The General Federation of Woman's Clubs (GFWC) is one of the world's largest and oldest women's volunteer service organizations. Working locally through thousands of clubs in the United States and globally in more than 20 countries, GFWC members support the arts, preserve natural resources, promote education, encourage healthy lifestyles, stress civic involvement, and work toward world peace and understanding. Clubs shape their local agendas to suit particular community needs. Each local chapter benefits from membership, service, material, and program support from state and national Federation levels. GFWC headquarters in Washington, DC, a National Historic Landmark, houses the Women's History and Resource Center, a collection of books, periodicals and records devoted to women's history and women in volunteerism. GFWC members across the globe are united in their mission of improving communities through volunteer service. Annually, GFWC members volunteer over 13 million hours and contribute approximately $35 million through more than 160,000 club projects. The GFWC structure allows member clubs to address the emerging needs of individual communities and the nation, and respond quickly to calls for help. Local clubs have both the ability to tap into the expertise available at national, state and district levels and the freedom to shape programs to suit particular community needs. GFWC provides its members with model programs and projects that encompass the major issues of our time including women's health, preservation of natural resources, literacy, abuse prevention, equality and more. The GFWC Mission: For more than a century, GFWC has encouraged women to improve their skills, expand their rights, and apply their abilities and special sensitivities to society's problems. Members of federated women's clubs have been addressing the diverse needs of their communities and countries through times of social change and technological revolution, and of war and peace in an increasingly interdependent world. Under the motto "Unity in Diversity," GFWC has built an outstanding record of accomplishment. This includes promoting education, preserving natural resources, encouraging healthy lifestyles, working on behalf of the elderly and people with disabilities, advocating for issues of concern o women, children and families, and supporting participation in the arts. GFWC Structure: Unlike most of today's single-issue organizations, GFWC's structure allows clubs to address the emerging needs of individual communities and the nation, and respond quickly to calls for help. Local clubs have both the ability to tap into the expertise available at national, region, state and district levels, and the freedom to shape programs to suit particular community needs. GFWC Members: Our members include teachers, business owners, social workers, elected officials, medical professionals, homemakers, corporate executives, students and retirees. Although there is considerable diversity in their ages, interests and experience, these women are united by a dedication to community improvement through volunteer service.

 

Upcoming GFWC International Conventions

June 28 - July 2, 2008	117th Annual International Convention	Chicago, Illinois
June 13-25, 2009	118th Annual International Convention	Cleveland, Ohio
June 12-15, 2010	119th Annual International Convention	Omaha, Nebraska

 

GFWC Contests

Community Improvement Contest: In addition to being GFWC's oldest, continually running contest, the Community Improvement Contest is also our most loved. The best club entries from each state are judged at the end of each two-year administration at GFWC Headquarters. The top five state entries, the best Juniorette entry, and the best international entry receive substantial monetary prizes and are announced at the GFWC Annual International Convention biannually.

Short Story and Poetry Contests: Short story and Poetry Contests may be entered by GFWC members and by young people in their communities. Certificate awards are given on the state and national levels

Publicity Book Contest: The GFWC Communications and Public Relations Department presents an annual award to the best club's publicity book, which is submitted by the GFWC state federations. There is only one entry per state. The books provide documentation of a club's media coverage and publicity materials for the previous year. These are cash prizes for first, second, and third place, and up to three honorable mentions.

Photography Contests

The World in Pictures: An annual photography contest, open to all GFWC members, the World in Pictures features three categories - Natural History (flowers, animals, insects, birds, trees, etc.), Scenic (vistas, landscapes, seascapes, snow scenes, bridges, parks mountains, farmland and more), and Feature (human interest pictures including people, events and more). Members enter the competition at the state level, and state winners in each category are judged at GFWC Headquarters. First, second, and third place winners in each category receive monetary awards.

Rules: Entries can be black & white or color photos. Photographers must be dues paying members of active GFWC clubs. Size of entry (including matting) must be at least 10" x12" and NO LARGER THAN 14" X 16". All others will be disqualified. NO frames or glass. Entries must be matted. The back of each photo must have an arrow drawn indicating the top. Each photo must have the following information on the back: GFWC category name, photographer's name, address, phone number, name and state of sponsoring club; brief caption giving location and situation of photo, and photo title. Photos must be taken during the contest year. States are entitled to one entry in each of the three categories. Contestants must be amateur photographers. Earnings from photography must not exceed $500 annually. Photos will not be returned. Photos may be taken using film or digital cameras. The same image may be submitted to "The World in Pictures," , "GFWC Volunteers in Action", and "A Year in Pictures" photo contests, but separate photos must be entered into each contest.

GFWC Volunteers in Action: all GFWC members are encouraged to enter the GFWC Volunteers in Action contest. Photos are first sent to the state level where the initial round of judging takes place, and winning entries are sent to GFWC Headquarters for final selection. Three winning photos receive monetary awards.

Rules: entries can be black & white or color photos. Judges will look at overall creativity of subject and quality of photograph. Photographers must be dues paying members of active GFWC clubs. Size of entry (including matting) must be at least 10" x12" and NO LARGER THAN 14" X 16". All others will be disqualified. NO frames or glass. Entries must be matted. The back of each photo must have an arrow drawn indicating the top. Each photo must have the following information on the back: photographer's name, address, phone number, name of club, situation and names of people in photo. Photos must be taken during the contest year. Photos may be taken using film or digital cameras. Contestants must be amateur photographers. Earnings from photography must not exceed $500 annually. The same image may be submitted to "The World in Pictures," , "GFWC Volunteers in Action", and "A Year in Pictures" photo contests, but separate photos must be entered into each contest. Photos will not be returned.

Year in Pictures: GFWC's popular calendar contest, A Year in Pictures, is held annually for GFWC members. Entries are sent directly to GFWC Headquarters to be judged, and the 12 winning photos are featured in the following year's GFWC calendar.

Rules: all entries (flowers and fauna, vistas and more) will be considered. Judges will look for photos particularly suitable for calendars, such as photos relevant to particular months or seasons. Photos must be horizontal. Entries must be color prints. Photographers must be dues paying members of active GFWC clubs. Size of entry (including matting) must be at least 10" x 12" and no larger than 14" x 16". all others will be disqualified. No frames or glass. Entries must be matted. The back of each photo must have an arrow drawn indicating the top. Each photo must have the following information on the back: photographer's name, address, phone number, name and state of sponsoring club; caption giving location and situation of photo; photo title. Photos must be taken during the contest year. Contestants must be amateur photographers. Earnings from photography must not exceed $500 annually. Photos will not be returned. Photos may be taken using film or digital cameras. The same image may be submitted to "The World in Pictures," , "GFWC Volunteers in Action", and "A Year in Pictures" photo contests, but separate photos must be entered into each contest.