(L-R) Joe Fornino, Ruth Ann Cantelmo of Support the Troops & Donna Losch, Woman’s Club Chair
When GFWC Lutz-Land O’Lakes Woman’s Club members volunteer each month to pack boxes for our troops overseas, member Helen Fornino’s husband, Joe Fornino, regularly joins the group of women to work at the Wesley Chapel warehouse for “Support the Troops”. He was recently disturbed that although the warehouse is filled with boxes of personal items and treats ready to go to our service people, the funds were lacking to pay the postage required to ship them. Mr. Fornino, a retired fire fighter and resident of Lutz, stepped up and personally donated $1,000 to be used for postage in order to send these packages to our guys and gals so far from home. The Woman’s Club salutes Joe Fornino for his generosity of spirit in not only volunteering but in donating this substantial gift of his own funds to indeed Support Our Troops.
Celebrating 4th of July 2014 in Lutz
GFWC Lutz-Land O’Lakes Woman’s Club had a large presence in the Annual Lutz 4th of July Celebration.
Photo (L-R) Members Phyllis Hoedt & Aniko Solomonson carrying club banner
The Woman’s Club is a sponsor of this large and lively community event and members work hard to make it a big success. They plan and organize the parade, provide a food concession, handle vendor booths, conduct the cake / pie contest and auction, provide face painting and crafts for the children and many other activities to make this a very positive family-friendly event each year.
GFWC Lutz-Land O’Lakes Woman’s Club, longtime organizer and sponsor of the annual Lutz 4th of July Parade and Celebration, walked away with 2 coveted parade awards. Outgoing Lutz Guv’na, Suzin Carr served as Parade Grand Marshall. The Woman’s Club was presented with trophies for both “Grand Marshall’s Choice” and the “Most Comical” entry for their Dalmatian, Sparkle, the Firehouse Mascot, with all her cute moving parts. The float was decorated and Sparkle was constructed by hand under the direction of Karen Molis with many hours devoted to the project by her husband, Fred Molis, and her float committee. Congratulations to the Woman’s Club!!
Woman’s Club President Kay Taylor, daughter Ashley Taylor & Driver (member husband), Fred Molis
Award winning Woman’s Club Float with float chair Karen Molis & “Sparkle”
Lutz Volunteer Fireman’s Scholarship Fund Winners Announced
The Lutz Volunteer Fireman’s Scholarship Fund, which is administered by GFWC Lutz-Land O’Lakes Woman’s Club, proudly announces the scholarship recipients chosen for 2014. The last President of the Lutz Volunteer Fire Assoc., Jay Muffly, and Board Member, Gordon T. Brown, served on the selection committee together with Barbara Nicholson of the Woman’s Club and her scholarship committee.
(L-R) Woman’s Club President Kay Taylor, Scholarship Chair Barbara Nicholson, Recipients Samuel (Sammy) May & Sydney Spencer, Board Member Gordon T. Brown & Board President Jay Muffly.
Samuel (Sammy) May (FSU) and Sydney Spencer (USF), both Lutz residents, each received a $2500 scholarship from the Lutz Volunteer Fireman’s Scholarship Endowment Fund.
This fund was established to commemorate the contributions made by the former Lutz Volunteer Fireman’s Association to the Lutz community over the past 6 decades and scholarships will be awarded to Lutz residents annually. For those who wish to contribute to the scholarship endowment fund or to learn more about applying for next year’s scholarships, please contact us.
Preparing for Big Lutz 4th of July Bash
GFWC Lutz-Land O’Lakes Woman’s Club members are busily putting the finishing touches on their float entry for the Annual Lutz 4th of July celebration.
Members (L-R) Edwina Kraemer, Nancy Boschert & Karen Molis putting on finishing touches
The theme of this year’s parade is “A Salute to the Lutz Volunteer Fire Department” and the Woman’s Club is sponsoring Jay Muffly, last President of the Board of the Lutz F.D. as their candidate for Lutz Guv’na. A team of members has been working together with member husband, Fred Molis, who has hand-crafted a fabulous Dalmatian mascot who will ride along on the Woman’s Club parade float. Mr. Molis, a talented craftsman, fashioned “Sparky” out of chicken wire and other materials while his “assistants” applied the papier mache and painted the finishing touches.
The Woman’s Club, as co-sponsor of this wonderful annual community event, has organized the cake / pie contest, will provide breakfast food offerings at their booth, have face painting and other crafts for children and much, much more.
Sparky, the Firehouse Dog & Woman’s Club Parade Mascot
GFWC Lutz-Land O’Lakes Woman’s Club Crafting Meetings
(L-R) Members Margee Carpenter, Annette Bellingar, Shirley Simpson, Phyllis Hoedt & Nat Cunningham
(L-R) Members Rosie Heim & Val Burris
Member Marsha Gibson
For more information on membership in the Woman’s Club, please visit: Join Us.
Crockpot Cookoff Contest Winner Sharon Bard
Member Sharon J. Bard, Cookoff Champ
After enjoying generous samplings of each, members and guests voted and determined that Sharon J. Bard was the hands-down winner with her delicious recipe of chicken, yellow rice and black beans. Sharon’s big pot was emptied by the tasters who declared it to be a huge success. This enjoyable event was in support of the Woman’s Club-backed candidate for Guv’na, Jay Muffley, last President of the Board of the now decommissioned Lutz Volunteer Fire Dept. The winner of this zany, tongue-in-cheek political race will be announced at the Lutz 4th of July celebration and duly inaugurated for the next year. All funds raised in this event will be returned to the community through various local charitable organizations and non-profit groups.
(L-R) Guv’na Candidate Jay Muffly, Guv’na Suzin Carr, Sharon J. Bard with guests, Ingri Malene Bjarkoy & Bente Bjarkoy
For more information on membership in the Woman’s Club, please visit: Join Us.