production, and sharing of the resources which are brought
to them. These resources are carefully selected for the area's
environment and needs; while a camel might be the greatest asset
for one village, chickens or goats may best serve the needs
of another. Plants and animals and their products become enabling
resources and an escape from the scourge of environmental degradation
and, often, death. Having a special fund raising project for
Heifer International came naturally as we sought a way to honor
Judy Houser, a charter member of our club and International
Affairs Department, who passed away this year.
Our department, consisting of twenty-five members, voted to
implement a project with the goal of collecting five thousand
dollars, which would be enough to purchase an entire ark for
Heifer International. A community volunteer cut and department
members painted three life size , wooden cows which would be
placed in yards of businesses and private homes. Before we could
set out on the trail, two cows wandered in from another ranch
and joined our three. Our five heifers were accompanied with
fliers and brochures which explained our project goals and introduced
the International Affairs Department, GFWC Gulf Coast Woman
= s Club, and Heifer International. Large, easy to read signs,
which were made by another club member, were placed next to
the grazing cows. Instructions asked for a twenty-five dollar
donation to moooove the cow to another location of choice. To
initiate the club to the plan, The International Affairs Department
had a kickoff dinner, complete with barnyard animal hats and
balloons. Members prepared and served a Mexican dinner and then
explained our goal to collect five thousand dollars. This dinner
generated five hundred twenty-three dollars and sixty-four cents,
which was dedicated to Heifer International. This project was
introduced to the community on television and in the newspaper.
All of the local veterinarians received a letter outlining our
plans for the project; many provided pasture for the cows and
made generous donations. Our cows have grazed along our busiest
streets in Panama City where many local businesses allowed us
to decorate their landscape, and then subsequently gave some
green to the cause. Numerous private homes were on the route
of the cattle drive and became publicity for GFWC Gulf Coast
Woman = s Club and Heifer International while Daisy, Bessie,
Flossie, Bossie, or LuLu relaxed on the lawns. As the A Cow
Ladies @ roped and wrangled cows from no less than one hundred
and forty-one pastures, the entire community was educated about
the International Affairs Department and the GFWC Gulf Coast
Woman's Club.
Mooooving cows wasn't all there was to this effort. In addition
to putting cows out to pasture, we also sponsored a card party
including a brunch to raise money for this and other department
projects. Also, decorated cans were placed in businesses for
donation collections. A special contribution of one thousand
six hundred sixty-five dollars was made to this project from
the Judy Houser Memorial Fund, which was established shortly
after her death. Judy's husband, knowing his wife's belief in
and support of Heifer International, requested that the Board
of the GFWC Gulf Coast Woman's Club apply her memorial funds
to this project. As the sun set on our roundup, lariats and
hats were hung on hooks. After the bills were paid, the money
was counted; the herd and the ranch hands had raised seven thousand
three hundred dollars so that an ark of animals could be sent
around the world to replace dark clouds of poverty with the
promise of rainbows and economic opportunity. With heartfelt
thanks for our generous friends in Panama City and Panama City
Beach , our bunch of cowpokes is launching an ark.
