CLERMONT WOMAN'S CLUB, INC.

CLERMONT WOMAN'S CLUB, INC. 655 Broome Street Clermont, FL 34711 P. O. Box 120532 Clermont, FL 34712-0532

In 1921, a group of Clermont women headed by Mrs. Kate Chase formed the Clermont Civic Club. In 1924, they purchased our club house at 655 Broome Street, which had been built in 1923 by local merchants and citizens as a "motor camp for tourists", to accomodate the large influx of people during Florida's boom. The land is leased from the city and is the site of Clermont's original 2-room school house. In 1927, the Civic Club was chartered as the current Clermont Woman's Club and in 1932, affiliated with the Florida Federation of Women's Clubs. On April 25, 1993, the Club House was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, through the efforts of Miriam Johnson. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

HISTORY OF THE FFWC Under the leadership of Mrs. P.A. Borden Hamilton the Florida Federation of Women's Clubs was organized in 1895 in Green Cove Springs, Florida. FFWC has been active in the preservation of the Everglades and building the three cottages at Hacienda Girls Ranch in Melbourne. In 1999 the twelfth FFWC President, Mrs. W.S. Jennings (May Mann, 1914-1917) was named among the top "50 Most Important Floridians of the 20th Century". A dormitory at the University of Florida was named after her. Jennings campaigned for women's suffrage, prohibition, better treatment of prisoners and children, more funding for education, historic preservation, Seminole Indian reservations, fence laws and highway beautification. Jennings spent 33 years fighting to preserve the beauty and uniqueness of the Everglades. FFWC was the former owner of the Royal Palm Hammock State Park, the current eastern entrance to the Everglades National Park. When President Harry S. Truman dedicated the park in 1947, May Mann Jennings was seated on the front row. The state office is located in Lakeland, Florida. It was during the 1952-1954 administration that the dream of a state headquarters began. This dream became a reality in 1955 with the dedication of the first building on the south side of Lake Mirror in downtown Lakeland. After 33 years at that location, dedication for a new building was held on May 6, 1990 on a small business cul-de-sac in south Lakeland on Florida National Drive. The FFWC President and the Executive Committee members oversee the operation of the state federation. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* HISTORY OF THE GFWC Our National Headquarters is located in Washington, D.C. The headquarters building houses the administrative offices, the National Women's History and Resource Center, and is the home of our International President during her two-year term. GFWC and FFWC have rich histories spanning over 100 years. Mrs. Jane Cunningham Croly, ("Jennie June"), a newspaper and magazine writer, wanted to attend a banquet to honor Charles Dickens. Mrs. Croly was told she could not attend because she was a woman. This gave Mrs. Croly the determination to found a club for women only, thus The General Federation of Women's Clubs was founded in 1890 with the motto "Unity in Diversity". In September 1994, 19th century journalist and feminist Jane Cunningham Croly was among the 25 extraordinary women inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.

CLERMONT CLUB MEETINGS

Regular meetings are held the first Tuesday of each month, at the Club House, 655 Broome Street, Clermont, October through May at 1:00 P.M. unless otherwise listed.

OFFICERS FOR 2008-2009 President..............................Helen Cooney/MaryJoy Wells 1st V-President..........................................Basha Schlager 2nd V-President......................................... MaryJoy Wells Recording Secretary....................................Noella Colette Corresponding Secretary.....................................Ellie Fink Treasurer.................................................Deborah Milwee Parliamentarian..............................................Sylvia Barto PRESIDENT'S THEME AND MOTTO "WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE"

The Clermont Woman's Club assembly room, kitchen facilities, patio/garden area and rest room (handicap) are available for rental on a regular basis or on a one time basis.

To contact the Clermont Woman's Club for information on membership, please call Florence at (352) 394-8136 or for rental of the Club House, please call Yvonne Girard at (407) 808-1861 or Linda Carberry at (352) 536-6295.