Linda Bragg, Karen Donohue, Carol Webster, Bonnie Westphall, and Dianne Ace presented the program at the Voices United meeting.
Linda Bragg
Voices United met on July 11 for a late celebration of our country’s 250th birthday. Members were encouraged to wear red, white, and blue. The room was festive with 4th of July decorations.
The program “Celebrating Influential Yet Unknown Women Who Shaped America Over the 250 Years” was presented by members of the Social Committee. Three short videos focusing on these unsung heroines were shown before the individual presentations.
Bonnie Westfall related stories about Debra Sampson, the first female soldier who dressed as a man to enlist in the Revolutionary War. The life of Elizabeth Packard, a reformer of insane asylum methods and an advocate for the rights of persons who were thought to have insanity, was presented by Linda Bragg. Zitala-Sa, an American Indian who worked for Native people’s right to United States citizenship and other civil rights that they had been denied, was discussed by Karen Donohue. Dianne Ace shared the story of Alice Paul, a leader in the Women’s Suffrage Movement. Carol Webster talked about Margaret Sanger, a nurse, who worked for the legalization of birth control for women.
These women, along with many others, helped shape the first 250 years of America and have been forgotten by most people. Hopefully, this program has made us all more aware of the women who helped shape this country and who are continuing to help America move into the next decade.
The next Voices meeting will be on Sept. 12 at 11 a.m., in the Robson Ranch Club House.
Voices United is a non-partisan group of Robson Ranch women who share progressive values, perform community outreach, provide civic awareness and social contact for members…and have a good time! We’re a 501(c)(3) group. Our annual dues are $25.
For more information go to www.voicesunitedrr.org.