By Meg Peters
Review Staff Writer
The General Federation of Women’s Clubs Lake Orion (GFWC) was recently named Club of the Year out of the 50 clubs in the state of Michigan.
Lake Orion officers announced the GFWC Lake Orion’s achievement, and named the Club Woman of the Year, at their meeting May 10 in the Gaelic Room of the King’s Court Castle at Canterbury Village.
GFWC Lake Orion won the state title over 7 other clubs nominated from the seven districts in Michigan. The Lake Orion chapter beat 11 woman’s club in the southeast Michigan district prior to advancing to and winning the state category.
Co-president Renee Horist of the LO chapter said the centennial year celebration of the GFWC’s community service February 15 helped secure the win, and all the community service associated with it.
Divisions were judged on their different activities that support the local community, Horist explained, along with a six-page report.
‘We did a calendar last year. We had a permanent wall donated to us at the library. We do the cookies every year for library week, and we have our yearly high school scholarships,? Horist said. ‘When you finally get [the state title] it’s a pretty big deal,? Horist said.
She hopes the extra recognition will bring back the once well-known club in Lake Orion.
Along with the new state title, GFWC Lake Orion members also voted Donna Depauw as Club Woman of the Year for her ongoing participation in fundraising and for contributing to all areas of the club.
Depauw made a name for herself among club members for selling the most fundraising cards in 2013, Horist said.
GFWC Lake Orion started the Orion Township Public Library in 1926? their ‘crowning achievement? according to Horist? 12 years after the literary club came together in Lake Orion.