A commitment to Unity in Diversity

ABOUT G.F.W.C.

What does G.F.W.C. stand for?  (This has to be our most frequently asked questions!)  The answer is: General Federation of Women’s Clubs.  G.F.W.C. is an international women’s organization dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service.

Read on to learn about all the things that we do!  Through many caring acts of kindness and support for both local and international communities, club women effectively strengthen many beneficial relationships, and thereby contribute to national–and ultimately international–stability and peace.  
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For more information regarding the national and international levels, visit www.gfwc.org.  You will read there that more than 100,000 members are in affiliated clubs in every state, and more than a dozen countries.  Most U.S. organizations have websites that you can visit too.  For more information on our Michigan state level, visit https://gfwcmi.com/. 

How we are connected:
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GFWC members are distinguished from other nonprofit organizations in that each club has the freedom to shape programs and projects that suit their own community, and their members’ skills and interests.  Clubs benefit from the expertise and support available from their district, state, regional, and national levels.  Nationally, the clubs bring a strong voice to important issues.  Whether supporting passage of a Congressional bill to prevent violence against women or building local assistance for at-risk women and children, we are proactive, determined, visionary volunteers with a significant international voice and local passion.  

Who we are:

We are mothers and daughters, business and community leaders, educators, working women, retirees and just good citizens!  Each club is made up of women with diverse interests, talents, and backgrounds—all united by their dedication to community improvement through volunteer service.  In just one year, GFWC members volunteered more than 8.8 million hours, working together on more than 112,000 projects. 

In 2010 alone, club women donated over thirty million dollars through both monetary and in-kind donations.  GFWC women have become significant organizers and mentors whose work locally creates positive change both nationally and globally.  

To find a local club or learn how to become a member of GFWC, please contact us at (517) 677-6974 or by emailing us at:  info@gfwcgunlake.org.   ​To view our promotional video, click here.

What we do:

GFWC – Living the Volunteer Spirit ® members support the arts, preserve natural resources, advance educational opportunities, promote healthy lifestyles, and encourage civic involvement.  Local clubs keep their members informed of community needs, organize dozens of volunteer service projects, and raise funds to expand and enhance their neighborhood and civic life.  

G.F.W.C. History:

In 1889 Jane Croly invited women’s clubs throughout the United States to pursue the cause of federation by attending a convention in New York City.  On April 24, 1890 sixty-three clubs officially formed the General Federation of Women’s Clubs by ratifying the G.F.W.C. constitution.  (See www.gfwc.org for more history.) Soon, other active women’s clubs throughout the country joined G.F.W.C., or women started their own local G.F.W.C. affiliated club.   The organization has now grown to include over 3,000 clubs. 

G.F.W.C. is the world’s largest and oldest nonpartisan, nondenominational, women’s volunteer service organization.

Some of their historic accomplishments over the ensuing 130 years include:

  –  Founding more than 75% of our nation’s libraries.
  –  Developing Kindergarten programs in public schools.   
  –  Working for food and drug regulations.

G.F.W.C. – Gun Lake Area

In 1983 Joan Weick invited local women to form a club in the rural lakes area surrounding Gun Lake, West of Hastings and North of Kalamazoo.  Fifty-four women initially came together as founding members, and soon the club was covering four small communities in the area:  Delton, Martin, Middleville and Wayland.

Now, with nearly 100 members, the club also supports students at Delton-Kellogg Schools, Martin Schools, Wayland Union Schools and Thornapple-Kellogg Schools in Middleville.  

Though only forty-one years young, the GFWC-GLA club members maintain a free lending library, help with multiple road pick-ups per year, contribute to local food banks, share their love and support with residents at several nursing homes and veteran facilities, and grant $12,000 to $15,000 each year in student scholarships. And those are just a few examples of all that they do!

Most GFWC club projects fall under five focus areas called Community Service Programs:

-Arts and Culture (Diane Conley & Deb Noteboom Co-CSP Chairs)
-Civic Engagement and Outreach (Rosy Chatterton, CSP Chair)
-Education and Libraries (Audrey Bartlett, CSP Chair)
-Environment (Joan Wire & Ruth Perino, Co-CSP Chairs)
-Health and Wellness (Marcia Heroux & Shelly Heijerman, Co-CSP Chairs)

In addition to the CSP chairpersons, our Membership (Katie Ambrose), Sunshine (Rose Visscher & Mine VanEldren), Newsletter (Sandy Marcukaitis), Public Relations (Marcia Heroux), Memory Book (Donna Podvesek), and Website (Erin Rives) coordinators thoughtfully keep club members connected, building a pleasant, active, and productive community of members within the organization.  

A Club Historian (Donna Podbevsek) and Parliamentarian (Fran Leonard) provide valuable assistance to the Executive Officers, CSP Chairs and program coordinators.

GFWC-GLA Executive Officers: (2024 – 2026)

President  – Raeanne Renner
Vice President  –  DJ Madden
Treasurer –  Mina VanElderen
Recording Secretary –  Virginia Norton
Correspondence Secretary  –  Ruth Perino