The Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs–South Texas District will host the 113th Annual TFWC Convention April 14-17 in Corpus Christi. TFWC President Marjorie Williamson of Horseshoe Bay, Texas will be presiding. TFWC members from across Texas will gather to conduct club business, and elect officers for 2010-2012. Dorothy Butts Roberts of Aransas Pass, the current Presidentelect, will be installed as President on Friday night, April 16th.

The Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs was organized in Waco on May 14, 1987 and became a member of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs in 1899.

GFWC is the world’s oldest nonpartisan, nondenominational women’s volunteer service organizations.

Originally women’s clubs were founded primarily as a means of self-education and development of women; however the emphasis has changed to one of community service and improvement. TFWC is known for their work in establishing approximately 80% of the free public libraries across Texas.

Mary Ellen Laister, the GFWC First Vice-President will present the keynote address at Wednesday evening’s “Star Spangled” Banquet. Mr. Laister of Tempe, Arizona, is a former President of the Arizona Federation of Woman’s Clubs and the GFWC South Central Region.

Thursday’s “Clowning Around” luncheon speaker will be Galen Hoffstadt of Corpus Christi who will share her experiences as part of the ‘Clowns Who Care” project at Driscoll Children’s Hospital. As a very special project, members are asked to bring books, toys, and other items for children that will be donated to the hospital.

Thursday evening Lisa Akers of Fairfield, Texas, the 2006 LEADS (Leadership, Education, And Development Seminar) graduate from Texas will present “Where Do We Go From Here?” a look at correlations between what worked then and what works now.

The Woman’s Club of Kingsville will be one of the clubs in South Texas to host the convention. They are assisting with the convention as pages, door monitors, and time keepers. In addition they are the hostesses for Thursday’s “Giant Step For Federation” banquet.

The Woman’s Club’s First Vice-president, Linda Gerd, has been nominated by South Texas District as their Outstanding Clubwoman Volunteer. The winner will be announced at the opening banquet on Wednesday evening. The club has an entry in the BFWC Community Improvement Contest with their Operation Blue Reflector Project. These winners will be announced Friday morning.

Representing the Woman’s Club at the convention will be President Kay Zimmer, Vice-President Linda Gerd, Melba Gafford, Sandy Chisholm, Therese Crocker, Sue Miller, Carol Gerwick, and Connie Cashen.