President Projects & Special Programs

President Projects

PRESIDENT'S SPECIAL PROJECTS:

Human Trafficking/Hope for Justice

Leola Bonge, Chairman

It is estimated that over 40 million are victims of human trafficking globally. Human trafficking is a crime that involves the exploitation of a person for labor, service, or commercial sex. Victims are unable to leave their situation of exploitation and are controlled by threats, violence, coercion, and deception. These are men, women, girls, and boys.

In the US there are most likely 403,000 people affected. Women and girls are disproportionately affected by human trafficking, accounting for 71 % of the victims. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children estimates that 1 in 6 endangered runaways reported were likely sex trafficking victims.

Hope for Justice is a GFWC affiliate organization. GFWC and Hope for Justice share a common mission and vision: to live in a world free from trafficking. Human trafficking is a global problem and Hope for Justice brings a global solution. They target their resources where they will have the most impact and help the most people. They want to create nations and societies that are hostile to trafficking – because what you tolerate, you will never change.

Get involved in the fight against human trafficking in your club. Invite a speaker, host a fundraising event, and check the website: www.hopeforjustice.org for videos you might use at a club meeting. January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, an opportunity for you to participate in the President’s Project.


If you care to make a donation, please send to Hope for Justice, PO Box 280365, Nashville, TN 37228 and put GFWC (your Club name) in the memo. Remember to report that donation. I will continue to update you as to programs and events that you may find useful in your community.

Humane Society

Chairman: Ann Kruse

“We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.” Immanuel Kant

Advancing the welfare of animals in more than 50 countries, Humane Society International work around the globe to promote the human-animal bond, rescue and protect pets, improve farm animal welfare, protect wildlife, promote animal-free testing and research, respond to disasters and confront cruelty to animals. The Humane Society of the United States is an American

nonprofit organization that focuses on animal welfare and opposes animal-related cruelties of national scope. It started November 24, 1954 in Washington, DC.


The goal of all humane societies is to “Fight the big fight to end suffering for all animals”. Through their rescue, response and sanctuary work, as well as other hands-on animal care services, they help thousands of animals every year. They fight all forms of animal cruelty to achieve the vision behind their name: A Humane Society.

Why Are Animal Shelters Important?

  • Provide animals with food, water and medical care

  • Provide protection from the elements

  • Provide relief from suffering

  • Provide a caring human presence
    Many times, these animals would have nowhere else to turn.

    What Can Animal Shelters Do for You?

  • Offer training classes for you and your pet.

  • Make sure you license your pet. This is one of the best ways to ensure that your pet comes home and is the law in most metro area communities

  • Offers resources to help keep animals in loving homes and urges pet owners to consider all options before deciding to surrender their pet.

Items Always Needed at Shelters (you can check with your local shelter for their immediate needs

  • Linens – towels and blankets

  • Peanut Butter

  • KONG Toys (all sizes)

  • Cat Food (dry and canned wet)

  • Stainless steel bowls (all sizes)

  • Plastic or stainless steel litter pans (all sizes)

  • Cleaning Supplies & Paper Products

  • Disposable Gloves

  • Pet Toy

  • Pet Treats (dog and cat)

  • Cat Litter

The “Adopt, Don’t Stop” Campaign originated to bring awareness to the ever-rising number of homeless and abandoned animals. It encourages prospective pet owners to adopt a pet from a shelter or a rescue instead of purchasing from a pet store.

Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte Memorial Hospital

Chairman: Betty Jean Kolterman

One of the State President’s Special Projects is the Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte Memorial Hospital Renovation Project.

Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte Memorial Hospital is in Walthill, Nebraska on the Omaha Indian Reservation. In 1913 Dr. Susan fulfilled her life-long dream of building a local hospital. After raising over $9,000, the hospital was developed by Dr. Susan LaFlesche Picotte, the first female Native American medical doctor. It was the first hospital for any Indian reservation not funded by government money. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1993.

Dr. Susan La Flesche

Susan La Flesche was born in a tipi on the Omaha Reservation in Northeastern Nebraska on June 17, 1865. She was the youngest child of Chief Joseph La Flesche (Iron Eye), the last formal chief of the Omaha Tribe and his wife Mary (One Woman). Susan loved her people. Growing up on the Omaha Reservation she not only learned the customs, language, dances and songs, but also saw the poor conditions her people lived in and the impact it had on their health. She realized that access to adequate medical care was difficult, if not impossible. As a child, she witnessed a sick, elderly native woman die, when the local doctor refused to care for her. This defining moment motivated Susan to become a doctor for all people.

At this time, medical training was rare for women and unheard of for Native American women. However, on March 14, 1889, at the age of 24, Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte graduated as valedictorian of her medical class from the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania. She could suture wounds, deliver babies and treat diseases, but as a woman she could not vote nor call herself a citizen under American law because she was a Native American.

After graduation, rejecting a potentially comfortable life on the east coast, Dr. Susan returned to the wind-swept plains of her people and raised awareness about health issues such as good hygiene and food sanitation. She treated tuberculosis, banned communal drinking cups and insisted on window screens for good ventilation and to keep out disease-carrying flies. These simple changes made a huge difference in the mortality rate of her people. At the age of 24, she was the sole doctor for more than 1,200 people and traveled over 1,300 square miles of open prairie. She provided food and often staying overnight at he home of critically ill patients.


Dr. Susan married Henry Picotte in 1894 and had two sons, Caryl and Pierre. On September 18, 1915, Susan passed away at the age of 49, having spent most of her too-brief life tirelessly and selflessly serving the Omaha people. Dr. Susan was active in her church and her community and still made time for working with state medical societies. She was a member of the Nebraska State Medical Society. Dr. Susan was a GFWC Nebraska Clubwoman and served as Health Chairman.

Once the restoration of the Susan La Flesche Picotte Memorial Hospital is complete, the building will provide a place to learn and celebrate culture, pursue business opportunities and offer health and social services. The restoration project will save and repurpose the structure and serve as a modern-day community center helping to meet the needs of the Omaha Nation and Walthill Community.


GFWC Signature Program: Domestic Violence & Awareness & Prevention

Chairman: Barbara Jackson

The goal of the GWFC Signature Program is to increase awareness of and help prevent the widespread occurrence of domestic abuse in communities across the Nation by working with national networks, supporting existing activities, working with established programs and initiating educational opportunities for club members and local cities.

YOUR CLUB CAN BE A POWERFUL VOICE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NO VOICE!

Advocate and Educate! In partnership with community programs, GFWC promotes advocacy for survivors of domestic and/or sexual violence and education of the public on the prevalence of domestic and sexual violence in our local communities and informs members on how to improve outcomes for survivors.

HOW TO GET STARTED? .........JUST A FEW IDEAS OF WHAT YOUR CLUB DO!

  • Use social media to spread awareness and advocate for social change.

  • Have a speaker on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) on how these experiences can increase the
    risks of injury, sexually transmitted infections, teen pregnancy, involvement in sex trafficking or suicide.

  • Provide supplies for families in need of emergency shelters.

  • Contact a senior center to hold an educational program for the seniors.

  • Learn to identify the risk factors and warning signs of Elder abuse.

  • Take this quiz to learn how social media is used by traffickers:
    www.polarisproject.org/human_trafficking_recruitment_quiz.

  • Apply for Walmart’s Community Grant Program (www.walmart.org/how-we-give/localcommunitygrants) to finance a project for your local shelter or raise awareness.

  • Start a book club to read about and discuss domestic violence issues.

  • Plan a campaign to celebrate and honor Native American heritage and culture.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

January: Human Trafficking Awareness Month

February: Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

May 5: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day June 15: World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

October: National Domestic Violence Awareness Month November: Native American Heritage Month

AWARDS:

  • Certificate to one State Federation in each membership category

  • $50 award to one club in the nation for project creativity