Washington Women's History Consortium
Women's Clubs and Organizations
Lavona Lotzgesell, President, 1935-1937
Washington State Federation of Women's Clubs
Mrs. James Lotzgesell, the twenty-first President of the WSFWC, was born in Lamar, Missouri. She was a graduate of
Bellingham Normal School and attended other institutions of higher learning in the state. As a teacher, she always
associated with those in the field of education.
Before being elected to the Presidency, she served on various committees in the Federation, was first Vicepresident and
had a fine record of service in her district. Besides her membership in federated clubs in Port Angeles, she was engaged
in many other activities. The Lotzgesells had one son.
They had a large dairy farm and personally managed it. Mrs. Lotzgesell's interest in the dairy industry resulted
in state and national appointments of vast importance to the dairy trade. For seven years she served on the Washington
State Dairy Council (an appointment by the Governor), four on the Board of the State Dairymen's Association, seven on
the Washington Dairy Council, and four on the National Board of the American Dairy Association.
Mrs. Lotzgesell was elected President of WSFWC at the Tacoma convention in 1935. She presided at the fortieth convention
in Lonoview and the forty-first in Wenatchee. The themes for the conventions were "Education for Democracy" and
"Education for the Betterment of the American Home." At Longview the meetings were in the R.A. Long High School,
with 246 voting delegates present, and at Wenatchee, the Church of the Brethren, housed the activities with 261
entitled to vote.
The Juniors had their second convention at Longview. Four projects were undertaken by the Juniors: an educational loan
fund for college students, an extension of the use of the Talking Book for the Blind, promotion of Highway Safety, and
Community Service Projects such as arranging for dental care or glasses for poor children.
The outstanding accomplishment of the Juniors during this administration, was the survey made of all blind persons in the
state of Washington.
Clubwomen were becoming more conscious of the rapidity with which the history and traditions of the American Indian were
slipping away without being recorded. Renewed efforts were made to develop a better understanding of the race, and to
give the Indian mother and her children some of the same opportunities enjoyed by the white race.
The radio, the newest medium for the dissemination of information among clubwomen, had come to stay. It was used more
and more and played a great part in club life.
Forestry was of special interest in the north and western parts of the state at this time. New methods of reforestation
were suggested to take the place of depleted forest areas. Long range forestry planning programs for the preservation
of the forests still standing were urged.
The Federation pledged itself to support a campaign which the GFWC was sponsoring against the illicit use of marijuana,
the narcotic whose habitual use produces immorality and criminals. Marijuana was grown in every state in the Union and
no provision was made for its control or suppression of its use. The State Federation resolved to urge state and
national legislators to revise and enact laws to control the growth, sale and use of the harmful drug.
The Bulletin, when established by its founder, Mrs. W.S. Griswold, and for many years thereafter was published and
printed in Seattle. Later, when Mrs. Westmore became manager and then editor, it was deemed wise to have the work done
in Spokane. During this administration changes were made again in both financial arrangements and personnel. Since the
editor was on the west coast, it was decided to have the printing done in Seattle once more. At the Yakima Board Meeting,
it was recommended to change the name of the Bulletin to The Washington Clubwoman to conform with the custom of the other
states. The recommendation was adopted at the next convention and the editor of The Washington Clubwoman was made a
conference member of the Board.
Lavonna passed away on January 31, 1963 in Olympic Memorial Hospital. She was 66 years of age.
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