Our History....
After the end of World War II, in 1945, the United States began a postwar boom of both babies and building. New housing developments outside of major cities rose almost overnight to become the suburbs of today and Plantation was no exception.
The Everglades Plantation Company and their unsuccessful attempt to establish a rice plantation allowed for the land we now live on to go through an initial development phase that lasted from 1931 to 1952 first starting as a farming cooperative but ending as the first homes built by "Plantation Homes, Inc." in 1947.
The completion of the Plantation Golf Course and Country Club in 1950 provided the community with close social facilities. The 35 ladies who met in the Plantation Homes, Inc. industrial trailer at 8 PM on February 28, 1949 named themselves "Plantation Community Club", appointed a nominating committee, By-laws committee, and times for the next meetings.
By December 1949 the club had changed its name to "Plantation Woman's Club", sponsored family activities centering around child care, elementary school events, and teen programs.
The Everglades Plantation Company and their unsuccessful attempt to establish a rice plantation allowed for the land we now live on to go through an initial development phase that lasted from 1931 to 1952 first starting as a farming cooperative but ending as the first homes built by "Plantation Homes, Inc." in 1947.
The completion of the Plantation Golf Course and Country Club in 1950 provided the community with close social facilities. The 35 ladies who met in the Plantation Homes, Inc. industrial trailer at 8 PM on February 28, 1949 named themselves "Plantation Community Club", appointed a nominating committee, By-laws committee, and times for the next meetings.
By December 1949 the club had changed its name to "Plantation Woman's Club", sponsored family activities centering around child care, elementary school events, and teen programs.
Who We Are...
Our organization is open to all woman interested in joining a civic group that makes a difference in their community.
Our goal is to provide a volunteer base to promote goodwill, support and improvement in our community.
Volunteering is a terrific way to meet new friends, make the most of your talents and contribute to the community we live in.
Our goal is to provide a volunteer base to promote goodwill, support and improvement in our community.
Volunteering is a terrific way to meet new friends, make the most of your talents and contribute to the community we live in.
Club Information...
Monthly Meetings
September thru May
Second Tuesday of the month, 10:00 A.M.
Current Location:
Plantation Community Center
5555 Palm Tree Road
Plantation, FL 33317
954-797-2180
Fun Summer Socials:
June thru August
President: Nancy Dzoba
Phone number: 954-931-2141
Membership: Helen Ackerman
Phone number: 954-581-4533
New member annual dues: see new member application.
September thru May
Second Tuesday of the month, 10:00 A.M.
Current Location:
Plantation Community Center
5555 Palm Tree Road
Plantation, FL 33317
954-797-2180
Fun Summer Socials:
June thru August
President: Nancy Dzoba
Phone number: 954-931-2141
Membership: Helen Ackerman
Phone number: 954-581-4533
New member annual dues: see new member application.
Remembering Our Club History...
Plantation GFWC History
As mentioned at the September meeting, our Club has been instrumental in the development of Plantation. We started in a warehouse located in Hoffman Park. A concreate block building with no water. That first five years saw the club: Gather a group of determined woman that worked to improve their community starting with a bake sale in the first year that earned enough money to buy a used piano for the community.
This was quickly followed in the second year with a fundraising dance that allowed for the purchase of grills for the park. A “play school” program was set up to provide a chance for short term childcare. The Club asked each member to donate a $1.00 so they could provide supplies for the children.
In our third year, we sponsored teen dances to provide activities for the young adults. We also purchased chairs for the center.
In year four, the city summer recreational program was started and run by the Club. The Club supervised and financed the project for two summers. The holiday basket program to assist those in need was initiated. The club voted to join the GFWC.
Finally in year five, our charter was written and approved. We began the welfare program to assist our neighbors when they were in need. The Club started a tradition of hosting coffees for newcomers. In a short time, with a group of approximately 35 woman we started to put our imprint on the city. Stay tuned for more history next month.
Nancy Dzoba
As mentioned at the September meeting, our Club has been instrumental in the development of Plantation. We started in a warehouse located in Hoffman Park. A concreate block building with no water. That first five years saw the club: Gather a group of determined woman that worked to improve their community starting with a bake sale in the first year that earned enough money to buy a used piano for the community.
This was quickly followed in the second year with a fundraising dance that allowed for the purchase of grills for the park. A “play school” program was set up to provide a chance for short term childcare. The Club asked each member to donate a $1.00 so they could provide supplies for the children.
In our third year, we sponsored teen dances to provide activities for the young adults. We also purchased chairs for the center.
In year four, the city summer recreational program was started and run by the Club. The Club supervised and financed the project for two summers. The holiday basket program to assist those in need was initiated. The club voted to join the GFWC.
Finally in year five, our charter was written and approved. We began the welfare program to assist our neighbors when they were in need. The Club started a tradition of hosting coffees for newcomers. In a short time, with a group of approximately 35 woman we started to put our imprint on the city. Stay tuned for more history next month.
Nancy Dzoba
50 Years of Service
"Celebrating 50 years of Service to Our Community" was the theme that guided members in the Golden Anniversary year of 1999.
By this fiftieth year our Club had donated "more than $130,000" to furnish Deicke Auditorium. An internship program was also sponsored by the Club at theGoodwin Institute for Cancer Research.
Kids in Distress, Special Olympics, Canine Companions and a host of other recipients are noted in the 1999 anniversary brochure along with our police and fire departments.
Gold colored fifty-year decals surround articles on waterway cleanup projects, scams and telemarketing, animal, child and elder abuse in the scrapbook along with the Woman of the Year "Golden Angels" gold-toned program brochure.
"Preparing the Way for the Future" set the theme for the next twenty-five years in the 1999 yearbook as we now look forward to our Diamond Anniversary year beginning in February 2024 when our Club reaches its 75th birthday.
submitted by
Helen Ackerman
Historian
"Celebrating 50 years of Service to Our Community" was the theme that guided members in the Golden Anniversary year of 1999.
By this fiftieth year our Club had donated "more than $130,000" to furnish Deicke Auditorium. An internship program was also sponsored by the Club at theGoodwin Institute for Cancer Research.
Kids in Distress, Special Olympics, Canine Companions and a host of other recipients are noted in the 1999 anniversary brochure along with our police and fire departments.
Gold colored fifty-year decals surround articles on waterway cleanup projects, scams and telemarketing, animal, child and elder abuse in the scrapbook along with the Woman of the Year "Golden Angels" gold-toned program brochure.
"Preparing the Way for the Future" set the theme for the next twenty-five years in the 1999 yearbook as we now look forward to our Diamond Anniversary year beginning in February 2024 when our Club reaches its 75th birthday.
submitted by
Helen Ackerman
Historian
50 Years Ago (1973)
Just like today our club was very busy. Here is what we were doing.
The big project that year was working on Deicke Auditorium. More on this project in next month’s newsletter.
But as we all know, our members do not limit themselves to one project. Club members were doing a lot of work educating the community on the dangers of cancer. This project was chosen because many of our club members or their family members were dealing with cancer. Members attended cancer seminars, collected information, and worked with other organizations to obtain training materials. Each month they set up table at the Towne Mall to distribute information, answer questions and refer citizens to services available in the community. The Club also hosted a showing of a film by the American Cancer Society entitled “A wonderful life”. This was followed by a question-and-answer period presented by two local doctors.
The Conservation committee of the club continued with collecting newspapers for recycling. The Junior Miss Club (a middle school aged girls club sponsored by the Junior Woman’s Club) and Plantation Girls Scout troops all assisted with this project. Over
several years the groups collected over one million pounds of paper and used the money for community beautification and furnishing for the new Deicke Auditorium.
Nancy Dzoba
1st VP, Programs
Just like today our club was very busy. Here is what we were doing.
The big project that year was working on Deicke Auditorium. More on this project in next month’s newsletter.
But as we all know, our members do not limit themselves to one project. Club members were doing a lot of work educating the community on the dangers of cancer. This project was chosen because many of our club members or their family members were dealing with cancer. Members attended cancer seminars, collected information, and worked with other organizations to obtain training materials. Each month they set up table at the Towne Mall to distribute information, answer questions and refer citizens to services available in the community. The Club also hosted a showing of a film by the American Cancer Society entitled “A wonderful life”. This was followed by a question-and-answer period presented by two local doctors.
The Conservation committee of the club continued with collecting newspapers for recycling. The Junior Miss Club (a middle school aged girls club sponsored by the Junior Woman’s Club) and Plantation Girls Scout troops all assisted with this project. Over
several years the groups collected over one million pounds of paper and used the money for community beautification and furnishing for the new Deicke Auditorium.
Nancy Dzoba
1st VP, Programs
More Club History...
It was fifty years ago in May that the Edwin Deicke Auditorium was dedicated.
Plantation was growing as a city and the meeting space at the Community Center was in heavy use. Community groups, including the Planation’s Woman’s Club needed more meeting space.
With that in mind GFWC Plantation appeared before the city council in 1971 requesting a new auditorium to supplement the meeting space at the community center. The Club recommended an expansion of the current meeting hall in Hoffman Park and volunteered to help raise funds for the new building. With the city council approval, the club began raising funds and over several years had raised $16,000 toward the new building. A challenge was made to other civic organizations to work with the club to raise funds.
“The Women’s Club, which kicked everything off has not backed down from the project, but has intensified efforts to get joint club sponsorship of the building which it hopes all clubs will use.” Fort Lauderdale News Jan 20, 1972. In 1972 Mr. Edwin Deicke hears of the project and feels he should help the community he lives in. Mr. Deicke was a longtime resident having built the 27th home in the city. His foundation donated $100,000 for the construction of the new building. He later donated another $50,00 for an expansion in 1981.
Using city funds and the gifts from the Deicke Foundation and the Woman’s Club the project went from being a dream to a reality. The dedication was held on May 6, 1973, with 300 people present. GFWC Plantation hosted the community and provided refreshments. The program M.C. was Mrs. Clarence Stricklin (GFWC Planation Past President). During the program the Girl Scouts of Plantation presented the flags for the auditorium. Mr. Deicke and Mrs. Lynn Gilmore (GFWC Planation President) presented the building keys to Mayor Carter. The event was a success and covered by the local media.
Plantation was growing as a city and the meeting space at the Community Center was in heavy use. Community groups, including the Planation’s Woman’s Club needed more meeting space.
With that in mind GFWC Plantation appeared before the city council in 1971 requesting a new auditorium to supplement the meeting space at the community center. The Club recommended an expansion of the current meeting hall in Hoffman Park and volunteered to help raise funds for the new building. With the city council approval, the club began raising funds and over several years had raised $16,000 toward the new building. A challenge was made to other civic organizations to work with the club to raise funds.
“The Women’s Club, which kicked everything off has not backed down from the project, but has intensified efforts to get joint club sponsorship of the building which it hopes all clubs will use.” Fort Lauderdale News Jan 20, 1972. In 1972 Mr. Edwin Deicke hears of the project and feels he should help the community he lives in. Mr. Deicke was a longtime resident having built the 27th home in the city. His foundation donated $100,000 for the construction of the new building. He later donated another $50,00 for an expansion in 1981.
Using city funds and the gifts from the Deicke Foundation and the Woman’s Club the project went from being a dream to a reality. The dedication was held on May 6, 1973, with 300 people present. GFWC Plantation hosted the community and provided refreshments. The program M.C. was Mrs. Clarence Stricklin (GFWC Planation Past President). During the program the Girl Scouts of Plantation presented the flags for the auditorium. Mr. Deicke and Mrs. Lynn Gilmore (GFWC Planation President) presented the building keys to Mayor Carter. The event was a success and covered by the local media.
Original meeting clubhouse at Hoffman Park
Woman’s Club members were hostess for the dedication.
Left to right: Jody Vater, Bertha Kirkey, Opal Williams, Polly Mitchell, Barbara Hoeltzel, Kathryn Graveson, Loree Gauss, Mary Cornwall, Betsy Foltz, Dorothy Broadwell 
View of Deicke on May 6, 1973, at the dedication
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Woman’s Club donation form that was placed in local newspapers.
Thank you Nancy Dzoba, the GFWC Florida Women’s History & Resource Co-Chair, for providing this very interesting info about GFWC Plantation Woman’s Club |