By Emma R. Edwards
Goldsboro certainly made a big splash at the 21st annual convention of the North Carolina Federation of Women’s Clubs, which met in Winston-Salem May 2-5. The Goldsboro club, in a spirit of pardonable pride, admits that there were more Goldsboro women represented on the program and at the heads of important committees than from any other club or city in the state. A brief summary of the part that Goldsboro played and does always play in state club affairs will show why the local women’s club is always regarded as a model club in both personal and active operation.
Mrs. E.M. Land was chairman of credentials and supervised the issuing of badges and registration of delegates attending the convention. Her report showed that approximately 300 women were registered at the 21st convention, a number greatly exceeding all previous occasions. Mrs. Land was made a member of the nominating committee, consisting of five women, whose report was so universally satisfactory that all officers were elected by deafening applause instead of a formal ballot. Mrs. Land’s name was also reserved as an alternate to the Biennial meeting in California in 1924. She made a short talk at the presidents breakfast on Friday morning on the subject of “How to Finance a Club Building.” Mrs. Land’s most lasting impression with state club women, however, will be her superb management of the Sallie Southall Cotten Loan Fund during the past year. This scholarship fund lends money to poor girls who would be otherwise unable to go to college. The money is repaid without interest when the girl finds herself and has sufficient earning power to repay. Established 10 years ago, the present value of the fund is over $7,000; not one penny of the fund has ever been lost. Voluntary pledges to the amount of $650 at the Winston-Salem meeting were sufficient evidence of the popularity of this fund. Mrs. Land will continue as chairman of this important work for another year.
Mrs. Estelle Smith, state chairman of Home Economics, gave a most excellent report of the work done in that field of club activity during the past year. Chief among this was the cooperation of the club women all over North Carolina in the establishment of produce markets. Other activities undertaken were dress-making, canning club, interior decoration, and domestic science classes. Mrs. Smith was warmly commended of her splendid record of achievement. She was also in charge of a breakfast at the Robert E. Lee hotel, devoted to a discussion of Home Economists, which 150 club women were present. Mrs. Smith presided with enthusiasm and tact and the Home Economics breakfast scored one of the biggest successes of the entire meeting.
Miss Mary Faison De Vane and Mrs. Lionel Weil, who were not able to attend in person, sent their reports, Miss De Vane as chairman of library extension told of the increased interest in library work through books loaned and through appropriations. The North Carolina traveling libraries, for which this branch of the federation is responsible, are proving veritable gold mines to the smaller rural committees. Mrs. Weil’s report on disarmament told of efforts to arouse interest in every club to take an active stand for disarmament. Cooperation with other organizations for observing Armistice Day, fitting memorial exercises, and book club discussions of pertinent publications, all bore testimony to the genuine imprint which Mrs. Weil’s efforts have left on the state. Miss Gertrude Weil, as chairman of citizenship, made a stirring plea to the women to use their privilege of voting intelligently. She told of the knowledge to be gained from a study of municipal, state and federal politics, and impressed it upon women as their civic duty to acquaint themselves with everything which may serve as helpful tools for community betterment. Miss Weil also offered some level-headed remarks during a heated financial discussion, which were very warmly (word obscured). She presided later at a special session of Women Voters, which was held in the hotel. Miss Weil was one of the 12 guests at a luncheon given for the ex-presidents of the Federation.
Mrs. Tho. O’Berry, for three years chairman of the Eighth District, gave a comprehensive summary of the work achieved by the older clubs and by the newer ones in this district. The Eighth is one of the most prominent of the 14 state districts and Mrs. O’Berry is the recipient of constant praise for her untiring efforts. She took part in the discussion of civic improvement work in conservation of (word obscured) and flowers and also attended a breakfast for the district presidents. On Friday night, which was presidents night, Mrs. O’Berry carried the banquet for the Eighth District and was given a seat on the platform in the auditorium of Salem College, where the evening sessions were held.
Goldsboro’s final triumph feeling came Friday morning when officers of the state federation for the coming year were elected. Of the five officers elected in Winston-Salem, Mrs. Thos. O’Berry was chosen by acclamation as second vice-president and state chairman of districts, succeeding Mrs. J.I. Gilmer of Winston-Salem. No opposition or counter nomination was proposed; the reading of Mrs. O’Berry’s name met with unanimous applause.
In compliment to the visiting club women, the Woman’s Club of Winston-Salem got up a monster souvenir edition of the Turin City Sentinel, which appeared on Thursday May 3rd. This excellent newspaper contained about 100 pages of articles of interest to club women and North Carolinian in general. Goldsboro came in again for her share of prominence. The Twin City Sentinel carried photographs of Mrs. Thos. O’Berry, Mrs. E.M. Land, Mrs. Estelle Smith, and Miss Mary De Vane with authoritative articles by these women on subjects connected with their club work and activity. Other articles appearing in this issue were a history of Goldsboro’s club building project by Mrs. N.A. Edwards, and a treatise on the civic duty of housekeepers by Miss Gertrude Weil.
Delegates representing Goldsboro at the State Convention, in addition to the officer and chairman mentioned above, were Mrs. J.A. McLean, Mrs. A.W. Falkner, Mrs. O.H. Cobb, Mrs. N.A. Edwards, and Mrs. Carrie Isler.
From the editorial page (page 4) of the May 23, 1923 issue of the Goldsboro News.
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