Newtown Woman's Club, GFWC Updates and Accomplishments

The Newtown Woman’s Club, GFWC has been very busy collecting awards and accolades. On Thursday, May 17, new officers were installed at the general meeting. Those officers are:

Co-Presidents: Nina Morrison and Shirley Ferris
First Vice President: Joan Lavery
Second Vice President: Judy Rosentel
Recording Secretary: Lana Patane
Corresponding Secretary: Layne Lescault
Treasurer: Carol Fullman
Assistant Treasurer: Dot O’Byrne
Historian: Lorraine Vanderwende

The One Hundred Fifteenth Annual Convention of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs of CT (GFWC/CT) took place on May 18 and 19 at the Crown Plaza in Cromwell. The Newtown Woman’s Club, GFWC was presented with numerous prestigious awards. First Place in large clubs was presented to Newtown for International Outreach, Communication and Identity, Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention, Veterans Awareness and Education Partnership. Five Second Place awards were also bestowed.

The Club also received the very prestigious "Ursula Kolb Casioppo Federation Awareness Gavel" that was first presented in 1978, in honor of this past state president. This award is presented at every GFWC/CT Annual Convention.  The club honored with this gavel award has demonstrated an exceptional effort to increase public awareness not only for their individual club, but for the State and International Federation, through community service programs and projects during the previous calendar year.  The recipient is chosen by the Public Relations Committee from the top 3 first place winners in all three categories - according to information presented in the reports for small, medium and large clubs.   The recipient is allowed to keep the gavel for a one year period.

Jo Ann Bruno, NWC, GFWC member and GFWC/CT Member At Large received the prestigious "GFWC/CT Volunteer Achievement Award." It is presented to an individual club member who is recognized for her history of volunteerism, participation and active involvement in the State Federation, her local club, as well as home and family activities.   The recipient is by selection and endorsement of the GFWC/CT State President and her Executive Committee.

Jo Ann has more than 40 years of volunteer service through Junior League, Newcomers Clubs, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Woman's Clubs, and various other organizations in nine different communities.   She has been involved for twenty-seven years with GFWC/CT in three different CT towns, serving as Club President, 2 District Directorships, 4 GFWC/CT State Board positions, GFWCCT 3rd Vice President, GFWC/CT State Membership Chair, and GFWC/CT Member At Large.

The convention also included an Arts, Crafts and Photography show that began in each club, progressed to each region of GFWC/CT and culminated with the State Convention. Photography winners will move on to the National show. NWC’s Pat Denlinger won first place for a photo of her granddaughter playing in a fountain. Newtown had many first, second and third place winners in all categories. The big winner of the Conference was Peg Forbell who won “Best In Show” for her “Alphabet” counted cross stitch.