GFWC-SC OFFICERS
President, Kathy Monahon
Kathy Monahon joined Aiken Woman’s Club in 1990 and has held most offices in her club including President. She was honored as Aiken Woman’s Club 1998 Clubwoman of the Year. In GFWC-SC, Kathy has served as Second Vice President, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Progress Foundation Chairman, Arts Department Special Projects Chairman and a member of the Nominating and Centennial Committees. Kathy serves on the GFWC Southern Region Board as a member of the Fundraising Committee.
Kathy is presently a Director on the Board of Directors for SC Midlands Chapter of the National Association of Investors Corp., Georgia-Carolina Boy Scout Council Training Director, Eagle Scout Court of Honor Advisor, a member of the LARCH Habitat for Humanity roofing crew and a member of the Cotton Pickin’ Investment Club. She is active at St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church. Kathy has college degrees in Computer Science, Mathematics and Business Management from the USC Aiken. She is married to Tom Monahon, an Engineering Manager for Westinghouse Savannah River Company. They have been married for 29 years and have a daughter and two sons. Joanna, a Biomedical Engineer, is married to Michael Droege and they live in Austin, TX with their son, Logan. Matt, a Chemical Engineer, is married to the former Stephanie Wolfenbarger and they live in Macon, GA and Dan, an Electrical Engineer, is married to the former Elizabeth Nichols and they live in North Augusta, SC with their son, Thomas.
First Vice President, Tammy Garland
I have been a clubwoman my entire adult life. I was first invited to join the Seneca Woman’s Club by my mother-in-law right after I married her son David. A year later, I joined the very active Seneca Junior Woman’s Club and now I am a member of a new woman’s club called the Golden Corner Woman’s Society which I helped to federate. I have served GFWC-SC by being a Northwestern District President, State Junior Director, State Recording Secretary and State Second Vice President in charge of reporting. I am now serving in one of the most enjoyable positions as 1st Vice President. I am in my 16th year of teaching public school. At Keowee Elementary School in Oconee County, I teach 5th grade. One of the things I love most about teaching is that it is a new adventure everyday and I can never get enough of watching children learn new things while amazing themselves with what they can do.
David and I have been married for 18 years and we have two boys. David is a busy Scout Master for Troop 120 and he works as an Engineer at Duke Power. Our oldest is Drew and he is 14. He is a bright intelligent thinker who loves music, sports, and outdoor activates. Drew has earned the level of Life in Boy Scouts and is working hard toward Eagle. Matt is 6 and is a smart, sweet, tenderhearted little man who likes Clemson University Sports and playing outside. Matt is currently a Tiger Cub in Pack 162 at Keowee.
One of my favorite things to do is to bargain shop because I like nice things and you can have a lot more of them if you get great deals. I like to eat out because I don’t have to clean up after and it gives me more time to bargain shop. I like to travel because you can find great places to shop. I like the song by Terri Clark titled "I Wanna Do It All". Most of all, I like to work with the women of South Carolina Federation because they are great friends in volunteering fun and service!
Second Vice President, Laurie O'Kelly
My enthusiasm for GFWC began in 1987 when I joined St. Andrews Woman’s Club and realized I could combine new friends and fun with efforts to improve the community and empower women. Over the years I have served in a number of positions, including president, treasurer and third vice president, an office where I chaired the club’s annual fundraiser, Bridal Showcase, three times. In 1996 I was honored as “Clubwoman of the Year” by fellow members.
Since 1996 I have served GFWC-SC as Finance Committee Chair, Community Improvement Program Chair, Central District President, GFWC-SC Treasurer, and GFWC-SC Recording Secretary. Concurrent with these efforts, I also served on the PTO/PTSO boards and School Improvement Councils at CrossRoads Middle School, Irmo Middle School, and Irmo High School, serving as president of the PTO/PTSO five times. I have been a member of the board of directors of the Irmo Yellow Jacket Athletic Booster Club. In 2002, I was honored as “Volunteer of the Year” at Irmo Middle School.
My husband David and I have two sons. Brad is a freshman in college and Bryan is a sophomore in high School. I hold a B.S. degree in Accounting from the University of South Carolina and recently made a career change from business to academia. I am technology teacher at CrossRoads Middle School and a member of Union United Methodist Church in Irmo.
Recording Secretary, JoAnn Bolchoz
Jo Ann Bolchoz hails from the Southern GFWC-SC District. She has served GFWC-SC as Treasurer 2004-2006, Corresponding Secretary 2002-2004, Southern District President 2000-2002, State Convention Chairman 2001 and on the State Convention Committee 2001-2003. Jo Ann is a Past President of the Charleston Federation of Women’s Clubs and the Charleston Exchange Club Auxiliary. She is a member of the Woman’s Club of Charleston and a charter member of the University Exchange Club. She has served on the Coordinating Boards of the American Cancer Society “Relay for Life” Project, the YWCA “Week Without Violence” Project and has served as a Cooper River Bridge Run volunteer.
Jo Ann resides in Charleston, with the love of her life Joe, her husband and their 4 dogs and 3 cats. Jo Ann and Joe are members of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. She is employed by the Medical University of South Carolina as Executive Director of the Harper Student Center. She was selected as the 2002 Woman of the Year of the Charleston Federation of Women’s Clubs and was one of six Charleston Trident Area women to be featured in a Post and Courier Special Edition – “Women Breaking Barriers”, July, 2002.
Treasurer, ShirLee Alfors
ShirLee became involved in a federated club in 1984, when she joined the club in Orlando, Florida. While in Florida, she volunteered at school, served as a PTA officer and became a Girl Scout Leader. At her church, she volunteered in several areas including Bible School coordinator. When moving to South Carolina, finding a new club was on the priority list. Since moving she has found two clubs and enjoys both. With a daughter in band, she was a “band parent volunteer”. A member of Grace Lutheran Church, ShirLee helps with the parish life committee. During the fall, she assisted children with craft projects that became Christmas gifts for the children’s family. As a quilter, she is secretary for the York County Quilters guild, which donates cuddle quilts to children’s home. Victoria’s Secret has employed her for over five years, presently as sales lead position. Husband for over 30 years, Jim has been a supporter of volunteer activities and a willing volunteer when needed. A mother of two; Stephen graduated Clemson University and Suzanne presently attends MUSC in Charleston.
Director of Junior Clubs , Linda Rodgers
Linda has been an active member of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs of South Carolina (GFWC-SC) since 1997 when she became a member of the Charleston Junior Woman’s Club (CJWC). She was also a member of the Charleston Federation of Women’s Clubs (CFWC) until moving to the upstate of South Carolina in 2004 when she became a member of the GFWC Palmetto Junior Woman’s Club (PJWC). While a member of CJWC she served as Home Life Department Chair, Treasurer, 1st Vice President, Ways and Means Chairman and President. Linda will also serve as Secretary for PJWC for the upcoming club year.
During her membership with CJWC, Linda assisted the club with many projects benefiting the Florence Crittendon Home, Habitat for Humanity – Women Build Program, Keep America Beautiful, Operation Smile and Operation Christmas Child.
With CFWC she assisted in organizing the annual Fine Arts Tea reception for high school students and their families whose artwork was submitted for the First Federal of Charleston Annual Scholarship Contest. On the Southern District Level, Linda has served as a member of the District Nominating Committee. At the State level, she represented GFWC-SC at the 2004 International Convention in Orlando, Florida as the GFWC-SC LEADS candidate and assumed the role of Junior Director in 2005.
In addition to her work with GFWC-SC, Linda work with GFWC-SC, Linda works full-time at Fluor Corporation and is a member of El Bethel Baptist Church. Linda received a B. S. degree in Accounting from Clemson University. She and her three cats, Calhoun, Riggs and Tillman live in Greer, SC.
Advisor, Lynn Cleckler
Born and reared in Chester County, South Carolina, Lynn is a legal assistant with the McNair Law Firm in Columbia, South Carolina. She and her husband, Jim, live in Lexington and are members of Brookland Methodist Church in West Columbia.
Lynn has served GFWC-SC on club, district and state levels. She is a member and past President of Saxe Gotha Woman’s Club and served as Secretary of Midlands District. During the 1994-96 GFWC-SC Administration, Lynn served as Issue Awareness Chairman and Convention Finance Chairman, and as Women’s Health Issues Chairman during the 1996-98 administration. In 1998, she was honored as her Club’s Woman of the Year. Lynn has served GFWC-SC as Recording Secretary, Second Vice President, and First Vice President. Lynn also serves on the organizing committees for the Lexington Relay for Life and the Lexington FunFest Festival held annually.
Corresponding Secretary, Megan McDow
Megan is a founding member of the GFWC Foothills Woman’s Club and is a member of the Seneca Junior Woman’s Club. Megan joined GFWC-SC in 2000 and has served as Junior Special Projects Chairman and Junior Special Committee Chairman.
She is originally from Seneca. She attended Clemson University and received her degree in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management. She is currently employed at the school district of Oconee County and has worked with the Therapeutic Child Treatment, Special Education and Kindergarten as a Teacher’s Assistant.
Megan is married to Mark who has his own lawn care company called AKL Enterprises at which Megan is the bookkeeper. They have three children: Alan (18), Kea (16) and Lee (9).
Parliamentarian, Jolene Bryant
Jolene is a member of the GFWC Jubilee Club. She has been a Federation member for twenty years. She has held the following GFWC-SC positions: Northern District President; State Recording Secretary; Second Vice President; First Vice President and 2000-2002 GFWC-SC President. She has been Northern District Representative to Progress Foundation; State Chairman for GFWC Clubwoman; Chairman of the GFWC-SC Constitution and Bylaws Committee.
In GFWC, Jolene was a member of the 2000-2002 Board of Directors. In GFWC Southern Region, she has served as Protocol Chairman and the 2004-2006 Southern Region Historian.
Jolene is a retired teacher. She has been married to Jerry K. Bryant for forty-two years. They have one daughter and son-in-law, Laura and Jeff Palmer and one grandson, Sean Austen Palmer.