Events of the GFWC - CSWC
GFWC-CORAL SPRINGS WOMAN’S CLUB FIGHTS ILLITERACY
The members of GFWC Coral Springs Woman’s Club have been busy fulfilling club president, Bert Alberti’s, pet project, “A Book-A-Day Keeps Boredom Away,” this year. The goal was to collect 365 books throughout the Club year and to present them to the Northwest Regional Library in Coral Springs. Library personnel would then sort the books for use in the library, for distribution to other libraries, or for donation to “Friends of the Library” for re-sale with proceeds being circulated back into the library’s funds for book purchases. Each contributed book is labeled with a special bookplate that acknowledges the Club’s donation. As of December 2008, the club’s members have donated over 1000 books to this cause and donations continue to come in at every meeting!
As an extension of the “A Book-a-Day Keeps Boredom Away” project, bookmarks were made and delivered to several locales. They will serve as reminders of the importance of reading, will be helpful place-holders during reading, and will keep the Coral Springs Woman’s Club name in the public.
Deliveries have been made to Borders Bookstore, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, and the “Friends of the Library” kiosk at the Northwest Regional Library in Coral Springs.
Also, as one of the club’s Education projects for 2008-2009, members have chosen to host book drives for Books From The Heart®, a program of a national non-profit organization called The Heart of America Foundation®. The Heart of America works to ensure that every child has books in their schools and homes, and learns the joy of reading! By supplying underprivileged and needy children with books, at no cost, these children will ultimately have access to greater opportunities in life.
To date, over 500 new or “almost new” books have been distributed to under-resourced school libraries, to classrooms, and directly into the hands of underprivileged children in our area. Recipients of these books include Paul Turner Elementary School in Lauderhill, FL and Tedder Elementary School in Pompano Beach, FL. Working together with the Heart of America, hope is given to thousands of deserving local children, simply by giving them a chance – a chance to read and succeed.
Education Committee Chairman, Patty Grom, has also instituted Literacy in the Laundromat. Patty states, “Multi-tasking has become such a part of our lives. Sometimes we are ‘spread so thin’ that we don’t have the time we need to spend on supervising our children’s education.”
With that in mind, GFWC Coral Springs Woman’s Club has committed to “Literacy in the Laundromat”. This is an Education Committee project in which decorated tubs filled with reading books, activity books, puzzles, coloring books, crayons, pencils, card games, etc. are taken to local laundromats. Educational materials are available for those children who have to tag along while their parents are busy with domestic chores. This not only keeps the children occupied but provides a secret way to promote learning.
So far, there are three facilities on board providing an estimated 100 reading books, 20 activity books, 8 sets of crayons and/or colored pencils, pencil sharpeners, pencils, approximately 17 decks of card games, and 10 puzzles. “Needless to say, this project has been a success even if the materials are not left for other children to enjoy” says Grom. “At least the items have been taken home and hopefully will be used by many children – another outgrowth of our project!”
Last September, seven GFWC-CSWC members met to participate in the Northwest Regional Library’s Read-a-Thon. President Bert Alberti led off with an explanation of the club’s involvement in the Heifer Project and then gave a synopsis of the book, Beatrice’s Goat. Members, Sandy Betlach, Joann Black, Sandy Novak, Ruth Ann Gillooly, Patty Grom, and Bonnie Addicott took turns dramatizing passages.
Beatrice’s Goat is the true story of a young Ugandan girl and her family whose lives are impacted by the gift of a female goat from Heifer International. When Beatrice’s mother entrusts the goat’s care to her, she learns it can provide milk for both the family’s own consumption and for sale to the community. The value of the gift is multiplied as the goat bears two offspring. Beatrice carefully saves the money she earns from selling the goat’s milk until it is enough to realize her long-held dream of attending school. According to the book’s Afterword by Hillary Clinton, “It is a heartwarming reminder that families, wherever they live, can change their lives for the better. To do it, they need three things: resources, training, and community support.” The book illustrates how the gift of just one additional resource is multiplied by a family’s hard work, and providesmuch-needed nutrition as well as a new source of income.
President, Alberti boasts, “Needless to say, the club members have been extremely busy facilitating the magic of reading throughout the community.”
Denise Russo, (left) Tedder Elementary School Media Specialist, accepts book donations from GFWC - CSWC President Bert Alberti (center) and Education Chairman Patty Grom (right).
International Affairs Dinners
Monthly, members who wish to join in meet at different ethnic restaurants to dine together and taste the varied cuisines of our world. Be it Italian, Mexican, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, or whatever, a good time is had by all. In addition to the delicious food, some of the country's customs and history is discussed. (But sometimes, it's just the same old "girl talk!) Either way, members and guests always come away with a full tummy and a memorable evening.
February's dinner was an amazing array of Asian food and cooking skills demonstrated by the chefs at Benihana's. Italian will be the cuisine of choice on April 9th. Patty Todd is currently our International Affairs Chairman and selects and arranges for all the outings.
Cruise to Nowhere
February 7, 2009
This is the second venture for our club members on a “Cruise to Nowhere.” Holland America Cruise Line’s new Signature Class vessel, the ms Eurodam, features 11 passenger decks, a new topside Pan-Asian restaurant and lounge surrounded by panoramic views, an Explorer’s Lounge Bar, a new Italian restaurant adjacent to the Lido, new atrium bar area, and an enhanced and reconfigured show lounge. The ms Eurodam also contains an exquisite art collection based on the theme, “The Dutch Golden Age.”
The ship and AAA Travel hosted a luncheon on board for our members and their guests. Thirty GFWC-CSWC registrants enjoyed the day. The food was exquisite and the guided tour of the ship made everybody want to run home and pack their bags for a nice luxurious cruise.
Seasiders
Several members have discovered their love for the nostalgia of the old time music and bathing suits and dress themselves for a day at the beach. While in their "costumes" they entertain retirement home residents with a sing-along presentation of the "oldies" while they ham it up with silly props appropriate to each song. All members are invited to attend and join in and singing ability is NOT required.
Kentucky Derby Party
What appears to have become an annual event is the May Kentucky Derby Party. This is an event for members, husbands, and guests. Because it's a potluck dinner, there is always plenty of good food, including appetizers, main dishes and desserts. Adult beverages, along with the required traditional Mint Juleps, are available and everyone is invited to "bet" on the outcome of the annual Kentucky Derby while we view it on big screen TV. After the race, the exclusive Flamingo Races and Rubber Ducky Races are also held. You have to see these to appreciate the fun had by all.
A Day at Sea...Sort Of!
Every few years we are invited by Holland American Cruse Lines to have lunch aboard one of their mega-ships while it is docked at Port Everglades between sailings. It includes wine and a deliciously prepared three-course lunch of several choices. After lunch a guided tour of the ship is given with special visits to the penthouse suites, restaurants and casino. It's always a delightful day out with the "girls," husbands and guests.
Progressive Dinner
We held our first progressive dinner on April 4th in 2008. To start things off - Hors d'oeurves were served at one member's home, then the main course was split-up among several other homes, and dessert was served at President, Bert Alberti's home. This diniing arrangement should prove to be an enjoyable night with spouses and guests and the only real costs will be to help defray the main course ingredients. As the members of Coral Springs Woman's Club have always been know for their enjoyment of food, this will definately become an annual event that everyone looks forward to ejoying.
GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT – November 9, 2008
Once a year the members enjoy a shopping night out at Stein Mart, where we are treated to a fashion/accessory show, enjoy a little wine and snacks, win door prizes, and are entitled to a very nice discount on a purchase. It’s a fun night to get together and see the latest fashions and how to put them together. Then, everyone can shop to their hearts’ content and snap up all the great buys while the store is open exclusively for us.
This is a nice fund raiser for the club. The refreshments are donated and the nominal price of the tickets all goes into our treasury to fund the donations made to various charities throughout the year.
CHRISTMAS WREATH SALES
For two years in a row, the club has taken on the task of selling beautiful, fresh, evergreen Christmas wreaths to friends and family. This is an easy fund raiser as it doesn’t take a lot of work and the company we deal with gives us a generous profit. Wreaths are all delivered to one place and members pick them up and deliver them to their “customers.” We can also have them shipped directly to friends and family who may live out of town.
The wreaths have been well received and everyone admits how beautiful they look and how lovely they smell. There’s nothing like the smell of evergreen at Christmas time to make the season bright.
Holiday House 2009
Each year a local organization called “The Friends of Music” holds a fund-raiser to obtain monies for the support of music in the schools of Coral Springs. The gala event includes beautiful music provided by students, a silent auction of many gift baskets, various large-ticket items, and decorated holiday trees.
Clubwomen are allowed to purchase discounted tickets and usually enough ladies attend to fill a whole table. Restaurants from around the city provide samples of their wares, vendors show and market crafts and holiday items, new friends and contacts are made – the night is always a wonderful start to the holiday season.
GFWC Coral Springs Woman’s Club has supported this cause for several years and has donated festive trees to this worthy project. Club members gather to plan the theme for the decorations on the tree, obtain materials, and then meet to decorate it at a member’s home.
This year’s decorated tree is shown below. It was auctioned along with several others, thereby engaging our Club as “Friends of Music”, too. We helped to add to the coffers of this sister organization and, hopefully, will keep music in our schools for years to come.
