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Start a New Club

Click here for the Membership Advancement Guide in the 2012-2014 GFWC Club Manual (See page 32 for formation of a new club.)

Clubs−and even individuals−are encouraged to make the commitment to building a new GFWC club or federating an existing club. While it may seem obvious for a club to sponsor one of the same category, this does not need to be the case. A general club could sponsor the formation of a collegiate club out of a local university, or a Junior club could sponsor a Juniorette club made up of some of the clubwomen’s daughters and their friends. Individuals may find they are in an area with no existing club, and could consider getting in touch with a local women’s club to discuss Federating, or begin the process of establishing a brand-new club themselves. All clubs and individuals interested in forming new clubs should contact the leaders in their state federation, as well as GFWC Headquarters who can assist with building new clubs.

All GFWC Active clubs are defined as a general, Junior, Juniorette, or International club. No matter what
membership category, when building new GFWC clubs think of creative ways to harness potential members.
  • Workplace Clubs: In looking for sources of new clubs consider the workplace: government, university, or corporate offices.  While these clubs would meet during work hours, they would draw women who already have something in common. Women in such clubs might hold breakfast, lunch, or dinner meetings convenient to the workplace schedule. Workplace clubs would function the same way as other clubs, choosing community projects, building friendships, and discussing topics of interest.
  • Single Issue Clubs: Although GFWC offers diverse Community Service Programs, a club is not required to participate in all program areas. It is acceptable, and often beneficial, for a club to address a single issue. For example, community members interested in historic preservation may want to form a GFWC club that focuses on that particular interest. A single issue club would be an Active membership club with voting privileges.
  • Collegiate Clubs: Colleges and universities can be an excellent source for GFWC members. Campuses often face the same challenges in conservation, crime, and safety, as other traditional communities. A collegiate club could meet the unique needs of the campus as well as accommodate the lifestyles of students.
Excerpted from www.GFWC.org.  © 2010 General Federation of Women's Clubs 202-347-3168 www.GFWC.org. Used with permission. May not be reproduced for sale or profit.

To form a new club affiliated with GFWC of Massachusetts or GFWC of Massachusetts, Junior Membership, their bylaws state:
Article III–Members
Section 1.  Membership in this organization is open to any Woman's Club in Massachusetts, whose bylaws are nonpartisan and consistent with the object of the Federation.  Applicant club may elect to be designated as a General or Junior Membership Club. There may be Juniorette Clubs, sponsored by an active General or Junior Club.  (See "Start a Juniorette Club" for information about this process.)

Section 2.  There shall be two types of membership, active and associate.
  1. ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP shall be held by clubs paying per capita dues to both the State Federation and the General Federation except as otherwise provided herein.
  2. ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP shall be held by:
    1. Clubs or organizations that hold membership in other national parent organizations;
    2. Clubs with state-wide membership (having membership in fifty-one per cent of counties in the state);
    3. District presidents' clubs and all past presidents' clubs;
    4. City federations having membership in the General Federation prior to 1951.  Membership in the State Federation is required of member clubs
Section 3.  Applications for admission to the Massachusetts Federation shall be made in writing by the president or secretary of the club or organization of at least ten (10) members, to the corresponding secretary of GFWC of Massachusetts, accompanied by a copy of the club or organization bylaws, a list of officers, and a statement of its total membership.  All club names shall be procedded by GFWC.
  1. The corresponding secretary of the Federation shall present each application to the executive board at its next meeting.
  2. A majority vote of members present and voting shall admit the club or organization into immediate membership with due notificaton of this action.
To offer comments and or to receive more information about our organization  Please contact: Diane Murphy, Director,   or write to: GFWC of Massachusetts, Junior Membership,  P.O. Box 679, Sudbury, MA 01776-0679 GFWC of Massachusetts Headquarters is at  245 Dutton Road, Sudbury, MA.  Click here for directions!