FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT

Dear Members and Friends,



We are in the age of “AI” … you may think it is artificial, but it is not! It is very much alive within our organization. Members of CFWC have always been “ACTIVE” and “INVOLVED” in the goals of our Federation, communities, and projects. Our whole organization has been living on the premise of being involved in the lives we touch because of who we are and what we do to make a difference in our communities and the world.

Some of the important activities our clubs and districts do include providing safe car seats for children to wheelchairs for the elderly in need, moving a light house to safety to remain a historical site to helping support organizations like “Tara’s Chance” where therapeutic riding uses equine-assisted activities to positively affect the cognitive, emotional, physical and overall wellness of people with variety of disabilities and special needs. There are so many ways we can help others and new options reach us daily. How wonderful that our members step up and reach out with willing hands to offer help to those in need.

March has been a very busy time for your President. I report the CFWC State and Affiliate Organizations Statistics to GFWC annually. Our numbers are impressive and I am pleased to share them with you. Be sure to click on this LINK to see the numbers.

CFWC has much to celebrate, and it's been an honor to serve as President. I hope to see you at the 123rd Convention in Ontario, California, from May 14th to 16th.

In Federation and Love,

Sonya

CONVENTION INFORMATION - KATHI McGRAW, Co-Chair

CFWC Convention  May 14-16, 2026 at the Ontario Hotel and Conference Center (Hyatt). 

The room block at the Ontario Hotel and Conference Center is full. If you still need to make a room reservation, please call the La Quinta Inn and Suites. It is diagonal from the Ontario Hotel and the cost for a Standard Double or King is $121 plus tax. The group code is: 051526CAL Please refer to the CFWC Convention Call for the internet link for booking. If you have further trouble booking a room, please call Mary Sprague 714-637-2879.

Conventions have a lot of hidden costs such as audio visual, name badges, etc. In order to keep the costs down for attending members, we hold a gift card auction at the meal events. Clubs and members can help with this by sending a gift card worth at least $25 to Kathi McGraw, 4584 Sherington Court, Cypress, CA 90630. Please remember that the card needs to be for a store that is statewide (not your local nail salon). If you send an Amazon card direct to Kathi, be sure to let her know that it will be arriving. Thank you for helping out with our gift card auctions.

EDUCATION & LIBRARIES - KAY MASONBRINK, Chair

Your Club Can Still Sponsor A HOBY Student

The Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) program is a volunteer-run organization dedicated to motivating and empowering individuals through leadership development, service, and innovation. The program selects high school sophomores to participate in a 3–4-day seminar held in the summer. In California, we have four seminar sites hosting in June 2026, including the north, central, LA, and south. Your club still has time to sponsor one or more students from your community to attend this powerful educational program. You would provide him/her with an experience they will never forget. Details are on their website, www.hoby.org, or by phone at 818-851-3980. GFWC, along with our CFWC clubs, has a strong national partnership affiliation with HOBY Youth Leadership. Our California students have years of positive experience with this program, especially through our clubs’ generous funding. Encourage your club members to sponsor a student this year to make a life-changing impact in their educational journey.

ENVIRONMENT - NANCY B. JONES, Chair

You’ve heard about how important milkweed is for Monarch butterflies. Members of Simi Valley Woman’s Club reported that they are helping save many kinds of butterflies. They plant milkweed and other plants to encourage butterflies to lay eggs and visit their gardens. Each species of butterfly requires a different plant for laying their eggs. Members collect eggs, larvae, and chrysalises and protect them in habitats until they hatch. Nectar plants - always pesticide-free - encourage butterflies to feed and stay near after hatching. Members of the club released Monarchs, Gulf Fritillary, Golden Sulphur, and Painted Lady butterflies. Plant the right plants and you too can have a flutterful of butterflies!



CIVIC ENGAGEMENT and OUTREACH - ANNE COCHRAN, Chair

This is our last week in March. Let’s prepare for April by going to our veterans and helping them with new ideas so they might have something new to look forward to. For example: The National Women’s Suffrage Monument movement. We have a chance to change history by adding our own ideas into what the monument will look like. The National Women’s Suffrage Foundation is ready for us to go online and give our opinion on what the monument will be called and how it will be built. Go to womensmonument.org and you and our veterans will have input on the National Women’s Suffrage Monument.



PHOTOGRAPHY CONTESTS - OLMA M. O'NEILL, Chair

We’re counting down to the contest deadline! I know many are still winding down their district contests. Thank you to the districts who have already submitted their entries. Here are some reminders regarding the Photography Contest - please be sure to pay close attention to the category description:

All photos must be taken during the 2025 calendar year. 

There are 4 main categories:

1. Natural Wonders are to be photos of nature - no buildings, bridges, or churches. 

2. Reflections are to be reflections from water or glass, NOT reflections of a memory. 

3. Our World Up Close are to show items that are not their original size.

And lastly, but most importantly,

4. Volunteers in Action are to show ACTION. Not standing and posing but showing your club in action. This is the perfect time to show what our club members are all about: ACTION.

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

Photography Contest: Entries due to CFWC by Tuesday, April 13, 2026

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

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



MORE CONVENTION INFORMATION - CELEBRATION OF LIFE



There will be a Celebration of Life at the CFWC Convention. We will remember members of the CFWC Executive Board who have passed away since the May 2025 convention. Please include a picture and the Executive Board positions they held (i.e., State officers, State Chairs, District Presidents and District Deans) and the years they served. Please send the information by April 20. 2026 to Debbie Pietraszko (debpie74@yahoo.com)  

Just a thought ......

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer.

Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience,

and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”

--Harriet Tubman