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THE FEDERATION JOURNAL
Fall, 1959
A Half Century Past-A New Beginning-Mason
Resume of
Convention Talk
By Mrs. V. T. Bishop
The highlight of our 50th An
niversary banquet held on Thurs
day night of the celebration was
the address delivered by Mrs. Vivi
an C. Mason, past-president of the
National Council of Negro Women.
This dynamic speaker used for
her subject: “A Half Century Past
—A New Beginning.”
As a background for her mes
sage we were given an informa
tive historic account of the Negro
Women who pioneered the Federa
ted Club movement and their con
tribution. Praise and gratitude
were given these pioneers for in
stilling the idea of organization
and unity in our clubs for the spe
cific purpose of endeavoring to
raise the status of Negro women
and of promoting community im
provement for aU regardless of
race.
Today, our federated clubs have
a wide area of community serv
ice: education for citizenship,
work with the blind, initiating and
supporting day - nurseries, rec
reation centers, undergirding pro
grams of the Community Chest,
Red Cross, Infantile Paralysis
Foundation and the like, stimu
lating local groups to increase the
roll of Negro voters and countless
other endeavors. The goal of the
federated women is to help pre
pare the present generation for
the times in which we live today.
“In this scientific struggle for
speed, power and supremacy, it is
imperative that we American
women become keenly concerned
with the fate of future genera
tions,” said the speaker. No oc
casion should be lost to tackle
the complex problems of to
day’s world. It should be
our aim to extend our
efforts and work together for com
mon advancement.
Our women’s organizations were
admonished to work more strenu
ously to improve the quality of
our education, to improve and bet
ter equip our schools, to make
provisions for all classes of our
youth, gifted or average; to
strive for decent housing, super
vised and healthful recrea
tion, higher moral standards,
adequate law protection and
to encourage every Negro citi
zen to be a voting citizen.
The speaker gave a salute to
North Carolina for the democratic
achievements she has made at the
ballot box by her demonstration
of the efficacy of free elections;
also the example of American
democracy in appointing Negroes
recently to important state posi
Miss Charity Dagada of Ghana, Africa, a student
at Howard University, speaking at the Friday
session.
A view of 50th Anniversary Birthday Cake at time
of reception on Friday night at convention.
tions. These acts have given our
State Department a vital weapon
in its struggle against communism
and have shown that democracy
does have vitality and can func
tion in the United States. It is
the best hope for mankind for a
free world governed by free peo
ple, she accented.
The large number of persons at
tending the banquet received an
inspiration and a challenge which
will surely strengthen our endea
vor to: “Lift as we Climb.”
Letter Issued After Convention
Southeastern
Founder Honored
Assembled in South Harnett
Elementary School at Bunn Level,
N. C., on September 13, 1959 was
a representative group of club folk
who honored Mrs. Thelma Henly
of Fayetteville.
Seven years ago Mrs. Henley
became founder and president of
the Southeastern District of N. C.
Federation of Negro Woman’s
Clubs. She was assisted by Mrs.
Rose D. Aggrey and Mrs. Edna
Taylor in the organization and
program of the district.
After attending the Executive
Board Meeting in Kinston, Mrs.
E. M. Spellman and Mrs. F. T.
Newsome, went to Smithfield for
the night in the home of Mr. and
Mrs. W. R. Collins, and on Sun
day morning drove on to join
others for a part of the Southeast
ern Honor Day. Arriving in the
midsts of club and committee rou
tine reports it was pleasing to
note the activities conducted in
Harnett, Bladen, Roberson, Cum
berland and other counties.
No doubt the most inspiring part
of the morning session was the
youth program, during which an
TO: Club Presidents and Execu
tive Board Members, NCFNWC
FROM: President, Mrs. E. M.
Spellman
RE: Request for support from all
Federation Members
GREETINGS:
A. BOND ISSUE
The support of you and your
club members is solicited in sup
port of the Bond Issue for needed
finance from which source funds
win come for additional improve
ments of physical plants of our
correctional schools. Cast your
vote in favor of the Bond Issue
on October 27, 1959 and en
courage all club members to do
the same. Your vote will show
your continued support in helping
oratorical contest was held. The
four young people covered intelli
gently the subject, “How to Ob
serve the Sabbath.” They were
judged and financial awards pre
sented by Mrs. Spellman.
Because of the distance to travel
Mrs. Spellman gave “Greetings”
at the close of the morning ses
sion, leaving immediately follow
ing lunch.
Guests and speakers were ar
riving for the afternoon honor ses
sion: Supt. of Harnett Co. Schools,
Mr. Prophet, Dr. J. W. Seabrook,
Dr. J. R. Larkins, speaker; Mrs.
Rose D. Aggrey, Mrs. Edna Tay
lor and others to give tributes to
the honored, Mrs. Henley.
to maintain our State Institutions
for boys and girls.
B. SCHOLARSHIP FUND MONTH
At our recent Executive Board
meeting, a decision was reached
to set aside the month of March
as Scholarship emphasis month for
each club. This is a new effort
designed to increase our Scholar
ship Funds, and it is requested
that every club sponsor one or
more financial activities during
the month of March for this pur
pose. Monies collected should be
turned in as usual at the next Con
vention which will be held in Ra
leigh this June.
C. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
MEMBERSHIP DUES
All Board Members, Club Presi
dents and Club Members who will
kindly do so, are urged to pay
$2.00 for membership dues in the
National Association of Colored
Women’s Clubs by the time of our
Annual Meeting in Raleigh, so that
we may increase our voting power
at the National Convention which
is to be in New York City in
August 1960. Plan now to attend
the National.
D. ART EXHIBIT
Your cooperation in having you
and your club members participate
in the Art Exhibit at our Annual
Meeting in Raleigh will be greatly
appreciated. A worthwhile exhibit
will provide material for our State
Federation to represent in the Na
tional Association Art Exhibit in
New York.
Yours in “Lifting As We Climb”,
(Mrs.) E. M. Spellman, President