Woman's Club spreads May Day love
<p>Debbie Heckman wraps some baked goods for the May Day baskets. </p>
PLAINS – On Thursday, May 1, the Plains Woman’s Club celebrated the traditional springtime festival of May Day, by assembling and distributing May Day baskets for senior citizens and residents of Plains and Paradise, who have a hard time getting out of the house.
Members of the woman’s club moved about the interior of the United Methodist Church, carefully placing cookies, brownies and other sweet treats into the May Day baskets before wrapping them in plastic wrap, in readiness for the deliveries to be made later in the day.
The woman’s club tradition of making May Day baskets started about 10 years ago, noted Judy Stephens of the Plains Woman’s Club.
Stephens explained the contents of the baskets were originally flowers, marking the beginning of the spring season, but this year the decision was made to transition to baskets containing sweets.
Members of the woman’s club estimated that around 24 baskets would be made and delivered in the two towns through the course of the day.
Sandi Lane, president-elect of the Plains Woman’s Club, noted how much the small effort put in by club members was appreciated by the recipients of the May Day baskets.
“Fifteen minutes of our time is significant to them,” Lane said.
Stephens was in full agreement. “You always get a smile,” she said.
The woman’s club has been busy over the past couple of weeks. In addition, to the preparations for their annual May Day celebration, the club recently attended the 2014 General Federation of Women’s Clubs of Montana biannual convention in Helena.
The convention went from Friday, April 25 to Saturday, April 26, and was held at the Best Western Premier Great Northern Hotel.
Stephens and Lane noted that 2014 marks the 90th year the Plains Woman’s Club has been a recognized member of the GFWC.
Members of the Plains chapter are very proud of the long run of their branch, within the larger organization.
The GFWC itself was founded in 1890, as an international women’s organization dedicated to community improvement and volunteer service. It is a nonpartisan and nondenominational organization.
The convention featured the GFWC International President Mary Ellen Laister as its keynote speaker and included the presentation of awards to various clubs and individual members for their volunteer work.
The Plains club received multiple awards including a Special Projects Award for their work on handling domestic abuse.
Additionally, several elementary students from Plains and Paradise received awards after participating in a GFWC writing contest incorporating poetry and short stories.
Members of Paradise and Plains will surely appreciate the baskets, and the club’s larger efforts of simply taking time out of their schedule and visiting with their fellow residents of the community.
The simple act of taking the time to talk and listen to friends and neighbors is a good way to kick off the spring season.
Members of the club contributed in several ways to the basket making process. Some baked the sweets to be included, others assembled the baskets. Some did both and the delivery of the baskets was a joint effort between club members.