BWC members volunteer thousands of hours to raise funds and also give hands-on assistance in special areas that we feel are in need and/or of benefit to the community.
Associated Memberships. Many members are involved on their own with Fallbrook Hospice, the Angel Society, Crime Watch, Boys and Girls Clubs, the Chamber of Commerce, the Bonsall Union School District, the Humane Society, Laubach Literacy, and the Women's Resource Center. Because they are affiliated, they are able to bring to the club's attention a better realization of what these organizations need to operate in a meaningful way and how we can help.
GFWC Goals. The General Federation of Womens Clubs (GFWC) gives us six divisions--Arts, Conservation, Education, Home Life, Public Affairs and International Affairs--to work within. Under those divisions, we have several departments projects plus standing committee activities to delve into that suit the members' interests and are of benefit to our specific community.
Divisions:
Arts. BWC participates in the GFWC/CFWC Arts Festival every year with members exhibiting their crafts, sewing, literature, drama, music, photography and paintings. Much to the delight of the membership, many members have been blessed with some incredibly wonderful talent in some of these areas that they share with us.
Many of our members are top-notch artists. One member has been serenading us with her "magic" violin for several years. Then there's the member whose short story went on to win a GFWC literary award. A long-time member also became a gifted oil paint artist under our very noses and regularly wins first place awards at the Palomar District Arts Festival. BWC members go all out to encourage local youth and adult musical, drama and literary groups (KOPA, FBHS, C.A.S.T., VOICE, Fallbrook Music Society, etc.). They receive monetary donations, and some of them share their wonderful talent with us at our meetings and functions.
Conservation. The club undertakes several projects in this category, including resource conservation, beautification, environmental issues, and safety. One BWC member, a former president of our club who is very active in the community, became Honorary Mayor of Bonsall by raising the most funds among the candidates. She met with our State Senator, the Director of Cal Trans and the Director of Sandag to bring attention to the high volume of traffic on Highway 76 and its negative impact on safe driving in the midst of the Bonsall business community.
BWC volunteers worked on the Bonsall Clean-up Day to clean up trash along the San Luis River.
A committee was formed to preserve, restore and obtain a designation of a State Historic Site for the original Bonsall Schoolhouse. It was the first meeting place of our club when it was formed in 1980.
A newer project is animal protection. The club donates to Tender Loving Canines (helps disabled persons), the Escondido Humane Society (rescues, shelters and provides foster/permanent homes for all ages and all kinds of animals from reptiles to horses), and The Dog Rescue Program (accepts dogs abandoned, abused, neglected, needing placement, and medically treats, neuters, micro chips and evaluates them for adoption placement). For the latter program, members have donated food and hundreds of towels and blankets for these special friends.
Education. From leadership, to scholarship, to just plain old literacy, the club has a keen interest in seeing that children up through adults are provided every assistance possible to help them compete on a fair playing field. Members donate books to the Fallbrook Library, and the club is also donating funds to help build a new Fallbrook Library.
Four $1,000 scholarships are awarded to Fallbrook, Ivy, and Oasis students. BWC donates to The Hugh O'Brien Youth Foundation (HOBY) and each year selects a high school student with outstanding leadership qualities to attend the HOBY Leadership Conference.
Home Life Good health, having enough to eat, and proper shelter aren't always so easy to obtain for some people. We try to give them the boost they need to get these basic needs and improve their lot in life. For the annual Christmas Food Drive, BWC, in cooperation with the Bonsall Chamber, collected and gave food to 11 needy families.
When San Diego County wild fires burned down homes and displaced families, the club adopted two fire victim families and helped them with donations, delivering some new appliances and repairs. BWC participated in a community rummage and boutique sale and subsequently donated large quantities of clothing and other items to Brother Benno's, the Angel Shop, and the Women's Resource Center. BWC recently adopted two new projects to contribute items to: Dress for Success and Casa de Amparo.
BWC gave members' hand-made Baby's Warm and Cozy snuggly things to the Fallbrook Hospital and Women's Resource Center. Members made bibs for the John Glenner Alzheimer's Center and a new seniors' day-care center in Fallbrook. Members also made 105 Breast Cancer Pillows for the Jr. Women's project. Members knitted and crocheted squares and put together afghans for the Women's Resource Center.
The club helped the local Mothers of Pre-School Children (MOPS) when it was getting organized by providing child care and funds. Their programs provide education and support for mothers and their children six years or younger. Now MOPS is helping us with some of our projects that help women.
Public Affairs. Crime prevention is a major interest. Safety and shelter for battered women and homeless people are of primary concern to us. If any information needing public attention comes in from the Sheriff's Department, the club's Crime Prevention chairman brings the important information to club members' attention. Alerts regarding identity theft and gang activity have been especially important. Members fingerprinted 150 incoming kindergartners at Bonsall Elementary School.
The club purchased a flag and flag poles for the outside of the Bonsall Community Center and another flag for the inside of the center.
Aluminum can tabs are collected for the Ronald McDonald House which sells them to a foundry. (Just 1,274 tabs make a pound.) These funds help support families of critically ill children. Campbell Soup labels are collected which helps schools earn merchandise and software. Monetary assistance and grocery coupons are given to Camp Pendleton service families. Proceeds from scrip and grocery receipts are placed in the general fund for distribution to needy causes.
International Affairs. We're always looking for members who will take an interest in this area and become chairman. In the past, we've helped some exchange students. They, in turn, have presented to BWC members some very interesting talks about the country they went to, their experience as an exchange student, and some interesting and humorous situations that happened to them while there.
Bonsall Woman's Club
P.O. Box 545
Bonsall, CA 92003
E-mail: BWC@vcweb.org
This page last updated 8-21-2010
