Washington Women's History Consortium

Women's Clubs and Organizations

Joy Bonnington, President, 1986-1988

Washington State Federation of Women's Clubs

Mrs. Warren Bormington (Joy Pierson) was born at St. John, WA. She spent the early years of her life on a heat farni. When Joy graduated from high school as aledictorian, she was not old enough to enter nurse~ training so she attended Eastern Washington Uni%rersity. She entered St. Ignatius Hospital School of Nurses in 1939, graduating as Valedictorian in 1942. Her first position as an RN was in surgery at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane. Jov joined the Navy Nurses Corps in June 1943. She was Itationed in Seattle and also in California. She went back to school at the University of Washington in 1946.

Joy met Warren at the U. of W. in September 1946 and they were married May 29, 1947. The couple settled in Seattle and had four children - Julie, Cindy, Lance and Ken.

In 1965, Warren accepted the position of Head of the Business Office in the Engineering Division of Washington State University. The family moved into the home Joy had lived in as a child.

She joined the St. Johns Woman Club at the urging of her aunt. In 1966, she started working in (he local Dr.'s office. Her work hours were long and the children active in school so Joy became an inactive member until 1974 when she opted to work only part time and arranged her schedule so she could attend club meetings.

In 1982, she was elected Second Vice-president of WSFWC, in 1984 WSFWC First Vice-president and in 1986 President. She started her administration with a meeting of the elected officers at Second Vice-president Lavonne Hoivik's home in Tacoma, Plans were made for these officers to have a follow-up leadership team on Membership and Reporting. An -agenda and outimc was made and could be handled by any of the officers, preferably two at each district meeting. In retrospect, this worked out to the advantage of WSFWC, as Joy's husband was quite ill and died in July of 1997. Thanks to First Vie, President Jean Syverson, Second Vice-president LaVonne Hoivik and Third Vice-president Bonnie Walden, along with the meetings Joy could attend, not a visit to any district was disturbed.

These years were pre-GFWC Centennial and preWashington State Centennial. Jeanette Jester, WSFWC Junior Director, Linda Bird, Tacoma club member, and Joy decided to have a State Quilt Contest to celebrate Washington State Centennial. Grants were obtained and the project was off and running. This program extended into the next administration when the winning quilt was chosen and t quilt donated to the Governor's mansion.

The logo of this administration was the Apple'and the slogan was "Apple Action." There was much action and the apples were served at aii breaks during these two years. The WSFWC was honored by visits from GFWC Junior Director Sherry Kaley at the 1987 convention and GFWC President-elect Alice Donohue in 1988. Also attending the 1988 convention was Past GFWC President Margaret L. Arnold. The conventions were at the Sheraton Hotel, in Tacoma, and the Red Lion Inn, in Yakima.

GFWC asked each state to include GFWC in our name to improve our identity. President Joy stated that there was a possibility that GFWC itself would change its name. The question of this was postponed as members from the state would he going to meetings in Washington, D.C.

At the 1987 convention, Joy reported member volunteer hours were 886,000.15 including 2,557 projects with $163.685.44 spent.

At the convention, a vote was taken for a name change. The count was 59 yes: 30 no. Motion was defeated with ballot count taken. A two-thirds majority was needed for passage.

Re,olutions were accepted regarding Alaska Island G, ca~ a - ~ . Pirolces and the Problems they present to the cornmunit'. Disposal of Hazardous Waste and Economic Disarmament.

President Joy was instructed to vote at the GFWC convention in San Diego in favor of a dues raise to S6 per capita with the proviso, that if GFWC votes for a lesser amount, she % oned in favor of the amendment.

Fifteen educational scholarships were given, totaling $3,600.

"Fruits of Volunteering" was the theme of the final banquet of this administration. Installation followed dinner. The new President Jean Syverson presented her goals for the 1988-90 administration.

Joy was a member of the 1988-90 GFWC Board as Women's Hh,iorv and Resource Center Chairman.