SWCJAX 2023 Garden Party Open House was a Huge Success
Our Club opened our year with a Garden Party filled with fun, food & FLOWERS! We played Garden Bingo, worked on our group quilt, packed 5 bins for First Responders with snacks, enjoyed great food and fellowship with friends. "Thank You" to Theresa C. who brought us information how to stay informed on state legislations that interest or affect GFWC FL. Special thanks to Elizabeth, our D4 Director for calling our Bingo game...AND congratulations, Elizabeth, on your new quilt, raffled off to benefit Camp Boggy Creek (won by our own Terry & generously given to Elizabeth...sisterly LOVE!)
Awards at the State Level are Such an Honor!!!
Our SWC Website took 1st Place and Healthy & Wellness and Yearbook and President’s Project each took 3rd place across the state!
(Left to right) Christa Nuckols, GFWC FL Director of Junior Clubs; our own Kim Owens, SWCJAX Publicity Chairman; Debra Strahanoski, GFWC International President;
& Linda O’Toole, GFWC FL President.
SWCJAX Learns about the Autism Spectrum and How to Utilize ElderSource Resources
We were grateful to have the opportunity to learn more about the Autism Spectrum from Lauralyn Popp. Her heartfelt message was spoken with conviction and pride as she informed us on the great job the Jericho School (who we support annually) is doing to meet the needs of these children & young adults. Carla Furr brought us a meesage from ElderSource on the many services available for the asking for Seniors in our aera. Thank you, ladies, for the fantastic information!!!
SWCJAX Learning to Protect Ourselves in a Digital World
We were grateful to have the opportunity to learn to be MORE AWARE when on our computers, cell phones and home phones. We learned what NOT to say, what to look for in questionable emails and how to not be distracted during phone conversations. Thank You Julie B for arranging to have Paul Sollee come and make us more Digital World Savvy.
Our special guest last month was GFWC FL District 4 Lake Butler Woman’s Club’s, Cate Reagan, who came to tell us about the S.A.F.E. program. Cate is the District Director for the State programs in Florida and Georgia. Their program is called “Florida/Georgia S.A.F.E.” It is this area’s S.A.F.E. chapter for the national organization, called “Stuffed Animals for Emergencies.” She has been working with them off and on since 2004. It was started in Jacksonville by Cammie Sanders, to benefit emergency responders, firefighters, and police, etc. to be able to give a stuffed animal to a child or adult who is in a traumatic situation to give them something to hold on to and to help calm them and give them some peace of mind and presence and feel like they are being cared for. These stuffed animals are sanitized and shrink wrapped as a result of COVID and given to the First Responders to carry around with them to give them to anyone in need. She encouraged us to take this project on for our Club. Our very own Christine Flora rose to the challenge and delivered over 60 stuffed animals to Fire Stations in the Beaches area and is ready for more!!!
GFWC FL SWCJAX celebrated Women’s History !!!
GFWC FL SWCJAX celebrated Women’s History Month with an engaging presentation from Chris Hoffman, the first woman Mayor of Jacksonville Beaches. She shared the rich history women have brought to the area and described how early settlers served as proprietors, laundresses, and civic leaders as they shaped and broke many boundaries! She also shared the importance of The Beach's Museum. Special Thanks to our guests from The Woman's Club/Jacksonville Beach. So nice to exchange ideas with them.
HOW FUN!!!
A Great Success Combining Fund Raising and Fellowship
A group of our SWCJAX ladies came together as a FUN-draiser while painting wine glasses at The Winey Wench this summer. Just look at these amazing works of art. This was a great event to just have some fun while raising $$ for charity our Club supports. Ladies...we raise our glass to you!
GFWC FL D4 Meeting @ ORC!
Kudos to ALL the ladies who made this event such a festive and organized event. Cathy Stringer and her team and Club volunteers worked tirelessly to make this event such a huge success. SWCJAX came away with 6 First Place and 10 Second Place — a 1st or 2nd place in EVERY category!
What an honor and privilege to partner with such an exemplary organization as Rethreaded. Rethreaded, a Jacksonville-based nonprofit, expertly uses upcycled materials -- much of it from retired Southwest Airlines seats -- to make purses, bracelets, earrings and much more. Our Club had the honor of hearing how this group of women are helping other women break the chains of trafficking through job skill training & lifestyle guidance! Thank you Stephanie & Shirley for sharing your stories with us!!! Our Members had the opportunity to do some early Holiday Shopping by purchasing products made by this much-needed organization. We are passionate in our support for this is a wonderful cause!!!
We enjoyed our March speaker, Lynn Joyner, from the Empowerment Ranch...we love to support organizations in our area that make an impact on environmental & educational issues! This ranch provides hands-on experiences to those with special needs, for families & volunteer groups. Thanks, Helen, for introducing us to such a great organization!
What an AWESOME EXPERIENCE to learn first hand on what goes on during the Operation Smiles procedures during our February General Meeting. MJ Kapuna, RN and her husband, who also travels for these surgeries, have been volunteering for over 8 years to many different counties doing these life-changing surgeries (and in many cases...many surgeries). Our Club is proud to be a part of this GREAT organization!!!
Our Special Guest Speaker at our January 9th meeting was Lesley Wells, from Daniel’s Kids. Our ladies love to learn about great organizations that to help improve the lives of children in our area!
Aaron Lewis from Independent Living Resources Center was our November Speaker. We LOVE partnering with such a great group providing such unique and important resources for our community. Thanks, Dianne for letting us know about such a fabulous organization ILRC is and how they were able uniquely to help your family.
We are currently planning exciting field trips to learn more about the organizations we support:
For more information contact us @