To the editor:
Happy birthday to the League of Women Voters and Women’s Right to Vote: 1920-2020!
The League of Women Voters of Brown County and the Brown County Historical Society hosted a Centennial Tea March 8 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment — securing the right to vote for all citizens regardless of sex — giving women the right to vote nationwide. March 8 was picked for the tea in honor of International Women’s Day, a global day to recognize the continuing struggle for equality.
Rhonda Dunn, historical society archivist, welcomed the guests. Pam Raider, vice president of the Brown County League, provided a history of the suffrage movement and of the League of Women Voters, also celebrating 100 years. League President Shari Frank talked to the group about how giving women the vote has improved public health and education around the country. Shari also commented on the many issues the League supports for the betterment of all: improving voter education; fair elections; natural resources; creating fair maps when redesigning electoral voting districts based on the census; hosting local candidate forums; and more.
Guest speaker Louise Hillery, author of “Bold Women in Indiana History,” took the group on a historical path to suffrage in Indiana, focusing on five Hoosier suffragists: Frances Wright, Robert Dale Owen, Sarah Bolton, Zerelda Wallace and May Wright Sewall.
We want to thank the many volunteers and hostesses who created lovely sandwiches and desserts, set beautiful tables with their favorite tea pots and china, created exhibits of the historical women who paved the way and so much more to make this an educational and celebratory event. Nancy Crocker, Rhonda Dunn, Judy East, Shari Frank, JoAnne Himebaugh, Jane Huffman, Janet Kramer, Heather Nicholson, Pam Raider, Rita Simon, Kathy Smith-Andrew, Pua Smith, Jan Swigert, Laurie Teal and Linda Todd served as hostesses, planners, and/or volunteers for this Centennial Tea. The League also extends deep appreciation to the Brown County History Center for providing the elegant setting. Thank you to all!
Get more information about the League of Women Voters Brown County on our website: www.lwvbrowncounty.org. If you’d like to help support the mission to empower voters, we welcome new participants, volunteers and members.
Laurie Teal, vice president, LWVBC, and JoAnne Himebaugh, secretary and chair of the Centennial Committee, LWVBC
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