The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-11-18
Our Federation
Annual Address of Mrs. William
Hooker @ President Florida
Federation OF WOnnen'S Clubs


This public report of our work is |
given at special request of our host
ess president. She says club women |
know about the federation--let's tell
something Of it to the people in gen.
eral-meaning, l think-the, men In
particular. And we do feel You are
interested, whether you regard wom-
ems clubs as series Of pink teas"
or whether you feel that they are
breeding places for the germ that
YOU fear will cause womankind to
usurp mans prerogatives and trous-
ers. Ibid you ever wonder what
the joke-makers of the pre-trousers
age used as an insignia Of the wife
militant?)
Whether you agree with the old
man, who upon having "conserva-
ton" explained to him, said: why,
that amt nuthin' new; it jes' means
takin' keer O. things, and that's al
lers been woman's work; that's
what a woman's fur-a man per-
vides and a woman takes keer"--or
whether you sympathize with a re-
cent writer who says: woman be-
longs to the money spending gend-
err" In any case I'm sure you want
to know from us just what our or
ganization represents, and we want
to show you that if we are the "care
takers" we are studying the most
effectual methods, and if we are the
"spenders" we are trying to learn
to spend wisely.
Kipling says: 1.-THE strength OF
the wolf is the pack, and the
strength of the pack is the wolf. ;"
The strength Of the club is the fed
GRAFTON and the strength Of the fed
Grafton is the club.
Our Florida F. w. C.was or
ganized in 1895 at Green Cove
Springs. VIE are celebrating our
goth anniversary. Next year we will
be old enough to vote. Two years
ago. the Florida federation num-
bered less than so clubs. Since then
30 new clubs have been received
and the membership more than
doubled. Of our ten clubs now d.
rectly affiliated with the general
federation, six were admitted during
the last convention year.
A most significant sign of the
times is the fact that the new clubs
turn to the federation as soon Az
they complete organization and our
extension committee is kept busy
telling how rather than why to fed
crate. Heretofore we have had an
hundred or more year books left over
to distribute at the convention; this
year the demand has far exceeded
the supply, showing increased activ-
ity and interest.
Fifteen clubs own their own
homes, and almost as many more
have bought lots and started build
ing funds. The clubs of the Florida
Federation own approximately
100000 worth Of property. This
means better facilities, stability and
permanence.
Our State Federation Is a part Of
the General Federation Of Women'a
Clubs, with its membership of one
and half million women--a world.
power that has no limitations. AL
service clubs, all state declarations
voluntarily follow the lead Of tn,
national organization in subjects To-
study and lines Of work, making ,
unanimity Of purpose, a conserva
ton Of effort that has its justifica
tion in the accomplishing OF direc
results. and tho moulding of publ
sentiment.
Tonight have the pleasure o
presenting to you the machinery
Of our Florida Federation. The OF
ficers: Mrs. Cay, Tallahassee. frs
vice president; Mrs. Dinick, Pair
Beach, second vice president; Mrs
Dickinson, Sanford, acting secretar
on account Of illness of Mrs. Thorn
ton of Ormond; Mrs. Jack CAM
Ocala, corresponding secretary; Mis-
Williams, Crescent City, treasurer
Mrs. Tenney, Federal Point. aud
tor; Mrs. Young, Jacksonville. SEE
rotary to General Federation, an
recently elected a director In tn
General Federation. Florida's frs
member of the national board.
Our chairmen, Of education, Mrs
w. s. Jennings. Springfield In
provement, Jacksonville; home ece
Monies, Mrs. A. Leight Monro,
Miami social conditions, Mrs. ]
D. Randall, Lawtey; civics, Mrs.
T. Fuller. Orlando: health, DR.