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‘Can-do’ women are making a difference
(by Cindy Forrest - April 23, 2008)
With a “can do” attitude, talent, commitment and a strength considered to be uncharacteristic of the so called “weaker” sex, the women of the New Jersey State Federation of Women's Clubs (NJSFWC) recently celebrated their Spring Conference at the Zeris Inn in Mountain Lakes.
On a day when daffodils began to poke their lovely yellow heads up through the moist earth, the 10th district NJSFWC, which includes clubs in most of Morris County and a portion of Sussex County, came out 150 strong to share their individual club’s experiences and recognize outstanding achievements. Local clubs represented at the event included the Women’s Clubs of Dover-Mine Hill, Parsippany-Troy Hills and Denville/Rockaway.
The extraordinary women that comprise these clubs have individually and collectively made countless contributions to their communities. Unlike many, modern-day “social” organizations, Federation clubs focus their time and attention on extending a helping hand - and they always manage to have a great time doing it.
Take Sandie Hall, scheduled to be the next president of the Denville/Rockaway club. She recently had a meeting at her house to make wreaths and other salable items with arts and crafts materials that she donated.
“I wasn’t using the stuff,” Hall said, “so I had everyone over and we had a ball making things that we sold to make money for the club.”
Or Nancy Gulley, a 34-year club veteran who goes out camping with the girls her Dover-Mine Hill Club sponsors. Every year the group supports 80 Camp Fire Girls from kindergarten to high school. For her work with the Camp Fire Girls, Gulley has been recognized with a national award.
“We’re a small club but we do what we can do and we enjoy it,” said Gulley.
Federation clubs run the gamut when it comes to age. According to Marilyn Marion, co-president of the Parsippany-Troy Hills Club, their membership ranges in age from 34 to 94.
This outgoing group marched in the township’s Memorial Day parade last year, and sponsored an annual golf outing to benefit their scholarship program. The list of their projects is overwhelming: supporting the NJ Battered Women’s Shelter with birthday party supply kits for children.
“We have everything conceivable in those kits - from tablecloths, to cake mix, and candles,” said Marion.
The group also prepared first night kits with pajamas and a stuffed animal, toothpaste and a comb, for children entering the shelter. They also supplied prepaid phone cards to soldiers in Walter Reed Army Hospital, donated reflective Halloween bags to daycare centers and gave out ribbons to organ donors, soldiers and breast cancer supporters.
In addition, club members participate in the local Performing Arts Festival, plant trees on Arbor Day, sponsor a town-wide domestic violence awareness program and bake cookies for nursing homes for the holidays.
At Spring Conference, the ladies of the Parsippany-Troy Hills club were recognized, as a club with a First Place award in class for their Press Book. Other District Awards were presented to Laurie DeConcillio for Membership, Marilyn Marion for Woman’s History, Cathy Cerbo for Communication and Margaret Mary Cerbo for Public Affairs.
Individually, Virginia Robertson received an award in the knitting category and Audrey Kopf, a professional level artist, won seven awards in the areas of acrylic painting, decorated Easter egg, pin, painting on wood, computer graphics, a Thanksgiving-themed item and a Christmas ornament.
Barbara McCloskey, who will step down this year after 10 years as president of the Denville-Rockaway Club, ended on a high note.
“Last year was a wonderful year for our community service projects. We have developed a great relationship with local businesses and the public has proven to be big supporters of our drop off locations. To say that after 75 years of community service that the club is still fulfilling the needs of the community is a huge accomplishment and one that I am greatly proud of,” said McCloskey.
In 2007, the 40 members of the Denville/Rockaway club donated $2100 in monetary donations to local organizations. In the area of education they gave a $500 scholarship to one graduating high school senior at Morris Knolls; a $500 scholarship to a woman returning to school at Morris County Vocational Tech; and, a $50 gift certificate to a graduating eighth grader at each of the three middle schools in their towns. There were also cash donations given to Camp Marcella, PASS animal shelter, 11th Hour Rescue for dogs, Morris Land Conservancy, and Habitat for Humanity. This year the club was honored with the District Award for Conservation.
They also collected a whopping 4,500 new and like-new children’s books, which were donated to schools in Irvington and Paterson. Books were also given to a Taiwanese Woman’s group, that sends supplies back to Taiwan and also a group that sends supplies to children in the Philippine’s.
Locally, $1,000 in back-to-school supplies were collected and donated to children in Denville and Rockaway, and more than 300 gifts were collected at dropoff sites for families in the immediate area as well.
On Arbor Day the woman’s club held a poster contest for 75, fifth graders at Thomas Jefferson School in Rockaway Borough. Children were given tree seedlings and packets with Earth Day and Arbor Day information.
And to support U.S. troops in Iraq and those in VA hospitals, the ladies baked cookies and collected over 1,500 Valentine cards.
A history of giving
The NJSFWC is the largest volunteer women's service organization in the state and a member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs. The organization provides opportunities for education, leadership training, and community service through participation in local clubs, enabling members to make a difference in the lives of others, one project at a time.
The NJSFWC was born on Nov. 16, 1894 when approximately 150 women representing 36 clubs met in Union Hall in Orange. Before the day had ended, a constitution and bylaws had been written and adopted and officers elected. Margaret T. Yardley was the first president.
The achievements of the NJSFWC have been many, including the founding of the New Jersey College for Women, now called Douglass College. In 1912, a committee was formed to establish a college for women. Mabel Smith Douglass traveled the state endlessly on behalf of the Federation and was finally rewarded when the NJ College for Women opened. Mrs. Douglass became its first dean and the college was later renamed for her. Since its beginning, the state Federation has donated more than $1,000,000 to Douglass in the form of scholarships and large donations for buildings.
Women's clubs throughout history have been derided by those not in them as a bunch of women wearing white gloves sitting around drinking tea. Just the opposite is true. Each member has inherited a history of activism, on the community, state, national and international level. Now more than eight years into their second century of community service, NJSFWC members can look back in pride at what we have accomplished.
Summarizing the experience, Jill Passeretti, recording secretary of the 10th District explained, “I love the fact that these women are willing to give their time to serve the community and they have fun doing it. They don’t get many accolades but they do it because they believe in the cause.
Anyone interested in joining these clubs can contact individual membership leaders: in Dover-Mine Hill, 973-366-0728; Parsippany-Troy Hills, 973-538-0429 and Denville-Rockaway, 973-625-9416.
Historical information about the NJSFWC was found on the organization’s Web site.
Staff photo by Cindy Forrest
The Denville/Rockaway Women’s Club celebrates at the Highlands District Spring Conference of the GFWC held at the Zeris Inn.
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