GFWC of NC SWC Welcomes New Members - March 2022

The General Federation of Women’s Club of North Carolina (GFWC of NC) Statesville Woman’s Club recently held a “New Member Orientation and Induction” at the club’s historic clubhouse. Club members welcomed the new members during a special spring themed meeting. Shown front row from left is: Club President Dana White, Kim Turner, Tammy Kennedy, Rita Tondo, Roxy Kennedy, and Andrea Britton-Sawyers. Back row from left: Yolanda Myers-Johnson, Maggie Wells, Lori Carbone, and NaKayla Griffin. Other new members but not present were: Kayla Bass, Patti Green and Deneen Wells.

Title: GFWC of NC Statesville Woman's Club Welcomes New Members with Induction

The General Federation of Women’s Club of North Carolina (GFWC of NC) Statesville Woman’s Club recently held “New Member Orientation and Induction” at the club’s historic clubhouse on West End Avenue. At the spring themed meeting the club’s twelve new members were recognized including: Kayla Bass, Andrea Britton-Sawyers, Lori Carbone, Patti Green, NaKayla Griffin, Roxy Kennedy, Tammy Kennedy, Yolanda Myers-Johnson, Rita Tondo, Kim Turner, Deneen Wells and Maggie Wells.

After the welcome by Club President Dana White, the members recited the Pledge of Allegiance and Salute to North Carolina Flag. Club First Vice President Shelley Arthur led an icebreaker game. Club Past President and Historian Linda Lavinder presented an informative history presentation. She shared that the General Federation of Women’s Club was spearheaded by Jane Cunningham Croly in 1868 and officially formed on April 24, 1890, at convention in New York City. Though the federal chapter, GFWC Headquarters is located in Washington DC. There are around 80,000 members in clubs across the United States and in several countries. GFWC of NC was organized in 1902 in Winston-Salem. The Statesville Woman’s Club was started in 1920 by Mrs. Benjamin Franklin Long (Mary Alice) and was incorporated in 1927.

After the history presentation a trivia contest was played and GFWC themed prizes were awarded. Club yearbooks were presented by Club Second Vice President Wanda Rushton and a membership survey was conducted. The induction ceremony was performed by Club President Dana White with new members being paired with established members in a “Mentor & Mentee” partnership to help guide new members. During the ceremony there was a candlelight service with the light being shared from the president to the new members. After the candles were extinguished, the mentors presented the mentees with an official GFWC lapel pin, a red rose and certificate. To conclude the meeting the members recited “A Collect for Club Women” by Mary Stewart.

The club’s next meeting will be on Thursday, April 7 at the clubhouse. There will be a time of Social Fellowship at 5:30 p.m. and Meeting at 6:00 p.m. The program will be a presentation by the Statesville Housing Authority (SHA) and coordinated by Maggie Wells and Andrea Britton-Sawyers. They will also be discussing non-profit that is instrumental to SHA, Iredell Statesville Community Enrichment Corporation.

For details on joining the GFWC of NC Statesville Woman’s Club, please contact Membership Chair Stephanie Gill at 704-657-5008. To learn about renting the GFWC of NC Statesville Woman’s Clubhouse for your meeting or event, email Statesvillewomansclub@gmail.com, or call 704-761-8208.