Local Woman's Club Celebrates All Things Conservation

The GFWC Woman's Club of Lake Wales will participate in the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC) efforts in Conservation. The GFWC Conservation Community Service Program encourages awareness of our natural resources and caring for the world around us. It offers information and ideas to promote environmental appreciation and protection.

The Florida Federation of Women's Club, and particularly the Preservation Committee chairwoman May Mann Jennings, took a deep interest in the Royal Palm State Park and began campaigning for the designation of Paradise Key as a state park. To their success, the state declared 960 acres for Royal Palm State Park in 1916 to the FFWC. This acreage was also matched by Mrs. Flagler. Ingraham highway, a road from Florida City to Paradise Key, had also been recently completed and was dedicated along with Royal Palm State Park, on November 23, 1916. By 1921, 2,080 more acres had been donated by the state, making Royal Palm a 4,000 acre state park.

The March General Meeting of the Woman's Club of Lake Wales will be held at 10:30 a.m. March 5 at 275 E Park Avenue, Lake Wales. Join Mother Nature in celebrating all things Conservation! Enjoy a gathering in a garden of plants and small trees as Bonnie Poller transforms our "Grand Lady" into a green tribute to Mother Nature. Enjoy a $5 lunch of a Salad Bar and fruit as we sit at beautifully dressed tables of green and white with birdhouses and small animals. Bonnie will present the Club's focus and goals in the Conservation Community Service Project area, as well as describing projects in the works for the Clubhouse and the Community

Guest speaker is Booster Robert Connors, author and conservationist, who will speak about the historic landscaping plan for Lake Wales created by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. at the time of the construction of Bok Tower. The GFWC Woman's Club of Lake Wales was an early supporter of the plan and it is being revived by Lake Wales Heritage,

Resolutions adopted by GFWC are the foundation of Club organization. They guide the call to action and are the basis of all programming and advocacy. GFWC Clubs across the nation have banded together in many efforts to preserve our legacies in Conservation, such as the "GFWC Florida Everglades Eagles" that were decorated by GFWC Clubs and Artists from all over the state to support the Florida Everglades, and improved Hurricane resistant educational signage throughout the Everglades Royal Palm and Anhinga Trail originally preserved by the FFWC.

The work to preserve, maintain, and restore our natural resources, protect habitats for plants and animals, and develop sustainable habits are strong in the Conservation Programs. Environmental education; care for our air, land, and water; recycling; litter cleanup; partnerships with community groups, schools, and children; support of wildlife; energy conservation; tree planting; and beautification - this is what the Conservation Community Service Program is all about.