HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY WOMEN OF FLAGLER

In the fall of 2005, then AAUW Flagler Branch President, Margie Bushnell, informed the branch membership of the changes in membership eligibility established by the national AAUW.  Many branch members objected to the new basis for membership and a committee was established to study the feasibility of establishing an independent organization.  After spending some months studying this issue, the committee decided there were more advantages than disadvantages to creating a new organization, chief among those being:

• the retention of the original intent of having members with bachelor degrees or higher;
• the ability to set dues at a much lower rate;
• the ability to keep all dues and fundraising monies within our community; and
• the ability to control, locally, how all monies are to be spent.

 
Thus, the new organization – the University Women of Flagler – was established to work to achieve the same goals as the AAUW – promoting equity for all women and girls, lifelong education, and positive societal change – but at the local level rather than nationally.
 
During the late fall of 2005 and early spring of 2006, several organization steps were taken, in large part by a committee comprised of Jane Mealy (chair), Nancy Smith, Dell Trayer, Mikki Weaver, Mindell Brown, and Diane Parisi:

• By-laws and policies were written.
• With the assistance of an accountant (the organization’s Registered Agent), articles of incorporation were written and the organization was registered with the Internal Revenue Service.
• the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations; and the Florida Department of Revenue as a 5.01(c)(3) tax-exempt organization with the ability to raise funds for charitable purposes.  Laura Szczechowicz assisted in obtaining the name of the accountant and potential insurance company for liability and bonding insurances.
• A logo and promotional materials were developed and distributed.  Among these was a brochure, designed by Pam Sellars, which lists the goals of the organization, along with the interest groups, and the benefits of membership.  It also includes a membership application.
• Checking accounts were opened at Cypress Coquina Bank.
• Several of those who were to become members made donations to the organization as seed money.
• 2006-07 meeting dates and places were established, along with the types of fundraisers and committees/interest groups that were to occur.
• Procedures for the donation of scholarships were established.
• Means for the creation and distribution of a monthly newsletter and annual membership directory were created.

 
An organizational meeting, attended by the potential general membership, was held at the Palm Coast Yacht Club on      June 17, 2006 during which the following occurred:

• Officers pro tem were selected, to serve until the election in October.
• The By-laws and Policies were reviewed and approved.
• Additional suggestions for committees and fundraisers came forth.

The organization became official on July 1, 2006 with 88 members.  Both the Board and the general membership have met monthly.  There have been many fundraising activities and cultural events.
 
Over the summer, a nominating committee was appointed to select officers for that October election.  The slate of potential officers was published in the September and October newsletters.  All the officers pro tem were elected in October.  Since that time, the Nominating Committee has presented a slate of candidates to be voted upon at the April meeting of the organization.
 
Scholarships
 
The main purpose of the organization is to provide as many scholarships as possible to graduating high school young women. Each year at our May luncheon, the UWF scholarship recipients are announced by the UWF Scholarship Committee. The number of scholarships that are awarded varies each year.  As of May 2023, UWF has awarded over 100 scholarships to high school graduates totaling more than $160,000. The scholarship recipients in May 2023 were Katelyn Telfer (Florida State University), Genesis Epstein (University of Florida), Lizelle Pear (University of Central Florida), Christina Nguyen (University of Central Florida), and Hailey Tucker (Wingate University). Each student received a scholarship of $3000 for the 2023-24 school year. In addition, Non-Traditional Student Grants of between $500 and $1000 are granted to local colleges and programs to provide help for adults returning to the workforce. 
 
Take Stock in Children
 
Deserving low-income students are chosen to participate in this unique private-public fundraising model recognized by the Florida Department of Education and the Florida Legislature.  Take Stock in Children is dedicated to providing scholarships, mentors, and hope to Florida's youth. The UWF has made a multi-year commitment to children in Flagler County to ensure that they graduate from high school and reach their full potential through education. Take Stock in Children scholars are awarded a college scholarship to a Florida college, university or vocational school. Local funds generated for this program are matched by the State of Florida.  In 2022, we contributed $2000. 

UWF has contributed to this program and sponsored a student every year since our inception. 
The Take Stock in Children program is administered by the Flagler County Education Foundation.  For more information about TSIC and mentoring opportunities, please call the Executive Director of the Foundation, at 386-437-7526, ext. 3125.
 
Dolly Parton Imagination Library.

This group was founded by Dolly Parton as a way to encourage young children to read by providing them with books free of charge. DPIL mails age-appropriate books to registered children monthly from birth to age 5. The books are selected from a database of available books curated by a blue ribbon panel. DPIL negotiates the purchase of the books and facilitates the shipping of the books directly to the children’s homes. A local 501(3)c, the Early Learning Coalition of Flagler and Volusia, sends DPIL $2.10 per child per month. That pays for the book and cost of mailing it to the child’s house. Parents may sign children up for the book donations online. UWF has donated $1500 to the local DPIL for the past few years. That amount is almost half the $3175 necessary to support the program for one month. Over the last 6 months, the Flagler mailings average 1,564 books each month. Other local groups and individuals donate to fund the program each year. DPIL currently has programs in the US, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom. As of May 2022, 178 million books have been sent to children in these countries through DPIL.

The Directory
 
The UWF Membership Directory is an indispensable tool to keep in touch with members and the activities of the UWF.  Each member receives a copy of the Directory which is updated as needed. The UWF Directory is edited by Jane Mealy; updated pages are available each September.  These include the meeting dates and major events that are to be held that year.
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The current edition of the Directory features a permanent 3-ring binder with a photo and short bio of each member.
  
Presidents
2022-2024              Josephine Dervan
2020-2022             Linda Jaeger
2018-2020              ​Pat Cotton and Janice Nickol 
2016-2018               Barbara Holley
2014-2016               Susan Slater
2012-2014               Janice Nickol
2010-2012               Sondra Bengston
2008-2010              Nancy Smith
2006-2008             Jane Mealy

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Charter Members
(2006 – 2007)

Mary Jo Alexander
Nancy Alexander
Joan Allen
Ruth Alper
Angie Aretakis
Sondra Bengston
June Bethel
Tina Boryskewski
Rhenda Brodnax
Mindell Brown
Jo Buck
Margie Bushnell
Lola Cancila
June Carlson
Nancy Carlton
Helene Corrigan
Lucy Crowley
Jane Culpepper
Ann Dermody
Antonia Dermody
Edna Diamond
Mary DiStefano
Blair Eberle
Bettie Eubanks
Carol Fabbrini
Valerie Ferrara
Carole Fiske
Barbara Forte
Muriel Freifeld
Cindy Froehlich
Marcia Gagnon
Dorothy Gordon
Ouida Green
Jean Gritman
Joyce Haynes
Judy Hennenlotter
Jan Hitchens
Mary Rose Hoffman
Virginia Horman
Suzanne Huffines
Jean Hunter
Martha Kiessling
Florence Knox
Ruth Kolodziej

Mavis Krause
Louel Larkin
Diane Layng
Muriel Levy
Jeanne Lewis
Joanmarie Livoti
Gloria Macfarlane
Sandra Madden
Ann McGee
Jane Mealy
Eleanor Milberg
Mary Moody
Sanneke Murphy
Shirley Newton
Janice Nickol
Jeanne Nix
Connie Norris
Diane Parisi
Teresa Phan
Sooki Rhee
Harriet Richardson
Joan Riley
Adele Rutledge
Phyllis Scheffler
Dolores Schulberg
Pam Sellars
Benita Sirkin
Gladys Sliker
Barbara Smith
Nancy Smith
Pat Smith
Edda Steinmeier
Laura Szczechowicz
Elaine Thomas
Suzanne Timko
Claudia Towne
Dell Trayer
Laura Tuccelli
Mikki Weaver
Anne Wentzel
Nikki White
Bobbie Wrassmann
Shari Young
Terry Zitnay ​