Refer WAVES National to a friend
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| Today is: Wednesday * March 10, 2010 | |
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The History of WAVES Nationalthe early years to 1999The following history was compiled by Gloria (Preston) Johnson-Farwell, a Korean War veteran, PN3, l95l-l960; hometown: Oak Park, Ill; and founder of WN Unit #3, Bay Area WAVES of northern California. The idea of having a national organization of Navy Women veterans (WAVES) was born in l979, with Jeanne Palermo, a Sacremento, CA Korean War veteran. She wanted to locate as many former WAVES as posible, with the purpose of member unity and a major future project involving each Charter in every State establishing a WAVES Home for its members. Gloria met Jeanne at a l979 WAVES Reunion in San Francisco. Jeanne had collected hundreds of names and addresses, phone numbers, maiden names and home States of WAVES, in an effort to locate all l80,000 former WAVES. Gloria went to Jeanne's home, where she saw boxes and boxes of color-coded names and addresses (Note: no computers here! They typed every name, giving the correct color code--women change their names as they marry.) It was quite a job; as Jeanne remarked to Gloria about how the names were acquired: "...you write to a friend, a Christmas card, birthday card, whatever; and she writes to a friend. I started collecting those names." Gloria said her Navy experience had been wonderful; she had good duty, and she loved the Navy; after talking with Jeanne, she wanted to help make this dream a reality, so became totally involved. Jeanne, with Treasurer Lila Mae Dobbins and Secretary Esther Gavorchin, had Articles of Incorporation drawn up for a Non-Profit organization in Sacremento in July, l979. The first WAVES National convention was held in Sacremento on 26-30 July l980, with about 200 former WAVES in attendance. The delegates drew up a Charter for WAVES National Corporation and elected officers as follows: member Thelma Beaton assisted the president as secretary (with ALL those boxes) on a volunteer basis. The second Convention was held in St. Louis, l98l, with officers elected as follows: At this time Parliamentarian Trudy Millward, N.M., did the basic work on the original by-laws and continued as Paliamentarian until l988. She is presently WN Parliamentarian. The first WAVES National Unit was chartered in l98l, The third convention, chaired by Gloria Johnson Farwell, was held in Seattle, Washington. Gloria stepped down in l983 because of her marriage. Anne Anderson, of CA, was elected to president l984-88, serving two terms. (Note: The writer had the pleasure of meeting Anne Anderson when she visited our Regional Conference in Birmingham, in June, l999. A very gracious lady.) Her goal of 3,000 members and 25 WN units went over goal and, in her second term, goal of 4,000 members and 50 units, her goal again was reached, with 57 Units and 4,830 members. She was a real "go-getter": president, very well-respected and liked by members. Later, the word "Corporation" was deleted from our official title and we were allowed our non-profit status from IRS. Still later, the United States was divided into regions and the office of State Directors was started. (But that's another story, according to Gloria. We'll try to get that story, also.) The original founder, Jeanne Palermo, did purchase a house for WAVES; she is the caretaker, and all WAVES are welcome. Her address: Jeanne Palermo Harrington, 12 Highland Avenue, Milo, ME 04463. Gloria ended her story with the words that: "Many of us volunteered long hours and gave freely of our energy as we worked together in Navy Love to bring WAVES National through babyhood, childhood, and this year--to celebrate 20 years of progress. We have come a long way, baby--and we are Still Something Special!" In September, l999, WAVES National Unit l47 will be chartered, in Virginia, with Sandy Storherr as founder-president. Best wishes to this Unit and its members. (Note from WN Email Coordinator: We would like very much to hear from any and all of you ladies mentioned in this history. Gloria has done an excellent job of compiling this histories. Now we'd like to hear from you.) ================================== Once a WAVE, always a WAVE
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