This event celebrates women volunteer leaders in our county and the spirit of women in leadership. We will honor eight wonderful women this year, who will be presented in the coming weeks, and, with our theme, Women of Action, the history of women’s suffrage that led to the formation of the League and is the basis for our continued mission.
The women who convened in Seneca Falls, NY, in 1848 were viewed as radicals as they called for more equality for women in America. The effort by them and suffragists who followed was scorned by most of the country. Forty three years later, in 1893, only the state of Colorado allowed women to vote. One hundred years ago, a whole new generation of activists held a March on Washington on March 3, 1913, the day before the Presidential inauguration of Woodrow Wilson. The huge parade, consisting of nine bands, twenty floats and over five thousand marchers was harassed as wild eyed radicals by mostly men, incensed at the demand of the full participation of democracy for women. But it worked, seven years later women won the right to vote and the League of Women Voters was born.
The League and guests will celebrate these activists and the volunteer leader nominees. The speaker for the evening is Kerrie Logan Hollihan, an award-winning author for young people, who specializes in history, biography and cultures.
Ms. Hollihan, a resident of Blue Ash, Ohio, will share with us insights from her latest book, Rightfully Ours: How Women Won the Vote.
The book combines a lively narrative with resources for further study and activities that illuminate the lives and times of the Suffragists.
Ms Hollihan explains her work, “As I research and write, I think about how to explain the ‘whys’ of situations as well as the ‘whats’”.
All of Clermont County is invited to celebrate the eight nominated women of action, the history of the nearly century-long fight for the right to vote and the continuing civics education the League provides today.
Reservations are accepted on the lwvclermont.com website and, with payment, at LWVCC, P.O. Box 733, Milford, OH 45150. The cost is $35. Questions should be addressed to lwvcctreas@ inci.rr.com.