National Woman's Christian Temperance Union
 

by Bruce Klauber There are dozens of cities, towns and municipalities throughout the country where the sale of alcohol is prohibited. In Pennsylvania alone, it’s been reported that over 2,500 municipalities are “dry,” to one degree or another. In this area the best-known dry town is Ocean City. By law it’s been sans alcohol sales since 1909, and by custom a lot longer. In 1879, four Methodist ministers met under a cedar tree on Sixth Street and Asbury Avenue to discuss the fo

Are You Ready to Turn Concern into Action? For over 150 years, the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) has empowered women to be the moral and spiritual protectors of their homes and communities. In an age where families face rising threats from substance abuse, mental health crises, and digital dangers, your voice and commitment are needed more than ever. We are not just a historical movement; we are a vital, active force for wellness, family stability, and civic right

The first National WCTU Convention was held in Cleveland, Ohio, November 18-20, 1874. The First Plan of Work was adopted. "14. We urge our unions everywhere to signalize the coming hundredth birthday of America by erecting in every village and town and city, fountains of water, inscribed with such mottos as shall show what sort of drink the women of America believe in, and as shall be a sermon in their persuasiveness to our fathers, brothers and sons." “Come, dear friends, j

Don’t Drug Your Dreams Away The 2025 YTE handout from the WCTU Young Artist Series is now available through Signal Press. It is the perfect size to fit into most church bulletins (5.5" x 8.5") The back contains drug information. To place an order, call: Nancy Schultz (847) 864-1397 About the artist: Lois Smith, a 16-year-old from Pennsylvania and the youngest of five home-schooled children, created this impactful piece for the 2023 National WCTU Division III Poster Contest. L

Scroll down to view the slideshow created by the photographer Steve Schultz.

Celebrate the enduring legacy of the WCTU with this exclusive pin, honoring the remarkable 150th Anniversary of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. This stunning gold-colored pin showcases the iconic WCTU monogram symbolizing our strong dedication to safeguarding our families and communities. This pin is not just a memento, it is a tribute to generations of WCTU women who fought for positive change. By wearing this pin, you are actively showing your support for the WCTU's

The WCTU has exciting new changes! WCTU's Frances Willard House Museum has a brand new website and a new web address franceswillardmuseum.org . We would love to have you visit. Hope to see you soon!

Fourth-Largest Controlled Substances Act Settlement in History; First Controlled Substances Act Settlement with an E-Commerce Company eBay Inc. has agreed to pay $59 million and to enhance its compliance program to resolve allegations that it violated the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) in connection with thousands of pill presses and encapsulating machines that were sold through its website. Pill presses and encapsulating machines can be used by criminals to manufacture ille

National LTL Director, Natalie Duvenary, reminds us that since school is out for the summer, this is a great opportunity to have LTL members complete the requirements for their Individual Achievement Awards. If you have any graduating LTLers, conduct a simple ceremony for those graduating into the Youth Temperance Council (YTC). Why not start a Front Porch LTL? This idea came from WCTU member Janet Hudson who held a Bible study and drug program at her home with six children p

You should be aware of these Emojis. Knowing this may alert you to another's drug use.

Xylazine – often called “tranq” – is a drug adulterant that DEA has detected in a growing number of overdose deaths, despite the FDA authorizing it only for veterinary use. Illicitly-used xylazine is most often reported in combinations with two or more substances present, such as fentanyl, cocaine, or heroin, and can increase the potential for these drugs to cause fatal overdoses. While scientists have not conducted much research on its effects, anecdotal reports suggest that

Marijuana is on the ballot today in Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota. Decriminalization of marijuana will not eliminate the harm! As of today, 19 states in the U.S. have legalized recreational marijuana. About half of all young adults in the country are users. There are mental health consequences of using marijuana that many don't know about. Marijuana is harmful to your mental health. It can induce feelings of well-being, however, marijuana can als

Jennie Hart Sibley was born Sarah Virginia Hart on October 22, 1846 to James Brooks and Maria Virginia Collier Hart in Augusta, Georgia. In 1865, she married Samuel Hale Sibley. Following the wedding in Augusta, they boarded a special train to the old Hart place in Union Point, gathering additional guests at every station along the route for the festive reception. The Sibleys had six children; two died very young. Jennie was widowed at age 37. She became a world traveler and

Many of our new subscribers and members are asking for current information on WCTU programs, activities, and educational materials. May I suggest you order the new WCTU 2022-2023 Program Kit? For just $10, you will get everything you need, including the new WCTU Catalog. The catalog is full of Shareables (educational materials that are too good not to be shared) on many topics. Order your Shareable handouts for students, school events, churches, fairs, and more. Signal Press

According to the CDC, 107,375 people in the United States died of drug overdoses and drug poisonings in the 12-month period ending in January 2022. Fentanyl is infiltrating our communities through counterfeit pills, cocaine and any other street drug you can name. Anonymously sold through social media and delivered within minutes. It sometimes looks almost candy like, as in the photo above, which is appealing to children. We urge you to watch the film by Dominic Tierno and Chr

Have you ordered the new 2022 Youth Temperance Education poster and bulletin insert from Signal Press? National WCTU Poster Contest Winner, Division III, Kyla Garner was a high school Junior when she created this poster. Currently, Kyla has been attending Colby College in Maine double-majoring in Geology and Astrophysics. She is hoping to get her B.A., followed by her Masters, and looks forward to seeing how God works "to shape me to use His gifts in service of others". Ky

As part of Black History month, many organizations are promoting conversations concerning lynching and lynch law in America. The word “lynching” brings to mind images of a black man hanging from a tree but many do not realize that people of all races in different parts of the world have been lynched in many different ways. On October 29, 1897, Frances E. Willard, president of the World and National WCTU called the twenty-fourth convention of the WCTU to order in Buffalo, New

Frances Willard was so beloved and respected that when she died, Chauncy M. Depew, then president of the New York Central Railroad, provided a special funeral car to take her body to Chicago. Some 20,000 people, many of whom waited hours in blustering cold winter weather, filed past her bier. Countless messages expressing profound sorrow were received from around the world. Many tributes can be found in The Beautiful Life of Frances E. Willard by Anna A. Gordon. Booker T. Was

Violet Hill Whyte: National WCTU Special Representative and a Police Officer She spoke representing the National WCTU in every state in the Country. The Baltimore Sun 1909 printed an article titled, "WOMAN COPS? OH, MY!"... "Best Beat For a Woman, Takes Her All Over Her House." A headline in the newspaper dated July 3, 1920, reads "No Negro Policemen." Police Commissioner Charles D. Gaither said that he has decided that Negroes although they take the examination, will not be