| Following the presentation of the 2009 National Awards, the Awards Vice President, Lorraine Fletcher, was presented with an Oscar for her thirty-plus years of active support of the chapter and its mission. The Oscar reads, “Charter Member and Best Supporting Member.” Presenting the award were Larry Rowe and Patricia McDougle, who likened Lorraine to the “Energizer bunny” because she is the personification of the meaning of the term “active member.” |
| How did the chapter get started? Thinking back to the meeting at the library, called by Dr. Nan Hutchinson to start a Freedoms Foundation chapter, Lorraine remembers six people being there. Besides Nan and Lorraine, there was Barbara Campbell, Andy Anderson, and Harriet Kaye. She cannot recall the sixth. Interestingly, the copy of our charter supplied by Freedoms Foundation reads, Broward County Women's Chapter of Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge organized June 24, 1973. Lorraine has been an active member every year since. |
| For over 36 years, Lorraine has recruited new members, stuffed envelopes, been there for registration and decorations, attended untold chapter meetings and events, danced at the balls, and talked up the Freedoms Foundation wherever she went. She fondly recalls the very early days when the chapter had no money and one of the first fund raisers was selling hot dogs in Holiday Park. She also remembers the excitement when the then very small chapter was able to send one student to Valley Forge. Lorraine also remembers how much fun they had, like meeting at Harriet Kaye's house to make George and Martha Washington paper dolls for table decorations for a birthday party (not a ball). |
| The early chapter also made a few nominations for national awards. To this day, Lorraine's radar is always scanning. Recently, her National Award nominations and subsequent recipients have included the obvious, like the Fort Lauderdale Air & Sea Show. Another winner was her nomination of a rock in Iowa (or at least the artist). Besides the nominations she has personally made over the years, Lorraine has consistently encouraged others to do the same. Her favorite luncheon is the student luncheon where the students come back from Valley Forge and talk about their experiences. She interviewed students only once because, say says, she cannot bear the thought of having to say “no” to any student. |
| From the beginning and throughout the years, Lorraine has contributed to the success of the Broward chapter and it is rewarding to see her recognized with an Oscar for best performance as a member. |
