Officers of the GFWC Delaware State Federation of Women’s Clubs recently formed celebration caravans to distribute awards and honors to local clubs. These would normally have been presented at the 123rd Annual Convention, which was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Incoming 61st State President Rita Hollada, outgoing President Carla Pyle and Dean of Programs Jan Conant, along with Sussex County Vice President Betty Truitt, visited each Sussex County club to distribute the awards and congratulate the honorees.

Meetings were held in parks and parking lots of libraries and clubhouses. Each event began with playing “Celebration” by Kool and The Gang, and attending club members responded enthusiastically.

Pyle thanked the members for their work in their communities and recognized the many club accomplishments. She presented a yellow rose to each club president commemorating the 100th anniversary of women winning the right to vote.

Conant announced the club awards and honors.

Hollada gave out bookmarks with the theme for her administration – Moving Forward with 2020 Vision. She said, “In this unprecedented time, we were excited about finding a novel way to honor our clubs for all the hard work they have done for their communities and the State of Delaware.” Hollada acknowledged that club meetings and events will be very different in the future, and she advocated clubs to think outside the box.

The General Federation of Women’s Clubs, formed in 1890, is an international women’s volunteer organization dedicated to improving the lives of others through volunteer service. Delaware became federated in 1898.