2026 Region Conferences

GFWC Region Conferences play an important role in strengthening connections among the national organization, state federations, and local clubs. They give members opportunities to build relationships, share ideas, exchange successful practices, and learn from one another while fostering a stronger sense of belonging to the GFWC family. Through Region Conferences, leadership development, networking, and collaboration, members gain new perspectives, discover resources, and are inspired to bring fresh ideas back to their states and communities. Regions also give members an important voice, helping ensure the needs and experiences of clubs are heard and understood. A strong Region builds strong states, strong clubs, and ultimately a stronger GFWC. Through these connections, we preserve our proud history, strengthen our present, and prepare our organization for the future. Read on to see the impacts and training from the 2026 Region Conferences.

Small Acts, Big Impact

Western States Region Conference – Park City, Utah (September 11-13, 2026)

By Pam Crochet, WSR President

Our Western States Region theme for 2026-2028 is “Small Acts, Big Impact”.  Sometimes we compare our clubs or ourselves to others and feel we haven’t done enough or been enough.  This administration, we are celebrating the small and big acts our clubs accomplish.  They all have an impact.

WSR members have been challenged to record their acts, both big and small, post them where their club members can see them, report them to their presidents, and share them within their clubs, state, and region.

Our WSR Newsletter will provide suggestions for action areas such as:

Acts of kindness.  Wildlife expert Steve Irwin said to be kind to animals, Mr. Rogers encouraged us to be kind to our neighbors, and artist Bob Ross told us to be kind to ourselves.

Acts of generosity.   Donate to a charity.   Make a meal for someone or clean out your closet and donate the unneeded items.

Acts of creativity.  Arrange a bouquet and give it away.  Crochet a blanket for a new baby.  Make hats and scarves for the homeless.

All acts, no matter how small, impact someone’s life, our community, and our world.

WSR members are filled with the spirit of volunteerism, humor, generosity, and kindness.  It was wonderful to have so many people help make the 2026 WSR Conference a success!  Our conference chair made it fun with her unique collection of headgear! We also held a successful International Day of Service Project, where members generously donated 360 art and play supplies to Peace House, a local crisis intervention center.

Kindness was everywhere as hugs of consolation and congratulations were exchanged, old friendships were renewed, new friendships were established, and support was offered. Laughter filled the air. Both big and small acts will make a difference in WSR.

Let Your Light Shine

Mississippi Valley Region Conference – Topeka, Kansas (September 17-20, 2026)

By Cheryl Strickler, MVR President

This Mississippi Valley Region President is happy to report that our conference was a great success.  We held the conference in Topeka, Kansas, at the Hotel Topeka at City Center on September 17-20, 2026.  We had 89 attendees from the Region States of Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota, including three guests and two boosters.  First-time attendees totaled 21, more than at any other MVR conference in many years, showing that the social media promos and extra internet notifications were a big factor in getting our grassroots members' attention.  We hope those numbers will increase next year. 

Two tours were offered this Conference. The first was the Art Tour to the NOTO Arts District, and the second was to the Kansas State Capitol Building, First Presbyterian Church, and the Brown vs.

Board of Education National Park. GFWC International President Wendy Carriker, GFWC President-elect Jolie Frankfurth, and GFWC 2nd Vice President Susan Gettys gave updates on GFWC projects and shared important information on building leaders. 

Our GFWC Appointees: Kathy Huggins-Communications & Public Relations; Janine Eilert-Legislation/Public Policy; and Eileen Hageman-Membership gave us valuable information on these subjects. 

Other platform workshops were also addressed for the Signature Program-A Call to Action: Stand Up. Speak Up. Show Up; Corporate Partners and Development-Opening the Door: Connecting with Corporate Partners by Dr. Susan Gettys, GFWC 2nd Vice President. 

Amber Powers, Junior Director of Nebraska, reported on the Junior Special Program: Advocates for Children- A Unified Force for Children. Ann Kruse from Nebraska also spoke about Juniorettes Are Our Future.

The YMCA of Topeka was the beneficiary of our service project of 50 Overnight Kits filled in GFWC-branded bags with hygiene items.

Our state presidents’ reports showed that GFWC club members are impacting communities across the states.

Kindness in Action: Hearts for Service, Hands for Purpose

New England Region Conference – Milford, MA ( September 25-27, 2026)

By Donna Shibley, NER President

On a beautiful fall weekend, September 25-27, 2026, the 117th GFWC New England Region Annual Meeting/Conference was held at the DoubleTree Hilton in Milford, Massachusetts. With 134 attendees, the conference offered a variety of pre-conference opportunities: the Milford Historical Museum tour, a hands-on notecard hammering craft, and hands-on assembly projects.

March of Dimes, the President’s Special Project, encouraged everyone to donate selected Amazon items for mom self-care. 15 bags, labeled with the March of Dimes logo and GFWC emblem, were brought to South Shore Hospital and handed out to new mothers who recently welcomed premature infants. The value was just under $1,500!

This weekend included the GFWC International Day of Service, with New Hope, Inc. as the designated organization. States were assigned to bring specific toiletry items (213 items were assembled into 20 cosmetic bags, valued at $250) and playroom and art project items for the shelter that houses families and pets (donated 158 items valued at more than $600).

45 club members attended a Leadership Workshop, BLAST ~ Become Leaders: Achieve, Spark, Transform. This well-attended workshop included our GFWC leaders, International President Wendy Carriker and President-elect Jolie Frankfurth, and New England Officers as presenters.

In addition to presentations from our GFWC Chairman and Committee members, our region hosted two keynote speakers. Hank Phillippi Ryan, a USA Today bestselling and multi-award-winning author, and Ted Reinstein, journalist and author of our country’s 250th Anniversary, were our keynote speakers. They autographed their books and offered them for sale.

Fun activities in the two evenings consisted of Slide, Stomp, and Spin Fun Night with Line Dancing and GFWC Volunteers in the Spotlight, a Karaoke/Dance on Saturday night with a special performance of Man! I Feel Like a Woman by our GFWC and NER Leaders.

Kindness in Action: Hearts for Service, Hands for Purpose was prevalent throughout the weekend.

Go Out on a Limb: Growing Together, Making a Difference

Great Lakes Region Conference – Pewaukee, WI (October 2-4, 2026)

By Loretta Caron, GLR President

This fall, Great Lakes Region members gathered for our first region conference, celebrating “Fall Magic in Wisconsin” while embracing the 2026–2028 administration theme, “Go Out on a Limb.” Our theme encourages members to step beyond their comfort zones. Whether saying yes to leadership, mentoring a new member, trying a new project, or believing in ourselves enough to take that first step, growth happens when we reach a little farther than we thought possible.

A highlight of the conference was the hands-on workshop, “Growing Leaders from Within,” led by GFWC International President Wendy Carriker and GFWC President-elect Jolie Frankfurth. Members were encouraged to recognize leadership potential and discover ways to develop leaders within their own clubs.

We also welcomed a speaker from Sojourner Family Peace Center, who shared valuable information on identifying warning signs of abusive behavior and providing safe responses. Her presentation reinforced the importance of awareness, compassion, and knowing how to offer support.

Our conference service project put that compassion into action. Members created 300 “Messages of Hope” for Sojourner Family Peace Center, offering words of encouragement to individuals who need them most.  Those heartfelt notes will be shared with survivors, families, and staff to remind them they are strong, valued, supported, and never alone. Members also went out on a limb to warm a heart, bringing 472 pairs of socks and 83 pairs of gloves to provide warmth, comfort, and hope to those who need it most.

As we continue this administration, may we remember that going out on a limb means supporting one another, strengthening our clubs, growing new leaders, and creating something truly extraordinary throughout the Great Lakes Region.

The Heart of a Volunteer: Serving with Compassion, Leading with Purpose

Middle Atlantic Region Conference – Albany, New York (October 9-11, 2026)

By Kathy Canzano, MAR President

The Willow Domestic Violence Center and the Angels of Mercy Inc., both located in Rochester, NY, were the recipients of the service project held during the MAR Conference.  Willow’s Impact in 2025 included 13,012 hotline calls answered, 297 shelter residents, including 195 children, 1,034 clients accompanied to court, and 10,103 people reached through prevention education.  Angels of Mercy is an organization dedicated to empowering and transforming the lives of women and girls facing domestic violence, human trafficking, and life-controlling issues. 

The members of the MAR Region contributed “ingredients” to make 65 Birthday Boxes.  Members brought cake mix, icing, plates, napkins, candles, a card, Sprite, and noisemakers to have a party in a box! The “box” was an aluminum baking pan with everything needed to make a birthday cake, cake mix, and a Sprite.  Our birthday boxes are about so much more than cake, candles, and birthday decorations.  For a woman or child living in a domestic violence shelter, life may be filled with uncertainty, fear, and difficult changes.  Something as simple as a birthday celebration can bring a moment of happiness and normalcy into their lives.  Every birthday box tells someone, “You are important.  You are special.  You deserve to be celebrated”.    Every woman and every child deserves a birthday, a reason to smile, and the opportunity to make happy memories. That's what our birthday boxes are really about: sharing love, restoring hope, and reminding others they are not forgotten.  We may not be able to change everything a woman or child is going through, but we can change how they feel on their birthday. 

Our impact has already been seen and felt in the Rochester Community as the Angels of Mercy posted a photo on their website as they were very happily celebrating the gift of some birthday boxes sent with love from the Middle Atlantic Region members who are “the heart of a volunteer,” who offered hope, kindness, dignity, and a reminder that someone cares.

This President has supported the GFWC Signature Program: Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness for 20 years, and its mission holds a special place in my GFWC work, so this year’s region service project added another layer of hope.

Book Heroes

Southeastern Region Conference – Chattanooga, TN (October 16-17, 2026)

By Sharon Sheridan, SER President

The GFWC Southeastern President’s special emphasis is on reading, which in turn leads to literacy.  34 million Americans are functionally illiterate, meaning they can’t read prescription bottles, fill out a job application, or read to their children.

This President believes that getting books into the hands of all children, even young adults, is a primary step, and has challenged all GFWC Southeastern members to become READING HEROES.  Her committee, chaired by Kelly Lane (VA), Susie Mowery (VA), and Kendra Patty (TN), has asked clubwomen to establish Little Free Libraries in their communities and other projects to encourage literacy.  

154 members attended to learn, train, have fun, and make new friends and rekindle old ones. Members attending the 2026 GFWC Southeastern Conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee, were asked to bring new or gently used books with them to the conference.  By the end of the meeting, members donated 1,144 books.    Each book was stamped with the Reading Heroes logo and will be distributed in the Chattanooga area by the Valmont Woman’s Club.

Rebecca Bakker spoke on literacy and AI. Tennessee State night was “Boots and Bling,” and a wonderful instructor taught us to line dance.  Saturday night, the SER Executive Committee hosted a Dolly Parton Pajama Bingo party and Dirty Soda Bar.  We accepted donations, which were donated to Dolly’s Imagination Library.  It was a great weekend!

One by One: Serving Together, Doing Our Part

GFWC Southern Region Conference – Jacksonville, FL (October 23-25, 2026)

By Tammie McCoy, RN, PhD., SR President

The 2026–2028 GFWC Southern Region President’s Project, “One by One: Serving Together, Doing Our Part,” focuses on combating food insecurity while demonstrating the tremendous impact of service. Clubwomen are encouraged to make a difference, one person, one family, and one community at a time. The 2026 GFWC Southern Region Conference in Jacksonville, Florida, brought this mission to life with record-breaking attendance of 245 clubwomen and guests.

Through a partnership with Feeding Northeast Florida, 65 volunteers contributed 163 service hours and packed 10,511 pounds of fresh produce, including 4,655 pounds of cucumbers and 5,856 pounds of sweet potatoes. This effort represented the equivalent of 8,759 meals for individuals and families experiencing food insecurity.

Club members also donated 173 canned goods and additional food items, including rice, pasta, cereal, oatmeal, pancake mix, syrup, and snacks, representing over $500 in contributions. Conference participants also raised $1,200 for the Success for Survivors Scholarship, extending their commitment to helping others.

Roughly 100 attendees enjoyed Junior Fun Night, “In It to Win It,” with proceeds of over $2,000 supporting the food insecurity initiative championed by the GFWC Florida Director of Junior Clubs. A candy-making demonstration and lunch at Sweet Pete’s added fun and fellowship while maintaining the focus on food.

Educational opportunities included updates across GFWC service areas and an Affiliate Showcase highlighting additional partnerships and service opportunities to strengthen club work. Florida State Night featured “Fired Up for Firefighters,” a meaningful service initiative highlighted by the GFWC Florida President.

The conference united Southern Region club members through service, education, and fundraising, demonstrating the power of GFWC Living the Volunteer Spirit.

Singing Together, Growing Together

South Central Region Conference – Mesa, AZ (October 29-31, 2026)

By Miriam Costilow, SCR President

GFWC Arizona welcomed 95 excited and enthusiastic GFWC members and friends to warm, but not too warm, Mesa, Arizona. The group included 22 first-time attendees, including a Juniorette member from a just-forming Juniorette club in Duncan, AZ. How exciting is that!

Friday members had the opportunity to visit a bit of Arizona’s gold mining history by touring Goldfield Ghost Town. Later that night, we donned our own costumes for the “Freaky Friday” costume contest.

Members of the South Central Region have enthusiastically embraced the two-year, region-wide project COLOR POWER. Clubs, districts, and states are gathering art supplies for art therapy sessions at domestic violence counseling centers and shelters. This project does not just react to the problem of domestic violence but impacts it as a profound and positive therapeutic tool.  Dustin E. Delcoure, Development and Civic Engagement Coordinator at the Phoenix VA, explained the value and power of art therapy and, on behalf of the Arizona Veterans Hospital Domestic and Sexual Violence Counseling Center, accepted over 650 in-kind/cash donations valued at over $1,400.00 for the art therapy program. These included, among other things, colored pencils, colored pens, boxes of crayons, art coloring books, and kits. The GFWC State Presidents shared how they were implementing this program. Again, it was exciting to hear the plans to provide shelters and counseling centers with materials for this life-changing therapy.