CHESTER, Vt. – The General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) Okemo Valley Women’s Club (OVWC) met for its October meeting on Monday, Oct. 12. Instead of meeting in Ludlow, the club had an off-site meeting at Down to the Roots in Chester, Vt. Seventeen women traveled to Chester to attend the meeting.
A brief business meeting was held to discuss past, current, and future club projects to benefit the local community. Vermont State President and OVWC club member Darlene Remy reviewed the recent GFWC Northeast regional meeting held in Milford, Mass., and attended by more than 130 club women throughout the northeast, including Remy and OWVC President Sally Scarp. Present at the regional meeting were the national GFWC president and GFWC president-elect. Remy also reviewed the dates for the state winter meeting, to be held via Zoom, and the state spring meeting in May 2027. The club’s updated bylaws were reviewed, and the women voted to donate to a national charity in addition to local supporters of the club.
Following the business meeting, the club turned its attention to its hosts at Down to the Roots, a Vermont licensed adult-use cannabis dispensary specializing in health and wellness. CEO and CFO Andrea Goldman, along with COO and General Manager Scott Blair, explained how their dispensary began and supports small Vermont farms. Any licensed Vermont dispensary must sell only Vermont-made products and follow strict Vermont guidelines and laws, and sell only tested products. CBD products are federally legalized as Schedule III controlled substances, classified as drugs that have a moderate to low potential for physical dependence and a high potential for psychological dependence, and have an accepted medical use. Down to the Roots prides itself on knowledge of its products with friendliness and education of the staff to benefit its adult customers. Only adults may enter the shop by showing identification to be granted entry. They also explained legal vs. illicit cannabis.
Jessilyn Dolan, a registered nurse and certified ganjier trained in Vermont, gave the club a Zoom presentation to explain the history of cannabis and CBD; how it is used medically; how it improves health, sleep, and temperature regulation; how it reduces pain; and how it has cancer- and tumor-fighting and anti-inflammatory properties. CBD also reduces anxiety, benefits diabetes blood sugar control, and has anti-epileptic properties. A tour of the facility was included after the presentation.
The next meeting of the OVWC will be held Monday, Nov. 9, at the Black River Senior Center in Ludlow. Anyone wishing to attend may contact President Sally Scarp at 407-242-0901; Membership Chair Cnythia Mischel at 802-282-4225; or any club member.
The Okemo Valley Women’s Club is a member of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, an international women’s organization dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service.