Awards for programs and projects completed in 2010 by the Woman’s Club of Bowling Green were presented to
the club during the annual awards and Legislation Day program of the Northwest District of the Ohio
Federation of Women’s Clubs held March 25 in Lima.
Carla Blinn, a member of the BG club, who serves as district president for the term 2010 to 2012,
presided at the program.
Other members of the Bowling Green club who attended are Camille Harris, district fund raising chairman;
Linda Hamilton, district secretary; Kathy East, district chairman, domestic violence awareness; Mary
Etta Hemmerly; Sharon Franklin, membership; Melanie Stretchbery, public issues; and Joan Gordon,
communication/public relations.
Certificates were presented to the club for its achievements in the following areas: Arts in the
Community (writing contest, boutique), conservation (collecting pop can tabs, litter clean up),
education (literacy), Home Life (March of Dimes, support of the Cocoon Shelter), international outreach,
membership, leadership, communication/public relations, domestic violence awareness, fund raising, and
Women’s History and Resource Center. A certificate also was presented to the club for overall reporting
and submitting materials to the state magazine.
Winners in the district contests are now entered in the state awards program. This year’s state awards
will be announced at the annual convention of the Ohio Federation of Women’s Clubs in Columbus April
15-17.
As part of the March 25 program, Dustin McKee, policy analyst for the Ohio Association of County Boards
of Developmental Disabilities, discussed the "Impact of Potential State Budget Cuts on Social
Services in Ohio." Esther Baldridge, superintendent of the Allan County Board of Developmental
Disabilities, and her staff gave the participants a tour of the facilities.
The next district event will be the annual Fall Conference Sept. 23 in Wapakoneta.
The Northwest District is a member of the OFWC and the General Federation of Women’s Clubs. The Ohio
Federation includes approximately 50 clubs in five districts of Ohio and approximately 1,300 members. It
joins with women from 50 states and 46 foreign countries to form the GFWC, a non-denominational,
non-partisan, international organization of community volunteers.