Two local clubwomen attend GFWC Maine board of directors meeting

SKOWHEGAN — A pair of women from the Dover-Foxcroft GFWC Miosac Club attended the Maine General Federation of Women’s Clubs Board of Directors meeting at the Margaret Chase Smith Library and Museum on July 13.

Photo courtesy of GFWC Miosac Club

STATE GFWC MEETING — GFWC Miosac Club President Anne Cress, left, and Suzanne Raymond, chairman of the club’s nominating committee and advisory committee, both attended the Maine General Federation of Women’s Clubs Board of Directors meeting at the Margaret Chase Smith Library and Museum in Skowhegan earlier in the month.

Anne Cress, current president of the GFWC Miosac Club, and Suzanne Raymond, chairman of the club’s nominating committee and advisory committee, attended to help finalize GFWC Maine plans for the 2016-18 GFWC Maine administration. Cress served as GFWC Maine state president from 2012-14, and is presently serving as state leadership chairman. She is also serving on the GFWC New England Region Board of Directors as a member of the resolutions committee.

Raymond served as GFWC Maine state president from 2010-12, and is presently serving as state international outreach chairman. She is also serving on the GFWC New England Region Board of Directors as a member of the standing rules committee. Both Cress and Raymond are serving on the GFWC Maine policy committee during this two-year administration.

The theme for this GFWC Maine administration is, “Living the Volunteer Spirit with Sparkle and Shine.” The candle is the chosen symbol for this term. “Light a candle to start a new dawn, let it be like a prayer, that together we’ll shine in a moment of time we can share, light a candle to start a new dawn. Life is for giving for those who are living in love’s ray of light, and life is for caring, so never stop sharing your beacon so bright. We can unite the world with one tiny spark, it is better to light a candle than curse the dark. Together we’ll shine in a moment of time we can share, light a candle to start a new dawn.”

These words were written by John Forrest and sung by an Irish tenor, Daniel O-Donnell. This song “Light A Candle” was used as part of the installation ceremony in May when Mary Libby from Westbrook was installed as the new GFWC Maine state president. This particular song is the essence of what the motto for this administration is about. The members of GFWC Maine will continue to sparkle and shine, and never lose sight of their purpose as they go forth throughout their communities enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service.

The President’s Special Project “Maine African Partnership For Social Justice” was presented by Libby, and unanimously accepted by the board of directors for 2016-18 as the major project. The organization will focus on the NYOLO ‚Ä“ Hope Primary School in Kit, South Sudan for the next two years. One hundred percent of the monies raised will go to benefit this school with none of the monies going to administrative costs. This school has a staff of three with an enrollment of 385 children. The size of this entire school is what we Americans would consider the size of perhaps three classrooms. There are no windows or sanitary facilities. Their needs are reference books such as math, English, social studies, sciences, agriculture, physical education and story books. They need pens, pencils, workbooks, refresher training guides and reference materials for teachers, generators, printer and photocopying machines, laptop computers that have been wiped clean, bicycles for teacher transportation, office chairs, tables, desks, hoes, rakes, axes, watering cans, and sanitary supplies for girls, basins, towels, creams, slippers, scissors, etc.

The 18 GFWC Clubs around Maine will do all they can during the next two years to improve this school’s building and facilities, and help these children have a better chance to learn in a safer environment.

The 2016-17 GFWC Maine budget was presented and accepted. Nominating committee appointments were made. Megan Libby from Brunswick gave a report from the fundraising committee and plans were discussed for the next two years. A new GFWC Maine state pin was shown and will be available in October at the fall conference.

The GFWC New England Region invitation was issued. This conference will take place in Warwick, R.I. Sept. 30 through Oct. 2.

Beth Turner, GFWC Maine state treasurer, discussed the state directory, Pine Tree Notes newsletter, new GFWC Maine tri-folds, directory ad dates and other necessary information. Norma Manning, the newest Leadership, Education and Development Seminar graduate gave a brief talk about her experiences at the GFWC International Convention held in June in Baltimore. More in-depth information from Manning will be presented at the fall conference at the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn Oct. 11-12.

If interested in becoming a member of a GFWC Club or learning more go to www.gfwc.org or www.gfwcmaine.org.