Local club women attend GFWC Maine Spring Convention

FREEPORT — Four women from the Dover-Foxcroft GFWC Miosac Club attended the General Federation of Women’s Clubs Maine Spring Convention at the Hilton Garden Inn in Freeport on May 14-15. Attending were Suzanne Raymond, GFWC Maine state president; Anne Cress, GFWC Maine meetings chair, state necrologist and GFWC Miosac Club treasurer; Minnie McCormick, GFWC Miosac Club vice president and GFWC Maine Delegate’s Fund chair; and Vicki Moschella, GFWC Miosac Club scrapbook editor and she serves on the GFWC Maine Nominating Committee. Fifty-eight clubwomen and guests attended this two-day convention.

Mary Beth Williams, GFWC second vice president from Colorado Springs, brought greetings from GFWC Headquarters in Washington, D.C to the state membership. Williams  has served in many leadership roles in numerous organizations. She is well suited to serve on the GFWC Executive Committee. Later during the convention, she gave a very inspirational talk, “Take Action – It Matters”.    

The 2024-26 GFWC Maine Administration’s theme is “Breaking Barriers – Offering Hope”.  The “sunflower” is the icon representing this theme. Raymond has stated, “Throughout our lives we all encounter obstacles that prevent us from moving forward. The volunteer work we do helps in so many ways to help remove a barrier from the lives of others, thereby we are in the business of offering hope.”  

The President’s Special Project for this term is St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital located 

in Memphis, Tennessee. Danny Thomas founded this hospital which opened in 1962.The survival rate for children with cancer then was 29 percent. It is now 80 percent! Raymond has said, “Together we can make a substantial impact, and I encourage you to participate in offering hope in the lives of children by supporting St. Jude’s Mission – Finding Cures. Saving Children.”

During the past year, the club women of Maine have donated over $3,000 to this mission.  

We welcomed Elizabeth McLellan, RN, MSN, MPH founder and chief executive officer of Partners for World Health headquartered in Portland. The mission of this organization is to improve health care and reduce environmental impact by collecting surplus medical equipment and supplies and distributing them to communities in need globally and locally.  They envision a world where all people have access to vital medical equipment and supplies to lead healthy lives on a healthy planet. Surplus items that would be discarded by hospitals are collected, sterilized again if possible, and shipped around the world to impoverished countries in need. This saves millions of pounds of waste in our landfills and millions of dollars in disposal costs for our medical facilities, while helping millions of needy people around the world.  This organization is known for its local effort and global impact.

McLellan has received numerous awards for her many resourceful endeavors including the Red Cross Real Hero Award and the Northeastern University Social Entrepreneurship Award. The club women of Maine enjoyed this CEO, a dynamic speaker and motivator.  

Reports and presentations were read and enjoyed from the chair of many GFWC Maine programs and projects. Presentations included arts & culture, education & libraries, civic engagement & outreach, health & wellness, environment, leadership, membership, communications & public relations, ESO, fundraising, legislation/public policy and our signature program domestic and sexual violence awareness and prevention. Our GFWC Maine District presidents gave their reports. Reporting from the Northern District was Co-President Maureen Provencal, and from the Southern District was Co-President Anne Newman. The club women of GFWC Maine are busy!

“The Shine Your Light Banquet”, honoring GFWC Maine past presidents, current officers, 

and a special GFWC guest was held at the end of the day. What a fabulous evening as we all enjoyed the musical talents of Andrew Favreau, singer and acoustic guitarist from Yarmouth.  He sang a fun mix of acoustic covers from the 1960s to today.  With a big voice range from baritone to tenor, he sang pop, classical, rock and more to an appreciative group of women.   

A memorial service was held on the morning of May 15 to honor our nine GFWC Maine club women who have passed away during the last year. This is always a very moving and emotional service. These women have given so much of themselves to our federation and will not be forgotten. Cress led this emotional and heartfelt service for our recently deceased members. Cardinals were placed on the remembrance tree and a candle lit in memory of each lost member in our organization.   

Several raffles and drawings were held by clubs, community service projects and special committees. The GFWC Miosac Club is thrilled to say that our own Moschella, as scrapbook editor, won second place in our division and received a monetary award for the Club. 

At the conclusion of the convention, all members circled the room. While holding hands, we 

sang “Let There Be Peace on Earth.” This is always a very heartfelt moment, as this is truly the hope we all want for our world. It is also bittersweet as we say goodbye to each other for several months before we meet again.  

Additional information about GFWC may be obtained by going to gfwc.org or gfwcmaine.org.  If interested in joining the GFWC Miosac Club, call Cress at 207-717-7576. All ages are welcome. Come join our organization and consider serving your community and enhancing the lives of others.