In the summer of 1973, approximately forty women met in Des Moines at the home of Attorney Roxanne Barton Conlin and convened the Iowa Women's Political Caucus (IWPC). The group stated its goal, "...to awaken, organize and assert the vast political power represented by women, who constitute a majority of voters. To reach out to every woman across the state, to assure her of first class citizenship and full and equal participation in the political process."
The first State Convention was set for September 29-30 at Ames with Sissy
Farenthold and Jill Ruckelshaus as speakers. Plans were made for an attendance of 100 to 150 women. Seven-hundred women from across Iowa appeared that Saturday morning in Ames! During the Sunday business session, Roxanne Conlin was named Chairperson of the new IWPC.
During 1974, IWPC continued to grow. In January, two-hundred women braved 20 degree below zero weather to attend the "So You Want To Be In Politics" workshop in Des Moines. An office was opened near the State Capitol and a paid staff person, Jo
Vonstein, was hired. On September 20-22, the second state convention was again held in Ames with Bella Abzug as the featured speaker. A Friday night fund-raiser was attended by Governor Ray and a majority of the candidates for statewide office. Over 1,000 people attend the convention activities where Roxanne Conlin was re-elected Chair. IWPC saw many of its legislative goals enacted by the 1974 Legislature.
In order to comply with legal requirements and to better serve the interests of Iowa women, activities were conducted by three
separate organizations, each with its own Board of Directors. These groups are: The Iowa Women's Political Caucus; the Win with Women Campaign Support Committee, which can raise and contribute money to candidates; and the Iowa Women's Caucus Research and Education Center (IWCREC), a non-profit tax exempt organization, funded only by contributions and grants. IWCREC was formed to find out the real condition of women and to disseminate information to women and to the public on the status of women.
During 1975-76, twenty-four "Women
2000" programs were held in communities throughout Iowa. Funding for the conferences was provided to IWCREC by a grant from the Iowa Board for Public Programs in the Humanities.
In February of 1975, Peg Cass was hired to staff the IWPC office. Brown bag legislative lunches were held with legislators on alternate Tuesdays at the State Capitol. September saw a new state Chair, Peg Anderson, elected at the third annual convention in Iowa City.
In April of 1975, the "I'm Not a Women's Libber, But....." conference was held in
Des Moines. At a fundraising auction following the conference, over $2,000 was raised to help send delegates to the National Convention in Boston. Forty-nine delegates and twenty-six alternates traveled to Boston in June to support Roxanne's bid for National Chair, an effort that failed by a narrow margin.
IWPC saw change and success in 1976. The newsletter changed from a mimeographed sheet to a new four page tabloid. The IWPC office moved to new quarters in the fall. Davenport hosted a "What Am I Doing in Politics" conference.
Two "Win with Women" fund-raisers, one with Gloria Steinem, the other a Tennis Match with Billie Jean King, raised $12,500 which was contributed to women candidates in unratified states. Ellen Adelman began her duties as the IWPC volunteer lobbyist. We saw the number of women legislators increase from 14 to 17 and the number of women serving on state boards and commissions increase from 14% to 29%. The October 2-3 State Convention in Des Moines re-elected Peg Anderson as IWPC Chair.
The spring of 1977 saw two conferences
held: "Who is the Total Woman?" conference in Des Moines and the "Women Elected Officials Meeting" in Iowa City. In May, the National Steering Committee met in Des Moines, and IWPC members participated in the ERA "Speak Out" on the steps of the State Capitol. IWPC members attended the June International Conference in Houston, Texas. The October State Convention also named "an Equal Rights Amendment to the Iowa Constitution" as its first priority.
The first Girls’ Leadership Camp was held in 1977. This very successful project of
IWCREC was held each June since then. The camp was originally designed for girls entering 11th and 12th grades. In 1981, the age range was lowered to include girls who would be in the 9th, 10th, 11th grades in the fall. Funding was provided by the John Deere Foundation, Martin Marietta Cement, the Bankers Life, Meredith Corporation, Heritage Communications, Northwestern Bell, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, and contributions from individuals throughout Iowa.
Iowa Women's Political Caucus members took an active part in working toward a
state ERA during 1978. A "Politics Is My Bag" workshop was held in February in Des Moines. The State Convention was held September 16-17 in Ankeny.
Work continued on ERA in 1979. The amendment was approved for the second time by the legislature. The first edition of the Membership Handbook was printed. At the State Convention on September 29, Nancy Sweetman was elected Chair. Linda Hanson, Elda Ewoldt, and Jann Dunn completed four years as state officers.
IWPC had a busy year in 1980. A successful "Politics Workshop" was held in
Des Moines in February. On March 29, the first IWPC fundraising auction was held. Donated items were received from members, businesses, and celebrities. The proceeds from this event played a large part in restoring financial stability to IWPC. On September 6, IWPC was a lead sponsor, in cooperation with a number of other organizations, for a conference on the "New Right. "An over-capacity crowd of 550 people heard Senator Tom McIntyre and Sonia Johnson speak. In late September, the National Women's Political Caucus Steering
Committee met in Des Moines. Working for passage of the state ERA became almost a full-time job for many members during 1980; it was with great disappointment we saw the amendment defeated at the polls on November 4.
January 1981 got off to a busy start with the "Lobbying Workshop" with another over capacity group in attendance. The second Annual Auction on April 4 proved to be even more successful than the first. The fall conference, "We the People: A Look at Our Parties," was held on October 3rd. That
evening a series of dinner parties were held in Des Moines homes to raise Funds for Win with Women. Well known Iowa women were special guests at the event. The dinners netted over $6,000 for Win With Women. IWPC elected Alicia Claypool, Chair at the Annual Convention on the following day.
In 1982, there was much change and activity for the Caucus. A lobbying workshop was held in January. The IWPC hired Jean Williams as our lobbyist. A successful auction and three campaign skills workshops were held in April. Many IWPC members
were candidates for office and many others actively worked on campaigns. IWPC founder, Roxanne Conlin was the Democratic Candidate for Governor. Long time Executive Director, Peg Cass, resigned in June to take a job in Kansas City. Alicia Claypool resigned as Chair so she could return to school. She was succeeded by Linda Kirkman. In September, Ellie Ingberg was hired as Program Director for IWPC. The State Convention was held on September 11.
IWPC celebrated its 10th Anniversary in 1983.
During 1984, there were many activities and discussions of the "gender gap." A Susan B. Anthony Birthday Party to honor women Legislators was held on February 13. IWPC members in coalition with other groups in the purple ribbon project were active in presenting our resolutions at precinct caucuses in February. Our most successful auction to date took place a Hotel Savery on April 14. The 8th Annual Girls’ Leadership Camp was held in June. As fall approached, many members became involved in political
campaigns or ran for office. The State Convention was held on October 13.
At the State Steering Committee meeting in February 1985, Geneva Overholser, Roxanne Conlin and Mary Louise Smith discussed the direction IWPC. Kay Logan was hired as part-time Program Coordinator for the state office. Women's History Week was celebrated with a soup supper with the Women in the Iowa Legislature as honored guests. The Annual Auction was held in April and the Girls’ Leadership Camp in August. A delegation of Iowans attended
the National Convention in Atlanta, Georgia. Mary Louise Smith was elected to serve on the NWPC Political Planning Committee as Co-Chair. Election of officers was held at the State Convention and Betty Baird of Ames accepted the gavel from retiring Katherine Ella.
Networking was a key focus of the Caucus during the second half of the 1980's. IWPC played a major role in 1987, along with the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women and numerous other Iowa organizations, in developing the Iowa Network for Women.
An IWPC-sponsored Legislative Exchange Network met biweekly at the Capitol during the 1988 legislative session, and legislative receptions were held annually. The Good Guys Award reception was held in 1987 to honor men who had actively supported the political and social equity of women in Iowa. Through the efforts of many, including IWPC member Kappie Spencer, Iowa became the first state in the nation to legislatively require that state commissions be balanced by gender. IWPC members were among the many Iowans who actively
participated in the earliest stages of the 1988 presidential selection process, ensuring that the candidates would hear about issues of concern to women. The Caucus also co-sponsored a number of events during this time, including the Visions and Decisions reception honoring women in the judicial system. Peggy Huppert and Judy Wilson co-lobbyied in 1987 and in 1988, Peggy continued as IWPC lobbyist at the Legislature.
Chris Mocarski Michalek, Des Moines, became the 1988-89 IWPC State Chairperson. The 1987 IWPC Convention
adopted bylaw changes which expanded the number of and further defined the roles of the IWPC Administrative Committee officers. In 1989, Judie Hoffman took over lobbying efforts for IWPC, continuing to the present.
The first of several IWPC/YWCA co-sponsored auctions was held in 1988, with the 1989 Auction grossing nearly $20,000. The IWPC played a major role in national networking effort - the "Women's Agenda Conference" held in Des Moines in January 1988 - which was attended by over 1,000 persons from the United States and
overseas. Iowa hosted the NWPC Steering Committee in conduction with the January conference. Betty Baird began serving as National Representative with Anne Webber joining her in 1989. Both continue as of this writing.
Anne Webber chaired IWPC from 1989-1991. In 1990, the last Caucus Auction was held through great efforts by Caucus member Kelly Sargent and a handful of Des Moines members. As the Auction had been an annual event since the mid-1970's, it was decided that the event had run its course.
In 1991, a delegation of IWPC members traveled to Washington, DC to participate in the National Convention and the 20th Anniversary celebration of the founding of NWPC. Sharon Rodine, an Ames native, chaired the events as National President. The Capitol Steps, a well-known political satire troupe, performed with the culminating moment being the introduction of most of the founding members including Gloria Steinem and Bella Abzug.
During Nancylee Ziese's term of office (1991-1993), the 1992 State ERA ballot issue
took priority. IWPC members very actively worked for the issue, which failed by small margin.
In September 1993, fifty participants attended a two-day Campaign Training Workshop which was sponsored by NWPC, IWPC, and the Carrie Chapman Catt Center at ISU in Ames. In conjunction with the workshop, Jane Cox gave the premier performance of her one woman play about Carrie Chapman Catt. In 1993, a roast of Kappie Spencer, long time feminist activist, was held and was a successful fundraiser. Janet Fife was elected President of IWPC
that year and is currently serving in that capacity.
There has been good publicity gained for IWPC through editorial peices in the Des Moines Register and through the continued networking being done, this time with an emphasis toward planning for the 75th Anniversary Celebration of the Ratification of the 19th amendment which will be observed August 26, 1995. The 1994 main fundraiser was held August 26, 1994, with recognition given to Dorothy (Dottie) Carpenter and Jean Lloyd Jones for their dedication to IWPC principles while they
served in the Iowa Legislature. Johnie Hammond, Ralph Rosenberg, Al Sturgeon, Elaine Szymoniak and Minnette Doderer were also acknowledged for their work as legislators. Mary Louise Smith was the Director of Ceremonies of the event. 2/25/95 |
