The Women’s Club of Pittsford offers opportunities to participate in community service projects, educational programs, fund-raising efforts and social activities.
General meetings are held once each month from September through June. Meetings consist of a business portion and a fun, educational program.
WCOP celebrates 40 years of service to the community in 2024!
The Women's Club of Pittsford is a member of GFWC New York, which is a member of the Middle Atlantic Region. M.A.R. includes New York, Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. M.A.R. is one of eight United States GFWC Regions. |
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Club Founders Jane Westerman and Pat Taylor |
2023-2024 President
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Our Club History |
Happy 40th Anniversary Women’s Club of Pittsford!
For 40 years, WCOP members have been “Living the Volunteer Spirit” and have dedicated themselves to make a difference in the lives of those in need through our charitable, civic and educational endeavors. WCOP has been able to contribute about $400,000 to over 250 non-profit, Greater Rochester agencies through our Endowment Fund. The proceeds from our many Fundraisers such as: The Haunted House, Home & Kitchen Tour, Hearts & Flour Cookbook, Cabaret Night with Cindy Miller, Craft Boutique, Garage Sale and Bunco for Charity have made a definite impact. Our Community Improvement Projects have won awards from the General Federation of Women’s Clubs in New York State (GFWC NY). WCOP is honored to be recognized for service projects such as: Coats for Kids, St. Pauly Textile Shed, Stop Domestic Violence and Abuse, Pittsford Food Cupboard, "Sew Much Comfort” adaptive tee shirts for disabled military, St. Joseph Neighborhood Center and Socks for the Homeless. Pittsford’s Chamber of Commerce selected WCOP to receive The Hands Across America Award for our community participation with Pittsford’s Senior Citizens, Pittsford Youth Services, The Food Cupboard, The Library and for Service Scholarships to a senior student from each of the Pittsford High Schools. The Rayson-Miller American Legion Post 899 presented WCOP with The Americanism Through Action "Red, White & Blue" Award for our support of the military and their families. Sending “Cookies for Troops” serving in Afghanistan, sponsoring The Wreaths Across America ceremony and honoring our “Blue Star" mothers were recognized. WCOP knows no bounds and supported GFWC’s “Operation Firefighter” - raising $2000 by selling firetruck lapel pins. This amount was added with other GFWC clubs for the purchase of a $180,000 ambulance in Harlem after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Our global impact was demonstrated by raising $11,000 to provide clean water for “Water for South Sudan." During the Covid pandemic, hundreds of cloth masks were sewn and distributed throughout the community. Our Club’s motto of “Growth Through Participation” is continually enacted by our members. As we enter our 40th year of volunteer, charitable service, WCOP is certainly “Leaving a Legacy” of making a positive difference in the lives of many both near and far. Patricia Scally Block, Historian WCOP members truly "Live the Volunteer Spirit" and continue to make an impact locally, nationally and internationally. General meetings are held once a month from September to June and includes a social gathering, an educational program and a business meeting. Membership is open to all women who are residents in the Greater Rochester Area. |
The Women's Club of Pittsford is a member of GFWC New York.
Click to go to the state website: gfwcny.org
We also belong to the GFWC Middle Atlantic Region
Past WCOP Presidents
With great pride, we recognize our past Presidents and the important leadership that each brought to WCOP. We appreciate the contributions they have made and continue to make in promoting our mission.
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1984-85 Pat Slimmer 1985-86 Jody Lehr 1986-87 Scootie Seeman 1987-88 Ann Curtin-Knight 1988-89 Barbara Lipari 1989-90 Karen LaVecchia Crotinger 1990-91 Patrice Pallone 1991-92 Anne Stimson 1992-93 Tommi Klinsky 1993 Linda Whiting 1994 Marcia Bell 1994-95 Patricia Taylor 1995-96 Carmen Wallner 1996-97 Alice Swetman 1997-98 Jan Conant 1998-99 Pat Block 1999-00 Betsy Helfrich 2000-01 Bridget Kolano 2001-02 Marguerite Rose & Wanda Ward 2002-03 Kathy Canzano |
2003-04 Beverley Pierson 2004-05 Nancy Schoenberger 2005-06 Kathleen Bankey 2006-08 Linda Litchfield 2008-09 Bridget Kolano & Linda Ward 2009-10 Bonnie Haugh & Paula Reitz 2010-11 Pat Rahn 2011-12 Betsy Helfrich & Jan Pickering 2012-13 Jackie Aab & Pati Robben 2013-14 Beverley Pierson 2014-15 Ann Dickerson 2015-16 Maureen Mulley & Ronna Treier 2016-17 Linda MacKenzie & Carol Michaels 2017-18 Betsy Helfrich 2018-20 Susanne Daly 2020-21 Carol Michaels & Eileen O'Rourke 2021-22 Linda MacKenzie & Linda Kremens 2022-23 Linda Kremens |
Wanda Ward Lifetime Achievement Award
In 2005, the club wished to honor club women who, over their years of membership, continue to make outstanding contributions to our community and club. Named in honor of Charter Member Wanda Ward, this award celebrates Wanda’s exemplary lifetime of service.
The honoree receives a token of the club’s appreciation and lifetime membership to the Women’s Club of Pittsford.
The following women have been bestowed with this award:
2005 Wanda Ward
2008 Kathy Canzano
2010 Marguerite Rose
2014 Betsy Helfrich
2015 Beverley Pierson
2018 Patricia Scally Block
In 2005, the club wished to honor club women who, over their years of membership, continue to make outstanding contributions to our community and club. Named in honor of Charter Member Wanda Ward, this award celebrates Wanda’s exemplary lifetime of service.
The honoree receives a token of the club’s appreciation and lifetime membership to the Women’s Club of Pittsford.
The following women have been bestowed with this award:
2005 Wanda Ward
2008 Kathy Canzano
2010 Marguerite Rose
2014 Betsy Helfrich
2015 Beverley Pierson
2018 Patricia Scally Block
Pittsford Food Cupboard |
WCOP Service Scholarship |
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Each year WCOP gives the Pittsford Food Cupboard a $500 grant.
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Each June our club give two $500 service scholarships to high school seniors from Mendon and Pittsford Sutherland High Schools.
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About the General Federation of Women’s Clubs
The General Federation of Women’s Clubs is a unifying force, bringing together local women’s clubs, with members dedicated to strengthening their communities and enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service. With almost 80,000 members in affiliated clubs in every state and more than a dozen countries, GFWC members are community leaders who work locally to create global change by supporting the arts, preserving natural resources, advancing education, promoting healthy lifestyles, encouraging civic involvement, and working toward world peace and understanding.
The General Federation of Women’s Clubs is a unifying force, bringing together local women’s clubs, with members dedicated to strengthening their communities and enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service. With almost 80,000 members in affiliated clubs in every state and more than a dozen countries, GFWC members are community leaders who work locally to create global change by supporting the arts, preserving natural resources, advancing education, promoting healthy lifestyles, encouraging civic involvement, and working toward world peace and understanding.
Top 10 Reasons to Join a GFWC Club!
10. Continue a club’s legacy. The work of GFWC clubs requires a continuation of effort by many people. Your support as a member will ensure that the service contributed in your community and throughout the world can continue. Strength in numbers brings great results. “Many hands make the work lighter.”
9. Share Your Talents. Every person offers unique talents to any organization. When we combine our efforts and work toward a common goal, the results are great! Think of the work as a gigantic puzzle. Your unique piece to the puzzle is a vital part of community service.
8. Expand Your Horizons through Networking. Increase your professional and career contacts. Your membership is a valuable method to network and link with people and groups that can benefit your work, social and personal lives.
7. Develop Young Leaders. By engaging youth, GFWC members help to develop strong leaders for the future. Juniorette clubs provide youth volunteer opportunities that allow young adults to become involved in community service and begin learning about the impact they can have around the world.
6. Grow as a Family. GFWC clubs offer opportunities for families to volunteer together. Start spending quality time together as a family while serving the community.
5. Learn, Grow, and Share. Through volunteer work and community service, GFWC club members are learning new things and developing leadership skills every day. Share your knowledge with community members to help them lead healthier lifestyles. Living the Volunteer Spirit.
4. Enjoy a Rewarding Experience. There is no greater feeling than making a positive impact on someone's life.
3. Make New Friends. Joining a local GFWC club is a great way to network with other people in your community and make new friends. Find a club that involves people with the same interests, hobbies and passions. Serving together can help build relationships that last a lifetime.
2. Make a Difference in the World. Joining a local GFWC club is a great way to network with other people in your community and make new friends, but also serve the world through community service.
1. Serve the Community. By partnering with local leaders and organizations, identifying the needs of the community, you can be a part of planning service projects that address those needs.
10. Continue a club’s legacy. The work of GFWC clubs requires a continuation of effort by many people. Your support as a member will ensure that the service contributed in your community and throughout the world can continue. Strength in numbers brings great results. “Many hands make the work lighter.”
9. Share Your Talents. Every person offers unique talents to any organization. When we combine our efforts and work toward a common goal, the results are great! Think of the work as a gigantic puzzle. Your unique piece to the puzzle is a vital part of community service.
8. Expand Your Horizons through Networking. Increase your professional and career contacts. Your membership is a valuable method to network and link with people and groups that can benefit your work, social and personal lives.
7. Develop Young Leaders. By engaging youth, GFWC members help to develop strong leaders for the future. Juniorette clubs provide youth volunteer opportunities that allow young adults to become involved in community service and begin learning about the impact they can have around the world.
6. Grow as a Family. GFWC clubs offer opportunities for families to volunteer together. Start spending quality time together as a family while serving the community.
5. Learn, Grow, and Share. Through volunteer work and community service, GFWC club members are learning new things and developing leadership skills every day. Share your knowledge with community members to help them lead healthier lifestyles. Living the Volunteer Spirit.
4. Enjoy a Rewarding Experience. There is no greater feeling than making a positive impact on someone's life.
3. Make New Friends. Joining a local GFWC club is a great way to network with other people in your community and make new friends. Find a club that involves people with the same interests, hobbies and passions. Serving together can help build relationships that last a lifetime.
2. Make a Difference in the World. Joining a local GFWC club is a great way to network with other people in your community and make new friends, but also serve the world through community service.
1. Serve the Community. By partnering with local leaders and organizations, identifying the needs of the community, you can be a part of planning service projects that address those needs.
Sharing the Federation Spirit Around the Globe
By Elaine Ko, International Liaisons Committee Member
Did you know the first GFWC International Clubs were in Bombay, India, in 1891 and London, England, in 1897? Or that GFWC had a club in Shanghai in 1941 called the American Woman’s Club of Shanghai? How about that in 1929, several GFWC clubwomen traveled to Rio de Janeiro to organize a woman’s club, or that the Jamaica Federation of Women was formed in 1939?
Throughout the years, GFWC has had 260 clubs in 55 countries. We now have 20 clubs, two of which are Juniorette Clubs. The economy, wars, society, community needs, and leadership have caused clubs to ebb and flow. Our clubs today are from Belize, Ukraine, Taiwan, Korea, Uganda, Cyprus, Brazil, Grand Bahamas, Peru, Philippines, Canada, Aruba, Netherlands Antilles, and Curacao.
The GFWC International Liaisons Committee meets remotely with our International Affiliates twice a month and our GFWC officers and membership join us. Our officers and members have also attended the Federation of Asian Women’s Association (FAWA) meetings throughout the years, meeting and traveling to several Asian countries.
The Taipei International Women’s Club recently celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2021 after becoming an affiliate of GFWC in 1951 with Past Honorary President Madame Chiang Soong Mei-long. This club is one example of many that have a deep history of service in philanthropy and diversity in its membership.
As you travel, bring GFWC information with you to share with clubwomen you may meet and invite them to join the GFWC. We are proud that GFWC welcomes our international sisters to our meetings and International Conventions!
By Elaine Ko, International Liaisons Committee Member
Did you know the first GFWC International Clubs were in Bombay, India, in 1891 and London, England, in 1897? Or that GFWC had a club in Shanghai in 1941 called the American Woman’s Club of Shanghai? How about that in 1929, several GFWC clubwomen traveled to Rio de Janeiro to organize a woman’s club, or that the Jamaica Federation of Women was formed in 1939?
Throughout the years, GFWC has had 260 clubs in 55 countries. We now have 20 clubs, two of which are Juniorette Clubs. The economy, wars, society, community needs, and leadership have caused clubs to ebb and flow. Our clubs today are from Belize, Ukraine, Taiwan, Korea, Uganda, Cyprus, Brazil, Grand Bahamas, Peru, Philippines, Canada, Aruba, Netherlands Antilles, and Curacao.
The GFWC International Liaisons Committee meets remotely with our International Affiliates twice a month and our GFWC officers and membership join us. Our officers and members have also attended the Federation of Asian Women’s Association (FAWA) meetings throughout the years, meeting and traveling to several Asian countries.
The Taipei International Women’s Club recently celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2021 after becoming an affiliate of GFWC in 1951 with Past Honorary President Madame Chiang Soong Mei-long. This club is one example of many that have a deep history of service in philanthropy and diversity in its membership.
As you travel, bring GFWC information with you to share with clubwomen you may meet and invite them to join the GFWC. We are proud that GFWC welcomes our international sisters to our meetings and International Conventions!
Click logo above to go to the GFWC website
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Members of the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC), the largest nondenominational, nonpartisan, international service organization of volunteer women.
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