The Las Fidelis Study Club, a member of the international branch, the General Federation of Women’s Clubs and the GFWC Texas Federation has ended its 2022 – 2023 club year on a high note. The organization wrapped up its club year with two final programs and the members were presented with four awards from the state organization, GFWC Texas.
The Levelland club won second place in the state organization for their report in the category, Community Commitment and Resources. They won second place in the category of President’s Special Project and first Place in the category, Texas Historical Places. Member, Tina O’Connor wrote the report on Texas Historical Places and received first place for her Chairman’s Narrative. These awards were presented to the club at their end of year luncheon.
The next to last meeting of the year included a visit to the Ahave Honey Farm, which is located on Drill Stem Road, out of Levelland. Christine Mitchell, who along with her husband owns and operates the Honey Farm. “Protecting the Pollinators” is a special project of the GFWC Texas President, Billie Williams so the club wanted to acquire more knowledge about the importance of bees to our food source. The fact that bees are in danger, which will severely negatively impact our food sources as well as other plants makes this an important issue. Mrs. Mitchell was very knowledgeable and stressed the importance of protecting bees. She told the club members that the honey farm was started as a hobby after retiring. She gave a great deal of information about bees and beehives as well as stressing the need to ensure that bees do not disappear. Christine Mitchell is collaborating with a local farmer, Steve Newsom, by putting her hives in his peach and apple orchards. This arrangement is beneficial to both parties as the fruit trees require bees for pollination and the bees get pollen and nectar for food. Christine Mitchell also collaborated with Tanya Moody and the Levelland Main Street Project to use plants in the downtown planters that will be beneficial to the bees. The Las Fidelis members met in the Bed and Breakfast that Mrs. Mitchell operates on the Ahave Honey Farm.
Las Fidelis ended this club year with their annual end of year Luncheon. The luncheon was held in the Founders Room at South Plains College. Members enjoyed a very nice lunch catered by the food service at SPC. The program, giving by club member, Sandra Stephenson, was a book report over a book called, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning. The book gives suggestions on how to free ourselves and our families of clutter. Ms. Stephenson pointed out ways that we contribute to our homes’ clutter by keeping things that are not needed and are not being used. She made several suggestions as to ways to eliminate many of the unnecessary items that contribute to clutter in our homes. The program was fun and practical. It was enjoyed by the Las fidelis members.
Las Fidelis will resume meeting next September. Members of the Las Fidelis Study Club are Dianne Bridges, Kaye Brown, Maxine Cook, Georgia Decker, Paula Dunn, Maggie Husen, Suzanne Leggitt, Betsy Moreland, Tina O’Connor, Fredda Schooler, Sandra Stephenson, and Jolene Sweeney.