BE  A  BEACON  OF  SERVICE  FOR  OTHERS

GFWC Mount Diablo District Makes a Difference!

In 2023, Members raised over $362,000.00, and $120,000.00 of In-Kind Donations,

Volunteered 60,000 Hours, and Supported 624 Projects/Charities.

Federation Facts

 FEDERATION FACTS                  

                          www.gfwc.org

MISSION STATEMENT:
        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 question has been asked, “What does the District do for me and my club?” Great question and to reiterate the words of Kay Porter, our previous District President:       
 “The state of is quite large, it is the 3rd largest state in the United States. It measures 560 miles east to west and 1,040 miles north to south at its widest and longest points. From the most northern point of the state to the most southern point, at 70 mph, it would take you 14.8 hours to drive the length. From the most eastern point to the most western point, it would take 8 hours to drive the width of the state. CFWC currently presides over 249 clubs in the state. To better connect the State Officers with the clubs, the State was divided into 4 areas, Areas A, B, C, and D. Each Area has a Vice President, which creates CFWC’s Membership Team. Our District is in Area A. Area A has 64 Clubs within 6 Districts. GFWC Mount Diablo District has been serving its clubs since 1956.”
     Currently, we have 20 clubs within our District. Our Executive Committee is comprised of 9 members and we collectively have more than 150+ years of Federated experience. The GFWC Mount Diablo District “Team” is here to assist the clubs and their members within our District, facilitate meetings, guidance, ideas, education, projects and more. Currently, our membership is nearly 900 members. The “BEACON”, our monthly newsletter is distributed to all members within our District. By signing up on our district website home page, www.gfwcmountdiablodistrict.org. you may receive our newsletter. It is FREE to all members. We make every effort to provide educational, fun, informative, and interesting speakers at our bi-monthly meetings, September, November, January, March, and April Convention. Need a guest speaker/ presenter at your club? Just ask the “Team.” We are here to answer your questions and give guidance and support. Be in the know and reach out to us with concerns or questions. 
     Stay current with club news, bookmark our website, and read your monthly BEACON, Quick Bytes, and GFWC News & Notes. Are you not currently receiving the Beacon, CFWC Quick Bytes, and GFWC News and Notes? Sign up for the Beacon on the District website; sign up/subscribe for Quick Bytes at cfwc.org and for News & Notes at gfwc.org. All three are FREE to you.    
           
CAPSULE HISTORY OF  THE GENERAL FEDERATION OF  WOMEN'S CLUBS:
         Founded in 1890, the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC) - one of the worlds' oldest nonpartisan, nondenominational women's volunteer service organizations - is well into its second century of volunteer service in communities throughout the United States and the world.
         GFWC traces its roots back to Jane Cunningham Croly, and accomplished New York newspaperwoman, who wrote under the pen name of "Jennie June".  Indignant that she and other women were denied admittance to a banquet honoring Charles Dickens in 1868 at the all-male New York Press Club simply because they were women, she determined to 
organize a club for women only.
         The name chosen for the club was Sorosis, a Greek word meaning "Aggregation:  a sweet flavor of many fruits."
         Although Sorosis' founders originally supposed they were starting a new movement, they became aware over the years of the existence of other women's clubs that had formed independently to meet the needs of women in the expanding country.
        In 1889, as Sorosis approached its 21st year, Mrs. Croly proposed a conference in New York to bring together delegates from 61 women's clubs.  On the last day of the conference, the women took action to form a permanent organization.  A committee to draft a constitution and plan of organization to be ratified the following year was chosen, with Sorosis President, Ella Dietz Clymer, as chairman.  The constitution was adopted in April 1890, and the General Federation of Women's Clubs was born.  It was chartered in 1901 by the U.S. Congress.
        To this day, the middle day of the 1890 organizing conferences - April 24 - is celebrated each year as Federation Day.

GOALS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
       As it unites member clubs, the Federations' goal is to encourage women to improve their skills, expand their rights, and apply their abilities and special sensitivity to the problems of their communities and nations.  Although clubs were originally founded as a means of self-education and development for women, gradually, the emphasis changed to community service.
        GFWC areas of activity include arts, conversation, education, home life, international affairs and public affairs, as well 
as other special projects.  The Federation has a distinguished record of activity on issues of historical importance and this legacy is continued today.
        The banding together of existing clubs in the early 1890s has become an international organization of community-based volunteers in thousands of clubs in all 50 states, plus U.S. territories and foreign countries.

 Taken from the GFWC Club Management 2004 Club Manual

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