Newsletter Archives

Women’s History Council/Legacy 2000
October 1999 Newsletter

On October 21st, Grand Rapids' own Emily Burton Ketcham (1838 - 1907) will be among five state women inducted into the historical division of the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame; and Ardeth Platte is among four to be inducted into the contemporary division.

A personal friend of Susan B. Anthony, Ketcham led local and state suffrage groups for over 30 years. An invited speaker at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair and in front of the 1894 U.S. Congressional Judiciary Committee, Ketcham represented Michigan several times on the national executive council and brought the National American Woman Suffrage Association to Grand Rapids in April 1899 for its annual convention. A special celebration of the centennial of that conference was held at St. Cecelia Music Society on April 27, 1999. Former GGRWHC board member JoEllyn Clary was instrumental in presenting that historic centennial celebration.

Sister Ardeth Platte, from the Grand Rapids Dominican Sisters at Marywood, helped organize the successful Michigan Faith and Resistance group to remove nuclear weapons from the state. The recipient of many awards, Platte is committed to education and action that publicizes the need to eliminate violence as a means to solve conflict.

The Michigan Women's Hall of Fame dinner is scheduled for October 21 at the Radisson Hotel at 111 N. Grand Avenue in Lansing. Sponsored by the Michigan Women's Studies Association's Historical Center, the dinner is a major fund-raiser. Tickets are $100 per seat, with a cash bar and silent auction at 5:30 p.m.,followed by dinner, program and dessert reception. Call the Michigan Women's Study Association at (517) 484-1880 or get information locally by calling 454-7457.

For detailed information on Emily Burton Ketcham and/or Sister Ardeth Platte, call the Women's History Council office at 234-3603.

As we approach the end of our Membership year, I recall with pleasure the activities we have sponsored and the recognition many women and organizations have received.

I am finally reaching the end of my long tenure as president of the Council, and I look forward to becoming more of an observer than a leader. I have appreciated most the cooperation and willingness of board members to accomplish those goals we identified in our strategic plan. Many others not on the board have made significant contributions as well. At our annual meeting on October 12 we will try to give proper credit to those individuals.

My final request is for a record attendance at the annual meeting, where Council members will have the opportunity to elect new board members and officers. See you October 12th! Vernis Schad WHC President

Please join us. . .

Women's History Council Annual Meeting

Tuesday, October 12, 5:00 p.m.

Applied Technology Center, Grand Rapids Community College

Come for refreshments and a time to visit. Bring a friend!

Learn more about the Women's History Council and Legacy 2000!

Three new members will be welcomed to the Women's History Council board of directors at the annual meeting on October 12 at the Applied Technology Center at Grand Rapids Community College. Joining the board are: Nancy Douglas, Nelle Frisch and Millie Jackson. Many thanks for their hard work on behalf of the WHC go to Barbara Amberg, Gail DeYoung, Bessie Ward and Tish Griswold who will be leaving the board. The slate of officers for the 1999-2002 term is: Mary Seeger, president; Kyle Irwin, vice president; Judy Lloyd, secretary; and Teresa Thome, treasurer. All WHC members and their friends are invited to attend the annual meeting on October 12.

See you there!

Speakers
Does your organization need a Women's History Month speaker for March, 2000? Call Joan Bennett of the Legacy 2000 Speakers Bureau, 956-5557.

Breakfast
Legacy 2000 will kick off with a breakfast on March 1, 2000 at 7:30 a.m. at the Van Andel Museum Center. The speaker will be Richard Norton-Smith, Director of the Gerald R. Ford Museum and Library.

Questions? Call. . .

Arts, Music & Theatre - Marge Kuipers, 454-7000
Business & Government - Cheryl Edwards, 771-0300
Education, K-12 - Terri Handlin, 235-1121
Higher Education - Dr. Jackie Taylor, 732-1086
Groups & Associations - Judy Lloyd, 956-3238
Museums & Libraries - Barbara McGregor-Packer, 451-9263, Ext. 27

Not enough people seem to know about the Michigan Women's Hall of fame - or at least is seems so judging by the small number of West Michigan women who have been nominated.

The Hall of Fame dinner commemorates the significant achievements of several Michigan women and one man each year. City Historian Gordon Olson was honored in 1996, the same year Joan Wolfe was inducted into the Hall of Fame, contemporary division.

The Greater Grand Rapids Women's History Council hopes for significant representation from this area at the 1999 dinner, but also simply asks that news of the awards dinner be spread.

Please consider nominations you might sponsor in the year 2000 as well as attendance at the 1999 celebration.

Jo Ellyn Clarey will coordinate tables for Grand Rapidians attending the event, as well as carpooling. To report your plans, get general information on nominating procedure or for specific data about other local women inducted in the past, call 454-7457.