![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b2c0a7_f09ff1059ee341799d1296d1556926dd.png/v1/fill/w_96,h_58,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/b2c0a7_f09ff1059ee341799d1296d1556926dd.png)
![Val picture.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/9d0f5d_3310128fec5a4b04923589cc4bb9cbc3~mv2.png/v1/crop/x_10,y_0,w_470,h_622/fill/w_228,h_302,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Val%20picture.png)
MEET VALERIE
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
While telling someone the other day that I wasn’t certain what I should say to you in this message, I was asked about when I first joined a Federated woman’s club. This made me think about my Federation experience and what it has meant to me in my 38 years of membership.
​
As a young mother, I joined GFWC Heritage Junior Woman’s Club for adult, fe- male interaction outside my home and to make a difference in the lives of oth- ers by volunteering. I gained so much from this membership making life-long friends—many of whom I would never have met outside the club—and growing personally through the roles and responsibilities I took on in club work.
​
Moving forward through the years as my children became adults and I was no longer a true Junior in age at least, I was excited to become a charter member of GFWC Legacy and to serve as its president in the 2004-06 administration. I’ll never forget those years as we worked to establish this club and sell mums so we could do projects in our community.
Now twenty-two years later, as the busy grandmother of five and wife to a semi- retired husband, I have the privilege of serving as your club president again. I can’t wait to see all that we are going to accomplish over the next two years, but most importantly I can’t wait to see the new friendships that are formed.
​
In service,
​
Valerie Sharp