Who was Carrie Chapman Catt?
Carrie Chapman Catt, probably the most famous Iowan associated with the women's suffrage movement, was born in 1859 and grew up near Charles City, Iowa. A feminist from her earliest school days, Catt was responsible for creating a women's physical education program at Iowa State Agricultural College (now ISU), where she graduated in 1880. Though she did not become fully involved in the women's movement until 1885, in 1900 she succeeded Susan B. Anthony as president of the National Woman Suffrage Association. In 1919, she helped found the National League of Women Voters. After Catt left Iowa, she continued to help women in their unsuccessful struggle to amend the Iowa Constitution to allow women to vote, long before the ratification of the th. Amendment in 1920, seeing through her efforts until finally the th. Amendment was ratified. Catt died in 1947.
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Recipients of the Carrie Chapman Catt Award
First Carrie Chapman Catt Award to Helen LeBaron Hilton in 1993
By Jayne Bullock, Ames Tribune, 25 March 1993
Although not Iowa born, Helen LeBaron Hilton has made a political and social impact on her Midwest annexation. This is evidences by her involvement in many community and state organizations and events, but never more so than in her most recent recognition last Friday night.
During the intermission of the premiere performance of “Yellow Rose of Suffrage,” a play depicting the life of Carrie Chapman Catt, Hilton was presented the first Ames League of Women Voters Carrie Chapman Catt award.
Hilton said she was honored to receive the award and added, modestly, that she did’t know why she should receive it.
Ruth Jones said, “Hilton’s service to the community has been long and distinguished, which was one of the criteria for selection.” Jones, president-elect of the league, continued by saying, “Hilton has served as a member of numerous boards and committees in Mid-Iowa, which made her an excellent candidate choice and award recipient.”
Jones said Hilton was the first woman to run for and win a seat on the Ames City Council in 1966. She said Hilton has also been involved as a chair of committee member for many health-related organizations such as the visiting nurse service, Mary Greeley Advisory Board and the Ames/Gilbert United Way.
“Hilton was a founding member and chairwoman of the Heartland Senior Services foundation and has been involved as a representative of several women’s organizations such as the governor’s Commission on Children and Youth, Commission on the Status of Women and Iowa Children and Family services,” Jones said. “She was also elected to the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame.”
Jones said Hilton was well-qualified for the selection of the new award, which propagated the ideals of Catt, an ISU graduate and one of the early and principal advocates of women’s suffrage in the United States.
Thus, Jones said, the committee selected a candidate who had advanced the ideal of the League of Women Voters, which Hilton has done as a past president and life-time member of the league. The other criteria for the award, Jones said was the person must be an Ames resident. She said Hilton has been a part of the Ames community since 1952.
Hilton, born in Morrisville, VT, in 1910, reticently spoke to a reporter about her career in education, politics and the women’s movement. She said she did not have difficulty with her career moves during the years when administrative and political involvement by women was not as liberal as today. She said she had been in a man’s world all her life as a department head or in administrative assignments.
“And, the only reason I went into the city council years ago was that women were not participating,” Hilton said. “I felt that women were not doing their fair share in the decision-making. I decided to run for it myself in the hopes that it would encourage other women to become involved, which it did.”
“shortly afterward, the mayor and three of six city council persons were women,” she said. “It worked—just showed how it could be done.”
In today’s political arena, Hilton said she feels it is not difficult for women to get elected locally, but women are not making great advances at the state and national level in some areas.
Hilton, who previously held professorships at Penn state University and University of Vermont before coming to Iowa, has strong ties with ISU, both politically and educationally. She was dean of the home economics college for 23 years and later became the volunteer director for a retirement for a director for a retirement counseling program that she established.
However, now she “purposely doesn’t have anything to do with university policy; it is better not to be involved and let people that are there now do the job.”
When she isn’t working on some committee or out in the public limelight, Hilton said she likes to spend her spare time reading. She is interested in ancient history, and she enjoys reading about women who have succeeded in a man’s world—women like Catherine the Great.
“History has been something I have been able to indulge myself in during my later years—now that I don’t have to do professional reading,” she said. “I also like to knit; I think it is important to do a little something manually.”
Hilton talked about her adopted family which she joined when she married her friend James Hilton, former president of ISU at the age of 60. She said she enjoys the 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren who are scattered around the United States.
She said she is enjoying her role as a grandparent, but as a past professional educator, she has seen the accent on parenting skills continually change. She believes family problems have increased with the two- and single-parent working families, and feels that influencing children is difficult under these arrangements.
“I also think that television has probably had negative effects on children,” she said. “And there is something to be said about the fact that adults are more concerned with their own lives than the lives of their children. I see a little change in this and hope that we are trying to swing away from that concept.”
Second Annual Carrie Chapman Catt Award to Ruth Hamilton in 1994
By Bev Kruempel. This article was printed in The Voter in April 1994.
The second annual Carrie Chapman Catt award will be given during the LWV-Ames annual meeting April 21 to Ruth Hamilton for her long and outstanding service to the community. Ruth was president of the LWV-Ames from 1966-68.
She was elected three times to 3 year terms to the Ames School Board from 1970-79 and served as its president from 1973-79.
Ruth was a member of the Ames Visiting Nurses Association Board when it merged with Mary Greeley in 1984. She continued as part of the steering committee in 1985 to study the merger of the Story County Public Health Nurses, Homemaker Health Aides, and the Ames Visiting Nurses Association to form Homeward. She served on the first Homeward Advisory Board.
She is a long time supporter of Youth and Shelter Services (YSS). She was honored as outstanding Philanthropist to YSS. She is currently a member of the YSS Foundation Board.
Ruth was elected in 1988 for a 6-year term as a Story County Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioner. She remains active in her church, Collegiate Presbyterian, and is a member of the Board of the Green Hills Residents Association. 3/23/94 She has been involved in many other community organizations such as Green Hills Association, and her church. Ruth is noted for encouraging other women to participate in the political process and for being an excellent role model for them. She truly exemplifies the qualities of the Carrie Chapman Catt Award.
Third Annual Carrie Chapman Catt Award to Julia Faltinson Anderson in 1995
By the selection committee of Ann Molison, Chair; Faith Finnemore; Ruth Hamilton and Shirley Karas.
This article was printed in The Voter in April 1995.
Julia Faltinson Anderson is the recipient of the Third Annual LWV of Ames Carrie Chapman Catt Award. She will be honored at the Annual Dinner and Meeting on April 20, 1995.
Julia has been recognized time and time again because of her commitment to the welfare of children, women, and families. The majority of her life has been lived in Ames as a Professor at ISU, where she is now Professor Emeritus. She has earned worldwide recognition for her global humanitarian efforts. She has lived and worked in Yugoslavia, Taiwan, the Philippines, Nyasaland, Austria, Thailand, and Yucatan.
Julia often works “behind the scenes” for her church, community, state, or nation. In accepting the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame recognition in August 1993, she said that she has done the things she has been interested in, thought were important, and needed to be done.
She embodies the strength, courage, and wisdom of Carrie Chapman Catt. Congratulation, Julia!
During the Award Presentation the following was said:
We’re here this evening to recognize one of our own League Members, Julia Faltinson Anderson, long regarded by those of us who have known her as a woman who is highly competent and goal directed and someone who involves herself in a variety of projects with contagious enthusiasm. Through her activities and leadership, she has made and continues to make many many contributions to the Ames community, to Iowa State University, to the State of Iowa as well as contributions nationally and internationally.
Some of these include:
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Member of the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame
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Counselor to hundreds of 4-H club members in Iowa and even more students at Iowa State University
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First Woman on the Iowa State Banking Board
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Service on Mary Greeley Medical Center Board, Mary Greeley Medical Center Foundation, Ames Fair Housing Commission, Story Housing House, Ames Parks and Recreation Commission, social Concerns Chair of St. Andrews Lutheran Church, President of St. Andrews Congregation.
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Co-Director of American Home Economics Association pilot project to integrate family planning with education in family health and nutrition in developing countries
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Member, Board of Governors ISU Foundation, ISU Memorial Union Board of Directors, Board of Green Hills Residence Association
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Member, U.S. National Commission for UNESCO
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Member, Iowa Division Board of Directors, United Nations Association; on the planning committee and on the program for the Iowa UNA Association Role of Women Conference in May, 1990
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First Chair of the Women in Development Committee of the Iowa-Yucatan Partners of the Americas
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Director of work camps in Austria, Malawi, Yugoslavia
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Director of ISU Peace Corps Programs and Director of International Nutrition Workshop for all African students supported by USAID and FAO
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Chair, International Relations, Iowa Division of American Association of University Women
Those who worked closely with Mrs. Anderson over the years remember a wonderful colleague who was often innovative and always practical in accomplishing the task at hand. They report, for example, that during her extension days she was quite adept at driving all kinds of vehicles. If you are impressed with “the mail must go through” and “the show must go on, these are understatement about the manner in which Julia operated.
If you’ve ever worked on a project with Julia, you know it has to be organized to the nth degree. Some of those organizational skills were carried over from her World War II experience in the WAVES, and she can regale you with stories of how to reorganize the military to be more efficient.
In earlier days some of her recreational time was spent camping. Her idea of a great vacation was camping in the Grand Tetons with exotic equipment—a small tent, a few dishes, an iron skillet and plenty of time for reading and hiking.
Another major interest both in the “old days” and more recently in folk dancing. She participated in the International Folk Festival several years ago and attended workshops at Camp Iduhape. She is a graceful dancer and a good teacher.
We all have phobias about something—for some it is snakes, others mice, Etc. etc. With Julia it’s flies. If you’re a fly, stay out of he way. When she retired there was great concern that she would run out of fly swatters—with that in mind her colleagues presented her with quite an assortment—such creativity. And she accepted these gifts with grace and appreciation.
Her friends and colleagues see her, not only as a goal oriented, organized and highly competent problem solver but as someone who doesn’t take herself too seriously, has great sense of humor and someone who takes time and knows how to listen to and act on the concerns of others.
Julia Faltinson Anderson is most deserving of this Carrie Chapman Catt Award.
Fourth Annual Carrie Chapman Catt Award to Judie A. Hoffman in 1996
By the selection Committee of Carol Grant, chair; Julia Anderson and Jean Peterson. This article was printed in The Voter in April 1996.
Judie A. Hoffman is the recipient of the 4th Annual League of Women Voters of Ames Carrie Chapman Catt Award. She will be honored at the Annual Dinner and Meeting on April 18, 1996.
Judie is a long time member of the League of Women Voters, serving in many capacities locally and as vice president of the Iowa League of Women Voters board for three years, 1985-87.
Judie has had a long and distinguished career of service in Ames and throughout the state of Iowa as an elected officeholder, legislative lobbyist, volunteer and lecturer. Early in her career she was a teacher. She is currently serving as council person on the Ames City Council, an elected position she has held since 1988.
Volunteer appointments include Ames Cy Ride Board of Directors, Ames Economic Development commission, Iowa Business Council’s Solid Waste Committee, Governor Brandstad’s Committee on Environmental Agenda for the 1990’s, Story County Resource Enhancement and Protection Committee (REAP), Ames Visitor and convention Bureau Board, Chairperson of Story County Toxic Cleanup Day, Iowa Low level Radioactive Waste Advisory Board and Ames Planning and Zoning Commission (chairperson, 1983-86).
Judie is active in Collegiate Presbyterian Church where she has served on the session, as a deacon, and taught adult Sunday School Classes. Judie began her career as a public school teacher for seven years and taught child development at the college level for two years.
Judie has an additional expertise as public speaker that has included presentations to numerous public and private organizations—churches, LWV local meetings and state conventions and state of Iowa legislative committees. Since 1989 the focus of most of these presentations has been environmental, women and children’s issues and legislative issues.
Judie is an outstanding role model to young people today of a person committed to the ideals that Carrie Chapman Catt worked so hard to achieve in her time.
Congratulations, Judie!
Fifth Annual Carrie Chapman Catt Award to Jan Beran in 1997
By the selection committee of Ruth Hamilton, Judie Hoffman and Meg Tait. This article was printed in The Voter in April 1997.
We are pleased to announce that Jan Beran is the 5th recipient of the Carrie Chapman Catt Award given by the Ames League of Women Voters. Jan served as president of the Ames League from 1991-93 and is presently serving as state president. On the local level she has served as chair of the League finance committee and the international relations committee. In addition to this, she has written a booklet on the history of the League in Iowa, which is now in 1,200 school and public libraries across the state.
Jan has been very active in church work locally and on state and national levels. She worked as a missionary in the Philippines from 1959-73 where she taught at Silliman University and she has served many years as a youth leader and church school teacher at Northminster Presbyterian Church. She presently is an elder and was recently elected as moderator of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies, which includes 967 churches in eight states.
In addition to being the parents of three children and grandparents of five, Jan and her husband George have been foster parents since 1980 and had eight long-term placements of teenagers in their home plus 22 short-term placements.
Her service on community boards is most impressive. Jan has been president of Heartland Senior services, The Iowa-Partners of the Americas and the Ames chapter of the United Nations. She has served on the boards of the Ames-ISU Bike Committee, the Iowa-Yucatan Partners and the Iowa Peace Institute Peacemakers.
Jan has received many awards in recognition of her work including a Faculty Citation from ISU, a distinguished alumni award from Pella College and the Iowa Carrie Chapman Catt award. In 1986 she was named to the Ames Citizen’s Hall of Fame.
She is retired as a professor of Physical Education at Iowa State University where she taught for 18 years. During that time she wrote numerous papers and books, served on professional committees and presented many invited talks around the world.
Sixth Annual Carrie Chapman Catt Award to Jackie Manatt in 1998
By the selection committee of Jan Beran, Ruth Hamilton and Meg Tait. This article was printed in The Voter in April 1998.
Jackie Manatt is the recipient of the Sixth Annual Carrie Chapman Catt Award given by the LWV of Ames. She will be honored at the Annual Dinner and Meeting on April 16, 1998. By the selection committee of Ruth Hamilton, Judie Hoffman and Meg Tait. This article was printed in The Voter in April 1997. Jackie’s work in League spans a period of 25 years and continues to this day as she is currently an elected member of the Board of Directors of the LWV of Ames. She has served as president of both the LWV of Ames (’84 – ’86) and the LWVIA (’91 – ’93) as well as other elected positions in both these groups. Equally notable is her work on study committees at both the local and state level. These include a number of land use studies and parking and recreation studies in Ames and Story County as well as state-wide studies on school finance and adult correction. Her League activities have included several efforts to adopt ERA, a term as The Voter editor, participation in the observer corps, and many stints as moderator of forums of various types.
In the spirit of active citizen participation that Leagues espouses, Jackie has served in numerous capacities on city, county and state boards, commissions and committees. Her roles have included terms as chair of both the Ames and the Story County Planning and Zoning commissions. Among others, she served as co-chair of the group that spear-headed the Ames City Hall remodeling project, she has been active on Ames committees dealing with planning policy, census, town center issues and celebrate Ames activities. She served on the state-wide committee dealing with ethics and procedures in government. Jackie also participates in political party activities.
Beyond her interest in government at all levels, Jackie is active in church and school affairs and served as a trustee for the Ames Education foundation. Professionally she is Program Manager for the Science Bound Program at Iowa State University and works with her spouse as manager of a private consulting organization.
Jackie has been honored by the Story county Women’s Political Caucus’s recognition for “Women Who Contribute to Social and Political Change.”
Congratulations, Jackie!
Seventh Annual Carrie Chapman Catt Award to Mary Richards in 1999
By the selection committee of Jan Beran, Ruth Hamilton and Jackie Manatt. This article was printed in The Voter in April 1999.
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Mary Richards will be honored as the 1999 recipient of the Carrie Chapman Catt Award at the annual meeting of LWV Ames on April 15. Mary first joined the League of Women Voters in Lansing, Michigan, in the early 1960’s while her husband was in graduate school and she was home with three small daughters. One of her activities there was lobbying for League positions at the Michigan legislature. When her family moved to Ames in 1969, she joined the Ames LWV and continued to do lobbying for League, this time in Des Moines.
Mary served on the LWV Ames board in the early 1970s and, inspired by the League's work and activism, she enrolled in Law School. While in law school and during her subsequent career with the Iowa Legislative Bureau and as Story County Attorney, she still found time to moderate candidate forums and provide programs. Most recently she provided leadership for the LWVIA's review of the juvenile justice position and played a major role in drafting the revised position that we approved, through concurrence, in February
Congratulations, Mary!
Eighth Annual Carrie Chapman Catt Award to Ruth Swenson in 2000
This article was printed in The Voter in April 2000
The League of Women Voters of Ames is proud to name Ruth Swenson as the recipient of the annual Carrie Chapman Catt award. Ruth’s recognition will be celebrated at the annual dinner meeting on April 26, 2000.
Ruth is a long standing member of the League. She has served the League of Women Voters of Ames in many capacities, including president from 1995-96 and board member from 1994-99. Ruth served as Voter service Chair from 1997-99, and took a lead role in organizing the candidate forums during this time period. Ruth also produced and distributed the annual Political Directory and Voter Guide.
Ruth has a strong interest in health care, and has been very involved in the League’s Story county Hospital Study. She served on the Phase I Committee for this study and chaired the Phase II study. She wrote the final report for the study, and presented the results to the League membership for concurrence on the position statement. She conducted multiple presentations of the study results to groups in Story County. Ruth’s interest in health care continues, as she attends Story County Hospital’s Board meetings as an observer. She also volunteers at Mary Greeley Medical Center in the Hospitality Shop and with Meals on Wheels.
Ruth has attended state and national LWV conventions. She has chaired and coordinated town meetings on child care. In 1996, she organized League materials for archiving in the Special Collections Department of Parks Library as Iowa State University. Ruth has also been active in promoting voter registration and turnout for elections.
In addition to her League activities, Ruth has found the time to volunteer for many other organizations. She is active with the Reiman Gardens Co Horts, YSS, Heartland Senior Services and her church. Ruth is also on the Advisory Board of the Archives of Women in Science and Engineering, and is a member of the LAS Dean’s Advisory Council.
Ruth is very deserving of the Carrie Chapman Catt award, and we’re proud to have her active participation in our community.
Ninth Annual Carrie Chapman Catt Award to Judy Dolphin in 2001
This article was printed in The Voter in April 2000.
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Judy Dolphin’s contributions to the LWV of Ames date back 30 years to the time of “units,” when she chaired the Tuesday, 9:30a.m. Group and the Observer Corps. Her leadership continued as Human Resources chair with the League urging the Story County Supervisors to support legal aid funding for the county. During her term as 1st Vice President, the League successfully urged the City Council to include more citizen participation in budget matters. When Judy received the League’s Humanity Award in 1995, she stated that one of her proudest achievements was organizing “voyage programs” for Ames school children to interact with people of different ethnic backgrounds, an educational initiative that continues in popularity.
Judy has served the Ames League as president-elect, president, and chair of membership, the parking study, and nominating committee. Professionally, she is Executive Director of the Ames-ISU YWCA and currently is most excited about a highly successful “Girls’ Power” program. This program brings a diverse group of university women students together with 7th grade girls to share in group experiences of mentoring and appreciation for cultural differences.
Judy’s interest in development of women’s leadership on global level has taken her to Slovakia to train newly elected women mayors. She credits her League experience through study, consensus building, and action as the most useful training in gaining community support.
We honor Judy with the 2001 Carrie Chapman Catt Award for her long-time League membership and service and her significant contributions to the mission and activities of the LWV and the community.
Tenth Annual Carrie Chapman Catt Award to Ann Hamilton Campbell in 2002
By the selection committee of Judy Dolphin, Dianne Bystrom, and Gracie Larsen. This article was printed in The Voter in April 2002.
It is clear that when Ann Campbell makes a commitment she does not waver. Ann's commitment to the democratic process and the ideals of the League of Women Voters assures her selection as the 2002 Carrie Chapman Catt Award given by the LWV of Ames.
Ann joined the Ames League in January 1975. She accepted her first leadership role in 1976 when she joined the board of directors as Juvenile Justice Chair. She and sister League member Jean Peterson were responsible for the formulation and continuation of the Juvenile Justice Workshop lunch meetings which brought together the police department, a variety of agencies working with juveniles, and the schools. These monthly meetings, which continue today, opened lines of communication previously not available. Ann and her League cohorts carried out the local study of Juvenile Justice, and she continued to advocate foe the Leagues’ position.
Ann’s other serious commitment in the League was legislative action. In 1980 she chaired the Con-Con action committee, which informed citizens about the need to reject a ballot issue calling for an Iowa Constitutional convention. That same year, she served on the speaker’s bureau, which supported the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment. She was 50 percent successful in November—the Constitutional Convention call was defeated (LWV position), but the Equal Rights Amendment did not pass. Ann served as Legislative Action Chair, Working hard to engage citizens in the legislative process.
Ann was a driving force in bringing together the student and administration as Iowa state university and the City of Ames to create the partnership resulting in the Ames Transit System (Cy-Ride). In 1982, Ann and several members of League took the leadership, partnering with the University, City of Ames and Chamber of Commerce, to apply for the All-American Cities award given by the Citizens Forum on Self Government. The application featured the Cy-Ride. As chair of the Ames Transit Advisory Board, Ann along with John Harrod from Iowa State went to Seattle to present Ames proposal. In 1983, Ann was also at the White House to help receive the award! Ann’s commitment to Cy-Ride always will be remembered by Iowa State students who recently named the new bus stop accommodation at Iowa State Center in her honor.
In 1985, Ann was elected city council person in the third ward. Her ward reflected a mixed constituency of ISU students in residence halls, apartments, sororities and fraternities, single family homes, and campus town businesses. Ann’s listening skills, her approachability, her consensus-building skills, and her hard working ability to get as much information as possible combined to make her an effective and long-term council person. She retired in January 2002, after 16 years of service!
Ann personifies the principles of the League of Women Voters. She believes in study before action. She lives the slogan, “Democracy is not a spectator sport.” She is consistent in support of good ideas and ideals. Ann truly is an award winner.
Eleventh Annual Carrie Chapman Catt Award to Johnie Hammond in 2003
This article was printed in The Voter in April 2003.
Carrie Chapman Catt would be proud. The LWV award in her name is finally going to the most deserved Johnie Hammond. It couldn’t go there earlier since one of the LWV criteria, in addition to being a good League member and making significant contributions to the community outside one’s active profession, is that the recipient not be holding any party-affiliated elected office. It took a long time to fulfill that final requirement since Johnie just retired from a long career in public service—ranging from Story County Board of Supervisors to the Iowa House of Representatives to two terms in the Iowa Senate.
During that active career, she represented all the issues that are valued by the League of Women Voters. HAWK-I programs benefiting low income Iowa children, rehabilitation opportunities for incarcerated women, concern for affordable housing, and early education are just a few of Johnie’s many contributions to the state of Iowa and the community of Ames.
Furthermore, this newly-retired senator has hit the ground running as a community volunteer for the issues near and dear to her heart—and to the heart of the Ames League of Women Voters. Congratulations to our Carrie Chapman Catt Award recipient and transplanted Texan.
Twelfth Annual Carrie Chapman Catt Award to Ruth M. Jones in 2004
This article was excepted from the Ames Life and Times article in the Des Moines Register of April 15, 2004 entitled "Jones Receives Award for Diverse Service".
Ruth Jones will receive the Carrie Chapman Catt Award on April 24 at the annual meeting of the League of Women Voters of Ames. “Ruth Jones' diverse service in the Ames community in a variety of ways has been exemplary, the selection committee said. Not only has she worked on several significant study committees and given generously to the promotion of the LWV issues before a variety of public bodies, but she has also encouraged others to join the League and provide leadership in their areas of expertise."
"In addition to serving twice as president of the local league, Jones has contributed her leadership to arts, music and the elimination of poverty." Jones was president from 1993 -95 and again as Co-President with Mary Jo Brearley from 2002-04. Throughout the years, Jones held numerous positions on the LWV of Ames Board of Directors.
“She served for six years on the Ames Town and Gown Association board, including a stint as president. She served on the Ames Community Arts Council [performing arts].” In addition, Jones was appointed to the Ames Public Art Commission [works of art]. Jones was a Master Gardener volunteering untold hours of work on public gardens. She was always very active in her church serving on many different committees, Session, Deacons, taught Sunday School, and was named honorary member of Presbyterian Women. Jones was organist/pianist at North Presbyterian for 30 years.
If this wasn’t enough, Jones assisted those in need in her community. “She has been a volunteer leader as a family partner in the Beyond Welfare program. Her service on behalf of Beyond Welfare has been outstanding.”
Thirteenth Annual Carrie Chapman Catt Award to Jane Greiman in 2005
This award was not publicized and the award was a surprise to Greimann when it was presented to her at the LWV of Ames Annual meeting in April 2005. The following was the presentation skit as done by the selection committee of Ruth Jones, Jean Peterson, and Martha Isaacson.
Jane was born January 25, 1942 in Klemme, Iowa to Chet and Ina Mae (Jarchow) Renner. There she grew up on a farm, learning to love horses, holding leadership positions in 4-H and graduating from Klemme High School in 1960. Jane acquired a degree from Iowa State University in Textiles and Clothing in 1964 and a teaching certificate in 1980.
One week following graduation, Jane married Lowell Greimann in Klemme, Iowa on June 7, 1964. They moved to Boulder, Colorado where Jane worked as a seamstress and then office worker to support her husband’s further education and proudly bore their first son, Chad. The young family moved to San Antonio where their second son, Blair was born. While in Texas, Jane worked with children in the Hispanic community and low-income adults. The Greimanns returned to Ames in 1973 to be nearer parents and grandparents. Jane flew to Chicago in 1975 to bring home their adopted daughter, Amy, who just arrived from Viet Nam.
Jane taught art, health and family and consumer science at Nevada Junior High for sixteen years. While teaching, she worked on studies of student health with regard to cholesterol, helped to start a breakfast program, taught parenting classes, made a five week trip to Russia in 1992 and sat on the Board of Eastern Story County Youth and Shelter Services. Jane retired from full-time employment in 1998.
Jane served in almost every volunteer position at Collegiate Presbyterian Church, including chair of the most recent pastor search committee, elder, deacon, Sunday school teacher for both children and adults, co-leader of mid-week program for children, the Walk Through Bethlehem Project and other committees.
She served in the House of Representatives of the Iowa Legislature for five years and on such committees as public education funding, human services, environment, judicial, human resources, and natural resources. She was on the Mid-Iowa Community Action Board and Hawk-I-State Board. Jane believed in more preventive programs and more humane sentencing in our corrections systems.
Jane volunteered for several service activities in the community, including President of the Local League of Women Voters, Democratic caucus organizer, Ames Public Art Commission (Jane initiated Art Around the Corner in downtown Ames) and the Education and Prevention Board of Youth and Shelter Services. She was an alumnus and supporter of the Iowa State University College of Family and Consumer Science (now Human Sciences) and the ISU football and basketball programs.
A broad diversity of interests kept Jane active outside of her professional and volunteer career activities: horses, friends, shade gardening, painting, clay pottery and sculpture, home improvement projects, sewing, reading and cutting her husband’s hair.
Fourteenth Annual Carrie Chapman Catt Award to Judy Clem in 2006
By the selection Committee of Judy Dolphin and Kim Russel
Judy Clem has been selected to receive the Carrie Chapman Catt League of Women Voters Award in 2006. Judy exemplifies a LWV member who “contributed long and outstanding service to the community, who has supported and advanced the ideals of League and who presently resides in Ames.” Judy began her League service as a loyal member of a “unit” in 1968. Each unit met once a month to work on a study or discuss the proposed program. These unit meetings established rapport and initiated vigorous discussions about important community, state-wide or national topics. Judy made sure that little children had care and their mothers could keep brain-cells operating.
It wasn’t much later that Judy chaired as study of Story County, known as “Know Your County.” This study prepared her for future work and created an interest in the hospitals within Story County.
Judy’s involvement in LVW studies included her leadership, along with Carol Patterson, for examination of the Ames depot. As a result of the study, the Ames LWV approved the use of the Ames Depot in 1988. She chaired the study of Story County Hospital and served twice on LWV hospital studies.
Judy’s training was in nursing. She cared about patients and their families. She served as a LWV observer at the Mary Greeley Hospital Board of Trustees meetings. Before long, Judy was thinking how much she might contribute to public involvement in area hospitals. S! he decided to run for election, and she was elected to serve on the MGMC board in 1989.
Over her ten years of service on the hospital board, Judy saw the completion of the “state of the art” gastroenterology services department, the construction of the parking ramp, the construction of the west addition, the addition of chaplaincy services-including construction of the Interfaith Chapel, the development of the warm water pool therapy pool, the Israel Family Hospice House, expansion of dialysis services, implementation of First Nurse, and working together with Story County Medical Center.
Judy took her career in nursing to new heights with an understanding of League principles. Please join Judy at the annual meeting to honor her many achievements.
Fifteenth Annual Carrie Chapman Catt Award to Joyce Hertz in 2007
By the selection Committee of
At the April 28 annual meeting of the League of Women Voters, Joyce Hertz was selected as this year’s award winner.
Joyce is unique in League history because she has served as its president for two different terms. She was president in 1988-89 and now is just completing the 2006-07 term as co-president. She has held other League offices and chaired a number of League study committees.
During the interval between her terms as League president Joyce served one term on the Ames City Council and was elected to the Story County Extension Council. She has been instrumental in a number of affordable housing projects on the local and national level. She was chair of the Mobile Home Purchase program, president of Story County Housing, a founding member and president of the Story County Community Land Trust, which led to her election as the regional representative to the National Institute for Community Economics and president of the Community Land Trust Network.
Additionally Joyce has played leadership roles in the United Church of Christ-Congregational and is currently actively involved in AMOS, an ecumenical community action group for justice.
Sixteenth Annual Carrie Chapman Catt Award to Selva Reissig Lehman in 2008
By the selection Committee of Joyce Hertz and Martha Isaacson
We are very pleased to announce that the 2008 recipient of the Carrie Chapman Catt award is Selva Reissig Lehman.
Selva was born in Argentina and emigrated to the U.S.A. in 1955 during the Peron regime. She started work in her field of chemistry in New England but felt called to the ministry and was ordained in 1964. When she married Harold Lehman she moved to Alleman, Iowa where she served as a Supply Pastor for UCC churches, Chaplain at the Madrid Home for the Aging and then as an Intentional Interim Minister within the Iowa UCC Conference. Throughout this time, Selva and Harold were very involved in programs to promote international understanding. Harold died of a brain tumor in 1990 and Selva moved to Ames in 1994.
Selva joined the Ames League of Women Voters in 2000 because the Leagues emphasis on studying the issues before taking a position and its non-partisan stand. Since 2002 she has served on the Board, first as Vice-president and then as Co-President with Jeannette Bohnenkamp from 2004-2006. In 2006, Selva co-chaired the LWVUS Ukraine Civic Hosting Program for the Ames League. She developed the Ames LWV website and currently serves as VOTER Editor and Webmaster. Our local League, and increasingly the Iowa League, look to Selva for all computer and digital communication needs.
Her volunteer involvement with the Ames community has been channeled through many church activities including international dialogues, the Food at First program and AMOS. She served as interim director of the Good Neighbor Emergency Assistance Cooperative (GNEAC) in 1997-98. Currently she is a member of the AIOFA Board and a member of the Community Conversations on Diversity.
Congratulations, Selva!
Seventeenth Annual Carrie Chapman Catt Award to Martha Isaacson in 2009
The 2009 Carrie Chapman Catt Award selection committee is pleased to announce that Martha Isaacson is this year’s recipient. Martha was chosen for her varied contributions to the League and the community.
Among her many accomplishments, Martha guided the Ames League of Women Voters during the Story County Hospital Study and its resulting advocacy, giving outstanding leadership and guidance.
Martha is not only a long standing member of the League but was raised by a mother who spent her life as a community activist for the benefit of all citizens, which included the LWV in Marshalltown.
Jane Greimann recruited her to join the Ames LWV when she married Dean Isaacson, but was not able to join because, as the Marshall County Auditor, Martha maintained her legal residence in Marshalltown. She joined in 1995 as soon as she quit her position as Auditor.
Her professional involvement started as a systems analyst in the "Silicone Valley" of California. Martha has also been an administrator in the "War on Poverty," running Head Start programs and a Community Action Agency in Virginia; director of Iowa Gov. Robert Ray's Drug Abuse Authority; owner/operator of a small gourmet kitchen shop; a successful candidate for Marshall County Auditor; and manager of the Agronomy Department at Iowa State University.
During those years, if she was not working or raising kids, she was involved in community betterment of one sort or another, including marching on the Washington D.C. Mall for equal rights.
Martha has also served as president of the local community mental health center, a board member for the United Way, and is currently the chair of the Clothing Room, which provides free clothing to the approximately 400 families per month visiting the food pantry at her church.
Her many involvements with the LWV include:
Representing the Ames LWV on the "Add Women" (ERA) campaign for the State of Iowa in 1981.
Serving as Treasurer for the 5 member state-wide Add-Women-Board. We succeeded in adding Women to the Iowa Constitution.
Serving as President of the Ames LWV from 1998 - 2000
Serving as Voter Services Chair from 2000-2002
Serving as as Board Secretary and Story County Hospital Board Observer from 2003 to 2005.
Congratulations Martha and thank you for all that you do!
By the selection committee of Selva R. Lehman, Johnie Hammond and Jackie Manatt
Nancy Brown
Nancy clearly meets the “long time membership in the League” requirement for this award. She joined the League in 1973 and has been an active member during those 37 years. It is interesting that one of Nancy’s first activities in the League was to find materials to be used for a storefront display on Carrie Chapman Catt.
Nancy was an Iowa State University faculty member in the Department of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management for 30 years until her retirement in 2000.
In addition to service through department, college, and university committees, and involvement in professional associations, she has made contributions to the Ames community. She served on the Board of AIOFA (Ames International Orchestra Association).
In recognition of her active involvement in her local church and the state conference of the United Church of Christ, she was one of two women from Iowa to be recognized as an honored laywoman at the General Synod of the UCC in 1997. Nancy coordinates two local church outreach projects that serve the wider community – the Theologian-in-Residence Program (that each year brings to the Ames community an outstanding contemporary theologian) and Third Saturday at First (once-a-month preparation and service of a free meal at the First United Methodist Church, a program that helps those who are not able to simultaneously meet their basic needs for food and shelter). During 2001-2002, Nancy facilitated several “Dialogues on Racism and Race Relations”.
Involvement in the local and state Leagues has been extensive. On the local level, Nancy served as president-elect followed by president from 2000-2002. She has participated in two local studies – Story County Hospital (position adopted in 1997) and co-chaired the Transportation Needs in Story County study (position adopted in 2003). In 2006 she co-coordinated a LWVUS grant awarded the Ames League to host visitors from Ukraine under the Ukraine Civic Hosting Program of the Open World Leadership Center. She has been a League observer of the Mary Greeley Medical Center for almost
two decades. From 2003-2007, Nancy served on the state board as secretary. During that time, she also was on the Advocacy Committee that sponsors the Legislative Briefings and Lobby Day. She was a key contributor in researching material on campaign finance reform that was a focus for educating League members during that time and made presentations to local Leagues. In 2007 Nancy wrote a proposal for a state study on Mental Health Delivery Systems in Iowa. The proposal was adopted at the state convention, and she chaired the study group. In preparation for adoption of a position in 2009, the study group prepared four background papers that were published in the LWVIA Voter. This project also involved giving numerous presentations to local Leagues around the state.
When Judie Hoffman nominated Nancy, she said: “When Nancy takes on an assignment, you can always depend on her to do an excellent job in a timely, professional manner. If it is a group project, she is quick to give praise to others. Because of Nancy’s quiet unassuming manner, I think we often are not aware of all her contributions to the League of Women Voters. The time to honor her is now!”
Carrie Chapman Catt Award Committee:
Martha Isaacson, Selva Lehman, Mary Ann Dilla
2011 Carrie Chapman Catt Award to
Jeannette Bohnenkamp
Jeannette Bohnenkamp, a member of the Ames League since 1982, has been selected to receive the 2011 Carrie Chapman Catt Award. In the local League, she has served as observer corps chair, co-president-elect, co-president (2004-2006), and co-meeting planner. Relatively new League members serving on the board for the first time commented on Jeannette’s kindness, patience, willingness to answer their questions, and generally help them understand how League operates. She was an effective mentor, exhibiting dedication to League principles and ideals.
Jeannette participated in the local study on “Transportation Needs in Story County” and in the local component of the national study on “Immigration”. She has been a long-time observer of various government entities, currently observing the Planning and Zoning Commission. She has assisted with League-sponsored events such as voter registration and candidate forums, planning the LWVIA Convention in Ames in 2005, hosting visitors from Ukraine in 2006, and helping with “Ready to Run” in conjunction with the Catt Center for Women and Politics.
Jeannette was elected to two terms on the LWVIA Board of Directors (1999-2003). In that capacity, she was responsible for membership activities, maintaining mailing lists for the Iowa Voter and LWVIA Legislative Newsletter, and serving as liaison with the publisher. She continued to handle distribution of the LWVIA Legislative Newsletter after leaving the board.
As a member of the Ames community, Jeannette has been active in her neighborhood association, gathering petitions to oppose zoning changes and commercial development in the neighborhood. She is a long-time member of Amnesty International, American Civil Liberties Union, and Story County Community Housing Corp. She volunteers for RSVP. Jeannette is an active member of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish and serves on the Wine and Wisdom Committee that plans adult education events.She takes politics seriously, attending party caucuses and working at precinct polls during elections.
We are pleased to honor Jeannette with the 2011 Carrie Chapman Catt Award.
Jackie Manatt, Miriam Patterson, and Nancy E. Brown, chair
Catt Award Selection Committee