Symbol:  General Federation of Women’s Clubs Logo
Theme:  Books for Little Hands

 

Dear GFWC Ga Clubwomen,

Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity and for the trust you have shown by electing me the 60th President of GFWC Georgia. My federation journey began in 1977 when I joined the Vienna Junior Woman’s Club. It’s been such a joy to meet women from all over the State, Region and Nation who are dedicated to making our communities a better place to live. I love our organization and want to see the work that we have started continue into the future. For me, it’s a matter of being involved in something bigger than myself – having a sense of purpose and belonging to an organization that believes in wisdom, justice and moderation. I love the idea that every gift shared as a member of GFWC has tremendous value and significance – that collectively GFWC Georgia makes a huge impact on the communities in which we live. I need the feeling of accomplishing something, not merely to exist.

I have chosen the hand as the symbol of the 2024-26 administration. Isaiah 49:16 tells us: “You are inscribed on the palm of his hand.” This is a beautiful prophecy of hope and promise for us. It means that our Maker keeps us safe in his powerful hands and holds us dear. Now, we as clubwomen, can do so much good with our hands – create art, feed the hungry, pick up trash, hold a book and read to children, comfort the sick, protect the helpless, vote, write a check. Our two hands can do a whole lot of good. But together, if we multiply that one pair of hands by five or twenty or fifty times, just think what
we can accomplish! Hand-in-hand, together we can… In addition to that, I have added my vision for leadership: engage, educate, empower.

As an elementary teacher, I found that if you don’t engage a child in a learning activity, you’ve lost him before you even start. The only difference between teaching a child and teaching an adult is age. If you don’t have the attention of the learner, you’ve failed as a teacher. By engaging the learner, attention and focus are increased, achievement of objectives is more successful, the learner is more satisfied, and the classroom is more manageable. So, we must engage our members first.

Next, we must continue to educate; to create lifelong learners. The term recognizes that learning is not confined to childhood or the classroom but takes place throughout life and in a range of situations. Instead, learning can be seen as something that takes place on an ongoing basis from our daily interactions with others and with the world around us. In order for our members to function as leaders of our organization, we must intentionally teach them about the role and responsibilities of their position. Our State and District leaders should function as role models for our club members with a top/down bottom/up shared leadership model where everyone is learning and teaching.

The last part of the model is empowerment. When we empower another person, we give them the authority to act. Empowerment encourages and allows members to take personal responsibility for improving the way they do their jobs and contribute to the organization’s goals. Giving members resources, authority, opportunity, and motivation as well as holding them responsible and accountable for the outcomes contribute to their competence and satisfaction.

So, there it is in a nutshell. Again, I thank you for the opportunity to serve GFWC Georgia! Hand-in-hand, together we can… engage, educate, empower.

Cathy Jones, GFWC Georgia President

2024-2026 GFWC Georgia – State Officers

  • State President                                                            Cathy Jones
  • First Vice President/President-Elect               Peggy Wilson
  • Second Vice President                                              Julie Walter
  • Third Vice President                                                  Dale Reddick
  • Director of Jr. Clubs                                                    Jennifer Stavley
  • Recording Secretary                                                   Cimi Douglass
  • Treasurer                                                                           Becky Bolden
  • Parliamentary Advisor/Life Director                Brenda Martin
  • Past President                                                                Kim Sekulow

Georgia Executive Committee

  • Immediate Past President                                     Kim Sekulow
  • Life Director                                                                    Shelby Holland
  • Life Director                                                                    Ida Dorvee, GFWC Resolutions Chair 
  • Life Director                                                                   Tina Neese, Jr. Director 1st VP
  • Member At Large                                                         Kitty Wise/Meetings Chair
  • Member At Large                                                         Sharon Wilkin, Special Projects Chairman
  • Member At Large                                                         Kathy Byrd
  • Jr Conference 1st VP                                                    Tina Neese
  • Ella F. White Chairman                                              Mary Bob Fox

GFWC Georgia Junior Officers

  • Director of Jr. Clubs                                                        Jennifer Stavley
  • 1st Vice President / Director-Elect of                   Tina Neese
  • Junior Clubs 2nd Vice President                           Sandy Powell
  • Recording Secretary                                                     Shantelle Grant
  • Treasurer                                                                             Becky Smith 
  • Corresponding Secretary                                            Gloria Stevens
  • Parliamentary Advisor                                                 Kathryn Youles
  • Immediate Past Director of Jr. Clubs                     Nicole Braun

GFWC Georgia District Presidents

  • Central East District                                                       Laedenia Jewell
  • Central West District                                                      Libby Bond
  • North East District                                                           Debbie Borovitcky,
  • North West District                                                         Maria Barnhart
  • South East District                                                           Ginger Readdick Lloyd
  • South West District                                                          Sonja Aldridge

GFWC Georgia Standing Committees – see yearbook

GFWC Georgia Special Committees – see yearbook

GFWC Special Committees/GFWC Special Appointments – see yearbook