By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
For 70 years, a group of Bowling Green women (and handful of men) have been tenacious in defending voting rights, education and the environment.
Many are graying, but they are no less dogged in their desire to research issues then weigh in on them with those in power.
On Saturday, the League of Women Voters of Bowling Green celebrated its members who have worked for more than half a century to make a difference.
The nine longest serving members – Evelyn Bachman, Sheilah Fulton, Anne Graves, Sharon Hanna, Joyce Kepke, Betty Laukhuf, Suzanne Rock, Char Scherer and Kay Sergent – were recognized for their dedication to the league.
“Thank you for your courage, your conviction, your commitment and your hard work all these years,” said Janet Parks, president of the Bowling Green LWV. “We understand the need to continue for future generations.”
The sisterhood is far more than social – though the women clearly love the time spent around each others’ kitchen tables. Their devotion to the league is built on mutual respect for each other and shared concerns about issues that affect the public.
Sharon Hanna joined the league in 1970 after being asked to sit in on a meeting.
“I thought to myself, these are smart women – women who were involved in the community,” Hanna recalled.
Joyce Kepke remembered that same impression when she was introduced to the league in 1965.
“I immediately joined. I was so impressed,” Kepke said. “These were incredible women.”
Kay Sergent found herself hooked in 1970 after being asked to come to a card party. The women didn’t talk about cooking or cleaning. They were engrossed in conversations about environmental quality – clean air and water, she recalled.
“I joined league because of the exceptional women,” Sergent said.
The league is not just for women, evidenced by the handful of Bowling Green male members, including a previous president, Roger Anderson.
“This is your distinction for life,” Parks said to Anderson.
Anderson said after serving on City Council, he wanted to stay involved in voting rights and election information. He was not bothered by friends referring to him as “Madame President” during his term.
During Saturday’s luncheon, Bowling Green City Council President Mark Hollenbaugh praised the organization for its persistence at researching issues and then reaching out to elected officials. As a high school government teacher, that is the kind of informed citizen participation Hollenbaugh said he tries to encourage in his students.
“No group does a better job of that – and doing it in a non-partisan way – than the League of Women Voters,” he said.
That approach is vital to the league, which does in depth research on issues, discusses the research until members reach a consensus, then makes its stand known. The league does nothing superficially, Hanna said.
“I don’t think the league has ever veered from that mission,” she said.
That process attracted many women – like Anne Graves, who joined in 1968 with her primary focus on the environment.
“We work to get solutions to problems,” Graves said. “I like to get things done.”
Evelyn Bachman, who was an attorney for the Wood County Welfare Department, decided to join in 1972 when she learned the league was studying juvenile justice. Betty Laukhuf, a teacher, signed up in 1962 when the league was tackling educational issues.
Char Scherer first joined the league in Ithaca, New York, in 1960, then re-upped later in Bowling Green. Issues near and dear to her heart included mental health, honesty in education, fair voting districts and environmental issues.
“We’re everywhere,” Kepke said.
The national League of Women Voters organization was created in 1920 – months prior to women earning the right to vote.
Suffrage faced strong opposition from men and women. At Saturday’s luncheon, league member Ellen Scholl sang tongue-in-cheek “Anti-Suffragist Reasons” songs. The lyrics sarcastically stated that women shouldn’t leave their domestic duties to vote, and women suffrage could lead to dissension between husbands and wives. Pianist Olga Topuzova-Meade accompanied Scholl.
Parks told the story of women’s suffrage hanging in the balance in 1920 – with one more state being needed to ratify the 19th Amendment.
The vote appeared to be equally split in the Tennessee House of Representatives, with anti-suffragists showing up to vote wearing red roses, and pro-suffragists wearing yellow roses.
“The amendment seemed doomed to failure,” Parks said.
When it came time to vote, 24-year-old representative Harry Burn reportedly removed his red rose and voted in favor of women’s suffrage. In his pocket was a letter from his mother, telling him, “don’t forget to be a good boy.”
“His was the one vote that was needed,” Parks said.
“For the last 102 years, we’ve been exerting our interest at the ballot box,” she said.
The League of Women Voters has been working since then to make sure voters have the knowledge to make informed decisions when they cast their ballots.
The more seasoned league members shared stories of registering voters in the ballroom at BGSU and at the county fairgrounds.
Sergent talked about the old days when the league members went door-to-door with a lemonade cart to sign up voters.
They didn’t stop at voter registration. The league believes voters need to be educated on the issues and the candidates.
“The issues are so important nowadays,” Sergent said.
Those present at the luncheon pledged to persist and carry on the never-ending work of the organization.
“You may rest assured, we will remember the examples of our 50-year members,” Parks said.
“We will continue the work – as challenging as it is and as busy as people are,” Hanna said. “It’s important work. Bravo to the League of Women Voters of Bowling Green.”
