GFWC Bridgeport Woman's Club Celebrates 66 Years of Federation; Presents Writing Contest Awards
By Connect-Bridgeport Staff on May 02, 2016 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
At their April meeting, members of the GFWC Woman’s Club of Bridgeport celebrated 66 years of being federated by presenting 50-year pins and certificates to two of their members: Shirley Pat Mc Clure and Josephine Lauderman. (Pictured above are President Ruth Allen, Shirley Pat McClure, Josephine Lauderman and Membership Chair Shirley Hadorn.) 
The meeting also featured presentation of awards for the youth writing contest. Winners and their parents were invited for the presentation of first, second and third place awards. The contest is open to all children kindergarten through 12th grade, with two categories: Poetry and short stories. The first place winners are picked on a state level, and then on to national competition. Winners and their categories are as follows.
Short Story
Grades 9-12: First Place Molly Layne; Second Place Brianna M. Oldaker; Third Place Zoey Blair.
Grades 6-8: First Place Ali Witt; Second Place Emma Dotson; Third Place Katie Lavender
Grades 3-5: First Place Kimber Hausvater; Second Place Macey Bailes; Third Place Morgan Sprouse
Poetry
Grades 9-12: First Place Ross Marra; Second Place Shae Tomasik; Third Place Molly Layne
Grades 6-8: First Place Shelby Scott; Second Place Annabel Goddard; Third Place Hope Rieser
Honorable Mention:
Kindergarten: Jasmine Seccuro, Emma Kniceley-See, Isaac Baker, Adelina Citerone, Chloe Ludwick
(Pictured are writing contest winners who attended the meeting, along with Karen Lang and Ruth Allen of GFWC Woman's Club of Bridgeport.)
For an International Committee Project, several members of the club made pillow-slip dresses to be sent to the Friends of Fort Liberte orphanage project in Haiti. Donations of children’s jewelry, flip-flops and snacks were also collected for the project. (Pictured are Shirley Hadorn, Terry Bracken and Ruth Allen with a sampling of the pillow-slip dresses.)
Plans were finalized for a sub sale to be held May 11, with all proceeds to be donated to Relay for Life. Contact any club member to place an order for subs.
The annual GFWC Golf Tournament will be June 11 at Bel-Meadows. Proceeds will be utilized to send students to youth camps which the club sponsors including Rhododendron Girls State, Conservation Camp and Hoby (Hugh O’Brien Youth Camp). Students interesting in attending or participating can call Barbara Wilburn 304-842-3395 or Brenda Swiger 304-842-4635.
The General Federation of Women’s Clubs is an international women’s organization dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service. The national club celebrated 126 years of volunteering on April 24.
Nearly 100,000 members strong and with clubs in every U.S. state and 11 countries, GFWC is the world’s largest nonpartisan, nondenominational, international women’s organization.
“Together, we can improve our future by Living the Volunteer Spirit today,” said Babs J. Condon, who serves as GFWC 50th International President.
GFWC clubs and clubwomen are the fabric that binds not only the Federation, but the communities in which they live and work. By Living the Volunteer Spirit, GFWC clubwomen transform lives each day, not simply with monetary donations, but with hands-on tangible projects that provide immediate impact. With a grassroots approach that often thinks locally but impacts globally, GFWC, its clubs and members remain committed to serving as a force for global good, as it has done since its formation 126 years ago.
GFWC is committed to remain a leading voice in areas our members are active in every day. As an organization dedicated to community improvement, we must take action on important topics that impact the quality of life for all–especially those related to women and girls, early childhood education, and veterans’ services.
