League of Women Voters turns 90
CROSSLAKE - When Dorothy Janes was born 97 years ago women weren't allowed to vote.
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The year was 1913.
Janes was 7 before her mother had the right to cast her vote in an election. It would take a 72-year struggle, but the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote was ratified on Aug. 18, 1920.
On Thursday, Janes, an East Gull Lake resident, gathered with her daughter, Cynthia, and members of the League of Women Voters Brainerd Lakes Area chapter for a birthday celebration they all could share. The birthday cake celebrated the League of Women Voters' 90th birthday.
In 1920, six months before the 19th Amendment was ratified, Carrie Chapman Catt founded the League of Women Voters at the National American Women Suffrage Association convention.
When Dorothy Janes was born in February of 1913 women were not allowed to vote. Janes was 7 before her mom was able to cast a ballot. Thursday Janes was with the League of Women Voters Brainerd Lakes Area chapter as it celebrated the league's 90th birthday. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
The league turns 90 today.
It was created to help women carry out their new responsibility as voters and encouraged participation in shaping public policy. The grassroots nonpartisan organization - which includes men and women - was founded on citizen involvement and education on issues.
"It means a great deal," Janes said of the organization. She attended about four national conventions and traveled to Washington, D.C.
The Brainerd lakes area chapter has been active for 13 years. The organization has 850 leagues throughout all 50 states. Leagues are involved in voter education, presenting programs in areas of the environment, health care, poverty, school finance, immigration, the role of the media, and the 2010 Census and Redistricting - a League of Women Voters of Minnesota study.
Wayne Holtmeier said he joined the league to stay current on issues.
Members of the League of Women Voters Brainerd Lakes Area met for a luncheon Thursday at Pine Peaks restaurant in Crosslake. The gathering included a birthday cake to celebrates the league's 90th birthday. Those attending were Jean Prickett (left), Sandy Eliason, Beth Passi, Betty Ryan, Ann Grussing, Karen Christofferson, Bob Uppgaard (standing), Bonnie Crum, Karen Ford, Duane Magnuson, Wayne Holtmeier, Elaine Leach (standing), Cynthia Janes, Dorothy Janes, Kathe Lemmerman, Allen Eliason and Shirley McConnell. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
"It's a great place to get an overview of what's going on," Holtmeier said.
Jean Prickett said the league works to educate members and the public about social and political concerns. Prickett said she joined when the women were stay-at-home moms and the gathering gave them a chance to get together and talk about interesting and serious issues.
"For me, it's just been a real education," Prickett said.
Shirley McConnell appreciates the group's nonpartisan status. "We can talk about things that neither of the parties are talking about, especially redistricting."
Allen Eliason joined the league six years ago.
Next meeting
The League of Women Voters of the Brainerd Lakes Area welcomes visitors. The chapter meets on the second Thursday of every month from September through April. More information is online at www.lwvbrainerdlakesarea.org.
The next meeting will be March 11 at 5:30 p.m. for coffee with a program at 6 p.m. The program is The National Popular Vote, a League of Women Voters study. More information is online at www.nationalpopularvote.com.
"It makes life more interesting," Eliason said. "I enjoy the association of a lot of intelligent and interesting women."
After a celebratory lunch at Pine Peaks restaurant in Crosslake, the group toured a green home under construction that is using solar panels to generate electricity among other green building measures.
Studying the issues is one of the things Elaine Leach enjoys about the league. Members are serious about issues, Leach said.
But at the luncheon gathering as birthday cake was handed out, Leach said serious issues weren't the only thing the group enjoyed. Leach said: "You can tell we have fun."