Ten local women attend GFWC Maine Spring Convention

By Anne H. Cress
GFWC Maine State President

    The General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) of Maine met at the Senator Inn & Spa in Augusta, May 8-9 for the Spring Convention. More than 70 women from around the state participated in this two-day event. 
    Attending from the GFWC Cosmopolitan Club of Dover-Foxcroft was Suzanne Raymond. Nine members from the GFWC Miosac Club of Dover-Foxcroft attending were Vicki Moschella, Minnie McCormick, Athalie Burke, Dorothy Tonick, Carol Kilpatrick, Barbara Austin, Rheba Michaud, Elaine Larson and GFWC Maine State President Anne Cress. Three members attending from the GFWC Dexter Women’s Literary Club were Laura Neal, Corinne Neal and Jane Gilbert. 

Contributed photos

SPRING CONVENTION — Attending the Spring Convention of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs May 8-9 in Augusta were front, from left, Dorothy Tonick and Athalie Burke. Back, Carol Kilpatrick, Rheba Michaud, Elaine Larson, Barbara Austin, GFWC Maine State President Anne Cress, Minnie McCormick, Vicki Moschella and Suzanne Raymond. Below are GFWC Maine Recording Secretary Nancy Ames and Cress.

    Special guest speaker was GFWC First Vice President Sheila Shea from Marlborough, Mass. Sheila has served as dean of state presidents during the 2012-14 administration as a mentor and leadership guidance counselor to all 50 of the state presidents. On May 8, she brought “greetings” from our GFWC headquarters in Washington, D.C. along with new ideas and plans to strengthen our organization.
    On May 9, Sheila spoke with the members at length on what being a GFWC clubwoman is all about, and how it has evolved over the past 124 years. She talked about all the many things GFWC clubwomen have done to change the world such as getting the Child Labor Law enacted, promoting the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act, creating more than 75 percent of our libraries, creating the National Park Service, and promoting the installation of over one million seat belts in automobiles in 1961. These are just a few of the things GFWC has done for the betterment of our citizens and our country. 
    The GFWC Maine women enjoyed a terrific presentation and slide show by Jane Elwell of Westbrook, who has been a volunteer for Heifer International for more than eight years.  Jane spoke of her trip to Lima, Peru a couple years ago, and how Heifer International has changed the lives of not just a few families, but of whole communities. 
    Penny DeRaps, a family nurse practitioner from Sebasticook Family Doctors in Canaan, presented a wonderful talk about cardiovascular disease and risks in women following the evening banquet on May 8.  Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, and is more likely to kill a woman than all the other cancers combined. This presentation was easy to understand with a bit of humor added. 
    Nine GFWC Maine clubwomen then presented a “Red Dress Fashion Show” wearing their own favorite red outfits, while Mrs. DeRaps read their individual stories as to how cardiovascular disease has affected them personally or someone they love. It was a very informative, entertaining, and emotional evening.  GFWC has recently formed a new partnership with the Heart Truth Campaign, a program of the National Institute of Health, to give women a personal and urgent wakeup call about their risk of heart disease. 
    During this two day convention, club members heard reports from chairmen of the six community service programs such as the Arts, Conservation, Education, Home Life, International Outreach and Public Issues. The members also heard from many of the GFWC Maine Standing and Special Committees such as the GFWC Signature Project: Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention, Leadership, Membership, Legislation and Public Policy, the Delegate’s Fund, the Endowment Fund, Maine Youth Leadership, Women’s Legislative Council, Public Relations and the President’s Special Project for this administration, “Newborns in Need.”  
    This being the end of a two-year term, President Anne Cress closed with final remarks, as she thanked all the members of GFWC Maine, with special thanks to the GFWC Miosac Club, Minnie McCormick, her GFWC Maine Executive Committee and her husband Bob for their assistance in making this a very successful administration. She informed the members that together GFWC Maine has completed during 2013 alone, 533 projects, volunteered 25,917 hours, raised and donated $90,924 and has given in-kind donations of $20,324.
    She stated, “We are living the volunteer spirit and we are making a difference!” Her theme has been “Volunteer Stewards … Joyfully Serving and Giving to Others.” The dove has been the chosen symbol.  President Cress stated, “This theme simply states who we are as GFWC Maine Clubwomen.”
She was then presented with a quilt put together by fellow clubwoman Barbara Austin of Dover-Foxcroft. Each quilt square was made by each one of the 22 clubs in Maine. A piece of the “dove” material used in the making of the jacket Anne wore two years ago when she was installed as State President was used in some way in each square. Barbara was able to find the same material in fleece, which was used for the backing. The center square was an embroidered dove with the theme of her administration. President Cress was overcome with joy and emotion upon seeing this magnificent work of art.
    The final hour of the convention was the very touching and emotional installation service for the new State President Marjorie Goodwin of Clinton, and her newly elected executive committee. Marge’s theme for GFWC Maine will be, “Our Past Will Determine Our Future.”
    The website for GFWC is www.gfwc.org or our Maine website can be visited at www.gfwcmaine.org.