Purpose:

1. To honor the heritage of the Club and its organizer Ethel Blanche Wilson Ransom

2. To recognize the achievements of those in the city that exemplify characteristics of her life:

• Advocacy
• Selfless Service
• Education
• Nursing

3. Reacquaint the community with what the Federated Women’s Clubs are about

4. Establish our club as a resource for Fort Worth’s medical community

5. Introduce our scholarship drive and selection criteria

Location: Tarrant County College Trinity River Campus

Date: Saturday, November 2, 2013 @ 6:00 P.M.

Attendees: 300+

Cost: Free, but computers will be set up to accept scholarship donations online or by check

Overview: Our club has a proud history of  sisterhood, training young women, promoting cultural and literary growth, awarding scholarships, volunteerism and community service.

Given that Ethel Ransom was a practicing nurse, a nursing instructor, faithful Federation member and civic advocate, we want to honor several people who exemplify these attributes of her character.  In conjunction with TCC faculty, we will select two graduates from their Associates of Applied Nursing degree program who are successfully working as RNs in Fort Worth to honor. We will also honor two nursing professors selected with the faculty’s help. We will honor one recipient from the City Federation for their commitment and one citizen for their advocacy for  human rights.

One main goal for the evening is to highlight the future plans for our club to establish us as a community liaison to the medical field providing volunteers, several scholarships annually to those entering the medical field, to champion the cause of reading and literacy among the youth,  to be source of training for young ladies as they grow up in today’s pop-culture society, and finally to be a source of strength and sisterhood for those of like minds.

Event Highlights:

• Food & Beverage – reception

• Occasion Speaker – Lillie Biggins, President Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital, Fort Worth

• Video documentary of Dr. R.A. Ransom and Ethel Ransom, Ethel Ransom Memorial Hospital, and Ethel Ransom Cultural Club produced by Kelly Gray of Mahogany Films – IMDb http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3220670/ and www.mahoganyfilms.com

• Texas Medical Assoc. Exhibit “Courage and Determination” the history of African-American physicians in Texas in which Dr. Ransom is featured along with several other doctors from Fort Worth.

• Atrium Expo of information on health insurance options, nursing school options, healthcare options, etc.

• Live Jazz band playing throughout the evening

• Awards presentation

Interesting Facts about Ethel Ransom & Ethel Ransom Club past

Þ Professionally she was first a teacher in Wichita Falls, Gainesville and Fort Worth, Texas then a practicing nurse in Gainesville and Fort Worth working with her husband Dr. R.A. Ransom, Sr.  who in 1918 open the first hospital for Negros originally named Booker T. Washington Sanitarium in Fort Worth. This hospital would later be renamed the Ethel Ransom Memorial hospital and in 1940 would be 1 of 3 Black hospitals accredited by the  American Medical Association in the country. The hospital later contained a nursing school.

Þ She was a member of Alphin Charity and Art Club of Fort Worth the oldest club within the City Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs  organized in 1917. (Name changed in 1967 to Fort Worth Association of Federated Women’s Clubs)

Þ She served as President of the Texas Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs from 1920 – 1922 where she continued the drive to create a home and training school for delinquent black girls jailed in the state prison for women. (Name changed to Texas Association of Women’s Clubs)

Þ She was the Texas state director for the National Anti-Lynching Crusaders formed in 1922 to organize “One Million Women United to Suppress Lynching” and raise one million dollars to help lobbying efforts for change.

Þ In 1937, the first regional meetings of the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs were held. The Southwest Region was organized in Fort Worth, Texas by NACWC president Dr. Mary F. Waring and Ethel Ransom was the first president at the regional level.

Þ In 1933 she helped organize the Ethel Ransom Cultural Club.

Þ In 1948 the Ethel Ransom Cultural Club sponsored a sister club named after club member Essie Mae Ransom the wife of Dr. R.A. Ransom, Jr. who was also a nurse. This club supported the young business and professional women of college age. They also sponsored two youth level clubs – Junior Ethelettes for middle school girls and Senior Ethelettes for high school girls with the support of the Youth Supervisors and club members.

Þ Our Club has supported continuing education through providing scholarships to graduating high school seniors as well as continued scholarships for four years to the same graduate.

Þ Our Club has supported other worthwhile organizations financially as well as through volunteerism including the NAACP, United Negro College Fund, FW Urban League, United Way, Community Food Bank, etc.

Þ Our Club has sponsored several cultural and society events as well as book reviews to enhance the social and educational consciousness of its members.