Statement of Purpose
GFWC Legacy is a service organization operating under the umbrella of the Alabama Federation of Women’s Clubs and the General Federation of Women's Clubs. The organization will support our mother organizations by selecting specific project areas as suggested under their programs while independently selecting programs and projects that best assist our communities and our members. Our club's primary purpose will be to make a positive difference in the lives of others through a variety of methods that may include but not be limited to hands-on service, monetary donations, and sponsoring awareness programs and projects. While we will be making a difference in our communities, we also want to strive to offer development and leadership opportunities to our club members and to foster life-long friendships among our club members. Accordingly, we add a variety of social activities to our annual plan of work that allow us this fellowship time.
HISTORY
Members of the AFWC Junior Board initially envisioned a new GFWC club in Huntsville as they traveled across Alabama to Federation meetings. At an organizational meeting on January 20, 2000 attendees adopted bylaws and elected officers for 2000-2002. The name “GFWC Legacy” was chosen to symbolize the rich inheritance the charter members were bringing to this new club from their affiliations with other GFWC clubs, including GFWC Heritage Junior Woman’s Club. All 12 charter members were present when GFWC Legacy received its charter on April 29, 2000 from President Suellen Brazil at the 105th Annual AFWC Convention.
In May 2007, GFWC Legacy and GFWC Heritage Junior Woman’s Club voted to merge the two clubs into one under the name GFWC Legacy.
Legacy’s objective is to develop the intellectual, civic and social interests of its members, to advance the welfare of the community through volunteer service, and to promote the progress and the work of GFWC.
Our projects have benefited many local organizations including: Alzheimer’s Association, Second Mile Development, Hospice and nursing homes, the Sapp Center, The Neighborhood Store, Hope Place, Riah Rose, Children’s Rehabilitation Center, a number of schools, Meals on Wheels, and 305 8th Street.
In addition, we have supported the following organizations with a reach outside just Huntsville and Madison County: Operation Smile, Alabama PTA, and American Red Cross.
When we see a need, we try to address it. In the past we made substantial donations to Tsunami and Katrina relief funds as well as a fund established to assist those affected by the tornado outbreak in our own community in 2011. We have donated $1500 to the Parents Initiative Program of Second Mile Development, $2000 to the Red Cross for an Automated External Defibrillator which was placed at the Huntsville/Madison County Public Library main branch, and $2500 to Camp Smile-A-Mile.
In 2007 the first scholarship was awarded to a local high school graduate based on her community volunteer involvement. A $500 scholarship has been awarded each subsequent year.
GFWC Legacy sponsored the GFWC Serenity Juniorette Club for high school girls interested in volunteerism in 2008, and that club was officially chartered at the 2009 AFWC Annual Convention in Birmingham
PAST PRESIDENTS
Cynthia Geis: 2000 - 2002
Becky Fountain: 2002 - 2004
Valerie Sharp: 2004 - 2006
Becky Vansant: 2006 - 2008
Carol Ann Dean: 2008 - 2010
Debra Palmer: 2010 - 2012
Anne Peters: 2012 - 2014
Jennifer Hamilton: 2014-2016
Christi Robinson 2016-2018
CHARTER MEMBERS
Cynthia Geis, President
Becky Fountain, Vice President
Gail Pruitt, Secretary
Becky Vansant, Treasurer
Martha Sharp, Parliamentarian
Kim Broyles
Patty Cato
Cindy Hopkins
Charlene Kelley
Sue Rogers
Valeria Sharp
Lisa Wilson