The General Federation of Women’s Clubs of Oklahoma held its 127th State Convention on April 24-25 at the Renaissance Waterford Hotel in Oklahoma City. GFWC International First Vice President Jolie Frankfurth, South Central Region President Debbie Thomas and Region Vice President Miriam Costilow attended. Frankfurth presented two workshop presentations during convention.
Friday Tour Day included the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum (featuring the 100th Anniversary of Route 66 exhibit & Cowboy Immersive Experience), lunch at Bellinis Ristorante, and Professional Artist & Educator Tiffany Bohrer instructional art class. She is top-selling artist with Michaels stores.
The “Celebrate America 250” themed convention began with a 6 p.m. celebration dinner program. Joy Hammons, Chairman of the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women, welcomed club women to Oklahoma City. Oklahoma President Charlene Ridgway read aloud an Oklahoma Citation of Commendation for GFWC’s dedicated years of volunteer service signed by Senator David Bullard and Representative Cody Maynard. An update on GFWC-OK Governor Mansion First Ladies Rose Garden Project was given by Oklahoma President-Elect Monica Bartling. The commemorative garden is to be moved to a new location on the grounds and is to include heirloom rose bushes financed by GFWC-OK and native wildflowers provided by Color Oklahoma to increase food for pollinators and to increase pollinator education for tour groups visiting the mansion. GFWC-OK clubwomen conceived the garden idea in the early 1930s and continue their dedication to this project today.
President Ridgway presented a visual program on national and state recognized women who strengthened our nation—Julia Ward Howe, Ellen Demorest, Jane Addams, Julia Lathrop, Eleanor Roosevelt, Bertha Knight Landes, Ellen Woodward, Margaret Chase Smith, Alice Lakey, Mary King Sherman, Mary O’Tool Parker, Roberta Campbell Lawson, Katie Freeman Ozbirn, Kate Barnard, Gertrude Bonnin, GFWC founder Jane Cunningham Croly. All but the last two were GFWC clubwomen. Kate and Gertrude advocated alongside GFWC clubwomen on various social reform issues involving women and children.
During convention, past state presidents, 50-plus memberships, new members, Oklahoma LEADS Representative, Oklahoma Jennie Award Candidate, and Oklahoma club and state accomplishments were celebrated. The presentation of colors by Kiowa Black Leggings Veteran Warriors and the OKC Highlanders, Oklahoma’s premiere bagpipe band, added to the patriotic celebration.
President Ridgway’s State Project is Advocating for Oklahoma Children—their mental and physical health and safety. One in 5 (20%) Oklahoma children from every background and economic status suffer from mental health conditions from experiences of childhood adversity and trauma. In addition to mental health and physical abuse issues, children must be protected against online predators, child traffickers/ buyers, and anyone that seeks to sexually exploit children for commercial and personal gain.
Keeping with her state project, President Ridgway’s Friday evening guest speaker was Leslie Clingenpeel, CEO of The Spring in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. She is a leading state and national advocate for victims of human trafficking and domestic violence. She oversees organizational leadership, statewide training, and capacity building for service providers, advancing trauma-informed and victim-centered care. Leslie has collaborated with the Human Trafficking Capacity Building Center through the Office for Victims of Crime and co-developed Oklahoma’s statewide law enforcement counter-trafficking framework with the Tulsa Police Department—a model now recognized nationally.
She also serves as Co-Chair of the Oklahoma Coalition Against Trafficking and is active in shaping state policy and legislation for victim-survivors. Appointed by Speaker Charles McCall to the Executive Committee of the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women, Leslie is chairman of the Advisory Council and represents the South-Central Region on the National Association of Commissions for Women Board of Directors. She also serves in collaboration with the Attorney General’s Office to implement the Human Trafficking Response Unit.
The unit creates and maintains data related to human trafficking, so law enforcement and victim support groups have a consistent way to share information. The unit is also responsible for developing training programs to assist agencies and victims of human trafficking, as well as publish public service announcements on the dangers of human trafficking.
GFWC-OK’s convention “Done-in-a-Day” Project was collecting and donating much needed items for The Spring. The Spring provides safe spaces, relationships, and ongoing Christ-like advocacy for those affected by domestic violence, human trafficking, sexual assault, and stalking. Through emergency crisis shelter, nonresidential services, and transitional living, they provide hope and restoration.
During Saturday’s General Business Meeting, GFWC-OK Signature Program Chairman Rochelle Redbone Arebalo, Philomathic Club of Anadarko, presented a powerful program on Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women. Oklahoma ranks number 2 behind Alaska for MMIW.
Ridgway is a member of GFWC-OK Fortnightly Club of Durant, founded in 1902. GFWC is one of the largest women organizations and has been promoting and living the volunteer spirit for 136 years. GFWC members work in their own communities to support the arts, preserve natural resources, advance education, promote healthy living, encourage civic involvement, promote domestic and sexual violence awareness and prevention, and advocate public policy through their website legislative action center.
In 2025, Oklahoma clubs completed 2,762 Projects, 99,165 Volunteer Hours, donated $420,864.26 and In-Kind of $50,839 to community, district, and state projects. Through GFWC, GFWC-Oklahoma financially supported the established Military Women’s Memorial and the National Women’s Monument which is scheduled to be built at the intersection of Constitution Avenue and 19th Street on the D.C. National Mall. GFWC is proud to partner with the Alzheimer’s Association, Canine Companions, Heifer International, Hope for Justice, March of Dimes, Operation Smile, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and UNICEF USA for a collective greater reach and good.