News & Accomplishments!

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🥁President’s Special Project - Human Trafficking Awareness

GFWC Delaware State Parliamentarian, Betty Truitt sent an email stating that the 

Delaware House of Representatives voted on a Resolution to make

the Delaware Month of January - "Human Trafficking Month".

 

It was a historic day on the floor of the Delaware House of Representatives

at the Delaware Legislative Hall in Dover, Delaware. 

Delaware House of Representative member, Bryan Richardson from the Laurel/Seaford area 

is a leader in promoting The Human Trafficking Resolution in Delaware.

 

Thank YOU to our loyal and thoughtful leader, Betty Truitt who works at "Leg Hall”! 

Let us, as club’s, find the way to celebrate this and write to our local House Of Representative Members

to the Delaware House of Representatives to recognize our GFWC Delaware support of their efforts.

 

"Embracing Lives", 

Trish Rodriguez

GFWC Delaware State President 2022 - 2024

Delmarva Life WBOC


Clubwomen of Delaware donate to assist Ukrainian People

Members of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs Delaware State Federation of Women’s Clubs heeded their state president’s plea to help those suffering from the effects of war in Ukraine. 

Statewide, more than $10,000 has been donated by GFWC DSFWC clubs and individual members to various relief organizations to assist the Ukrainian people. Many clubs chose to contribute through UNICEF USA, a GFWC affiliate partner.

The GFWC Women’s Club of Ukraine was working on the ground to teach first aid and assist in relief efforts, but members have now evacuated to safety. 

Read the full CAPE GAZETTE NEWS ARTICLE

Women's Club Delivers St. Patrick's Day Swag for Seniors


The GFWC DSFWC Women's Club of Indian River recently delivered 158 handmade St. Patrick's Day cards for residents of Atlantic Shores Rehab and Health Center in Millsboro. 

See the full CAPE GAZETTE NEWS ARTICLE

  

Women’s Club of Milton members who attended the state convention are (l-r) Ellen Passman, Jean Bekeshka, Linda King, Carol Ann Stone and Barbara German.  

Women's Clubs of Milton members attend State Convention

Five Women's Club of Milton members attended the GFWC Delaware State Federation of Women's Clubs 124th Annual Convention held May 12 at the Wild Quail Country Club in Wyoming.

Attendees celebrated Delaware women’s clubs’ accomplishments during the challenging year of COVID-19. A major theme was Looking Forward to the months ahead, while recognizing the perseverance of all the clubs who met and exceeded the unexpected challenges of the year through flexibility and creativity.

Read the full CAPE GAZETTE NEWS ARTICLE

Masterpieces Made at Showell Elementary


The Selbyville Community Club has hosted the Youth Art Month show at the Selbyville Public Library every March since 2005.

With art, children “can express themselves freely,” said club representative Jackie Bates. “Personally, I felt that art was the only way to bring some light into this dark year.”

See the full COASTAL POINT NEWS ARTICLE

  

From left, Parker Moore, Wyatt Minard, Sadai Baltazar Hernandez, Ashley Murillo-Ramon, grade 5. 

Delaware Women's Clubs Receive Honors


The 124th annual convention was a one-day event held May 12 at Wild Quail Golf and Country Club in Camden-Wyoming with Hollada presiding. Deb Strahanoski, GFWC president-elect, addressed the group. She congratulated the clubs on their flexibility and successes during the pandemic restrictions.

Read the full CAPE GAZETTE NEWS ARTICLE

GFWC DSFWC Federation Day Raffle Profits $1,075


On March 6, several members of DSFWC Clubs met at Abbotts on Broad Creek in Laurel, DE to draw the winners of the 2021 Federation Day Raffle. 


The Winners of the 2021 Federation Day Raffle Tickets are as follows:

1st Place - Lyn Thompson, Women’s Club of Indian River


2nd Place - Roxanne Nelson, Village Improvement Association of Rehoboth Beach


3rd Place - Mary Yonych, Zwaanedael Club of Lewes

  

(L to R) Federation Day Raffle Ticket Chairman, Emme Miller; Carole Suchanek, Top Sales; Fundraising Chairman, Trish Rodriguez; Ann Alexander, 2nd in Sales; GFWC DSFWC State Treasurer, Amanda Cline.

Zwaanendael Women's Club - February Food Drive


The GFWC Zwaanendael Women’s Club has joined forces with the Blooming Boutique shops in Lewes and Long Neck to collect food during February for organizations supporting those in need.  There are numerous donation drop off locations.  All donations will be forwarded to Lighthouse for Broken Wings; What is Your Voice, Inc.; and the Community Resource Center. 

Requested foods include pasta and pasta sauces, peanut butter and jelly, canned stews and chili, cold and hot cereals, canned fruits and vegetables, canned tuna, and baby food. 

THE MILFORD BEACON NEWS ARTICLE

Village Improvement Association of Rehobeth Beach featured in GFWC Blog - Jan 26, 2021


Club members signed up for the Trex Furniture Recycling Challenge, during which participants were tasked with collecting a total of 500 pounds of unwanted plastic materials in a six-month period.  The list of collectable plastics included items that are not permitted in curbside recycling, such as plastic grocery bags, newspaper bags, case plastic wrap, bubble wrap, and more. Seventy-three club members logged 91 hours gathering plastic from their homes and from friends and family. The plastic was then collected, sorted, weighed, and dropped off to participating grocery stores.  

Trex awarded the club with a bench made from recycled plastic for reaching their goal, and club members volunteered again to create a new memorial garden featuring the bench, a steppingstone walkway, and butterfly bushes.  
A variety of holiday baked goods and gift items were among the items for sale at the Dec. 12 Women’s Club of Milton outdoor event.  

Women's Club of Milton Holds a Successful 2020 Fundraiser!


The Women’s Club of Milton (WCOM) would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to those who made our 2020 Fundraising Event Campaign successful.

The Club was challenged with finding ways to fundraise during the Covid-19 pandemic which forced our Fundraising Committee to think out-of-the-box.  With the help of committee members, local businesses, supporters, and our club women/bakers, we were able to face the challenges of 2020 head on.

CAPE GAZETTE NEWS ARTICLE THANKING SPONSORS

FUNDRAISER ANNOUNCEMENT and DETAILS

Selbyville Community Club - 

Getting Out the Vote!


Prior to election day, Selbyville Community Club was active in promoting the right to vote across their community and beyond.

The Coastal Point featured the club in an article and included an editorial column.  See both featured here:

NEWS ARTICLE

EDITORIAL COLUMN

With banners and handmade signs, the Selbyville Community Club won’t tell people who to vote for — they just want to see everyone participate in the 2020 election. 
Photo left to right, Front Row: Trish Rodriguez, Club President, Ann Alexander, State President, Rita Hollada and Peggy Long - Back Row: Pat Shufelt, Jane Woodall, Liz Williams, Linda Chiara and Charlotte Lister

GFWC Round Table Club of Wyoming / Camden Installs Officers


GFWC Round Table Club of Wyoming / Camden officers were installed by GFWC DSFWC State President, Rita Hollada at the clubs presidents luncheon at Maple Dale Country Club. The club is a 100 year plus community service organization with monthly meetings held on the first Friday of the month.

The Village Improvement Association of Rehoboth Beach recently completed their drive for items for stockings for soldiers. Stockings for Soldiers–Delaware, Inc. has been making stockings for troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2004 and the Village Improvement Association has been a participant every year. Seven shopping carts of items were delivered to the headquarters in Wilmington. Bonnie Burslem, Susie Dominguez, and Mary Ann Warner chaired this event. 

Pictured in the photo on collection day are L to R:  Karen Dettwyler, Mary Beth Dockety, and Carol Kless. 

GFWC DSFWC Club Members participated in a commemorative March to honor passage of the 19th Amendment on August 26, 2020 in Dover, DE.

 Numerous news outlets covered the story.  See them here:

GFWC Blog - Feature Article - Sept. 9 edition

WRDE news story on Suffragette March

47 abc interviews GFWC DSFWC President, Rita Hollada

Delaware State News article - Suffragette March marks 100 years...

Cape Gazette Article - Women's Suffrage Commemorated with March.....

Cape Gazette Article - Lewes Mayor Raises Suffragette Flag

Delaware State Article - Women's Club Set for Suffragette March

GFWC Federation Guild Distributes Activity Bags

The GFWC Federation Guild Association presented 25 “Activity Bags” to the Laurel Boys and Girls Club.  The “Activity Bags” were filled with Coloring Books, Crayons, Colored Pencils, Magic Markers, Activity Books and Reading Books, Composition Books and Notebooks for the Pre school children attending the Boys and Girls Club in Laurel, Delaware. Eleven “GFWC Guild” members participated by donating the supplies and filling the bags donated by a “Guild” member. 

(L to R) Trish Rodriguez, Club President; Bryan Daisey, Laurel Boys & Girls Club Director; Suzanne Layton, Club Arts Chairman

featured in Delaware State News - Sept. 2, 2020

featured in The Sussex Countian - Sept. 17, 2020

(l-r) Roxanne Nelson, co-chair; Adrienne Stitzel, co-chair; Rehoboth Walmart Manager Reggie O’Neal; Carol Hall, co-chair; and Ann Sebastian, president. 

Walmart grants $700 to VIA’s Katybug pediatric program support

July 18, 2020 - VIA featured in the Cape Gazette

Rehoboth Walmart gifted $700 to the Village Improvement Association for the club’s support of the Katybug program.  Katybug is a part of the Delaware Hospice Pediatric Program that helps infants, children and teens with serious illnesses. VIA President Ann Sebastian is working to support the program during her 2020-22 term. The check was presented by Rehoboth Walmart Manager Reggie O’Neal.

HOBY Leadership Seminar goes virtual in 2020

DSFWC Volunteers provided an outstanding HOBY experience for 50 ambassadors this year!  Due to COVID-19, the content was moved to an online experience.  Ambassadors learned about the pillars of our curriculum: Personal Leadership, Group Leadership, and Social Responsibility.  Each ambassador created an Action Announcement. They selected a problem in their community, developed a plan for how to begin solving the problem, and then shared and discussed their announcements with each other. Along with that, ambassadors participated in a virtual escape room, online game night, and discovered their personal leadership styles. Keeping ambassadors actively engaged in the material was essential to positively impacting their leadership abilities.   CLICK HERE to read the full report from the HOBY Delaware Leadership Team.

Women's Club of Milton were featured in the June 26, 2020 Parade Magazine article entitled "Thank You, Neighbor:  50+ Good News Stories From all 50 States"

Photo left to right, Front Row: Trish Rodriguez, Club President, Ann Alexander, State President, Rita Hollada and Peggy Long - Back Row: Pat Shufelt, Jane Woodall, Liz Williams, Linda Chiara and Charlotte Lister

GFWC Round Table Club of Wyoming / Camden Installs Officers


GFWC Round Table Club of Wyoming / Camden officers were installed by GFWC DSFWC State President, Rita Hollada at the clubs presidents luncheon at Maple Dale Country Club. The club is a 100 year plus community service organization with monthly meetings held on the first Friday of the month.