North Pinellas Woman's Club -Departments

2008-2010 Department & Program Descriptions

Arts Department

Arts in the Communitv - Barbara DeBarr - The objective of this program is to encourage members to foster and support arts activities in their communities. Suggested activities include the support of Very Special Arts (VSA), Art for Youth activities, support of Youth Art month, support of local theatre groups, giving music, dance and drama scholarships, promoting community film festivals and establishing an ''Artist in Residence'' program. Members are asked to focus efforts on increasing arts programs and arts funding in the schools. Resources will include the National Endowment for the Arts.

Creative Arts - Sherry Dahlstedt - During this administration the GFWC photography contest and short story/poetry contests will be folded into one area - the Creative Arts. The competition includes the three long-running photography contests - The World in Pictures, GFWC Volunteers in Action, and A Year in Pictures/calendar contest. These will remain the same. GFWC is also suggesting a new project - the Great States Project - replacing the old state photos at GFWC Headquarters in Washington DC. FFWC plans to hold a state contest to secure a new photograph to represent GFWC Florida and replace the current exhibited photo. More information will be available from chairman Sherry Dahlstedt at our Fall Board meeting. The longtime Short Story and Poetry Contests will not change. These contests encourage members and youth to develop writing skills and awards are given to recognize their achievements.

Conservation Department

Beautification Program - Iris Varner - This program seeks to educate members and others about the importance of community beautiscation and stimulate citizen action to address these concerns. Members are encouraged to work with such resources as Keep America Beautiful and American Forests to make our communities more attractive. Emphasis will be placed on gardening for optimal nutrition, preserving wildlife habitats, wildflower plantings to honor the late Lady Bird Johnson, and serenity gardens at hospitals and nursing homes.

Resource Conservation in the Communitv - Kitty Wade - This program educates members and communities about the importance of managing and preserving natural resources and works to stimulate citizen action to address these concerns. In this program members are encouraged to hold educational programs regarding the importance of water and soil conservation, support public policies that protect natural resources, implement energy conservation practices in the home, office and community and participate in and/or organize litter prevention and clean-up projects. During this administration members will look at the effects of global warming, become aware of one's carbon footprint, and learn new energy saving tips. Resource organizations will include the Department of Energy, the Humane Society: Youth (formerly NAHEE) and Mission Humane - a youth focused wildlife preservation project.

Education Department

Literacv Program - Judith Mineo - This program seeks to end illiteracy in youth and adults. Members will be encouraged to recruit tutors and work on improving literacy rates within their communities. Celebrations of Read Across America and Dr. Seuss's Birthday will continue. New to the Literacy program will be DEAR - Drop Everything and Read Day and working on the Dictionary Project. Books from the Heart is a project designed to provide books to less fortunate children in our schools.

Education in the Communitv - Paula Lou Mapoles - Formerly called Life Long Learning, this program seeks to promote a commitment to lifelong learning by encouraging members and othersto foster and support educational opportunities in their communities. Clubs will be asked to continue our long history of working with libraries and to encourage celebrations of Children's Book Week and Author's Day (a day begun by GFWC). Related projects, such as Books for Babies, will be continued. Included in this program is Epsilon Sigma Omicron (ESO) - Anetha Cochran - that will offer reading activities to members with exciting new possibilities like an online book discussion group. New non- traditional scholarship resources through a partnership with AARP will be promoted.

Home Life Department

Focus on Financial Issues - Blanche Voetberg-Newman - This program, formerly called Dollars and Sense, will continue to educate members about the importance of financial security. The program will also emphasize prevention of identity theft, living wisely, and the issue of Social Security. Women will be encouraged to create a personal retirement plan.

Helping Hands in the Communitv - Karen-Lee Donohue - This program attempts to educate members and others about organizations that improve the lives of others in need and offers opportunities to offer support. Examples of partnering organizations include Canine Companions for Independence (CCI), Habitat for Humanity, March of Dimes and National Organization on Disability. Easter Seals and Heavenly Hats will also be continued.

Focus on Health - Mary Johnson - This program seeks to educate members and others about the most prevalent medical problems affecting women and others. Emphasis will be placed on issues such as heart disease in women, shingles, stroke, and osteoporosis. A new breast cancer awareness program called Strength in Knowing will be offered. New topics will include pandemic flu, weight loss and building healthy self-worth. Kits will be made available in English and Spanish to reach a culturally diverse group of women.

International Affairs

Reaching Out Internationally - Mary Jane Neale -This program seeks to educate members to reach out to programs and projects outside of the United States. Examples of programs include CARE, Plan USA, (formerly Childreach), Save the Children, and World Food Day. GFWC awards will include trips to areas of work of selected supported organizations.

United Nations Program - Laurie Auth - During 2008-2010 members will continue in their support of the United Nations. This program works with projects such as UNICEF and UNIFEM. An emphasis will be placed on making clean, safe drinking water accessible to all children. The TAP project will be introduced and celebration of World Water Day on March 22 will be encouraged.

Public Affairs

Citizenship in Action - Bonnie Wine - This program encourages support to our Veterans, to the Women in the Military Foundation, citizenship participation, and will encourage active involvement in the voting process.