The Macomb Feminist Network (MFN) is accepting nominations for its 2026 Writing Women into History Award.
The Award was established in 2010 to honor, promote, and expand our knowledge of the extraordinary and long-lasting contributions individual women have made in shaping and strengthening our local community.
Women eligible to be nominated for this award must meet the following criteria: (a) have resided in McDonough County, (b) have been exceptional role models, and (c) have made extraordinary and long-lasting contributions within the local community through their initiatives, advocacy, and/or engagement.
Any community member may submit a nomination by completing the nomination form. Self-nominations may be considered if accompanied by a letter of support. Nominations of women who have passed away will also be considered. Nominations will be considered only in the year they are submitted, but previous nominees may be re-nominated if they were not chosen earlier. Additional letters of support from community members are strongly encouraged.
Past award recipients include: Wanda Black, Mary Ellen Graff, Rosa Julstrom, and Beth Stiffler (2010); Constance DeMuth Berg, Marcia Moll, and Ruth Parks (2011); Maria Dunstan, Judith Kohler, and Donna Werner (2012); Josephine Johnson, Elizabeth “Betty” Kaspar, and Janice Welsch (2013); Gordana Rezab, Alice Swain, and Mary Warnock (2014); Lois Ganyard, Suzan Nash, and Margaret Ovitt (2015); Alice Henry, Alta Sargent, and Peggy Scharfenberg (2016); Lorraine Epperson, Debbie Maguire, Pamella McLean, and Becky Parker (2017); Sally Egler, Martha Klems, Maurine Magliocco, and Paula Wise (2018); Belinda Carr, Susan Lawhorn, Winona Malpass, Essie Rutledge, and Patricia Walton (2019); Janine Cavicchia, Patricia (Patti) Jones, Lois Lueck, and Sue Scott (2020); Gayle Tronvig Carper, Nancy “Nan” Crossman, Verneata D. Jones, and Jill Joline Myers (2022); Brenda Allison, Andrea Henderson, and Sandra Mosley (2023); Cathy Early, Sheila Nollen, Susan Shoemaker, and Lin Stults (2024); and Sandra Nelson, Bonnie Smith-Skripps, Kathy Veroni, and Marla Vizdal (2025). No recipients were recognized in 2021 because of COVID-19 restrictions.
The 2026 recipients of the Award will be honored at a brunch reception hosted by the Macomb Feminist Network on Saturday, March 7, 2026, from 9:30 am to noon at the Wesley Village Community Center.
The nomination form may be accessed here. Completed nomination forms or supporting materials not submitted online should be sent by email to macombfeministnetwork@gmail.com or by post to Macomb Feminist Network, P. O. Box 765, Macomb, IL 61455. The deadline for nominations is Saturday, November 29, 2025.
The Macomb Feminist Network has selected Sandra Nelson, Bonnie Smith-Skripps, Kathy Veroni, and Marla Vizdal as recipients of its 2025 Writing Women into History Awards. The women will be honored for their outstanding contributions to the local community on Saturday, March 1, during a reception at the Wesley Village Community Center.
Through this award, the Macomb Feminist Network seeks to expand public knowledge and appreciation of individual women whose initiatives, advocacy, and engagement have strengthened the local community in significant ways. Though their community service spans decades and many civic and social organizations, each of this year’s honorees has focused most sharply on one or two issues: mental health, animal welfare, women’s sports and gardening, or local history.
Sandra Nelson has shown particularly strong leadership in the field of mental health where she helped establish the McDonough County Mental Health Center. She coordinated presentations before the Macomb City Council and civic and social organizations to ensure passage of the referendum that made critical local funding possible. She continued her support of mental health services through her twenty-plus years on the 708 Mental Health Board of McDonough County, ten of those years as chair. Part of her motivation for helping found the county’s League of Women’s Voters in 1967 was her interest in forming a community mental health board. She is the epitome of a volunteer who makes a difference through compassion, intelligence, persistence, and meaningful action.
Bonnie Smith-Skripps is well regarded for her leadership as a member, then board member, and for the past ten years, president of the Humane Society of McDonough County (HSMC). She is arguably the Society’s most reliable on-the-ground member since she appears every morning, rain or shine, at the county animal shelter (MCAS) to walk the dogs there. She is keenly aware of the need to replace the present facilities with a more adequate shelter and has nurtured partnerships across the county to raise funds for it. She has worked with the HSMC board to create novel approaches, such as Casino Night, to ensure participants have fun while helping to raise the money. Bonnie’s deep concern for the welfare of animals earned her recognition as the 2017 City of Macomb Volunteer of the Year.
Kathy Veroni excelled as the Western Illinois University women’s softball coach during her tenure there, but she also reached out to the Macomb community by founding the Macomb Magic, an independent women’s fastpitch softball team. At home, the team sponsored so many successful events, it was named an honorary citizen and given a Key to the City. As a Master Gardener (MG) in the University of Illinois Extension program, she brought a willing and generous spirit, organizational skills, a creative imagination, extraordinary stamina, and woodworking expertise to her MG participation. Visible testimony to this is the gazebo she imagined, designed, and, with a friend’s help, built on the fairgrounds, but most significant is her ability to see, listen, and live as a caring member of a team/community.
Marla Vizdal’s experience and enthusiasm for local history were evident when she worked in Archives and Special Collections at Western Illinois University, a position that paved the way for her community service as a member of the McDonough County Genealogical Society (MCGS), the Western Illinois Museum (WIM), and the local Historic Preservation Commission. A WIM and Genealogy Research Center volunteer, she regularly applies her experience, writing and editing skills, and reenactment savvy whenever needed. Marla has been a MCGS board member, secretary, president, and is currently treasurer. Her facility in telling McDonough County’s story reflects her compassion and capacity to listen to the people who hold that story in their hearts and minds.
These women join the women who have been honored previously with the Writing Women into History Award: Wanda Black, Mary Ellen Graff, Rosa Julstrom, and Beth Stiffler (2010); Constance DeMuth Berg, Marcia Moll, and Ruth Parks (2011); Maria Dunstan, Judith Kohler, and Donna Werner (2012); Josephine Johnson, Elizabeth “Betty” Kaspar, and Janice Welsch (2013); Gordana Rezab, Alice Swain, and Mary Warnock (2014); Lois Ganyard, Suzan Nash, and Margaret Ovitt (2015); Alice Henry, Alta Sargent, and Peggy Scharfenberg (2016); Lorraine Epperson, Debbie Maguire, Pamella McLean, and Becky Parker (2017); Sally Egler, Martha Klems, Maurine Magliocco, and Paula Wise (2018); Belinda Carr, Susan Lawhorn, Winona Malpass, Essie Rutledge, and Patricia Walton (2019); Janine Cavicchia, Patricia (Patti) Jones, Lois Lueck, and Sue Scott (2020); Gayle Tronvig Carper, Nancy “Nan” Crossman, Verneata D. Jones, and Jill Joline Myers (2022); Brenda Allison, Andrea Henderson, and Sandra Mosley (2023); and Cathy Early, Sheila Nollen, Susan Shoemaker, and Lin Stults (2024). No recipients were recognized in 2021 because of COVID 19 restrictions. Information about these women’s contributions to the city and county is available on the Macomb Feminist Network’s website at https://macombfeminists.org/.
The public is invited to join MFN members in honoring this year’s award recipients at Wesley Village Community Center on Saturday, March 1. Reservations are not required. Following a light brunch at 9:30 a.m., honorees will share their stories of community commitment and civic responsibility. Their stories will also be live-streamed on the Macomb Feminist Network Facebook page.
The Macomb Feminist Network (MFN) is accepting nominations for its 2025 Writing Women into History Award.
The Award was established in 2010 to honor, promote, and expand our knowledge of the extraordinary and long-lasting contributions individual women have made in shaping and strengthening our local community.
Women eligible to be nominated for this award must meet the following criteria: (a) have resided in McDonough County, (b) have been exceptional role models, and (c) have made extraordinary and long-lasting contributions within the local community through their initiatives, advocacy, and/or engagement.
Any community member may submit a nomination by completing the nomination form. Self-nominations may be considered if accompanied by a letter of support. Nominations of women who have passed away will also be considered. Nominations will be considered only in the year they are submitted, but previous nominees may be re-nominated if they were not chosen earlier.
Past award recipients include: Wanda Black, Mary Ellen Graff, Rosa Julstrom, and Beth Stiffler (2010); Constance DeMuth Berg, Marcia Moll, and Ruth Parks (2011); Maria Dunstan, Judith Kohler, and Donna Werner (2012); Josephine Johnson, Elizabeth “Betty” Kaspar, and Janice Welsch (2013); Gordana Rezab, Alice Swain, and Mary Warnock (2014); Lois Ganyard, Suzan Nash, and Margaret Ovitt (2015); Alice Henry, Alta Sargent, and Peggy Scharfenberg (2016); Lorraine Epperson, Debbie Maguire, Pamella McLean, and Becky Parker (2017); Sally Egler, Martha Klems, Maurine Magliocco, and Paula Wise (2018); Belinda Carr, Susan Lawhorn, Winona Malpass, Essie Rutledge, and Patricia Walton (2019); Janine Cavicchia, Patricia (Patti) Jones, Lois Lueck, and Sue Scott (2020); Gayle Tronvig Carper, Nancy “Nan” Crossman, Verneata D. Jones, and Jill Joline Myers (2022); Brenda Allison, Andrea Henderson, and Sandra Mosley (2023); and Cathy Early, Sheila Nollen, Susan Shoemaker, and Lin Stults (2024). No recipients were recognized in 2021 because of COVID 19 restrictions.
The 2025 recipients of the Award will be honored at a brunch reception hosted by the Macomb Feminist Network on Saturday, March 1, 2024, from 9:30 am to noon at the Wesley Village Community Center.
The nomination form may be completed via Google Form (https://tinyurl.com/WWIH2025), accessed on MFN’s website (www.macombfeminists.org) or may be obtained by emailing Elisa Rasmussen (elisarasmussen1@gmail.com). Completed nomination forms or supporting materials not submitted online should be sent by email to Elisa Rasmussen or by post to Macomb Feminist Network, P. O. Box 765, Macomb, IL 61455. The deadline for nominations is Saturday, December 1, 2024.
The Macomb Feminist Network has named its 2024 Writing Women into History honorees. They are Cathy Early, Sheila Nollen, Susan Shoemaker, and Lin Stults. The women are being recognized and celebrated for their exemplary contributions to the Macomb community over many years.
Cathy Early is being honored for her leadership in the Macomb, McDonough County, and Western Illinois University communities. As an entrepreneur she has been a role model, serving her clients with competence and compassion and serving the community by weaving the skills she developed in business into her interest in the safety and success of the people of west central Illinois. In addition to numerous education initiatives and athletic activities, she supports civic and cultural groups ranging from the Macomb Public Library and Tri States Public Radio to Rotary, United Way, and the McDonough County EMTS/911. Her value to the people in this region is reflected in her appointments to multiple boards, among them the Macomb Area Economic Development Corp, the local Chamber of Commerce, the McDonough Hospital Foundation, and WIU’s Board of Trustees and Foundation Board.
Sheila Nollen is being celebrated for her many contributions to community organizations and initiatives. Propelled by a deep commitment to social justice and equity, she has been a constant and conscientious supporter of a host of coalitions that directly support these values and address issues of food insecurity, homelessness, poverty, illiteracy, and discrimination. She also serves as a voice for inclusion and diversity in institutions whose missions are less directly identified with these concerns. Known as a quiet and generous advocate, Sheila can and does assume leadership roles when appropriate. Examples include her service as Deacon, Elder, and chair of numerous committees in the First Presbyterian Church and as a member of the Western Illinois Museum and Giving Gardens advisory boards. She is also ready to lead when her professional library skills and experience can impact a project significantly.
Susan Shoemaker is being lauded for her twenty-plus years as the heart and hands of the McDonough Choral Society (MCS). With her husband John (now deceased) she founded the MCS and has been the cornerstone of its development. Susan’s background as vocalist and director has given her the knowledge and skill needed to successfully lead a choral group. Beyond her musical talent and experience, however, Susan’s success has depended on her complete dedication to the Society and her willingness to take care of the time-consuming behind-the-scenes work of an organization that offers two concerts every year. This means raising funds, choosing and securing appropriate music, leading months of weekly rehearsals, contracting rehearsal accompanists and program soloists, and preparing concert publicity. By taking all of this on, Susan uses her strengths to fill an important niche in the community.
Lin Stults is being feted as a model entrepreneur and a generous, lifelong civic-minded Macomb resident. Since 1979 she has served the community through Engraving by Lin, a Historic Downtown Legacy Business Enterprise that has prospered because of her creativity, skill, and attention to customer needs and because of her “pro-bono” work for schools and not-for-profits. She has been a reliable promoter of her business as well as of Macomb, consistently nurturing ideas to increase the number and variety of community events that engage residents and attract visitors. For instance, to heighten the fun of the winter holiday season, Lin helped initiate and implement the annual Dickens on the Square celebration; she enters into the spirit of the festivities as a Victorian lady. For over 40 years she has plied her trade and worked tirelessly to reinforce her hometown’s strengths.
Macomb Feminist Network members invite the community to join them in honoring these award recipients on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at the Wesley Community Center (1200 E. Grant Street, Macomb). Following a light brunch at 9:30 a.m., honorees will share their stories of community participation and commitment. The program will be live-streamed on the Macomb Feminist Facebook page.
Photo caption: Left to right: Susan Shoemaker, Sheila Nollen, Cathy Early, and Lin Stults
The Macomb Feminist Network (MFN) is accepting nominations for its 2024 Writing Women into History Award.
The Award was established in 2010 to honor, promote, and expand our knowledge of the extraordinary and long-lasting contributions individual women have made in shaping and strengthening our local community.
Women eligible to be nominated for this award must meet the following criteria: (a) have resided in McDonough County, (b) have been exceptional role models, and (c) have made extraordinary and long-lasting contributions within the local community through their initiatives, advocacy and/or engagement. Any community member may submit a nomination by completing the nomination form. Self-nominations may be considered if accompanied by a letter of support. Nominations of women who have passed away will also be considered. Nominations will only be considered the year they are submitted, but previous nominees may be re-nominated if they were not chosen earlier.
Past award recipients include: Wanda Black, Mary Ellen Graff, Rosa Julstrom, and Beth Stiffler (2010); Constance DeMuth Berg, Marcia Moll, and Ruth Parks (2011); Maria Dunstan, Judith Kohler, and Donna Werner (2012); Josephine Johnson, Elizabeth “Betty” Kaspar, and Janice Welsch (2013); Gordana Rezab, Mary Warnock, and Alice Swain (2014); Lois Ganyard, Suzan Nash, and Margaret Ovitt (2015); Alice Henry, Alta Sargent, and Peggy Scharfenberg (2016); Lorraine Epperson, Debbie Maguire, Pamella McLean, and Becky Parker (2017); Sally Egler, Martha Klems, Maurine Magliocco, and Paula Wise (2018); Belinda Carr, Susan Lawhorn, Winona Malpass, Essie Rutledge, and Patricia Walton (2019); Janine Cavicchia, Patricia (Patti) Jones, Lois Lueck, and Sue Scott (2020); Gayle Tronvig Carper, Nancy “Nan” Crossman, Verneata D. Jones, and Jill Joline Myers (2022); and Brenda Allison, Andrea Henderson, and Sandra Mosley (2023). No recipients were recognized in 2021 because of COVID 19 restrictions.
The 2024 recipients of the Award will be honored at a brunch reception hosted by the Macomb Feminist Network on Saturday, March 2, 2024, from 9:30 am to noon at the Wesley Village Community Center.
Nomination forms may be downloaded from MFN’s website (www.macombfeminists.org) or may be obtained by emailing Miriam Satern at miriamsatern@gmail.com. Completed nomination forms should be sent to Miriam Satern via email (miriamsatern@gmail.com) or at Macomb Feminist Network, P. O. Box 765, Macomb, IL 61455. The deadline for nominations is Saturday, December 2, 2023.
You are invited to join us at 9:30 a.m. at Wesley Village Community Center in Macomb for our annual reception honoring this year’s recipients: Brenda Allison, Andrea Henderson, and Sandra Mosley. The breakfast will start at 9:30 a.m. with the program starting at 10 a.m. If you are not able to attend in person, the program will be livestreamed and can be viewed on the Macomb Feminist Network facebook page.
The Macomb Feminist Network is soliciting nominations for the annual Writing Women into History Award.
Purpose of award: Established in 2010 to honor, promote, and expand our knowledge of the extraordinary contributions individual women have made to our local community through their initiatives, advocacy and/or engagement.
Eligible Nominees: Women eligible to be nominated have resided in McDonough County; have been exceptional role models; and have made extraordinary and long-lasting contributions within the local community through their initiatives, advocacy and/or engagement.
Method of Nomination: Community members may submit a nomination by completing the nomination form below and attaching a supporting letter. Self-nominations, when accompanied by a supporting letter, will be considered. Nominations of women who fit the criteria but who are no longer living will also be considered. Nominations will only be considered the year they are submitted, but previous nominees may be re-nominated if they were not chosen earlier.
Method of Selection: The MFN WWIH Awards Committee members will review all nominations and select the recipient(s).
Announcement and Recognition: The recipients’ stories will be shared at the annual awards brunch to be held Saturday, March 4, 2023 from 9:30 AM-Noon at Wesley Village Community Center in conjunction with National Women’s History Month.
Why should this nominee be selected to receive the award? Please describe how this woman has been an exceptional role model. What initiatives, advocacy, and/or engagement has she made within our community?
Be specific about what activities, programs, projects, and/or events have made your nominee deserving of this award. The details in your letter will be helpful in the selection process.
Attach your nomination letter to this form. The form and letter should be sent to MFN, P.O. Box 765, Macomb, IL 61455 or emailed to Patricia Walton at PA-Walton@wiu.edu..
Nominations are due by Saturday, December 3, 2022.
The Macomb Feminist Network (MFN) is accepting nominations for its 2023 Writing Women into History Award.
The Award was established in 2010 to honor, promote, and expand our knowledge of the extraordinary and long-lasting contributions individual women have made in shaping and strengthening our local community.
Women eligible to be nominated for this award must meet the following criteria: (a) have resided in McDonough County, (b) have been exceptional role models, and (c) have made extraordinary and long-lasting contributions within the local community through their initiatives, advocacy and/or engagement.
Any community member may submit a nomination by completing the nomination form. Self-nominations may be considered if accompanied by a letter of support. Nominations of women who have passed away will also be considered. Nominations will only be considered the year they are submitted, but previous nominees may be re-nominated if they were not chosen earlier.
Past award recipients include: Wanda Black, Mary Ellen Graff, Rosa Julstrom, and Beth Stiffler (2010); Constance DeMuth Berg, Marcia Moll, and Ruth Parks (2011); Maria Dunstan, Judith Kohler, and Donna Werner (2012); Josephine Johnson, Elizabeth “Betty” Kaspar, and Janice Welsch (2013); Gordana Rezab, Mary Warnock, and Alice Swain (2014); Lois Ganyard, Suzan Nash, and Margaret Ovitt (2015); Alice Henry, Alta Sargent, and Peggy Scharfenberg (2016); Lorraine Epperson, Debbie Maguire, Pamella McLean, and Becky Parker (2017), Sally Egler, Martha Klems, Maurine Magliocco, and Paula Wise (2018), Belinda Carr, Susan Lawhorn, Winona Malpass, Essie Rutledge, and Patricia Walton (2019), Janine Cavicchia, Patricia (Patti) Jones, Lois Lueck, and Sue Scott (2020); and Gayle Tronvig Carper, Nancy “Nan” Crossman, Verneata D. Jones, and Jill Joline Myers (2022). No recipients were recognized in 2021 because of COVID 19 restrictions.
The 2023 recipients of the Award will be honored at a brunch reception hosted by the Macomb Feminist Network on Saturday, March 4, 2023, from 9:30 am to noon at the Wesley Village Community Center.
Nomination forms may be downloaded from MFN’s website (www.macombfeminists.org) or may be obtained by emailing Patricia Walton at PA-Walton@wiu.edu. Completed nomination forms should be sent to Patricia Walton via email (PA-Walton@wiu.edu) or at Macomb Feminist Network, P. O. Box 765, Macomb, IL 61455. The deadline for nominations is Saturday, December 3, 2022.
Our annual summer social was enjoyed by well over 30 individuals as they visited, reconnected, and heard a review of the past year activities along with a preview of programing for the upcoming year.
The Macomb Feminist Network has selected Gayle Tronvig Carper, Nancy Crossman, Verneata Jones and Jill Joline Myers as recipients of its 2022 Writing Women into History Awards. The women will be honored for their outstanding contributions to the local community on Saturday, March 5, during a reception at the Wesley Village Community Center.
Gayle TronvigCarper has woven her background and training as an attorney, public defender, and WIU professor into the activities she has pursued as a civic-minded Macomb resident. Her approach to the roles and tasks she assumes is consistently meticulous. Whether she was serving on the City Council (first appointed, then elected), writing a commentary for Tri-States Public Radio’s Women’s Voices, or helping establish an organization to help ensure food security for residents in need, her approach has reflected scrupulous research and an exceptionally coherent presentation of information and insight. She has co-chaired the annual Gazebo Art Festival and the Macomb Art Center’s Art and Gift Market multiple times, taking responsibility for much of the events’ organization and publicity. Gayle’s contributions to Macomb’s civic and cultural life attest to her strength and integrity as well as her extraordinary energy, enthusiasm, and commitment to a healthy, viable community.
Nancy “Nan” Crossman has been helping ensure a diverse and lively arts scene in Macomb for many years. Whether serving on the Performing Art Society Board, facilitating Macomb Community Theater productions, or coordinating the multiple activities sponsored by the Macomb Arts Center, Nan has been generously giving her time to make sure these ventures attract audiences and help both spectators and contributors enjoy the talent of the many artists in the community. The wide spectrum of activities she organizes and manages through the Macomb Arts Center as its volunteer Executive Director bear out her commitment. She facilitates events and projects that clearly appeal to children, from tikes to teens, others that appeal to adults, and still others that bring in entire families. She has taken on the nitty-gritty behind-the-scenes roles that event planning requires as well as the role of host forprograms, receptions, and exhibits. She has consistently done so with grace.
Verneata D. Jones is well known and respected in the Macomb community. She has helped organize and implement many programs and events sponsored by her church and various community organizations, including P.R.I.D.E. a summer youth program that emphasized education, recreation, and service, a summer food distribution initiative, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Juneteenth celebrations. Widely and comfortably known as Aunt V in the community, what is perhaps most remarkable about her service is what she has been doing on her own year after year. She has provided foster care, often on an emergency basis, for over 27 children, always making sure those she cared for had what they needed materially, emotionally, and educationally. She reaches out to people with ease, discerns their needs, and quietly finds ways to help. Skilledand caring, she has enriched the lives of numerous people in the community through her love and generosity.
Jill Joline Myers, using her doctoral studies in law, first in Baltimore and then in Macomb–has spent much of her career working on behalf of victims and society. She began by representing abused and neglected children; later she represented victims of violence and terrorism. She continues to focus on the well-being and safety of children, no longer as a prosecutor or investigator, but as the President of the Macomb CUSD #185, helping to develop policies that determine how Macomb schools prepare students for a successful future. Given students’ widespread access to the internet, Jill’s background in electronic surveillance and cyber investigations has been particularly valuable in addressing online bullying and in promoting cyber safety and digital citizenship training. She serves on the board of the local chapter of the League of Women Voters, is a member of the Macomb Fire and Police Commission, and is President-elect of the morning Rotary Club. Her commitment to the community runs deep.
Macomb Feminist Network 