Federation Day - April 24

The 63 delegates that ratified the GFWC Constitution on April 24, 1890 knew that organizing a federation of clubs would allow for a greater national impact.  From initiating a letter-writing campaign that led to the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906, to establishing 75% of America’s public libraries, GFWC members have advocated for positive changes in their communities for the last 126 years.  Since that very first Federation Day, combined efforts from clubs across the country have led to many things we take for granted today, such as the eight-hour workday, street lights, seatbelts, and so much more.  

Locally the Brentwood Woman’s Club has had a major impact on the community.  Our projects have included rehabbing a house for the first Brentwood Library, physically building the first Brentwood park, supporting our teachers and schools, promoting education, youth writing contests, cleaning litter from our Adopt-a-Mile on Murray Lane, establishing a butterfly garden at Owens’ Chapel on Franklin Road, holding candidate forums for the Brentwood City Commissioners elections, playing BINGO monthly with the residents of Grace Healthcare in Franklin (our longest running project), providing scholarships and an endowment for scholarships at Columbia State Community College for Williamson County female residents and many more in addition to raising funds for local charities.

Check out GFWC's history at  http://www.gfwc.org/who-we-are/history-and-mission/

Check out a new video on GFWC.org on Sunday, April 24: bit.ly/1QnnvcI

GFWC and Brentwood Woman's Club:  Living the Volunteer Spirit.

Environmental Reading At Edmondson Elementary, April 21

Conservation Chairman Lisa, in collaboration with Keep Williamson Beautiful, arranged for us (Diane J., Pat G., Nancy S., Liz M. and Lisa) to read an environmental book to a second grade class.  What fun!  The 2nd graders were so cute and all signed a pledge to promote recycling, re-use, and reduction of waste that currently goes to a landfill.

Giving Day 2016

Message from our President Paula Uhlir:

Today is Giving Day! Brentwood Woman's Club is a 501 C3 that donates to charities throughout  Middle Tennessee. On this one day, we would like you to help us continue our work. By donating to BWC. We help support such charities as GraceWorks, CASA, Davis House, Owl's Hill,  Snoopy's Closet and many more.

We appreciate your generosity. You can follow us on Facebook and on our Blog. Checks can be mailed to BWC, PO Box 964, Brentwood, TN 37027.

Step Up, It's a Charity Affair Luncheon

BWC wins big at District Meeting!

Brentwood Woman's Club was named Outstanding Large Club in the GFWC Music City District.  The district includes clubs in Hendersonville, two in Nashville, Bellevue, Spring Hill/Thompson Station, and Dickson.   Way to go, ladies - a tribute to all your hard work and service in 2015.  Thanks to each of you. 

Our club also received First Place Certificates of Recognition for our efforts in International Outreach (Operation Smile and Books for Cambodia), Legislation/Public Policy (we sent a delegation to meet with Rep. Marsha Blackburn in support of legislation...), and Fundraising. 

We received Second Place recognition for our efforts in Communications/Public Relations, Membership, Special Project:  St. Jude's, Leadership, and Public Issues. 

In the GFWC Short Story youth writing contest district winners, submitted by BWC, were as follows:

(First Place Category 2)  Lauren Stockdale

(First Place Category 4)  Ashleigh Tyler.

In the GFWC Youth Poetry Contest, the district winner from our club was (First Place Category 4) Alyssa Parker.

To top the day off, our very own Dawn Kincaid was elected Music City District president for 2016 - 2018.

             

Renata Soto, our Woman of the Year

Co-founder of Conexión Américas, Renata Soto will be honored as the club’s Woman of the Year at its spring fund-raiser luncheon, Step Up:  It’s a Charity Affair, on May 3^rd at the Brentwood Country Club.

Ms. Soto was named chairwoman of the National Council of La Raza in 2015, an organization founded in 1968, that represents nearly 300 affiliates, including community based organizations in 41 states, providing education, housing, workforce development and other services to families across the country.  As the first Central American and Tennessean to fill the position of chairwoman and as co-founder of Conexión Américas , a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping Latino families realize their aspirations for social and economic advancement via integration into the Middle Tennessee community,   Ms. Soto is clearly representative of the “Unity in Diversity” motto of GFWC.

For the past 6 years the club has chosen a non-member to honor for her activities to better our greater community.  Prior honorees have been Linda Lynch, City of Brentwood Community Relations Director; Joyce Keistler, Director of the Martin Center; Susan Leathers, prior Editor and Co-Owner Brentwood Home Page, Franklin Home Page and BrentWord Communications; Linda Jackson, Executive Director of BRIDGES; Nancy Osman, community volunteer and Director of Ty2 Foundation, and  Jennifer Wolcott, community volunteer with the American Red Cross (Natchez Trace Chapter) and the Oasis Center.

Tickets for the luncheon are $50 and can be obtained by contacting the club treasurer Kathy Casey via email address:  edkathkc1@att.net or telephone @ 615-500-2149.

Brentwood Environmental Stewardship Award

We Won!!!

A lovely trophy on recycled wood was presented at the 2016 Arbor Day festivities to our club for its Conservation programs and efforts on behalf of the city of Brentwood.

President Paula Uhlir, Conservation Community Service chairman Lisa Ward accepted.

Just this past year our club has:
       Assisted the Brentwood Tree Commission with bagging 4000 trees for distribution on Arbor Day at the local schools and library. 

         Responded to a Keep Williamson Beautiful request for volunteers to distribute re-cycling supplies at an event held on the grounds of Carnton Plantation during summer concerts.

    Manned a Keep Williamson Beautiful information and activity booth at the Williamson County Fair in August, distributing literature on re-cycling and assisting children with a re-cycling project.

      We picked up litter from our “Adopt-a-Mile” area twice.

    Researched various options for a recycling project and completed our project with the purchase of a recycling station for the Leiper’s Fork Recreation Center.  We had already reached an agreement with a Girl Scout troop for them to install and maintain it.

    Supported Owls' Hill and Happy Tales with donations.
    In support of EARTH Day 2015, members read an environmental-friendly book to second graders at a local elementary school and enlisted their respective promises to promote "reduce, re-cycle, and re-use" in their homes.  This Enviromental Reading program is a collaboration project with Keep Williamson Beautiful.

And, over the past 3 years, planned, installed and dedicated a "butterfly garden" at Owen's Chapel on Franklin Road in coordination with the Brentwood Garden Club.

       

    

Step Up: It's a Charity Affair May 3rd

Our annual fund-raiser, “Step Up:  It’s a Charity Affair”, will be held at the Brentwood Country Club on May 3.  Doors open at 10am.  Public invited.  Tickets are $50 and available by contacting our treasurer Kathy Casey by email address edkathkc1@att.net or telephone @ 615-500-2149.

Entertainment provided by Dove Award-winning recording artist Solveig Leithaug.  Hesitant to admit that she is an internationally loved singer-songwriter and masterful guitar player, Solveig has fourteen solo recordings, including her newest release Finding Home, and three best-selling children’s CD’s to her credit.  Her music is a brilliant blend of heart and art and Solveig is consistently breaking new ground with each release.

Fashion show by Dillard’s and a fun day for all!