[LWVNM Action] YouTube of Centennial Celebration of Suffrage at the Roundhouse- 2-6-2020

Wed Apr 8 15:35:39 MDT 2020

Many thanks to Felicia Lujan, State Archivist, for documenting LWVNM's 100th
Anniversary and the Suffrage Centennial Celebration at the NM State Capitol
on February 6, 2020.  The YouTube is about almost 2 hours long, some of it
with sound. It includes excerpts of the songs and the speeches in the
rotunda, photos of people in suffrage garb and in the legislative chambers
where resolutions were read, images of historical documents that were in the
archives held by the NM Commission of Public Records, and the new ones we
added to the State Archives. Felicia will be posting this YouTube and one on
NM's Suffragists on the Facebook pages of the NM State Archives and the
National Archives.  

When we started thinking about what we wanted to do for our 100th
anniversary, our goals were clear. As always, our mission was to use the
occasion to educate voters and to expand democracy by increasing civic
awareness and participation. Our History Committee spent significant amounts
of time and effort investigating the decades leading up to the ratification
of the 19th Amendment, the work of the National American Woman Suffrage
Association (out of which the League was born) and other suffragists, and
the economic and social issues that drove the concerted action to improve
conditions. Many of the policies that brought millions of women together
internationally and in the United States for seven decades plus are equally
important today. Efforts by local, state and national Leagues to make
government accountable and transparent continue to make a difference.

As we deal with the current emergency with the coronavirus, dressing like
suffragists and enjoying suffrage cake and lemonade at the Capitol seems a
bit quaint. But think of our foremothers, carrying on the suffrage movement
through the raging TB epidemic and the Spanish flu pandemic, through the
Civil War and the First World War. What kept our foremothers going keep us
going. Our larger purpose has never been more relevant. We must have strong,
enlightened governmental policies driven by the utter commitment to act for
the public good. Cooperation, coordinated action, and forward thinking will
help us protect the vulnerable and preserve civilization and our
environment. As we commemorate the efforts of the past, we remember that
through similar crises women did not give up fighting for the vote. We will
continue the fight, making sure that every eligible voter has access to the
ballot, the precious right that has cost so much blood, sweat, and tears.
Our insistence upon organized structures and the sharing of information and
resources are our hallmarks.  Those who aren't able to care for themselves
need governmental safety nets in times of crisis.

Many people and groups made our centennial event successful.  Virginia Kase,
LWVUS CEO, delivered enlightening remarks about the League's commitment to
economic and social justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI, for
short).  We give special thanks to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham;
Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver; Senators Nancy Rodriguez, Liz
Stefanics, and Daniel Ivey-Soto; Representatives Joanne Ferrary and Gail
Chasey and to many other legislators who paid us tribute in the chambers
when the memorials were presented, in the Rotunda, and in the hallways.  Our
program reflected diverse perspectives. Hispanic, Native American, African
American, and white women leaders from our various partner organizations
spoke eloquently about our shared priorities for clean, fair and accessible
elections and representative, responsive government. Progress requires
addressing historical challenges and shortcomings honestly and forthrightly.

Members of the public including many students expressed gratitude for the
enlightening displays by all of our Leagues and our dedicated partners,
Common Cause, AAUW, and NAACP. We are grateful for the information shared by
the representatives from NOW, the Woman's Club, the NM Humanities Council,
Fair Districts NM, and other groups. 

As we work together to get out the vote in the upcoming elections, we honor
our ancestors. And when our descendants look back at this time, they will
want to find strong ties that girded our country together when facing
adversity. Let's supercharge this election in homage to those who fought so
valiantly for those whose voices had been denied. We commit to making
progress, holding dear the sacred trust of our foremothers and allies. It is
our sacred trust.

Thank you to all whose ongoing work makes the League an effective
organization and those who carry the torch for democracy with liberty and
justice for all. 
Just as we treasured seeing the clippings, programs, voter guides,
newsletters, and League voter guides and pamphlets that documented the
concerns and values over the years, we're heartened by the commitment to
work together through this crisis. 

Please enjoy the link below.

Meredith Machen
505 577 6337
mermachen at cybermesa.com
meredith.machen at gmail.com

From: Lujan, Felicia, SRCA [mailto:felicia.lujan at state.nm.us] 
Sent: Wednesday, April 8, 2020 9:51 AM
To: Meredith Machen; Meredith Machen
Subject: Centennial Celebration of Suffrage at the Roundhouse- 2-6-2020

Dr. Machen~ I hope this message finds you well. I know our communities are
struggling to make it through this time together right now and wanted to
share some light in this struggle. Thank you to Dr. Machen for coordinating
and hosting such a wonderful and successful event in February in honor of
suffrage. It is an honor to help actively acknowledge those who came before
us and made such a difference, so I do hope that this footage is distributed
far and wide to share these acknowledgements. Please email this link to your
contacts and share the light!
Centennial Celebration of Suffrage at the Roundhouse- 2-6-2020 
[running time 1:45:15]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaTdOzYmQt8

Sincerely~

Felicia Lujan, CDIM, Director
State Archives of New Mexico

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