Operation Chillout, 19th Amendment

By NJSFWC | August 26, 2020

Operation Chillout – Sweatshirts Needed

by Jan W. Hanson, NJSFWC President

Thank you to Lynn Wiss, Associate Member of the Woman’s Club of Point Pleasant, for making the first sweatshirt donation for Operation Chillout.

We are committed to donating 1,000 sweatshirts to put in their backpacks for the Winter Distribution to homeless veterans.

For the super shoppers, you can purchase the mid-weight, outdoor Zipped Hooded Sweatshirts using your bargain hunting skills. If you purchase them online, they can be sent directly to Headquarters (55 Labor Center Way, New Brunswick, NJ 08901). Another option is to send a check to Headquarters, earmarked sweatshirts, and we will purchase in bulk.

  • Men’s Colors – Dark Blue, Gray, Black, Dark Green, Camo
  • Women’s Colors – Dark Blue, Gray, Light Blue & other women’s colors
  • Logos are okay as long as they are not religious.

We will be collecting all the sweatshirts at Headquarters so we can keep a count on number and size. As the sweatshirts come in, we will keep you updated on the number and sizes we still need. Thank you for participating in this project.

Also, we will collecting masks to put in the backpacks.

100th ANNIVERSARY 19th AMENDMENT

by Maribeth Hugelmeyer, NJSFWC Historian

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Today, August 26, 2020, marks the 100th Anniversary of the passing of this, the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States giving women the right to vote. For over 72 years, many women fought for this right. Over the course of the next several months I will be sharing stories of these women in Board reports and ALMANAC articles. I marvel at their strength, courage, and determination.

If you wish to begin learning now, there are two websites that you might find interesting and helpful.

  • Turning Point Suffragist Memorial: www.suffragistmemorial.org. The memorial is in the process of being constructed at 5400 Ox Road, Fairfax Station, VA. They were hoping to open on August 26, but the opening has been delayed. Perusing the website will give you an insight to what is being built at that location in honor of the many women who worked towards the goal of getting the right to vote for women. There are stories, pictures and timeline/calendar that details the process.
  • Belmont-Paul (House) Women’s Equality National Monument: www.NPS.GOV/BEPA. This monument is named for Alva Belmont and Alice Paul who fought the battle of the VOTE! And is located at 144 Constitution Ave. NE, Washington, DC. As of this writing, the site is currently closed but their website has information on the history of the house, the National Woman’s Party and pictures and stories of the suffragists.

The Final Vote

In August 1920, the pressure was on as time was running out to ratify the Amendment. Thirty-five states had already voted and one more vote was needed. Of the four states that had been asked to hold a special session, only Tennessee agreed to do so. After a lengthy debate, a vote of 48-48 defeated the motion to table the amendment. The legislators wore roses in their labels to signify which side they were on; red rose was against ratification and yellow rose was for ratification. The votes were being called again. Harry Burn, twenty-four and the youngest member, represented an anti-suffrage district. In the first round, his vote was nay. He held in his pocket, a letter from his mother, Febb Burn, a suffrage advocate. She said, “Hurrah and vote for Suffrage…” and “…to be a good boy…” and the letter continued to urge him to vote in favor.

He did as his mother said and voted Aye, and the amendment passed 49 for and 47 against. Tennessee had the honor of ratifying the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution.

On August 24th, Governor Robert of Tennessee signed the ratification certificate and sent it to Washington, DC. At 8 a.m. on the morning of August 26th, Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby signed the proclamation that added the suffrage amendment to the Constitution and women had the right to VOTE!

Centennial Production

On August 26th West Hudson Arts & Theater (W.H.A.T.) will present “The Right is Ours!” a virtual production produced in association with The Junior Woman’s Club of Arlington, The Woman’s Club of Arlington, EMD of the Woman’s Club of Arlington and The Arlington Juniorettes, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment giving women the right to vote.

The original virtual theater experience, written by local playwright and W.H.A.T. board member Allyssa Hynes with historical research by Hudson County Community College Professor and Harrison resident Regina Conlon Vinacco, will stream on the W.H.A.T. Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/whatconj/ at 7:30 p.m. It will also feature several familiar local faces including Woman’s Club of Arlington President Patricia Sherwen, Juniorettes Advisor Brandi-Leigh Miller, Councilwoman Carol Jean Doyle and owner of The Observer newspaper Lisa Feorenzo and a few more you might recognize.

This is a fundraiser for W.H.A.T and contributions can be made before, during or after the event via @WHATCONJ. Checks can be mailed to W.H.A.T. PO Box 241, Kearny NJ 07032. W.H.A.T. is a 501(c)3 organization so all donations are tax-deductible.

Do you have a local theater company that is struggling? Maybe you can work with them to put on a virtual performance with your club members to help raise money for your club and the theater company. For more information attend the fundraising workshop.

FUNDRAISING IN A PANDEMIC

We will be holding a Fundraising Zoom Workshop on Tuesday, September 29, 2020 at 10am in order to share ideas on how to raise money in a pandemic. Clubs will have an opportunity to provide information on their fundraisers and trade ideas on how to raise money when we cannot gather in person. To register contact Chris Burlew, [email protected], and you will receive log-in information a few days before the event.