GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs

Public Issues Community Service Program Collaborative & Partnership

 

 

Collaborative Chairman: Mary Lou Jarrett                             Partnership Chairman: Mary Witkowski

District Chairmen:

Lake Erie               Margaret Resar

Northeast              Barbara Higgins

Northwest              Melanie Stretchberry

Southeast              Mary Davis

Southwest             Elaine Krick

 

 

Objective:  To educate our club members about the need to be involved and making an impact in our community.

 

Goals:  Educate---Inform---Create Change

 

COMMUNITY SAFETY

·         Check with your local police/fire department to see what programs they already sponsor and take part in.

·         Have a program on Women’s Safety at your club meeting.  www.GFWC.org/Programs

·         Check if your community has a hazardous collection day if not help sponsor one

 

HOME SAFETY

·         Help your local fire department with a child safety awareness day for children

·         Remind members to change the batteries in smoke detectors when clocks change back  to standard time

·         Have a First Aid and CPR class at one of your monthly club meetings

·         Baby proofing your home – cabinet locks, toilet locks, and baby gates.  Make lists for new mothers.

·         Prescription medication-if prescriptions are more than 21/2 yrs. old, check with your local pharmacy to help you dispose of the medication properly.  Flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash are not proper ways to dispose of them.

 

VEHICLE SAFETY

  • Promote the proper use of child safety and booster seats.  Booster seats between 40 – 8- pounds and 4’9”, usually ages 4 to nine.  This can be done with the National Safety Council’s Child Safety Week – February 14.  Provide information to low income parents who can apply to the United Way for free seats

 

VETERANS AFFAIRS

Women in Military Service

  • Invite women who have served in the military to speak at your monthly club meeting.
  • Encourage your local governor, or city council to proclaim the week preceding Veterans Day as “Women Veterans Recognition Week www.womensmemorial.org

 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

  • Assist with placing flags on Veterans graves for Memorial and Veterans Day
  • Support and create ways to observe the National Day of Remembrance.  Promote the Moment of Remembrance at 3:00pm on Memorial Day each year.  www.VA.gov/Volunteer
  • Host a luncheon & lecture for Veterans and widows/widowers of Veterans   Contact your local county Veterans Service Commissioner to speak on changes in available benefits.  A Veteran may be eligible for receiving assistance with expenses such as assisted living, personal home care, prescription drugs and skilled nursing.
  • Flag burning ceremonies; contact local Boy Scouts, Jr. ROTC VFW, and American Legion etc. to assist in a ceremony on how to retire worn old flag.

 

 

SUPPORTING MILITARY MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES

  • Collect and send coupons to military families overseas.  Note that military commissaries will redeem coupons up to six months after they have expired.  www.http://couponing.about.com/blexp.htm.
  • Support homes for Our Troops, a nonprofit group that builds specially adapted homes for disabled veterans.  www.HomesForOurTroops.org

 

CITIZENSHIP PARTICIPATION

  • Sponsor a meet the candidate night.  Invite candidates to speak, making sure all candidates are included. 
  • Work with the League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political membership organization that encourages informed, active participation of citizens in government.  www.LWV.org

 

The Public Issues GFWC Partnerships emphasized thus far for this administration are:

 

                Coalition Against Bigger Trucks, LLC             www.CABT.org

                National Disaster Search Dog Foundation     www.SearchDogFoundation.org

                National Safety Council                                    www.NSC.org

                Safe Kids USA                                                     www.SafeKids.org

                Sew Much Comfort                                                            www.SewMuchComfort.org

                Women In Military Service for America Memorial Foundation

                                                                                                                www.womensmemorial.org

 

 

  Clubs are encouraged to continue working with the GFWC Resource Organizations from previous administrations, as they have longstanding national relationships with the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (not only GFWC/ Ohio relationships).  The GFWC Resource Organizations include, but are not limited to, those listed in the GFWC 2010-2012 Manual.

 

 

Information on other GFWC/Ohio Community Service Programs and Committees
Return to the OFWC home page.