Rose Zubik, of Palos Heights, the new president of the 3rd District General Federation of Women’s Clubs-Illinois, lights a candle during the installation ceremony held April 27 at Fox’s Restaurant in Orland Park. Heather Linehan, the outgoing president, is beside her.By Dermot Connolly
A longtime member of the Palos Heights Woman’s Club is now president of the 3rd District General Federation of Women’s Clubs Illinois.
Rose Zubik, who has been active in the Palos Heights Woman’s Club for more than 30 years, will step down as its first vice president to lead the 3rd District for the next two years. Joining her on the 3rd District’s executive board is Sue Peterson, the current president of the Palos Park Woman’s Club.
Both women participated in an installation ceremony on April 27 at Fox’s Restaurant in Orland Park during the 3rd District’s annual luncheon. The 3rd District includes seven clubs in Chicago and the southwest suburbs, and about 100 women turned out for the event that included an awards ceremony, raffles and conversation in addition to the meal.
The other area women taking on new executive roles in the philanthropic organization are Sandy Christofanelli, vice president and director of junior clubs; Judy Wagner, treasurer; and Debbie Bach, parliamentary advisor.
“This is an amazing group of dedicated women who are going to raise a lot of money and do a lot of community service in our area,” said Ronette McCarthy, who is looking forward to succeeding Peterson as co-president with Ann Oliver of the Palos Park Woman’s Club. They will be sworn in at the group’s May meeting.
About a dozen members of the Palos Park Woman’s Club and 15 from the Palos Heights club filled two tables in the center of the banquet room where the event was held. Zubik had been 3rd District secretary for the past two years, in addition to holding various roles in her local chapter. She will continue to serve as editor of the group’s newsletter.
“Your district has recognized your executive ability and your capability as a leader to hold your district together,” said Megan Mitchell, vice president of the GFWC Illinois’ Northern Region as she led the installation ceremony for the women after the group voted unanimously to elect the slate of nominees.
As part of the ceremony, outgoing 3rd District President Heather Linehan held a white candle, which each of the new officeholders used to light candles of various colors signifying the various goals of the organization.
“As we prepare for a new administration, be reminded of your district’s heritage. The greater your knowledge of what has been done before, the better your district can do (working for the future). It is true we live in the present as we dream of the future and learn from the past. We are living in a changing world and must adapt to change,” said Mitchell, thanking the previous administration for their contributions as the torch was passed to the next group of officeholders.
Zubik was the last to be installed, by lighting a gold candle, which Mitchell said represented “the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow from the last administration,”—which had the theme of “Yellow Brick Road.”
The theme of the new administration is “Road to Chicago,” because, as Mitchell said, Zubik’s first major task will be bringing all the officeholders and their duties together to make sure the national GFCW convention being held June 29 to July 1 at the Hilton Chicago.
“It’s exciting and it is a journey I am looking forward to taking,” said Zubik of her new role.
She said she will be working closely with Dr. Evonne Blakely of the Glenwood Junior Woman’s Club, who gave a presentation at the meeting about how to develop effective programming for clubs.
“As we look to tomorrow, every viable idea may sound impossible, but no one knows until it is tried,” said Mitchell. “You must have clear-thinking and friendly. I don’t think you will have any problem with that,” she told Zubik with a smile.
“Rose will be a good influence on the 3rd District,” said Celeste Kappel, another longtime member of the Palos Heights Woman’s Club.
“She is so good at so many things,” said Rose’s daughter, Michelle Forseth, who basically grew up in the Woman’s Club herself, as she recalled attending many meetings with her mother over the years. This time, she brought her own daughter, Ellie, who won an award for her artwork at the annual event.
