MOULTRIE — One of Moultrie’s longest-running events is getting a new look and a new venue this year.

The Moultrie Federated Guild will move its annual antiques show to Moultrie Technical College, 800 Veterans Parkway, for its 2013 show, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, March 15 and 16.

In its 56th year, the show will also add art and collectibles to its lineup, according to Guild member Barbara Fallin.

According to the late Jean Burroughs, who put together a short history of the club using a past article from The Moultrie Observer, The Moultrie Federated Guild launched its first club year on Sept. 16, 1948, after several months of organizational meetings. The first president was Mrs. Price McLean and the roster included 20 charter members. The theme for the club’s first year was “Improvement of Ourselves, Our Homes and Our Community.”

In the January of 1949, the club became a member of the General and Georgia Federation of Women’s Clubs and has won the attendance banner several times for the largest percentage of its membership attending the Spring District meeting of the Federated Clubs.

“I can’t really think of a lot of things that are going on in this county that the Guild is not contributing either directly or indirectly,” said member Nawatha White.

Taking their “improving our community” theme to heart, from the very start Moultrie Federated Guild did welfare work. Their first project, according to Burroughs’ history, was the provision of premature baby kits, which included home incubators and layettes, for the County Health Department.

“The group also established a loan service for wheel chairs, crutches and many other sick room supplies, to be used by anyone in the community who may need them for short periods,” an article in The Moultrie Observer dated June 26, 1976 stated.

It also stated that the Guild participated in the Georgia Heart Association and the Community Chest Drive, which was the predecessor to United Way of Colquitt County.

“Almost any community event will probably find Guild ladies either providing refreshments or providing donations or providing volunteers to work at it,” said White.

Reaching outside of the community to offer assistance, the Guild has made an annual contribution to the Tallulah Falls School, an independent, coeducational boarding and day school that is owned by the Georgia Federation of Women’s Clubs. After the Korean War, it “adopted” a Korean orphanage and sent financial help to this organization until it disbanded three years later. In past years, the club has also “adopted” the library, keeping fresh flowers and plants on the desks and in the reading rooms, and arranging story hours.

These projects throughout the community, and the few outside the community, are achieved through the Guild’s six “departments” — home life, conservation, international affairs, arts, education and public affairs. Currently some of the projects these committees are working on are support of the annual mission trip to Honduras led by Dr. Seth Berl; education about and conservation of native plants; continuing to support the Tallulah Falls School; and providing assistance and hosting events for the Colquitt County Arts Center — just to name a few.

“The members of the Federated Guild have been longtime loyal friends and supporters of the Colquitt County Arts Center,” said Jeff Ophime, executive director of the Colquitt County Arts Center. “They have contributed to the permanent collection of the Arts Center with works of art that will be enjoyed for generations. Scholarship funding by the Federated Guild has introduced the world of art to individuals that may not have otherwise been able participate. Their generosity and hard work enriches the whole community.”

“We have a rotation in the Food Bank just like churches and other organizations,” White added.

Andy Jordan, director of the Colquitt County Food Bank, said the Guild furnished two ladies to work five days every 14 weeks. He said that he started working at the food bank in 1992 and knew that the Guild had been volunteering there way before that. He said that, from time to time, the club has also brought in specific food items that were needed.

“They have been very instrumental in the community. They do a great job for the community,” Jordan said.

White also said that there were ongoing projects like members bringing in food and clothing and even coupons to be distributed through specific programs to people in need.

“The Moultrie Federated Guild, part of the Georgia Federation of Women’s Clubs, is a group of women who are the ultimate example of the saying ‘Many hands make light work.’ Members work in different Service Program groups over the year. At the end of the year, the groups have touched so many people and organizations in our community and even outside our community with their volunteer time that it is truly amazing,” said member Lesa Moser.

However, the projects do need financial support to run and, according to long-time member and a past-president, Jane Gibbs, the Guild’s first fundraiser was a tour of local homes, which was done for several years. Then, Mrs. Ben Warren, the first president, who was a lover of antiques, started the first Antique Show in 1958. Gibbs said the show was held in the Ag Building until it outgrew the space and was moved to the Armory in 1964.

“One of the members who helped during this time said the thing she remembered the most was serving on the kitchen committee which operated out of the make-shift site without running water or a sink.  The members carried dirty pans and dishes home at night and washed them,” said Gibbs.

She said during this time, the late Bill Sells started making Turkey Shortcake and the show was “famous” for it for many years.

“People would come from Albany to get the shortcake,” she added.

Gibbs said, in 1977, Vivian Anderegg and Carolyn Friedlander went to the local YMCA to ask for the use of the gym and kitchen for the show and it had been there ever since, until this year.

“These women who started this antique show had special things they did,” she said.

Each of the women in the Guild would make a cake for the dessert table in the “Country Kitchen,” which is still part of the show today. Lunch and supper are usually served the first day and lunch only is served on the second day. The Friday night dinner will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., and will be a “Lasagna Supper” for $10.

Gibbs said, in 1958, the members started having a Dealers Dinner on the night prior to the show and it soon became a “gourmet” meal. Then, in 2003, Barbara Fallin suggested that the club host a Preview Dinner on the evening before the show and let the people who attend get a sneak preview of the show. The dinners were served at a local home, which was open for touring, and dessert would be served at the YMCA. This year, on Thursday evening, the dinner will be held at the home of DeAnna and Gregg Isaacs and dessert will be served at Moultrie Tech, Fallin said.

“This is our eleventh year and it has grown in popularity,” she said of the preview dinner.

Fallin also came up with the idea for the Mother-Daughter Tea on the first day of the show. It will be held at her home this year, at 4 p.m., on Friday, and the young guests will be given an introduction to antiques by Fallin and a tour of the show, she said. Reservations must be made ahead of time and the cost is $10 for each participant. An invitation will be mailed once the reservation is received. It is for young ladies in kindergarten through fifth grade.

“This will be an added addition to the future shows and will interest the younger generation,” said Gibbs.

This year’s Antique Show will include a lecture by interior designer Jennifer Davis of Purdy’s Antiques and the  Fairy Garden Workshop with Patty Dunn. There will be dealers from Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and Florida. Also, local florist Ronnie Barrett, owner of Flowers by Barrett, will give a floral demonstration.

Antique Show times will be on Friday, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission in $7 with advance purchase tickets at $5.

“Our Antique Show has been a Moultrie tradition for the past 55 years. We are so grateful for our local businesses and friends supporting our only fundraiser that benefits many community programs. With the continued support of our community, this year could be our best show ever,” said Judy Stringfellow this year’s chairman of the Antique Show.

“Our community is an important part of our guild and the projects that we do,” added Gibbs.

More details about the 56th Annual Moultrie Federated Guild Antique Show: Antiques, Art and Collectibles can be found on the Moultrie Federated Guild’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/MoultrieFederatedGuild. Tickets can also be purchased at Sid’s Antiques and Gifts or any Federated Guild member.