Event Photos
GFWC Florida State Convention
Saturday, April 13, 2024
Rosen International Hotel
Orlando, FL
Table Centerpieces for the Saturday Luncheon, Hosted by District 5, were Miniature Replicas of the Cabins at Camp Boggy Creek, President Linda O'Toole's Special Project.
Attendees from our club included
President Kay Basham, President Elect Linda Brantner, Treasurer Carol Knoll & Webmaster Chris Coene
President Kay Basham met up with a few old friends and colleagues from her days as GFWC Junior Director.
The Arts & Crafts entry submitted by Fran Musante, Holiday Snowman, took 2nd Place in the Glass Fusion Category
April 3rd, 2024 Meeting
GFWC The Villages members Judi Taylor and Joanne Canizaro attended the Spring Fling Fashion Show at Restoring Hope Boutique in March 2024. The boutique supports Combat Veterans to Careers.
On March 6th, during our meeting, Missy McCoy, GFWC Florida, gave a talk on her GFWC experiences and then welcomed & initiated some of our new members.
New Members Initiated during our March 6th meeting are Kay Basham, Jane Pritchard & Lynn Valukonis
Linda Brantner, current 2nd VP / President-Elect, initiated new members Sandy Schaefer & Jacki Wasserman during our April 3rd meeting.
NEW MEMBER INITIATION 2024
Several of our members volunteered at our food packing event at
Christ Lutheran Church, Summerfield
on Thursday February 1st, 2024
from 9 - 11am
This was the first of two events this month in which our members volunteered their time.
Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) Mobile Packing Events
Catherine Kelly, Coordinator
Several of our members volunteered at our food packing event at
Live Oaks Community Church, Oxford
on Wednesday February 28th, 2024
from 9 - 11am
This was the second of two events this month in which our members volunteered their time.
Members and invited guests shared pots of tea and several types of breakfast items and sweets during our Friendship Tea
Thank you to everyone for helping to make our Friendship Tea such a wonderful event. It was a pleasure meeting all of the guests.
Member Barbara O'Brien presented a hilarious comedic skit for entertainment during our Friendship Tea.
With sadness, we say "GoodBye" to our current President Cindy Rice, as she begins the next chapter in her life. And a big "Thank You" to 1st VP Kay Basham for stepping into the President role for the remainder of this term.
In appreciation for her service and leadership, Cindy was presented a plaque from Linda Brantner, 2nd VP on behalf of the entire membership.
Florida District 7 Meeting
and Arts & Crafts Competition
Saturday Feb 3rd, 2024
The luncheon was hosted by GFWC Womens Service League of Central Florida at St. Matthews Episcopal Church, 5873 N. Dean Rd, Orlando, FL.
Attended by Cindy Rice (President), Linda Brantner (2nd VP) and Linda Whitenton (Secretary) with Jean Brown, District 7 Director
1st Place : Glass Fusion Happy Snowman submitted by Fran Musante
1st Place : Mixed Media Peacock submitted by Carolyn Olsen
1st Place : Recycled Material Crochet Tote Bag submitted by Carolyn Reade
1st Place & Directors Choice : Decoupage
Jewelry Music Box submitted by Lynn Wennstrom
2nd Place : Recycled Material Crochet Purse submitted by Carolyn Read
January 3, 2024
CERT
[Community Emergency Response Team]
Disaster Preparedness
December 6, 2023
Christmas Angels
Judi Taylor, Coordinator of our Christmas Angels program, collecting the gifts requested by, and purchased for, our selected children
Our members are committed to decorating a bedroom in the Baker House for the
2023 Christmas Season.
Above, Maggie Butler readies supplies at our November 1st meeting
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Below, several members volunteered to finalize the Victorian-era decorations at Maggie Butler's home on Nov 9th.
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Carolyn Olsen and Linda Whitenton hand-painted Victorian-era ornaments
Marge Mangus, Brenda Peters and Nancy Maxwell stringing the popcorn and cranberry bead garland
Members working to string the popcorn and cranberry bead garland
Our decorated bedroom looks wonderful !
Carolyn Olsen, Kay Basham and Adelaide Staton creating dried fruit ornaments
Carol Knoll & Linda Brantner creating 3D Ornaments
Peggy Roberts working on the Pin Prick Ornaments
Members creating beautiful decorations for use during the Baker House Christmas Season.
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Honor Flight
WELCOME BACK VETERANS
November 18, 2023
November 8, 2023
FALL FASHION SHOW FUNDRAISER
Our ladies enjoyed the fashion show, along with refreshments, organized by Catherine Kelly & Joanne Roller, with proceeds benefiting the Wildwood Middle High School.
Catherine Kelly organized a food drive, held during our meeting on November 1st, 2023 to benefit the Salvation Army.
Giving Club Showcase
Ezell Recreation Center October 28, 2023
Jean Styles organized club members in staffing our informational table at this event provided by The Villages.
Salvation Army
Soup-Off
October 17, 2023
Savannah Center
Jean Styles, Catherine Kelly and Denise Wiseman assisted by staffing one of the Registration Tables.
In addition to the roaming ticket sellers, Lisa Johnson & Teri Gray, sold 50/50 tickets at one of two ticket sales tables manned by GFWC The Villages. In total, we raised over $500 for the Salvation Army thanks to the generosity of the event attendees.
We collected FOUR car loads of food for the kids, as well as $504 in cash AND a PowerBall lottery ticket!!! Plus two can openers and lots of personal hygiene items!
The total poundage is . . . . (drum roll, please) 638 pounds of food!!! Holy cow!
Several of our members gathered at the home of Lisa Johnson on August 15, 2023 to clip, trim and organize donated "used" stamps for the Wounded Warriors Veterans group.
The DAR collects the stamps and then sorts them before they are forwarded on to the veterans group to make crafts to help with PTSD.
MAY 3, 2023
BABY SHOWER
supporting the Earn While You Learn program at the Pregnancy & Family Care Center in Leesburg
Nina Miceli, Chris Coene & Linda Brantner prepare table decorations for the upcoming May 3rd Baby Shower
Rachel , from Pregnancy & Family Care Center, gave a moving personal presentation on what she and her team provide for local pregnant mothers.
Civic Engagement Chairperson, Judi Taylor, pictured with Rachel from Pregnancy & Family Care Center, amongst the many baby gifts donated by GFWC The Villages members.
Linda Whitenton, Linda Brantner & Cindy Rice represented GFWC The Villages
GFWC Florida
Spring Convention
Rosen Hotel, Orlando
April 21 - 23, 2023
Theme: Roaring 20s
Cindy Rice and Linda Whitenton with Linda O'Toole and ? from GFWC Florida
GFWC Woman’s Club of The Villages donated $961 to Camp Boggy Creek during their April 5th meeting.
Shown here are Marge Mangus & Carol Knoll presenting the donation to Jacqueline Boykin, gift officer and community relations for Camp Boggy Creek. In addition to the monetary check, a stuffed Bear and several afghans were also presented. Every camper gets to take home a stuffed bear and afghan after their stay at the camp.
New Member Induction Ceremony March 01, 2023
Lisa Johnson - new member, with Denise Wiseman ; Marge Mangus with Joanne Canizaro - new member ; 1st VP Linda Brantner ; Lynn Higgins with Lynn Wennstrom - new member ; Chris Coene with Peggy Roberts - new member ; Mary Ann Dechnik - new member with Marianne Bayer and Ruth Gooding - new member
President Cindy Rice opens the Meeting
FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN MOBILE PACK
GFWC Woman’s Club of The Villages, organized by Catherine Kelly, participated in the meal packing event for FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN on February 23, 2023, Sponsored at the Live Oaks Community Church in Oxford.
Thank you to all members who volunteered . We packed enough food to feed 109 children for a year in less than 2 hours!
February 1st, 2023
December 7, 2022
Christmas Holiday Luncheon
As part of our holiday luncheon everyone attending 'decorated' the tree with their named gift tags. After a Christmas Word game, the ladies left holding the gift bags were the winners!
Jean Styles, Judi Taylor & Lynn Higgins help collect the many donated gifts for our Angel Tree families
Catherine Kelly & Cindy Rice help load bags of donated groceries for our local food pantries
11/12/2022
Salvation Army
SOUP - OFF
GFWC The Villages
Volunteers helping to make the fundraiser a success
GINGER SCHWARTZ modeling her outfit for the evening!
CINDY RICE & CATHERINE KELLY among the volunteers at the Registration table
TERI GRAY helping to arrange the pottery bowls and baskets tables
JEAN STYLES arranging the many gift baskets for auction
November 2022 Monthly Meeting
Thank You Cards for Veterans
Club Member Jean Styles provided materials and instructions for our group
GFWC District 7 Annual Meeting
October 29, 2022
Hosted by GFWC The Villages
Jean Brown - GFWC District 7 Director
Cindy Rice - GFWC The Villages President
Laura Connelly - GFWC FL 2nd Vice President
Jean Brown presenting 'thank you' gifts to Laura Connelly
2022 - 2024 Board Member Installation Ceremony May 4, 2022
(l to r) Jean Brown, District 7 President ; Cindy Rice, President ; Ginger Schwartz, 1st VP ; Linda Brantner, 2nd VP ; Carol Knoll, Treasurer ; Lynn Higgins, Secretary
New Member Induction Ceremony May 4, 2022
(l to r) Lynn Higgins - Secretary, Shan Smith - new member, Kathy Suggitt - new member, Madge Chapman - President, Carol Knoll - Treasurer, Rhonda Hartman - new member, LuAnn Rothlein - new member
Creating Auction Baskets
August 27, 2021
Several members of our group gathered at Sandy Gordon's house in the Village of Pinellas for a Basket Making Party for the Salvation Army's Silent Auction in November. Pictured with some of the baskets are (l to r) Madge Chapman, Linda Brantner, Carol Knoll, Sandy Gordon, Catherine Kelly & Kathy Olen.
New Member Induction Ceremony
June 2, 2021
(l to r) Lynn Higgins - Secretary, Carol Knoll - Treasurer, Madge Chapman - President, Denise Wiseman - new member, Ginger Schwartz - new member, Carol Newton - VP
New Member Luncheon
Federation Day
April 17, 2021
(l to r) Cindy Rice, Denise Wiseman, Lynn Higgins - Secretary, Ginger Schwartz, Madge Chapman - President, Carol Knoll - Treasurer, Carol Newton - VP, Lucy Murphy, Brenda Peters - Former President
Madge Chapman – President and Carol Newton - 1st VP, in costume, perform a cute skit all about the history of the GFWC for our October 2021 meeting.
District 7 Arts and Crafts Competition Placements
2/20/2021 in Orlando
Brenda Peters won 2nd place for Volunteer of the Year.
Barbara O’Brien won 1st place for her Recycled Materials Entry.
Carolyn Reade won 1st place for her Knitted Top AND also took 1st place as Directors Choice Award at the District Level.
Carol Newton won 2nd place for her Cross Stitch Entry
Carol Knoll won 2nd place for her Quilt.
MEETINGS RESUME
after Covid-19
On October 7, 2020, GFWC The Villages resumed meetings after the Covid-19 hiatus. Because of restrictions indoors, it was decided to hold the meeting in the parking lot at Lake Miona Recreation Center. Social Distancing was still the norm and masks were still required indoors.
During this meeting, the new officers for 2020 - 2022 were elected and installed.
New Officer Installation 2020 - 2022
Madge Chapman - President
Carol Newton - 1st VP
Barb O'Brien - 2nd VP
Lynn Higgins - Secretary
Carol Knoll - Treasurer