It was so nice to see everyone at Convention in April! We handled a lot of business during the zoom convention and enjoyed a celebration of our clubs’ accomplishments in 2020. Congratulations again to all the award winners and to all our Federation Clubwomen for their great work! And we cannot say enough thank you’ s to the Program Chairman for tallying, coordinating judges and writing up the entries. They are the best!
There were so many great award entries for 2020 and the creativity was outstanding. Many clubs embraced their communities more than usual to fill special needs. Many found ways to address the new requirements of the pandemic, and some found creative ways to celebrate the centennial of the passage of the 19th Amendment and the GFWC-NC President’s Special Project. There were innovative ideas for communications and public relations; both social and traditional media, leadership and membership zoom meetings and socials, and fundraisers adapted so that they were contactless, yet still successful.
So, you may ask, “How difficult is it to judge GFWC-NC award entries and select outstanding clubs in each of the program areas?” The Program Chairmen will tell you it is not easy. The Judges will tell you it is challenging, and that they are so impressed with the work we do as an organization. Most of the Judges are not GFWC-NC club women.
The 2020 GFWC-NC Top Ten list, which is now posted on our website; www.gfwcnc.org, in the reports and awards section under the community service tab, provides an insight into how difficult it is to select one. The projects show just how diverse and effective we are as an organization. We were also excited to see that projects accomplished across the state, by large and small clubs alike, did not require extensive resources to make a big impact.
These Top Ten Projects were submitted to GFWC along with the Statewide narratives in each of the five GFWC Community Service Programs, ESO, Signature Program, Juniors’ Special Program, and Advancement Plan areas. We found them all so inspiring and hope you do too!
A reminder while you are planning your projects for the rest of the year, the Community Impact Contest allows for you to enter three projects that have taken place between January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2021, which have had the greatest impact in your local community. The entry information is available on the GFWC-NC website. Winners at the state level are eligible for awards and the winner is eligible for funds at the GFWC level. And it is never too early to be think about the GFWC Arts & Culture contest; these entries go directly to GFWC for judging. The 2021 theme is “Good Tidings of Comfort and Joy.” The themes can be interpreted in any manner that fits a club-sponsored holiday event or project, such as homemade or decorated stockings filled for a children’s shelter.
Finally, Federation Day Contest Entries (150-200 words and a picture) are due to Pauletta Parker, GFWC-NC Federation Day Chairman, by May 25th for the Federation Day contest. We look forward to seeing all the Clubs in action.
We are here if you need us!
Karen and Pam