TF woman nominated for regional award

Thompson Falls Woman's Club (TFWC) has nominated member Karen Gustavsen for the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC) Jennie Award. Gustavsen also has been selected to represent Montana in the regional selection of award recipients.

Gustavsen's nomination submission consisted of a narrative from club women emphasizing her club leadership roles and club activities, commitment to her community and family and her volunteer spirit. Also submitted were letters of endorsement from GFWC Thompson Falls Woman's Club President Renee Kovarik, Thompson Falls Public Library Director Crystal Buchanan and Gustavsen's family.

In the nearly 50 years that Gustavsen has been a GFWC member, she has held membership in two junior clubs, three women's clubs and two state level organizations. On a club level she has held the positions of secretary, treasurer, vice president and president. At the state level, she has served the New Jersey State Federation of Women's Clubs as the treasurer, financial secretary, annual convention chairperson and international affairs department chairperson. In Montana, she has held the state level positions of treasurer, conservation CSP chairperson and currently is Editor of "The Montana Woman." She has served as Western District Treasurer and is the current vice president. Within GFWC Thompson Falls Woman's Club, Gustavsen served as secretary for six years and is the current treasurer.

According to GFWC.org, the GFWC Jennie Award "honors one clubwoman from each GFWC Region for outstanding commitment to club, community, and family. They are chosen by their clubs to compete at state, region, and national levels for their outstanding personal commitment to club, community, and family." The award is named in honor of GFWC founder Jane Cunningham Croly, who wrote for national newspapers under the pseudonym, "Jennie June."

Gustavsen will be honored as the Montana Jennie Award nominee during the Western States Regional Conference. One club member from each of the eight GFWC regions will be selected for national recognition. Montana is part of the Western States Region along with Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, and Idaho. The Western State Region Conference, where each state nominee will be honored, is September 9-12 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The eight national GFWC Jennie Award honorees will earn a trip to the GFWC Annual Convention in New Orleans in June 2022. The Jennie Award winner will be selected from those eight.