FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT

Dear Members and Friends,

First Vice President/President Elect Wendy Curran and I had the pleasure of attending the Woodland Hills Woman’s Club’s Annual Reciprocity Luncheon held on November 20^th at the Woodland Hills Country Club. The rain did not prevent members from throughout Area C from attending. Highlight of the afternoon was the initiation of four new members. The program was presented by an accomplished violinist and singer that was truly amazing. An array of handmade items, decorated pumpkins, jewelry and purses were available for purchase adding a festive feel to the meeting.

Hosting a Reciprocity Tea or Luncheon is something that our clubs throughout the California Federation of Women’s Clubs do to thank other clubs for their hospitality or visitation in some way.  Members or guests from different clubs come together in a spirit of shared community and mutual recognition, consistent with the general definition of “reciprocity” as a mutual exchange of benefits.

Each club holding a Reciprocity Tea or Luncheon plans their own theme and strives to have guests enjoy a very special day. The Elsinore Woman’s Club held their Reciprocity Tea on October 18^th with a Western Theme. Guests started off with Tea and Finger sandwiches and later a luncheon of pulled pork sandwiches and beans. Tables were set in Western motif with different colored cowboy handkerchiefs for napkins that also served as table favors for guests.  Heidi Dodd and Darlene Warton shared about the club’s president, Kimberly Ryan, and her dedication to the club. The Blacksmith Boys Blue Grass Band were the entertainment and a line

Please share with me about your “Reciprocity Tea or Luncheon. There are no set rules for hosting a special meeting to thank those who have shown your club support. We learn from each other so be sure to share what you do!

Yours in Federation and Love, Sonya

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT and OUTREACH - ANNE COCHRAN, Chair

We give our thanks and Gratefulness to the veterans and active service men and women. My wish for them is to take solace in knowing that our country stands behind each and every one who has served and now serving to make our country safe to live in. 

EDUCATION AND LIBRARIES - KAY MASONBRINK, Chair

A hot topic in California education today is Career Technical Education (CTE). This is a program of study that comprises a multi-year sequence of courses that integrate core academic, technical, and occupational knowledge, providing students with a pathway to post-secondary education and careers. The program areas are Agriculture, Business and Marketing (including Finance, Accounting, IT, Entrepreneurship, and Economics), Family and Consumer Sciences, and Health. These programs are critical in our educational system because they provide practical experiences that complement classroom learning and address labor shortages for skilled workers. CTE is creating new frameworks for high-paying jobs and adapting to evolving work needs.

An important component of these programs is the student organizations that intertwine with student learning through participation in competitive events. These organizations include: DECA, an Association of Marketing Students; FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America; FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America); FFA (Future Farmers of America); HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America), and Skills USA. 

You can support these students by providing scholarships, monetary donations, or serving as judges for their competitions. Hats off to the Woman’s Club of Lakeside for assisting their local FFA students in last year’s reporting! As a DECA Advisor for 20+ years, and a retired teacher who continues to volunteer as a judge for local, state, and national events, I can attest that these young people are developing their skills and engaging with the real world. Talk to your club members and get them involved—trust me, you will enjoy every moment of it!

ENVIRONMENT - NANCY B. JONES, Chair

Members of the Lakewood Women’s Club bring unused greeting cards to their meetings. Nancy Ross-Daugherty, the club’s Environment chair, collects and distributes them to Veterans and Senior Centers in special packets of 10-12 cards in different categories. She ties them with a bow, decorates the packets to coincide with holidays, special events, or Senior Bingo prizes, adds candy that coincides with that holiday or event, and includes the Club’s business card inside each packet. Distribution at the Veterans Social Connection, Veterans at the VA Hospital in Long Beach for Civic Engagement, and the Lakewood Senior Center for Bingo prizes makes the Veterans and seniors feel happy and appreciated. This project makes great connections in the community!

Just a thought ......

"If you want to improve the organization, 
you have to improve yourself and the organization gets pulled up with you."

---Indra Nooyi