Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
GFWC New Mexico Past Presidents
Val Redington, 2022-2024
Val Redington, 2022-2024
Val Redington, 2022-2024
Theme: "GFWC New Mexico, Enchanting our Communities"
Special Project: Camp Enchantment. This President encouraged all Clubs to focus projects on Advocates for Children. As a breast cancer survivor, I was so glad that I had cancer and not my children. But children do get cancer and it robs them of some of their childhood. Camp Encha
Theme: "GFWC New Mexico, Enchanting our Communities"
Special Project: Camp Enchantment. This President encouraged all Clubs to focus projects on Advocates for Children. As a breast cancer survivor, I was so glad that I had cancer and not my children. But children do get cancer and it robs them of some of their childhood. Camp Enchantment is an annual camp that is free to children of New Mexico who are fighting cancer. This is important as cancer can be a big financial strain on families. For one week, these children and their families are given the opportunity to experience normalcy and meet other children who are fighting cancer just like them. Lasting friendships develop and important life lessons are experienced by the children as well as the counselors. To contribute, this President sold T-shirts to the Clubs within the State and held other fundraisers. Thousands of dollars were raised to support this important project. Putting smiles on the faces of those children and their families was priceless!
Inge Peter, 2020-2022
Val Redington, 2022-2024
Val Redington, 2022-2024
Theme: "Know your neighbor"
Project: Honor Flight of the Southwest
My administration had to deal with the Covid 19 and the 10 Clubs with over 244 members certainly were up to the challenge. Each Club served their community proudly and lived up to our motto of "Living the Volunteer Spirit". Visits to the different clubs gave this President a
Theme: "Know your neighbor"
Project: Honor Flight of the Southwest
My administration had to deal with the Covid 19 and the 10 Clubs with over 244 members certainly were up to the challenge. Each Club served their community proudly and lived up to our motto of "Living the Volunteer Spirit". Visits to the different clubs gave this President an insight how hard the members work to make their communities a better place. The By-Laws were reviewed and the position of Vice-President was eliminated in hopes of filling the remaining positions more readily. Veterans was a big concern to this President and celebrating our heroes by supporting their trip to Arlington was so rewarding and the support to this cause will keep on giving for years to come, to all my GFWC Sisters throughout the State- Thank You for all of your continued support and encouragement. - Inge
Alisa Estrada, 2018-2020
Val Redington, 2022-2024
Mary Jo Montgomery, 2016-2018
Theme: “Touching the lives of others Through GFWC”. Project: “Brighter Futures for our Children”. It was a great honor to serve as the GFWC New Mexico President for the 2018-2020 administration with 12 clubs and 253 members and was very proud of the amazing work they did during this officer’s administration to improve the lives of others
Theme: “Touching the lives of others Through GFWC”. Project: “Brighter Futures for our Children”. It was a great honor to serve as the GFWC New Mexico President for the 2018-2020 administration with 12 clubs and 253 members and was very proud of the amazing work they did during this officer’s administration to improve the lives of others in their communities. This Officer’s theme was “Touching the Lives of Others Through GFWC.” This Officer’s special project was “Brighter Futures for our Children” believing that our youth are the future. GFWC NM Clubwomen fully supported this project. Over 711 Dr. Seuss books were donated and distributed in shelters, to students, to schools, to GFWC and to libraries. New Mexico Clubs supported March of Dimes, collected over 136 pails of shoes for Soles 4 Souls, walked to raise money for St. Jude’s Hospital, collected hundreds of dollars of schools supplies and backpacks for students, donated toiletries, clothes, diapers, and more for domestic violence shelters, homeless shelters and students in school. And clubs were proud to support our veterans in their communities, donating clothes, good bags, cards, lighted Christmas trees and more. Yes, NM is a little brighter today because of GFWC NM clubwomen!
Mary Jo Montgomery, 2016-2018
Mary Jo Montgomery, 2016-2018
Mary Jo Montgomery, 2016-2018
Theme: “Caring About Others by Paying It Forward and Nature at Its Best.” Project: Paying kindness forward and preserving nature’s beauty in pictures. During this President’s term GFWC New Mexico clubs
reported in 430 programs/projects, 48,079 volunteer hours, $250,847.32 dollars donated, $16,263.71 in-kind donations, and ESO project had
Theme: “Caring About Others by Paying It Forward and Nature at Its Best.” Project: Paying kindness forward and preserving nature’s beauty in pictures. During this President’s term GFWC New Mexico clubs
reported in 430 programs/projects, 48,079 volunteer hours, $250,847.32 dollars donated, $16,263.71 in-kind donations, and ESO project had a total of 677 books reported on. This President (1) had an experience with helping a young couple that was pushing a baby stroller down the freeway on an extremely windy, cold day. After helping them, the young mother left her purse in the back seat of the car that contained work permits, visa passports, identifications, money and medication for the baby. When it was discovered, this President knew she had to go back the 37 miles to the rest area where they were dropped off. The young couple was so grateful they wanted to give money, told them that someday someone was going to need their help and if they returned the favor to someone else – that was all the payment that was needed. This President asked GFWC New Mexico members to care about someone else that may need help, then asking that person to pay it forward to someone else. In 2018 a contest was held at convention in Las Cruces, New Mexico members had some marvelous stories to tell about their experiences of paying it forward. (2) This President also loves photography – Nature at Its Best – and asked members to bring photos to convention for the Art Gallery so they could be displayed for others to enjoy and to enter photography into the Arts Contest. (3) Human Trafficking was also close to this President’s heart, so programs were given at conventions and videos were shown to make other members aware. Being so close to the border, this is an important issue. (4) Being that New Mexico did not have a website, in 2017 a member from Las Cruces donated $500 to get one going and another member’s husband donated all his time to teach this President how to build a website – which was a huge accomplishment for this technology challenged person. Every term there have been changes added and New Mexico has received first place awards for their website for the last two years. Thank you, “New Mexico Members”, for the opportunity to have served as your GFWC New Mexico President in 2016-2018. It was an honor and a privilege.
.jpeg/:/rs=w:365,h:365,cg:true,m/cr=w:365,h:365)
Marie Richter, 2014-2016
Mary Jo Montgomery, 2016-2018
Marie Richter, 2014-2016
Theme: “Living the Volunteer Spirit” Project: Supporting Our Communities and Growing Our Youth” During my GFWC NM term as president our clubs were super busy supporting our commuities through a variety of projects and growing our youth through our educational scholarships. The wind isn’t the only thing kicking up dust around here! New Me
Theme: “Living the Volunteer Spirit” Project: Supporting Our Communities and Growing Our Youth” During my GFWC NM term as president our clubs were super busy supporting our commuities through a variety of projects and growing our youth through our educational scholarships. The wind isn’t the only thing kicking up dust around here! New Mexico was proud to report that for the last year, of my term our clubs had 381 community service projects, contributing 39,667 volunteer hours, donating and outstanding $171,288 and in-kind contributions of $15,773! One main activity that this administration kicked off was an interactive workshop with clubs throughout the state on the value of social media such as Pinterest, Twitter, and Facebook! Through a survey, clubs reported that communication was an item that needed improvement and the workshop provided the opportunity to set up club Facebook pages which strengthened our connection with each other while increasing the local club name and the GFWC brand. State convention spotlighted students who provided many insightful presentations about a variety of topics from the environment to robotics. It is amazing what kids are learning now adays and we are proud to continue to support their endeavors.
June Ferguson, 2012-2014
Mary Jo Montgomery, 2016-2018
Marie Richter, 2014-2016
Theme: “GFWC Growing Membership and Communities.” Project: Awareness and Prevention of Child Abuse Growing our membership is a goal with dual purposes, not only is it to benefit our programs and club goals but it is also the best way to share the joy of working with women who are of like mind and heart. Some of the best friendships bloom
Theme: “GFWC Growing Membership and Communities.” Project: Awareness and Prevention of Child Abuse Growing our membership is a goal with dual purposes, not only is it to benefit our programs and club goals but it is also the best way to share the joy of working with women who are of like mind and heart. Some of the best friendships bloom from our work. During my administration there was such a huge outpouring by members who stepped up to the “PBJ” challenge. Club women were asked to think back to their childhood and that connection of PB and J. But in this instance, they were not asked to give peanut butter and jelly sandwiches but instead asked to donate packs (backpacks), bears, and jammies (pajamas) which were then shared with domestic violence shelters. Knowing that when a child leaves home because of a domestic violence incident, they often leave with nothing. The hope was that by giving a child a bear to hug and love, some nice pajamas to curl up in and a backpack as a way to keep these precious items with them, it would in some fashion provide comfort and security. This president was brought to tears when a representative from an Albuquerque shelter relayed the story of a child who wanted nothing more than to have his clothes smell as nice as his schoolmates. The inexpensive laundry detergent his mother could afford didn’t have that nice fragrance of more expensive brands. He just wanted to smell good. Communication is perhaps one of the most important tools in what GFWC does and to that end a monthly newsletter was emailed to every member. Not the ever-present GFWC NM Clubwoman but a “Letters from Home” publication to share personal as well as club news. When we only see some of our friends once a year it makes it nice to hear how they are and to stay connected beyond the business newsletter. The ESO program was reinstated during my administration and grown beyond anything imagined. What a wonderful opportunity for less mobile members to remain active. We had milk and homemade cookies for everyone in the president’s hotel room during one state convention and bridged the time and distance that often separates us during the year. I have continued my growth with GFWC at both the state, region and national level. I currently sit as South Central Vice President. I am a district president, club president, ESO chair, HOBY chair and vice president of Laister Phoenix FirebirdsI am an active member of Clayton Federated Woman’s Club, Portales Woman’s Club, Roswell Woman’s Club, GFWC New Mexico Past Presidents’ Club and the Cosmopolitan Woman’s Club. I am a member of the GFWC Past Presidents’ Club and Laister Phoenix Firebirds. GFWC has become family
%20Harpe.PNG/:/rs=w:365,h:365,cg:true,m/cr=w:365,h:365)
Sally Harper, 2010-2012
Margaret Armstrong, 1988-1990
Kathleen Schuster, 2008-2010
Theme: “Heart to Heart – Caring for our Members and our Community.” Project: Military, Veterans and Their Families In October 2010, GFWC NM proudly hosted the South-Central Region Conference in Albuquerque. During this administration, we had the 108th Birthday Celebration for
Portales Woman’s Club in January 2011. In April 2011 GFWC NM c
Theme: “Heart to Heart – Caring for our Members and our Community.” Project: Military, Veterans and Their Families In October 2010, GFWC NM proudly hosted the South-Central Region Conference in Albuquerque. During this administration, we had the 108th Birthday Celebration for
Portales Woman’s Club in January 2011. In April 2011 GFWC NM celebrated our 100th Anniversary of State Federation with GFWC International President Carlene Garner joining Club members in Las Cruces, the site of the organizational convention. A special “100 Years of Federation” skit was presented that featured historic costumes depicting clothing styles from the early 1900’s through the present day. In March 2012 this President attended the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the GFWC Cosmopolitan Woman’s Club. In April 2012 our State Convention was held in Albuquerque, NM, our special Guest was South Central Region President Mary Ann Arnold. GFWC NM Clubwomen embraced this President’s Special Project with enthusiasm. Clubs made monetary donations to the “Operation Wounded Warrior” Project which provides monetary support to Veterans Hospitals; the “Honor Flight of Southern New Mexico” which takes WWII veterans to Washington, DC, to see “their Memorial”; and the “Blue Star Mothers” who purchase and send items to deployed service men and women overseas. Items were collected for the Veterans’ Hospital, Veterans’ Home and Disabled Vets as well as for Active Duty Military who are deployed at Club, District, and State Meetings.
Kathleen Schuster, 2008-2010
Margaret Armstrong, 1988-1990
Kathleen Schuster, 2008-2010
Theme: "Whispers of the Past, Visions of the Future". Project: Eyeglasses collection and Distribution. GFWC New Mexico proudly supported Kathleen's vision for her project by assisting in the collection of 274 pairs of eyeglasses for this noble cause. The glasses were collected and distributed in Peru by ophthalmologists who would travel a
Theme: "Whispers of the Past, Visions of the Future". Project: Eyeglasses collection and Distribution. GFWC New Mexico proudly supported Kathleen's vision for her project by assisting in the collection of 274 pairs of eyeglasses for this noble cause. The glasses were collected and distributed in Peru by ophthalmologists who would travel and do cataract surgeries. The high altitude created a high rate of these surgeries being needed and the aftercare was to wear eyeglasses that were expensive. The clubs in New Mexico were able to help the cause by collecting the glasses from 2008-2010.
Margaret Armstrong, 1988-1990
Margaret Armstrong, 1988-1990
Margaret Armstrong, 1988-1990
Margaret Armstrong, 1988-1990 Theme: “NMFWC is New Mexico’s Charm” Project: “New Mexico Girls Ranch” New Mexico Clubwomen enthusiastically endorsed and supported this project with scholarships, clothing, money, and remembering the girls at holidays in special ways. During my administration the GFWC celebrated 100 years of volunteerism. A
Margaret Armstrong, 1988-1990 Theme: “NMFWC is New Mexico’s Charm” Project: “New Mexico Girls Ranch” New Mexico Clubwomen enthusiastically endorsed and supported this project with scholarships, clothing, money, and remembering the girls at holidays in special ways. During my administration the GFWC celebrated 100 years of volunteerism. A centennial library was established at the Girls Ranch with books being donated by club members. Histories and pictures of club houses and libraries started by the clubs were sent to the GFWC Women’s History and Resource Center in Washington D.D. and an update of “Reflections 1905-1990” was proposed for publications. Reflections was a state publication with brief histories of state presidents, clubs, and districts. Also had the pleasure of serving many years since my GFWC New Mexico presidency. Was honored to serve with the South Central Region and served as region president from 1994-1996 and as a committee member with many GFWC programs. I continue to serve GFWC NM as the scholarship chairman, this continuing my concern for the young women of New Mexico and I am still an active member of the Cosmopolitan Woman’s club.