What We Do ~ GFWC Manual

The GFWC Massachusetts clubs work on programs in their communities, their state, their country, and internationally.  Clubs follow the suggested guidelines from GFWC as outlined in the GFWC Club Manual.
Follow these steps to access the GFWC Club Manual through the GFWC Member Portal.

The GFWC programs include Special Programs, Community Service Programs, and GFWC Advancement Plans.
GFWC Special Programs and Community Service Programs
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The GFWC Juniors’ Special Program: Advocates for Children is designed to encourage all Woman's, Junior Woman's, Juniorette and International Affiliate Clubs to make a difference in the life of a child by being an advocate. The Program was envisioned as a way for clubwomen to provide a voice for children and to teach and encourage parents and other caregivers to advocate for children at the grassroots.
                             single page handout ~ Advocates for Children
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GFWC Signature Program: Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness and Prevention
The GFWC Signature Program's goal is to increase awareness of and help prevent the widespread occurrence of violence against women in communities across the nation - and the globe. Areas of focus include intimate Partner Violence, Child Abuse, Teen Dating, Campus Sexual Assault, Elder Abuse, Violence Against Native American Women, Military Sexual Assault, and Human Trafficking. 
single page handout ~ Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention
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Arts and Culture Community Service Program
The GFWC Arts and Culture Community Service Program encourages members to promote and support arts and culture programs in their clubs and communities, and to expand understanding on every level, from local and regional to national and international. Our goal is to create projects that include crafts, dance, drama, food, music and other manifestations of art and culture that develop skills, awareness, and appreciation. It is designed to inspire clubwomen and ignite within them a desire to make the world a more beautiful, thoughtful, and caring place. 
​                          single page handout ~ Arts and Culture
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Civic Engagement and Outreach Service Program
The GFWC Civic Engagement and Outreach Community Service Program reminds GFWC members that each of us is a part of a larger society and is responsible for undertaking actions that will create a better quality of life and foster a sense of community - locally, regionally, nationally, and globally. This CSP highlight and encourages citizenship; crime prevention, safety, and disaster preparedness; the needy, hungry, and homeless; and our military personnel and veterans.
                            single page handout ~ Civic Engagement and Outreach
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Education and Libraries Community Service Program
We aim to help others, while we also continue to learn. Projects in the Education and Libraries Community Service Program are designed to foster schools, as well as other educational institutions and opportunities. These projects promote libraries, literacy, and the love of a good book. Through these efforts, we encourage the growth of individuals and communities at home and around and the world. 
                           single page handout ~ Education and Libraries
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Environment Community Service Program
The GFWC Environment Community Service Program encourages us to become stewards of the earth by working to preserve the world's resources, protect wildlife and domesticated animals, live sustainably, and beautify our communities and enjoy nature.  Environmental degradation is cumulative and many scientists warn that we are at a tipping point. There is no time like the present to act. 
                          single page handout ~ Environment
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Health and Wellness Community Service Program
The human body, mind, and spirit comprise our health and wellness. To improve our well being, we must address three key components: nutrition, disease prevention, and physical and emotional care. This GFWC Health and Wellness Community Service Program aims to explore the various opportunities for awareness and advancement of each of these vital areas. 
single page handout ~ Health and Wellness

GFWC Advancement Plans

Because of the integral nature of the GFWC Advancement Plans, these plans are recognized as core Advancement areas of any successful program.  Each of these areas will have an advancement section in the GFWC Club Manual. 
You need to sign into Member Portal to access.
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​They include:
Communications and Public Relations
Today, communication truly takes on all tactical forms – visual, written, digital, and audible. For your club to become even more efficient and resourceful, you must consider taking the time to develop and execute a strong communications strategy, one that employs all these forms to effectively engage your members. Engaged members are more satisfied, will see more value in their membership, and will participate in more activities. But how do you create an experience that’s truly meaningful to your members?

You need to first create a COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY. It is the first step in understanding your membership! It is how you will shape content that will educate, inform, and inspire current members as well as potential NEW members. Executed properly, a good membership communications strategy will also help you RETAIN members.

Fundraising and Development
Fundraising is beneficial to your community, your club, and its members. Raising capital for a local project, recognized charity, affiliate organization, your club’s outreach plans and operations, or GFWC Designated Funds, is also an opportunity to make the achievements of your club known throughout the community. As they work together on a fundraiser, club members learn new skills and much more. Successful teamwork fosters cooperation, provides a sense of accomplishment, cultivates pride and ownership in the organization, and creates life-long friendships—all while building a stronger and better club.

Leadership
This Advancement Plan contains valuable information, including practical ideas and resources to assist clubs in developing leadership skills in their members. Whatever talent you use, leadership always involves taking risks, being innovative, and promoting new directions. Some may talk about being born leaders, but most of us learn how to be a strong leader and we should never stop learning and stretching. Just as “management” as a philosophy has evolved through the years into “leadership,” there has also been a growing realization that leadership development involves personal growth and improvement and influencing and fostering others. Both areas have been addressed in this plan, and we are excited to introduce an entirely new resource for members and clubs called the Leadership Toolkit, detailed in this plan. Additionally, we will offer a leadership development online book club and newsletter content.

Membership
The General Federation of Women’s Clubs is proudly represented in thousands of communities around the world by dedicated volunteers who work to better the lives of others, make cities and towns better places to live, and extend the hand of friendship to those near and far. We are individuals of diverse talents, interests, and backgrounds united by a dedication to community improvement through volunteer service.

GFWC offers a network of support for 80,000 clubwomen who volunteer on a local, state, national, and international level. Working together, we constitute a powerful, service-oriented organization that encourages volunteerism through training and coaching, leadership opportunities, personal enrichment, and many other benefits. Various GFWC resources, from members-only materials to legislative alerts, support individuals and clubs in their volunteer efforts.

Legislation/Public Policy
For more than 100 years, GFWC members have raised awareness of specific issues requiring attention at the national level through their advocacy efforts. GFWC member’s advocacy efforts are practical not political. Our GFWC advocacy seeks the implementation of constructive solutions to problems that are national in scope and regional in impact. Our efforts can change lives! GFWC members worked to pass laws affecting highway safety, juvenile justice, women’s suffrage, the rights of the disabled, equal pay for women, resources for victims of domestic violence, and penalties for domestic abusers. GFWC members must continue to use public advocacy to seek solutions to local, state, and
national concerns.

​The Women's History and Resource Center
From the Federation’s founding in 1890, GFWC members have understood the historic significance of the organization’s mission to improve communities through volunteer service. The Women’s History and Resource Center of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs officially opened at GFWC Headquarters in Washington, D.C. on May 1,1984.
Regardless of the focus of a community service project, it may benefit from an historical perspective. The WHRC strives to educate and inspire GFWC members and potential members, the research community, and the public to explore the rich, historical role of women volunteers through GFWC’s expansive collections.

GFWC Affiliate Organizations Platinum level:
  • Shot@Life
  • St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital
  • Prevent Child Abuse America
Gold level:
  • Heifer International
  • HOBY - Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership
  • March of Dimes
  • Operation Smile
  • UNICEF

GFWC Manual:
Other information:
To see the ways in which GFWC Massachusetts Clubs implement these programs,
​check out our MA Program Information page (under Members)!
Partially excerpted from www.GFWC.org. © 2020 General Federation of Women's Clubs 202-347-3168 www.GFWC.org.
​Used with permission. May not be reproduced for sale or profit.202-347-3168