2022 Installation Luncheon
The Women’s Club of Milton (WCOM) celebrated its annual Installation Luncheon at the 1776 Steakhouse in Rehoboth Beach, DE. Two special guests attended this year: Rita Hollada, GFWC Delaware State Federation of Women’s Clubs (DSFWC) Outgoing President, and Trish Rodriguez, GFWC DSFWC Incoming President. Rita Hollada welcomed everyone and installed the 2022 WCOM officers: Ellen DeRosa (Corresponding Secretary); Diane Bitterle (Recording Secretary); Pam Sweeney (Treasurer), Maida Graves (Assistant Treasurer), Jackie Barnes (Vice President), Debby Pecoraro (President); and Carol Ann Stone, State Director. Members of the WCOM would like to congratulate and thank these selfless women for volunteering and leading the WCOM into the future.
Rita Hollada also presented WCOM member, Marie Johnson, with a special recognition award from the GFWC DSFWC for her outstanding work on the WCOM Comfort Bears Project. She also presented a Tribute from the Delaware State Senate to the GFWC DSFWC on its 125th anniversary and used this opportunity to pass the DSFWC gavel to incoming President Trish Rodriguez. In addition, Rita thanked Linda King for stepping in for her as Acting GFWC DSFWC President during its annual convention in May when at the last minute she became ill with Covid-19. Debby Pecoraro presented the GFWC DSFWC certificates for awards won by the respective WCOM Committees: Communications and Public Relations, Environment, Health and Wellness and Women’s History. She then presented individual awards to WCOM members: Ellen Passman, retiring as Chairperson of the Arts and Culture Committee and Co-Chair of Membership Committee; Paula Costanzo, retiring as Treasurer; Dee Peters for her generous creation and donation of the Ocean Breeze Quilt for a WCOM raffle, and Pam Sweeney for her work as Bingo Chairperson. Nancy Reeves gave the Invocation before lunch. Carol Ann Stone, outgoing WCOM President, thanked all the members for their support over the last two years. She gave a special and heartwarming thank you to Linda King for leading the club during her absence due to illness, now resolved.
The WCOM Installation Luncheon would not be complete without awarding its annual scholarships to three young women from the Milton area. Karen Spencer, WCOM Education and Libraries Chair, presented three $2,000 scholarships each to: Samantha Connors, Georgia Hitchens, and Mackenzie Vitolo, all graduates of Cape Henlopen High School, each of whom spoke briefly, thanking the WCOM for her award.
Incoming GFWC DSFWC President, Trish Rodriguez, spoke to the group about her 2022-2024 initiative “Embracing Lives”.
Through its fundraising efforts among its many “Making a Difference” initiatives, the WCOM was able to award the college scholarships; provide continuing support to the Milton Food Pantry with ongoing food staples and a special monetary award; donate new and gently used bras from the Milton community to the “Free the Girls” International Campaign; contribute to Ukraine Relief through Unicef; provide gift cards to Milton elementary schools for families in need; donate toys to the Milton Boys and Girls Club; donate to the Milton Garden Club; and contribute to the following regional, national and international organizations: Delaware Hospice Heifer International; Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Program (HOBY); Kent-Sussex Industries, Inc. (KSI) that assists those with disabilities. Delaware Hospice
A special thank you goes to club members Danielle Mummert and Jackie Barnes for organizing the event and to Tom Holmes and the 1776 Restaurant staff for hosting and serving a delicious meal.