Washington Women's History Consortium
Women's Clubs and Organizations
Irma Henderson, President, 1976-1978
Washington State Federation of Women's Clubs
Irma Grace Henderson, the forty-third President of the Washington State Federation of Women's Clubs, "a~
Born in Yakima, Washington. She is the daughter of Mr and Mrs., Ro0en Kester. Her father w as the principal at Yakima Senior High School. She graduated Magna Cuto Laude from Whitman College in 1939. She was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. the highest honorary fraternity and Delta Delta Delta sorority.
Irma Grace married Chester Henderson in 1942, She worked as SecretarN ot Yakima Federal Savings Loan Association from 1939-1940, then for Home Federal Savings and Loan Association from 1946-198 1, when she retired. She served as Executive Vice-president, Corporate Secretar~ and member of the Board of Directors.
She has been very active in her church, the Terrace Heights Community Presbyterian Church, She was honored as "Boss of the Year" by American Business ~A onien s Association.
The Henderson's had two children, Earl D. Henderson, a teacher in Yakima, and a daughter, Marilyn, senior research assistant for Oregon State University.
One of the special features of the summer of 1976 was a summer board meeting on Tuesday, June 29, at the Plaza Hotel in Seattle.
The year 1976 was the year to celebrate our Bicentennial. the 200th birthday of our country. Many wonderful things were planned to celebrate the big event.
The members enjoyed a very successful Conservation Workshop led by Mrs. G.W. Nutter, Conservation Cha , riman. in June at Long Beach, Washington.
The state convention was in Bellevue at the Holiday Inn. April 28-30, 1977. One of the interesting resolutions was against the petition to ban all religious programs from radio and television. The thought being that the ban would especially hurt the elderly arid the shut-ins who depend ou radio and television to fulfill their religious desires and inspiration help in their daily lives.
The Constitution and Bylaws had not been printed for quite a few years and needed updating. Through the kindness of Home Federal Savings and Loan of Yakima, , here firmar Grace worked, they were printed at no charge to WSFWC.
Scholarships had long been an interest of WSFWC and in 1977. fiNe scholarships of $300 each were awarded. I en scholarships of $200 each and one scholarship to a continuing nursing student were also awarded. The Thrifty Sense Shop underwrote $2,250 of these scholarships.
The Thrifty Sense Shop was a second hand shop in Seattle nan by volunteer help and donations from the Federation members. In 1977, $3,000 earned from the shop was used for renovation of the shop. A room was added and a gas heater installed.
Interest in Federation Forest has always been high. Helen Sutton announced plans to build a room in the Interpretive Center which will be used to show slides and for lectures during inclement weather. A screen and projector were purchased by the Federation for use of the Park Ranger. Many school children come to visit the park as a school project and on some weekends there are as many as 1,800 visitors.
Among the resolutions approved was one for a constitutional annenchineat for a balanced federal budget. The organization went on record supporting an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which would require a balanced budget.
Another resolution was on youth emploN rnent. NN SFNVC urged Congress to enact federal legislation perinitting employment of inexperienced youth at les, than minimum wage.
The General Federation Convention was in Seattle, June 4-9. 1977. Plans were made for the 900-plus women ~ho would be coming to the Olympic Hotel in Seattle, Edra Hill served as convention chairman with Helen Sutton a, the co-chairman. Nancy Jones was the Junior Coordinator. It was decided that the WSFWC members ~ould wear a , hite tunic type top, with a green tree desigri or the left shoulder to designate who were the hostesses.
Irma Grace served WSFWC for many years after concluding her term as President. She used her financial expertise to serve as Financial Secretary and Endowment Trustee. She served the GFWC on the Budget and Finance Committee 1984-86, 1986-88, and 1992-94. She ~INO WdS a div ision chairman for the Conservation Department.
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