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, with 10,075 members and growing! This growth is a direct result of your efforts. Every time you share how our organization has made an impact in your life, it inspires others to join us in making a difference and experiencing the joy of giving back.

The Holiday Season is well underway! I was honored to attend the Woman’s Club of Bellflower’s Federation/Reciprocity Luncheon on December 6th at their beautiful, historic clubhouse. It was wonderful to reconnect with Janna Enkhorn, President of the Woman’s Club of Bellflower, catch up with old friends, and meet new ones. The “Bellflower Ensemble,” comprised of talented students in music and dance, provided delightful entertainment. Established in 1921, the club remains focused on empowering women and fostering community spirit. Similarly, the Elsinore Woman’s Club hosted a musical presentation during their December 11th luncheon at their historic building; the club was founded in 1906. The “Elsinore High School Choir” delivered an outstanding performance.  Sullivan Zoller, grandson of former supportive member Reggie Kramer, was introduced to members and guests.. Their choir director, Annette Betts—a graduate of Elsinore High School—accompanied the choir on the club’s Steinway piano. Elsinore High School’s Legacy Program also recognizes teachers who are graduates of the school.

Please share your club or district events with me. Your activities often inspire other clubs to focus on our Federation’s causes.

The Holiday Season reminds us to appreciate what we have and to continue striving to make a positive impact. Looking ahead to 2026, I invite you to join us for the February Executive Board Meeting, taking place February 26-28, 2026, at the Delta Hotel Santa Clara Silicon Valley in Santa Clara, California. All CFWC Board Meetings are open to members and offer excellent opportunities to connect, learn, and contribute. This meeting will feature the District LEADS Candidates for Leadership Training, providing a chance to hear from members across California as they advance in their leadership journeys.

I am deeply grateful for your unwavering passion and commitment this past year. Together, we have made a real difference and it is inspiring to see our communities flourish. Wishing you and your loved ones a Holiday Season filled with joy, peace, and cherished moments.

Yours in Federation and Love, Sonya

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT and OUTREACH - ANNE COCHRAN, Chair

This is the time to go to the shelters in your area to pick up a wish list to help fulfill the needs and add a little joy into their lives. Sometimes whole families need a little extra help. You can also go to your local VFW or American Legion to participate in their events that include toy drives and other needs.

LEGISLATION & PUBLIC POLICY - KATHLEEN HOLM, Chair

Millions of Americans are at risk of losing access to affordable health care. With Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium subsidies set to expire on December 31, 2025, and Medicare’s expanded telehealth coverage scheduled to end shortly thereafter, Congress must introduce and pass bipartisan legislation immediately to protect retirees, seniors, and working families. Allowing these provisions to lapse will result in steep premium increases beginning January 1, 2026, along with the loss of essential virtual care options for older adults—particularly those living in rural or medically underserved communities.

Use the links below and contact your elected officials immediately and insist that they present and advance bipartisan legislation that restores ACA premium assistance before the end-of-year deadline and provides permanent authorization for Medicare telehealth services.

Remember, you are contacting YOUR OWN Representative and California Senators. You will need to COPY AND PASTE the message into their online contact form. Though our "click and send" messages are great to target individual people, we can't use that format in this case. 

STEP 1 - Use this link to find contact information for your Representative: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

STEP 2 - Use this link to find contact information for our California Senators: https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm

This article and the suggested message can be found HERE

ENVIRONMENT - NANCY B. JONES, Chair

During this special month - and all year! - we are thankful for our Earth and its beauty and the sustenance it provides. Our clubs can help sustain their communities by contributing to nutrition programs. In a continued effort to support Family Assistance Ministries (FAM), a local nonprofit, the San Clemente Junior Woman’s club collected reusable grocery bags from members to help FAM’s food assistance program. FAM provides food to families in need through the year and needs grocery bags to put food inside and give to the families. FAM provides food through a drive-up program, and the bags are needed to hand over everything through the car windows. This project provides an ongoing way to help their community throughout the year. 

ART AND CULTURE - KELLY DAVIS, Chair

What is the Art of painting eggs?

The art of painting eggs includes various techniques, most notably the traditional Ukrainian pysanky, which uses wax-resist method with a special tool called a Kistke to create intricate designs.

Project Title: Czech Folk Art Eggs

Lenka Glassner was a program speaker who spoke about how she learned the art of painting eggs from her mother in Czech Republic. Her mother had learned it from her mother and grandmother. Lenka spoke about how each village had its own unique style. The style is so unique that people searching for ancestors in that area have a head start if they have a painted egg that was handed down in the family. Lenka also demonstrated how she blew the eggs and had hundreds of beautiful eggs to sell as well as some of her hand-painted cards. Members were thrilled to purchase such beautiful works of art.

--Chairman: Maggie Gardner

Just a thought ......

"It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.”

— Mother Teresa