WCOP
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ABOUT US

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Club Founders 
 Jane Westerman and Pat Taylor

​ 2022-2023 President
Linda Kremens

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Our Club History

The Women's Club of Pittsford owes its beginning to a dynamic group of women who belonged to the Pittsford "Welcome Wagon" group who then decided to create a new Club, a Service-oriented Club. Founded in February 1984 by Pittsford residents, Patricia Taylor and Jane Westerman, WCOP became a nonprofit, voluntary organization that was formed in friendship and is dedicated to charitable, civic and educational purposes. Federated in May, 1984 with the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC), we stand as proud members of the largest nondenominational, nonpartisan, international service organization of volunteer women in the world!
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Throughout our Club's 38 year history, making a difference in our community has been of the utmost importance. Our actions have been recognized by GFWC New York and GFWC.  WCOP is proud of our Coats for Kids, the Pittsford Food Cupboard, Domestic Violence, St. Pauly Textile Shed, the Home and Kitchen Tour and Bunco For Charity projects. In addition, successful Fundraisers such as the Haunted House, Hearts & Flour Cookbook, the Home and Kitchen Tour, Cindy Miller Cabaret Night and Bunco For Charity have enabled WCOP to contribute $370,000.00 to Rochester Area Nonprofit organizations serving those in need.

As charity begins at home, our local support of the Pittsford Food Cupboard, the Pittsford Senior Citizens and Coats For Kids resulted in our receiving the "Hands Across Pittsford" Award. In honor of the 100th Anniversary of Women's Right to Vote in New York State and the 200th Anniversary of the Erie Canal, WCOP was proud to participate in a historic celebration, "Votetilla 2017". Projects affecting the health and welfare of our residents were met with our hands on support to agencies such as St. Joseph Neighborhood Center, the American Heart Association, Hillside Children's Center, Gollisano Children's Hospital, Meals on Wheels and Resolve against Domestic Violence. Recognized for our civic responses and "Americanism Through Action", WCOP received the prestigious American Legion "Red, White and Blue" Award for supporting our U.S. Military men, women and their families. Our participation in projects such as "Sew Much Comfort", "Cookies for Troops", "Wreaths Across America" and marching in the Memorial Day Parade reflect our dedication to honor those who serve.

Our charity knows no bounds as we have raised money to help provide food, clothing and supplies in areas hit by natural disasters such as Hurricanes Katrina, Harvey and Irma. In the aftermath of the tragedy of 9/11/2001, WCOP raised much needed funds to collaborate with other GFWC N.Y. clubs to purchase an ambulance for NYC. Internationally, WCOP raised funds to buy a well for the "Water For Sudan" project and have adopted a family in Haiti for years in which we supported them with money for food, clothing and education. Pillowcases were made into dresses for girls in Uganda to discourage Human Trafficking. Our daily involvement with the St. Pauly Shed enables collections of gently used clothing to be distributed to people locally, nationally and in third world countries as an effort to reduce, reuse and recycle.

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
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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.

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

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1995-96
Carmen Wallner

1996-97
Alice Swetman

 1997-98
 Jan Conant

​1998-99

 Pat Block

1999-00
Betsy Helfrich

2000-01
Bridget Kolano

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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



Pittsford Food Cupboard

WCOP Service Scholarship 

Each year WCOP gives the Pittsford Food Cupboard a $500 grant.
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
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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 par
t 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!
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Click logo above to go to the GFWC website
Members of the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC), the largest nondenominational, nonpartisan, international service organization of volunteer women. ​
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​https://www.womensclubofpittsford.org/
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Calendar
    • Membership
    • Contact Us
    • Photo Album
    • Endowments 2022
  • For Members
    • Newsletters
    • Guidelines & Forms
    • Membership Form
    • Board Meeting Minutes
    • Board Position Guidelines
    • GFWC Programs & Affiliate Organizations
    • New member information >
      • GFWC News and Articles for Members
    • St. Pauly Shed Schedule and Sign-up >
      • Guidelines for Shed Volunteers
    • Board of Directors
    • Service Opportunities & Thank you notes >
      • Social Activities
  • Donate Clothes
  • Fundraising
  • Student Writing Contest (winners)