Dear League members,
In our ongoing commitment to expand democracy, it’s important to acknowledge leaders like Carrie Chapman Catt who worked for 33 years “for women's suffrage by federal constitutional amendment and her stated belief that all U.S. citizens – without regard to race, sex, color or creed – should have the right to vote.” I am looking forward to learning more about Carrie and delighted to hear that Deborah Turner, M.D., J.D., LWV Chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, has been nominated to lead LWV. I pasted a little bio about her below.
We know how important it is to get out the vote, especially the women’s vote, in this election.
I am increasingly aware of our debt to suffrage leaders and to those women who have run for office or stood up for equity, fair treatment, equal representation, and programs that help the vulnerable, who are disproportionately female. We are seeing the devastating effects of the pandemic on women who are on the front line as medical personnel, cleaning staff, and other jobs. Women are fighting for the same planks now as we did in 1920 and more!
Please see below and attached.
Here's the link to the Catt documentary and some excellent resources: http://www.iowapbs.org/catt
Thank you,
Meredith
From: Dianne Bystrom [mailto:dianne.bystrom@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, May 5, 2020 1:36 PM
To: Meredith Machen
Cc: lwv-state-presidents@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: List of suffrage centennial sites in each state and a glimpse of LWVNM's suffrage commemorative
Thanks, Dr. Machen, for sharing these materials with the LWV state presidents group.
To these resources to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the League of Women Voters and 19th Amendment, I'm adding a link to a documentary produced by Iowa PBS that premiered online on April 23. It will air tonight at 7 (CDT) on Iowa PBS. "Carrie Chapman Catt: Warrior for Women" is beautifully produced and well-researched. It includes interviews with at least 6 members of the League of Women Voters -- Dr. Deborah Turner, LWVUS national board member and nominee for national president; League of Women Voters of Iowa members (Doris Kelley, Linda Meloy, Sue Johannsen and Karen Kedrowski) and League of Women Voters of Nebraska members (Turner and Dianne Bystrom) as well as Elaine Weiss, author of "The Woman's Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote," and several scholars of the woman's suffrage movement.
Here's the link: http://www.iowapbs.org/catt
Sincerely,
Dianne Bystrom, Ph.D.
Co-President, League of Women Voters of Nebraska
Director Emerita, Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics, Iowa State University
AMBASSADOR SPOTLIGHT
DR. DEBORAH ANN TURNER, MD, JD
It would be hard to imagine a more fitting ambassador for the 19th Amendment Centennial Commemoration than Dr. Deborah Ann Turner, MD, JD. A native of Mason City, she currently serves on the board of the National League of Women Voters (LWV). Currently she chairs the LWV’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee.
Dr. Turner is the fifth known Iowan to serve on the national board, after leading the Des Moines chapter as president, and the state of Iowa League as vice president and ultimately co-president from 2011 to 2016. Other Iowans to serve on the LWV board include Mrs. J.C. Schramm of Burlington in 1942, Lois Leach of Davenport in 1951, Nan Waterman of Muscatine in the 1970s and Pat Jensen of Iowa City in the 1980s.
She credits her listening and collaboration skills for opening doors to leadership positions. “I want to help build on the past while making changes in the future,” she says. “Disenfranchisement of poor and minority groups and voter suppression are the greatest challenges going forward.”
Some of her many other accomplishments include:
- The first African-American woman to be certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology in gynecological oncology; more than 30 years in medicine
- The Outreach Program medical team trips to Tanzania, performing surgeries to improve the lives of women suffering from medical complications of child birth, and helping to feed children
- Law degree from Drake University
- President pro tempore, Iowa State Board of Regents
- 2013 Inductee into the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame; her leadership and exemplary accomplishments make her a role model for all women
- 2016 Professional of the Year, International Association of Who’s Who
- Certificate, Schwartz Center for Compassionate Care
Activism and education are in her blood. As a young girl, she helped her mother canvass neighborhoods and hand out literature for different causes. More recently, while on a medical mission to Tanzania, she witnessed the incredible sacrifices of women to exercise the right to vote, symbolized by purple dye on their fingers. “As I approached the clinic one day, dozens of poor women and mothers stood waiting for treatment, each of them with a purple finger.” They had walked many miles under extreme conditions to exercise their right to vote. “At that moment it struck me that I must do my share to ensure that every citizen in my own country exercises that right.”
Many Americans don’t realize the importance of their voting rights. Education is vital, and the 19th Amendment Centennial Commemoration is the perfect opportunity to reach into every American’s life with information and inspiration.
Top of Form
Bottom of Form
Meredith Machen
505 577 6337
On Sat, May 2, 2020 at 2:25 PM Meredith Machen <mermachen@cybermesa.com> wrote:
Dear LWV State Leaders,
As we focus on normalizing life and protecting humanity through this pandemic, we can honor the work of our foremothers who fought so valiantly for the vote for over 70 years through wars, the 1918 pandemic, and many other disasters. Many are brainstorming safe ways to expand the milestone of the greatest expansion of American democracy by getting out the vote in 2020.
Attached are lists by state of organizations prepared by the National Women's History Alliance and the
2020 Women's Vote Centennial Initiative, with the goal of extending the suffrage centennial timeline to August 26, 2021.“Many groups, individuals and institutions are already making plans. With this larger timeline in mind, we can continue throughout 2020 as much as possible, and then use 2021 to make up for the dislocation caused by the virus and even create new tributes. We can't let the virus overwhelm recognition of women's historic breakthrough. We can reclaim and make the most of the lost time.
We all hope and plan for events and exhibits to reopen relatively soon. But regardless, since the 100th anniversary year lasts until August 26, 2021, we suggest that organizations begin now to consider and plan for a clear and deliberate extension of centennial-related commemorations into 2021. The sooner we let partners, institutions and the media know the better. We realize that some groups will not want to or be able to do this, but we anticipate that many will.“There are countless centennial resources to take advantage of online. The NWHA's "Women Win the Vote" Gazette has hundreds of links plus state and national news. Download it from http://www.nwha1980.org. Also point people to http://www.2020Centennial.org, where they can learn more.
We are very grateful that the Rose Parade Float and so many suffrage centennial events took place during the first few months of 2020. And we know that, after this challenge passes, great opportunities lie ahead.
Onward with each other,
National Women's History Alliance and the
2020 Women's Vote Centennial InitiativeContact: RobertCooney@ebold.com with corrections and updates and gratitude for his dedication to our cause.
**
Many heard Robert speak at LWVUS Convention a few years back. His definitive history is on sale through NWHA. https://shop.nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org/winning-the-vote-the-triumph-of-the-american-woman-suffrage-movement-p4611.aspx
****
In the spirit of their request “to share useful resources and information about how our community is coping and planning for the future,”I am sending a brief summary of the some of the related activities of LWVNM.
I am also attaching a wonderful recent article that was in the NYT this week that includes Carrie Chapman Catt’s relentless and courageous work on suffrage through the pandemic and after the war. A colleague sent the reporter a couple of important factual corrections (including Elizabeth Cady Stanton as the author of one of the last volume of History of Woman Suffrage, which describes the 1918 pandemic), so please ignore those small errors.
Also attached are some of my favorite Catt quotations. We can’t let the desperate discriminatory statements she made to get the 19th Amendment ratified in the Deep South overshadow her monumental commitment throughout her life to address racial and gender inequality.
Please share your news and ideas for celebrating the important contributions that women have made and are making to address the needs of the most vulnerable.
Thank you and best wishes to all!
***
Meredith R. Machen, Ph.D, Past President
League of Women Voters of New Mexico
Empowering Voters - Defending Democracy
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