Legislation & Public Policy - General Federation of Women's Clubs of Wyoming

Legislation & Public Policy

Two clubs in the state, GFWC X-JWC and GFWC Women's Civic League of Cheyenne, participated in tours of the High Plains Arboretum. Both clubs wanted to educate themselves on the current GFWC Wyoming resolution for making the High Plains Arboretum a state historic site. One club made it a "Lunch and Learn Day" with members bringing sack lunches. The other club rented a Cheyenne tourist trolley to transport clubwomen. In both cases, Jessica Friis, a local horticulturist and author of High Plains Arboretum (Images of America) led the tour. All clubwomen were encouraged to reach out to their representatives to support the historic site legislation.

The GFWC Meadowlarks sent a letter to every state legislator to advocate for the High Plains Research Station and Arboretum with the following information: The GFWC Meadowlarks are one of 11 General Federation of Women's Clubs of Wyoming. GFWC Wyoming dates back to 1904 and since that has been dedicated to taking care of our communities and our state. It's only natural that we are speaking out about making the High Plains Research Station and Arboretum a state historic site. We can preserve the buildings created by Wyoming's own William Dubois, the remaining 600 tress brought from around the world to test their resilience in the Wyoming weather, and the structures from two Civilian Conservation Camps. Please visit www.botanic.org/about/arboretum.

GFWC X-JWC sent notes to all our state legislators: The General Federation of Women's Clubs of Wyoming are excited for the opportunity to make the High Plains Research Station and Arboretum a state historic site. There are so many reasons to back HB0084. Anyone in Wyoming with a shelter belt owes the research station a debit of gratitude, since the trees and know-how came from this station. As to its relevance today, the arboretum does important research on the best trees to plant after a forest fire, like those that have been recently plaguing Wyoming. Many of the 400+ women in GFWC Wyoming are military veterans or spouses of military veterans. These members want their history to be preserved. A Civilian Conservation Camp specifically for veterans is part of the High Plains Research and Arboretum's history. Even more to the point, this site sits adjacent to the state's only National Veterans' Cemetery, Cheyenne National Cemetery. It's a beautiful area that should be preserved for both the past and future of our veterans.

One member of GFWC X-JWC met with a state representative about the legislation to make the High Plains Arboretum a state historic site. The site sits adjacent to the Cheyenne National Cemetery and provides a beautiful backdrop to the somber resting place for our nation's veterans and their families. Both the X-JWC clubwoman and the state representative are veterans and agreed that the sites needs to be maintained. During the conversation, the state representative volunteered to co-sponsor the bill during the legislative session.

At a GFWC X-JWC general membership meeting, the Wyoming State Parks Historic Sites and Trails, Laramie County District Manager, and a horticulturist from the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens presented a 60 minute program on the High Plains Arboretum: when it came to be, how it operated and continues to operate and why it is important that it be preserved. This talk was part of the effort to convince our Wyoming lawmakers to declare the High Plains Arboretum as a state historic site, per our state resolution.

As the Wyoming legislative Session neared, GFWC Women's Civic League of Cheyenne advertised the schedule, published the link to the session calendar, and informed all members about upcoming legislation, They also sent contact information for all the repT.esentatives and encouraged clubwomen to contact them about legislation that may impact them, their families and GFWC.

One of our GFWC dubwomen is a docent at the Wyoming Capitol building. She gave a guided tour of the Capitol to other clubwomen, which included information on the historic importance Of the Wyoming Capitol, significant events at the building, and our legislative process. Since the legislature was not in session, members were able to tour the House and Senate chambers. Those on tour were encouraged to return to the Capitol to observe the legislative process when in session and to become involved when issues of importance to them and GFWC are under consideration. While touring, the group encountered the Wyoming Secretary of State who asked about GFWC and stood for a photo with the group. This tour happened after the Capitol building's major renovations and upgrade of systems.

A new member of the GFWC Women'§ Club of Sweetwater County jumped into legislative action by signing up for the legislative action center. She then sent letters to her representatives about domestic violence victims, sexual assault survivors, dating violence and stalking issues. She continued with letters on the REPORT Act, the Kids Online Safety Act. and Alzheimer's. She kept her fellow clubwomen informed of her new passion as she went, providing an example for her sisters to follow.

GFWC Women's Civic League of cheyenne disseminated infc)rmation about voting places and times at the club's general membership meeting, in the club's newsletter and through email.

The GFWC Women's Club of Sweetwater County invited a local attorney to their meeting to update the clubwomen on the new laws regarding wills and trusts. The members were especially interested in how to add GFWC clubs and the state into trusts. This valuable information will help the clubwomen create a legacy for family members and GFWC.

Much of GFWC Wyoming's efforts this year have been to bring one of our state resolutions to fruition: Legislation designating the High Plains Research Station and Arboretum as a Wyoming state historic site. Our GFWC Wyoming state president led our efforts by emailing all Wyoming legislators to explain the Arboretum's importance. This communication included the past and present horticultural work done at the facility, the sites proximity to the rural VA National Cemetery, its history of two Civilian Conservation Corps camps and the buildings created by a renowned Wyoming architect. The work done at the High Plains Research Station continues to impact the nation. Plants were tested and modified to fit our high elevation (6,000 feet) and our austere conditions (significant wind, early and late frost dates, and limited rainfall). These plants were then sent to other parts of the country with similar conditions. Since the road to the Cheyenne VA National Cemetery runs through the arboretum, veterans and their families want the entire area to be a beautiful, restful place.

GFWC Wyoming's Legislation/Public Policy Chairman met with the mayor or Cheyenne (the location of the Arboretum) to get advice on how to proceed. She then used his advance to contact a legislator who, after discussion, agreed to co-sponsor the bill. She also personally helped two clubs develop and sign letters that went to every legislator in the state. With this effort, we ensured every legislator was contacted about the Arboretum Bill at least three times.

At our GFWC Wyoming Fall Workshop, we hosted a guest speaker from the Wyoming State Parks Historic Sites and Trails. She spoke on the High Plains Arboretum's efforts to become a State Historic Site. She and the GFWC Wyoming Legislation/Public Policy Chairman distributed information and stressed the importance of speaking directly to their representatives in addition to other forms of communication. A timeline was discussed, from November 19, 2024 (two weeks after the election) through the session in February 2025.

At our Fall Workshop, the GFWC Wyoming Legislation/Public Policy Chairman used the QR code to show the participants how easy it is to sign up for the LAC, find your representatives, and get information from GFWC. Attendees at the fall workshop signed up for LAC during the session. Those who didn't have GFWC logins created them at the session as well. More seasoned members partnered with newer members to get them through the process. Everyone at the workshop benefited because they saw how easy it would be to take a few minutes at a club meeting to do the same thing. Workshop members received a card with the LAC QR code on it to take back to their clubs. Finally, we also discussed resolutions, how they are related to the LAC, and where to find them on the GFWC website.

Our GFWC Wyoming Newsblast shared information every month about current GFWC legislative efforts and the Wyoming Arboretum Resolution efforts. Members were encouraged to take action on the topics that interested them. The QR code was in our Newsblasts to give clubwomen easy access to the LAC. These efforts increased GFWC Wyoming's LAC participation by more than 25 percent.

GFWC X-JWC worked diligently this year to support GFWC Wyoming's Resolution on designating the High Plains Research Station and Arboretum as a state historic site. This site boasts buildings created by a renowned Wyoming architect, important past and present horticultural work, proximity to the rural VA National Cemetery and its history of two Civilian Conservation Camps. The work done there had ramifications throughout the nation. Plants were tested and modified to fit our high elevation (6,000 feet) and our austere conditions ( significant wind, early/late frost dates, and limited rainfall). These plants were then sent to other parts of the country with similar conditions. All this rich history needs to be preserved.

At a GFWC X-JWC general membership meeting, the Wyoming State Parks Historic Sites and Trails District Manager and a horticulturist from the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens presented a 60-minute program on the High Plains Arboretum: when it came to be, how it operated and continues to operate and why it is important that it be preserved.

GFWC X-JWC then participated in an educational and entertaining tour of the High Plains Arboretum. X-JWC rented a Cheyenne tourist trolley to transport clubwomen. A local horticulturist and author of the book High Plains Arboretum (Images of America) led the tour. Clubwomen were encouraged to reach out to their representatives to support the historic site legislation.

As a result of the tour and the talk, GFWC X-JWC sent letters to all our state legislators which read: The General Federation of Women's Clubs of Wyoming are excited for the opportunity to make the High Plains Research Station and Arboretum a state historic site. There are so many reasons to back HB0084. Anyone in Wyoming with a shelter belter owes the research station a debt of gratitude, since the trees and know-how-came from this station. As to its relevance today, the arboretum does important research on the best trees to plant after a forest fire, like those that have been recently plaguing Wyoming. Many of the 400+ women in GFWC Wyoming are military veterans or spouses of military veterans. These members want their history to be preserved. A Civilian Conservation Camp specifically for veterans is part of the High Plains Research and Arboretum's history. Even more to the point, this site sits adjacent to the state's only National Veterans' Cemetery, Cheyenne National Cemetery. It's a beautiful area that should be preserved for both the past and future of our veterans.

One member of GFWC X-JWC then met with a state representative about the legislation to make the High Plains Arboretum a state historic site. The site sits adjacent to the Cheyenne National Cemetery and provides a beautiful backdrop to the somber resting place of our nation's veterans and agreed that the site needs to be maintained. During the conversation, the state representative volunteered to co-sponsor the bill during the legislative session.