General Federation of Women’s Clubs Potpourri Glenwood and GFWC Starbuck each won awards at the GFWC MN State Convention held at Arrowwood May 5-7 in Alexandria. Clubs are awarded for exceptional activities in eleven areas. GFWC Potpourri received the environment award for their program about the goats in Barsness Park, making the park more accessible with goats eating buckhorn. GFWC Starbuck was awarded for their Teen Dating Violence activity in the Signature Program: Domestic Violence & Junior’s Special Project, bringing awareness of this to Minnewaska School teens and surrounding community folks.

A highlight of the convention was hearing Greg Hall from Hope for Justice speak. We learned that labor trafficking is a much bigger business than the sex trafficking business. Our MN State Service Project was filling backpacks of necessary supplies donated made by GFWC members for girls/women escaping sex trafficking. 

A first for Minnesota was the offering of a free seminar, LEADS (Leadership, Education and Development Seminar). LEADS has been done at the national convention for one woman per state. This was held before the convention started and was well attended by members of the two local clubs. Two Potpourri members, Darlene Femrite and Leeann Jorgensen were a part of this LEADS presentation.

The two clubs, being clubs in the GFWC West Central District, hosted this state convention. After the Civil Air Patrol posted the colors before the start of the convention, Alexandria’s Mayor, Bobbie Osterberg, welcomed the Minnesota club members.

GFWC is a volunteer organization, benefitting their communities with activities for improvement of their lives. Being a part of GFWC is friendship, self- improvement and knowing you are helping others in making a difference. If interested in joining one of these clubs, contact a member or for more information, go to the GFWC Website or Facebook. Visitors are always welcomed.