Newly-Formed Women’s Club Seeks Volunteers for Community Service Projects

A new General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) club is forming on Vashon Island. The first, "get acquainted" meeting will be held on March 4th, from 2:00-4:00PM in the Ober Park Performance Room. It will be used to educate potential members about the GFWC and begin shaping the Vashon Island Club’s agenda. According to Pam Robbins, who first proposed formation of a club, all women age 18 and older who can volunteer a few hours a month to a community service project are encouraged to attend. "GFWC’s motto is ‘Unity in Diversity,’" Robbins explained, "so I’d love to have lots of different types of women come and offer suggestions and ideas."

The new club will be a member of the GFWC Washington State, which in turn is a member of the GFWC, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to community service through volunteering. Robbins clarified that members would be able to work on a wide range of projects in the arts, conservation, education, home life, international outreach, and public issues. The choice of issue areas and projects will depend on the needs of the community and the interests of the members.

While there are many GFWC clubs in Washington State, Vashon Island has not had one in several years.

Through its volunteer membership, GFWC has worked since 1890 on a broad program of social reform, including support of the first child labor law and equal pay for equal work, a youth suicide prevention program, and a safety for older Americans programs, among others.

The Vashon Library was originally founded by the Vashon Island Women’s Club in 1916. Clubs promote life-long learning and offer women of all ages the opportunity to exchange ideas and form lasting friendships.

For more information about joining the Vashon Island Women’s Club, contact Pam Robbins at pam@jprobbins.com or 206-724-2096. To learn more about GFWC or GFWC-WS, visit their websites www.gfwc.org/gfwc/default.asp and www.orgsites.com/wa/gfwcwashington.