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Crescent City to Garberville: Federated Women's Clubs serve their communities

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Crescent City to Garberville
Federated Women's Clubs serve their communities
by Aiko Uyeki

How many women does it take to carry on myriad activities to benefit their communities? Not many, if you look at what the seven Federated Women's Clubs in this Redwood District accomplish, even with their small memberships. And in observing the merriment and camaraderie among these women, one could say their motto is "Have some fun while doing good!" Nationwide, 300,000 women are members in the Federation and millions of women are members worldwide in 20 countries.

The Arcata Women's Club, through the Co-op's Fair Share program, raises hundreds of dollars towards the club's support of art and music programs at Arcata High. A fascinating side-bar is how their charter group of 21 members was instrumental in getting HSU located in Arcata rather than Eureka. In 1913 this band of women pledged $1,600 in six days (a fortune at that time) and drew up a list of 100 "respectable" families who could accommodate students.

Blue Lake's Wha Nika Club puts on a lunch for seniors once a month, supports the local Railroad Museum in many ways and prepares food baskets at holiday time.
The Crescent City Club, with a $1,500 grant supplemented by their own fundraising efforts, donated $5,000 worth of audio book tapes to the library. These tapes benefit the elderly, learning disabled and visually impaired. Recently they gave $880 worth of children's books to Operation Santa.

The Eureka women award two scholarships every year to Eureka High School seniors, one being the Hoby scholarship to a student showing leadership potential. Besides continuing support to the women's shelter, food drives, and knitting Caps for Kids, they spent December planning for their centennial celebration. Fifteen women have been members for 25 years and one for 50 years!.

The Garberville women provide ongoing help for the local hospice, WISH (for battered families), Meals on Wheels, and the nutrition program for their senior center. Recently these women gave a $1,000 scholarship to a South Fork High School senior, $500 to Redway School and complete sets of recommended books to the elementary school and the local library.

The McKinleyville Club just held its first Rockathon, sitting and rocking, and raised $1,900 for Mack High School scholarships. In previous years they had sponsored a Christmas home tour and from this effort had contributed $9,000 for such scholarships. They make an annual contribution to their youth activity center, honor a Student of the Month from the middle school and support the Food Endeavor and women's shelter.
The Trinidad Civic Club has held teas and wine tastings to help finance the Town Hall kitchen remodelling project. They also grant scholarships to local students.

Besides these projects to help their communities, all the clubs provide ongoing education and programs to inform their members in the areas of education, conservation, public affairs and the arts. Membership is open to women who wish to work for constructive change and community projects in areas of specific interest to them. Please send your name and mailing address to District President Donna Haddock, PO Box 787, Trinidad 95570, for meeting times and upcoming activities.

Aiko Uyeki is a member of the McKinleyville Women's Club.