Arts

Arts in the Community

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) www.VSArts.org, support of Youth Art month in March, giving music, dance and drama scholarships, promoting community film festivals and establishing an ''Artist in Residence'' program.

Creative Arts

The object of this program is to engage GFWC members in developing and enjoying creative arts as a method of self-expression. The photography competition includes four different themes. The World in Pictures, GFWC Volunteers inAction, and A Year in Pictures/Calendar Contest. A new photography project - the Great States Update members photographs will replace the old state photos at GFWC Headquarters in Washington DC with new photos. The photos should represent the entire state.

The 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.

GFWC New York Awards only

Music

Dorothy Strayer Priemer Music Award
An award of $1,000 to a junior or senior or graduate college student who desires to continue professional training. Deadline is March 15 th in the even years.

Olive B. O'Connor Music Award
An award given to a high school student. It shall be used for continued music education. Deadline March 1 in the odd years.
All GFWC-NYSFWC club presidents are asked to contact the music department in schools and make students aware of the scholarship opportunity.

Sandi H. Zirlin Art Award
An award in the amount of $1,000 awarded to a junior or senior or graduate college student who is majoring in the field of art or art education and desires to continue professional art training to become an art educator or professional artist. The deadline to enter is February 15th.

Art and Craft Contests
See the GFWC-NY directory for applications for the above awards and contest categories.

Conservation

Beautification Program

The object of this program seeks to educate members about the importance and benefits of beautifying their communities.
Members are encouraged to work with such resources as:

Keep America Beautiful www.KAB.org
A public organization dedicated to improving waste-handling practices.

American Forests www.AmericanForests.org they work to maintain and improve the environment through action-oriented programs, information and communication focused on the health and value of trees.

America In Bloom www.AmericaInBloom.org working to improve the visual appeal of America’s neighborhoods, parks and open spaces through the imaginative use of flowers, plants and trees.

Implementing tree planting and preservation projects.
Organize and Participate in Litter Prevention Projects.

Resource Conservation in the Community

The objective is to educate members and communities about the importance of preserving natural resources and 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. 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:

HUD/EPA/DOE www.EnergyStar.gov for energy saving information.

Call 800/Star-Yes to order 2 free Energy Star brochures: A Guide to Energy-Efficient Cooling and Heating and Home Sealing

Humane Society: Youth (formerly NAHEE) for more information contact Stephanie Clark at SClark@HumaneSocietyYouth.org or visit www.HumaneSociety.org/Youth and click on Kids and Kindness Awards. Each GFWC club that participates in the Kids in Kindness program will receive a certificate.

Education

Literacy Program

The objective is to educate members and others about rates of low literacy and stimulate citizen action to address impact and concerns related to literacy. Members will be encouraged to recruit tutors and work on improving literacy rates within their communities.

Celebrate Dr. Seuss's Birthday on March 2nd.
DEAR - Drop Everything and Read Day April 12 th www.DropEverythingAndRead.com.
Dictionary Project www.DictionaryProject.org, giving dictionaries to students in local schools.

Education in the Community

The objective is to promote a commitment to lifelong learning by encouraging members and others to 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). Included in this program is Epsilon Sigma Omicron (ESO) 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.

Celebrate National Author’s Day on November 1st.
The Childrens Book Council www.CBC.org they are the official sponsor of Young People’s Poetry Week and Children’s Book Week.
Friends of Libraries, USA Books For Babies Program www.FOLUSA.com a literacy program that targets parents of newborns. Contact Beth Nawalinski at 800/936/5872

Home Life

Helping Hands in the Community Program

The objective is to introduce members and communities to organizations that improve the lives of those in need.

Canine Companions for Independence
Easter Seals
Habitat for Humanity International
Heavenly Hats

Visit the Heavenly Hats website at www.HeavenlyHats.com a request a hat package.

Hunger in America
Visit www.GreatAmericanBakeSale.org for more information and activity ideas.

March of Dimes
National Organization on Disability

Focus on Health Program

The objective is to educate members and others about the most prevalent medical problems affecting women, and encourage women to adopt proven methods for optimizing their own physical health and quality of life.

Healthy Lifestyle
Breast Cancer: Myths and Facts
Order a free Strength in Knowing tool kit from www.StrengthInKnowing.com/Kit
Shingles
Order a free Spotlight on Shingles kit call 202-729-4103 or visit www.SpotlightOnShingles.com to order.
Stroke

Order additional materials by calling the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke information clearing house at 800-352-9424 or visiting www.NINDS.NIH.gov/Stroke. Materials are free of charge. Be sure to identify yourself as a GFWC Club.

Heart Disease
Order the free Heart Truth Kit “The Heart Truth: A Speaker’s Kit by calling 301-592-8463 or sending an e-mail to nhlbiinfo@rover.nhlbi.gov. Be sure to identity yourself as a GFWC member.

Healthy Self-Worth
Weight Loss Challenge
Visit the GFWC Weight Loss challenge at www.GFWC.org/WeightLossChallenge for weight loss tips and online discussion regarding how others are faring in their efforts.

Pandemic Flu
Alzheimer’s Associatin
Osteoporosis

Focus on Financial Issues Program

OBJECTIVE: To Educate members and others about the value of and need for financial planning and informed financial decisions.

Planning Ahead: Build Retirement Income www.WiserWomen.org
Checking Your Credit
Wise giving
Online Identity theft- Don’t Go Phishing
Preventing Identity Theft www.IDTheftCenter.org
Social Security and You

International Affairs

Reaching Out Internationally Program

The objective is to educate members and communities about global topics and provide opportunities to support and contribute to world issues.

CARE -Join CARE fundraising and education challenge from September 2008-December 2009. Funds will be used to empower women around the world. Contact CARE at groups@care.org to request an I Am Powerful fundraising and education kit.

Clown Without Boarders www.ClownsWithoutBorders.org
Heifer Project International - share Heifer’s global curriculum with teachers
www.ReadToFeed.org
Global Volunteers
Operation Smile International
Plan USA
Order the video “The History of PLAN,” free to GFWC members.
Contact: Janet Moretti janet.moretti@planusa.org or Gail Savoie gail.savoie@planuse.org.
Project Hope
Save the Children
World Food Day
Observe World Food Day on October 16 of each year.
Cultural Exchange

United Nations Program

 The objective is to educate members about United Nations programs concerning women, children, literacy, human rights, and the environment and support GFWC’s status as a UN Non-Governmental Organization Observer.

United Nations
Celebrate United Nations Day on October 24 of each year.
United Nations Children’s Fund
Celebrate National UNICEF Month in October

Order Trick or Treat UNICEF boxes by visiting www.UNICEFUSA.org

Public Affairs

Citizenship in Action

The objective is to educate members and others about the importance of active citizenship, and encourage participation in related activities.

Veterans Affairs
Sew Much Comfort www.SewMuchComfort.org adaptive clothing for service members.
Citizenship Participation VOTE
The White House Project advancing women’s leadership www.TheWhiteHouseProject.org

Focus on Community Safety

The objective is to educate members and others about community, home, and vehicle safety issues and encourage citizen action on these issues.

Amber Alert www.AmberAlertNow.org
National Night Out www.NATW.org
National Center for Missing and Exploited children www.MissingKids.com
National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse www.ChildAbuse.org
National Crime Prevention Council www.NCPC.org
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration www.NHTSA.DOT.gov/People