The Tulsa Silver Foxes, founded in 2016, is an organization initiated by Fleta Haskins and Sue Hicks. Haskins and Hicks are sisters. The Silver Foxes Club was the first new club organized in Oklahoma since 1990. The Club, federated in 2017, has average membership of 20 active members.
Fleta Haskins was a charter member of the GFWC Junior Ocieleta Club of Claremore, Oklahoma, organized in 1956. She has a distinguished history of GFWC leadership, having served as a longtime member and past president of the GFWC Onawa Study Club of Sallisaw, Oklahoma (founded in 1946} as well as the GFWC-Oklahoma State President from 1994-1996. She has also served in various leadership positions at the GFWC Regional and International levels.
Sue Hicks, shares a similar legacy of service. She is a charter member and past president of the GFWC Cotillion Study Club of Claremore, Oklahoma established in 1968. Both sisters brought their extensive experience in civic and community engagement to Tulsa after becoming residents there, culminating in the establishment of the Tulsa Silver Foxes.
Tulsa, the second largest city in Oklahoma, has a rich history of federated clubs. The city’s first federated club, the Hyechka Club, was organized in 1904, marking the beginning of a flourishing era of civic and cultural organizations. Over the next 35 years, 11 additional clubs were established.
Two Oklahomans have served as GFWC International Presidents. Roberta Campbell Lawson served from 1935 to 1938. Lawson was born in Alluwe, Indian Territory, to J. E. Campbell, a pioneer from Virginia, and Emma Journeycake Campbell, daughter of the last Delaware tribal chief, the Reverend Charles Journeycake. They made their homes in Tulsa and Nowata, Oklahoma. The second GFWC President was Mrs. Lee Ozbirn who served from 1961 to 1962. She was from Oklahoma City.
The Silver Foxes was formed with friends and neighbors who were nearly or newly retirement ages and were eager to better their community, meet new people, make new friends and benefit others with their service.
Our club has selected the “Done In A Day” project and have contributed money, time, effort and volunteer hours to John 3:16 Mission, animal shelters, Blue Starr Mothers, battered women shelters, women re-entry from prison organizations, food banks, homeless shelters, outfitting Tiny Homes for homeless and Christmas and Easter giveaways. Club members have been in attendance and active in all district, state and regional meetings since organization.
The club meets monthly September thru May the first Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in members’ homes.
For more information contact; President Joan Ludlum (918) 640-9920 hearttreas@aol.com; Founder Fleta Haskins (918) 775-1009 fleta@hasknfam.com or Founder Sue Hicks (918) 704-7753.