News & Accomplishments!
For current events and happenings, be sure to
🥁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 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
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
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
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.
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
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:
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.
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.
featured in Delaware State News - Sept. 2, 2020
featured in The Sussex Countian - Sept. 17, 2020
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"
June 25, 2020 - Village Improvement Association featured
June 13, 2020
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.