Local ‘Women of Influence’ to be honored April 30

By Kate Hayden, khayden@charlescitypress.com

Three years before the 19th Amendment’s centennial anniversary, the National 19th Amendment Society is preparing to honor women of Floyd County in elected positions of leadership.

This year’s Woman of Influence luncheon on April 30 will feature 40 women past and present elected to the Charles City City Council, the Charles City Board of Education and elected positions in the Floyd County Courthouse. The event is open to the public, and will be held at the Floyd County Youth Enrichment Center.

“It was asked, ‘what do we think about planning some special events to lead up to that year?'” Society President Cheryl Erb said.

Erb, Phyllis Meyer, Susan Jacob, Marilu Wohlers, Rosie Pieper and Joy Frank formed an events committee five years ahead of the 19th Amendment’s 2020 anniversary. The amendment — which granted women the right to vote — is intricately tied to the life of Charles City woman Carrie Lane Chapman Catt, who dedicated her life to fighting for women’s suffrage and world peace. The 19th Amendment Society has been operating the Carrie Lane Chapman Catt Girlhood Home since 1991.

The list of women to be honored this year goes back to 1912, when Mary D. Korinke was elected as the first woman County Superintendent of Schools in the district. The list also includes current Floyd County Supervisor Linda Tjaden, who was elected in November and is the first woman to hold that office in the county.

The society is sending out complimentary tickets to women or family members of women being recognized that day. Sen. Amanda Ragan, D-Mason City, will be the guest speaker.

“Whatever they did will have a sustained and lasting impact,” Erb said. “They’ve set some goals for everyone else to attain.”

“These are women who ran a campaign and were elected 80 years ago, 70 years ago. We need to recognize how much more difficult it was even then, but they recognized the need to be represented,” she added.

The group honored Rhoda McCartney during their first luncheon. McCartney founded the 19th Amendment Society and saved Chapman Catt’s childhood home, located just outside of Charles City. The next two years will feature women leaders in community organizations and business leaders. In 2020, the society’s luncheon will honor Chapman Catt herself.

“People are paying attention to that 100th anniversary coming up,” Erb said.

The 19th Amendment Society is also leading the movement to have Chapman Catt honored in the Floyd County Courthouse, across the hallway from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and President Abraham Lincoln.

The canvas print will feature two portraits of Chapman Catt, as a young girl and as a suffragette marching, alongside her quotes and a picture of her childhood home. It will be on display on the second floor of the Floyd County Courthouse, outside the Auditor’s Office. That display will be dedicated at the courthouse on April 19; more details on the event will be released soon.

“It’s important to continue to vote, and to maintain that right that Carrie fought so hard for,” Jacob said, adding, “she is the most famous American to come out of Charles City, Iowa.”

The society asks members of the public to RSVP to the Woman of Influence luncheon by April 20; contact Rosie Pieper at grpiep@gmail.com. Tickets are available for $10.