May 2019
Notes from the President's Desk
Whew! What a wild spring. Your Traveling President attended all Spring District meetings all the while planning for the 124 th Annual Convention. 
   Thank goodness for people being placed on the same path that do an outstanding job. This certainly is the case for the 2019 Convention Chairmen: Adelaide Cape, Frances Fikes and Carolyn Whitmire. I cannot thank them enough for their efforts to make the convention one to remember. They led the Committee, which included Gloria Stevens-Host North District Director, Alicia Beam, Carmie Budge, Cherie Byrne, Gail Guice, Jean McIntosh, Normal Oberlies and Sherry Stutts, to success. 
Thanks to Cherie Byrne, Credential Chairman, and committee members Jean McIntosh and Debra Hallmark. Never an easy job but excellent work. And who loved those meal tickets! Thanks Jean for that special touch. 
Although Ann Delaney, Protocol Chairman, was unable to attend due to Jim’s illness and surgeries, she certainly deserves thanks for the blueprint laid out prior to convention that enable the Chairmen to get us through. Definitely teamwork at its best. 
   Thanks to the clubs who served as hostesses for the events: Blountsville Culture Club, Double Springs Study Club, Book Lovers Study Club, Huntsville Woman’s Club, GFWC Legacy, GFWC Alabama Collinsville Study Club, Crossville Woman’s Club, GFWC duMidi Woman’s Club and GFWC Alabama River City Woman’s Club. And thanks to Les Belles Juniorettes members who helped out with Fun Night. Which way does it go Adelaide? 
And thanks to all of you that took a weekend out of your busy schedule to attend. So many of you joined in the theme of “Hats On as Women Purse-ue Careers”. Many beautiful and interesting hats were worn. Many awards and certificates were presented. A total listing will be published in the near future. Those who were not there to receive their awards, they are in the mail. We definitely learned some methods to expedite business which will lead us to have time for more fun and interesting activities next year. And what about that Mrs. Helen Bailey -- the only one that ziplined!  
So proud to be able to announce that AFWC was able to award a total of 17 Scholarships this year! There are the traditional scholarships, which include the Miss Alabama ($1,000) and Distinguished Young Woman (Jr Miss) ($500) Scholarships, the Jacksonville State University International House Scholarship, a Juniorette Scholarship ($500) and two Past Presidents Scholarships ($500).  
Due to the hard work of Sherry Stutts, AFWC President’s Special Project – Scholarships Chairman, and your generosity during the “Degree Campaign” and other fundraisers for this project, three Special Scholarships were awarded in the surprise increased amount of $1,000. There were two Jane Wright Education Scholarships and a Cynthia Geis Psychology/Counseling Scholarship. 
Again, due to your generosity, a lot of monies were raised for the President’s Special Project – Scholarships. It was this chairman’s and your president’s desire to be able to award every qualified and deserving young lady who applied for the Past President’s Scholarship a scholarship. So the monies for 8 additional Past Presidents’ Scholarships ($4,000) was transferred into the traditional general scholarships fund to cover these. 
A grand total of over $10,000 was awarded to 17 young women . The most in recent history! May we continue to Celebrate 125 Years of Changing Lives Through Scholarships .  
Christine Steele
2018-2020 President GFWC Alabama
Celebrating 125 Years of Changing Lives Through Scholarships
by Sherry Stutts, President's Project Co-Chair
Federated Sisters are hard at work on attaining their degrees so that they may be a part of the “Changing Lives” of young women in Alabama. The 124 th Annual Convention in Guntersville closed with more donations to the President’s Project Scholarship Degree Fund bringing the first year end balance that includes  $2.50 per member dues, sale of the Scholarship pin and other donations to $23,875.50. The very impressive list of donors was included in the Convention Program. Thank You for generously investing in our future leaders.

“ YOU” be the Change as we Purse-sue Donations

You can DONATE  to  AFWC  in any of the following ways:
AFWC President’s Project – Scholarships
                     Associate Degree - $25
                     Bachelor Degree - $125
                     Master Degree - $525
                     Doctoral Degree - $1250    or
        AFWC General Scholarships  or              
        AFWC 2728 Society (Headquarters) or   
        AFWC Disaster Relief Fund              
        
AFWC  is a  501©3  organization so all donations are  tax deductible . Checks are to be made out to AFWC and mailed to Karol Kaputska at 14007 Green Way Park Circle SE, Huntsville, AL 35803.
Fascinators, Federation & Fun Fashion Show
A “Hat” full of Thanks go to these President’s Project Degree Donors who agreed to be models for the April 12 th Fashion Show held at Valley Hill Country Club in Huntsville: Alicia Beam, GFWC du Midi; Adelaide Cape, GFWC du Midi; Brigette Carey, GFWC Legacy; Frances Fikes, GFWC du Midi; Cynthia Geis, GFWC Legacy; Cynthia Hopkins, GFWC Shades Mountain; Jean McIntosh, GFWC du Midi and Gloria Stevens, GFWC Alabama River City. This fund raiser for President Christine Steele’s President’s Project, “Celebrating 125 Years of Changing Lives Through Scholarships” raised $2,500. Fashions, Dior Cosmetic Favor Bags, 25% off coupons, a beautiful Brahmin Purse for the Door Prize, models(make-up/hair styles) & assistance plus an emcee were provided by Dilliard’s at Parkway Place; Manager Mary Davis was a special Guest and Speaker. Purse-onalities and Hat-titudes walked the walk as there were also contests for the top 3 Best Fascinator & Fascinating Outfits, the Best Hand Made Fascinator and Best Hat. Everyone, from models to audience were Springtime Beautiful and there were four handsome husbands in attendance. GFWC Secretary Suellen Brazil impressed all with her impromptu Elevator Speech when asked to help fill time in between fashion changes. A Black Velveteen Hangar favor was provided by this chairman as a reminder for all attendees to purchase an outfit from Dillard’s.
Fascinators, Federation and Fun……….Finished on a Friday!
*many more pictures are on the GFWC Alabama Facebook page*
Purse-onalities & Hat-titudes
by Sherry Stutts, President's Project Co-Chair
South District Director, Mary Ann Baltzer, graciously asked me to play the “Out of Your Purse” Birthday Gift game at the South District Spring meeting; March 23 rd in Bay Minette. So much fun to take an item out of your purse and give to a Birthday Lady sitting close to you, especially since President Christine Steele on March 16 th celebrated her “60 th ”! Christine gave the gifted Birthday dollars and coins to the President’s Scholarship Project, but did wear the 60 th Birthday Fascinator. Carol Cleveland, a Jubilee club member, won for the March Madness Designed Purse and received a purse shaped sticky note dispenser. I reached my goal of attending ALL District meetings for this first year term. Lots of stops along the way to get my 200 Alabama Bicentennial Past Port book stamped; met so many delightful Alabamians and what a journey. Best of all, is Living and Purse-uing the Volunteer Spirit with my Sister club members. It has been a great year of President’s Project support and I thank you for your individual and club donations to Celebrating 125 Years of Changing Lives Through Scholarships.
Club News from Around Alabama
GFWC Hueytown Study Club Gets Their Hats On! 

Hueytown Study Club ladies had some fun modeling their
“designer” Easter Bonnets at their April meeting. Expressing their individual Hat-Titudes and Purse-Sonalities, there were some very unique hats that showed up for the parade. What a talented & creative bunch of ladies, and brave, I might add! And of course, there was a beautifully decorated table full of goodies prepared by Cheryl Abney. Purses & surprises were collected by the members to be donated to Grace Place in Bessemer. Easter cards from the Hueytown Study Club will be delivered to the Barron House in Hueytown, just in time to wish them all a Happy Easter!

Many thanks to Jennifer Barger, International Missionary, who was kind enough come & share with us her many experiences as a missionary, mother & wife.
Hueytown Study Club members styling their creations are:
Penny Berry, Mary Frances Bell, Peggy Hendricks, Nancy Haley, Dot Lowery, Lois Roberts,
Cheryl Abney, Carolyn Waldrop, Patricia Wiley, Gerry West, Judy Irvin, Helen Syx, Carolyn Whisenhunt and Peggy Hicks.
GFWC du Midi Woman's Club
Above: Former Presidents of GFWC du Midi Woman's Club celebrated the club's 48 th Anniversary in April.
  Margaret Milford, GFWC du Midi Club Woman of the Year Award for 2019.
Above: Ann Morea received her 25 year pin from 2 nd V. P. Angie Elkins at the GFWC du Midi Woman's Club April Luncheon.
GFWC du Midi Woman's Club New Member Installation:
Pictured left to right: Rondia Turner, Michelle Hyde, Laurelie Hayes, Peggy Buitekant, Jennifer Robinson, Laura Ayers and Michaelle Goforth. Not pictured are new members Kathy Archer, Sheila Boling, and returning member Cynthia Hopkins.
GFWC AL River City Woman's Club In Action   

Brass plates acknowledge the donation of two glass display cases by the GFWC Alabama River City Woman's Club to the Historic Decatur (AL) Train Depot Museum. Devoted to many railroads visitors from all across America enjoy displays of historical documents, antique posters, railway station items, mail bags, tickets, and photographs. The railway station was restored by the City of Decatur and sits along the tracks of a busy rail system where visitors can sit on their patio and watch trains roll by.

GFWC Alabama River City Woman's Club is privileged to hold their monthly meeting here without cost to the club and has enjoyed watching the completion of Decatur's finest Railway Museum.
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