WFLIC is part of the worldwide Welcome Clubs International (WCI) network. The membership of Welcome to Florida International Club (WFLIC) consists of women from many different countries. About half of the membership is American. The club is most active from November through April. During the summer, there are monthly informal luncheons at restaurants throughout Naples so year-round members have a chance to see each other. The club offers many interest groups for women to interact with each other and share cultural activities. We welcome women of all nationalities. The language of the club is English.
OUR PURPOSE
Building Bridges of International Understanding
OUR MOTTO
Friendship through Understanding – Understanding through Friendship
OUR HISTORY
Our club, Welcome to Florida, was founded on February 26, 1986, at the Hilton Hotel, Marco Island, Florida. We are modeled after the Welcome to Washington International Club, which was founded by Marian Adair in 1959.
OUR FOUNDER
Marian Adair (1908-2004), our founder, was the wife of the late E. Ross Adair, who served as a U.S. Congressman from Indiana for 27 years. After his term of office, he was appointed Ambassador to Ethiopia for three years. Marian saw a great need for the bonding of US and international women coming into the Washington DC area, so, she founded International Club I in 1953. Four International Clubs and four International Neighbors Clubs were formed, each with limited memberships. In 1959, the Welcome to Washington International Club was organized with an unlimited membership to offer an opportunity for more international and US women to join together. Marian’s dream was to have many “Welcome Clubs.” This dream is being realized.
MARIAN ADAIR AWARD
The Marian Adair award was established in 1993 to recognize members for their dedicated and outstanding service to our club.
| Patricia B. Adams | 1993 |
| Carolyn M. Brown* | 1995 |
| Phyllis J. Liebman | 1996 |
| Ruth Prater | 1998 |
| Elizabeth Violante* | 1999 |
| Donna E. Baker | 2000 |
| Mary Lou Kelley | 2002 |
| Bettina Kopchick | 2004 |
| Kay Ruel | 2004 |
| Mary Anne Schulz | 2007 |
| Nancy Furstner | 2010 |
| Lois Saldukas | 2012 |
| Donna Suddeth | 2015 |
| Isabel Etkin | 2017 |
| Elizabeth Cottingham | 2019 |
| *Deceased |