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.
Writing Women into History Eligibility & Nomination Process with Application Form 2023.
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.
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Nomination Form & Process
Nominee: __________________________________________ Phone _____________________
Address ____________________________________________ Email ______________________
Nominator: _________________________________________ Phone _____________________
Address ____________________________________________ Email ______________________
- 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.
Call for Nominations: The Macomb Feminist Network’s Writing Women into History 2023 Awards.
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.
Wed. June 8 MFN Summer Social 4:30 p.m.
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.
MFN Selects 4 “Writing Women Into History” 2022 Recipients
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.
Annette Carper Featured Presenter for November 13 Meeting
| Program |
Annette Carper, Deputy Director of the Housing Authority of McDonough County, will discuss the mission of the Housing Authority, its scope and activities, as well as her role as Deputy Director at the Macomb Feminist Network meeting on Saturday, November 13, 10 a.m. at Macomb City Hall.
MFN September 4, 2021 Meeting
Saturday, September 4, 2021, 10 a.m. at Macomb City Hall, newly appointed Macomb Police Chief Jerel Jones will discuss his approach to policing, his goals, and his plans to achieve these goals. He will also discuss police-community relations and ways these can be strengthened in a positive way. The public is invited. A short business meeting will follow the presentation.
MFN Meeting Prepares for Civic Engagement
After a year of zooming, MFN met in person Saturday May 1 at Gayle Carper’s. The meeting, chaired by Martha Klems, focused on identifying local feminists who could be viable candidates for local offices or boards. To support these individuals, MFN will be creating a list of members who have served on boards or political offices to serve as mentors and offering potential candidates special skills training in areas such as public speaking, campaigning, leadership, etc. based on the expertise of current members. MFN is renewing its commitment to finding and encouraging feminists to seek positions of influence.
Centennial Celebration of the 19th Amendment
The GFWC Macomb’s Woman’s Club, the League of Women Voters of McDonough County, the Macomb Feminist Network, and the Western Illinois Museum announce
A Centennial Celebration of the 19th Amendment
Wednesday, August 26, 2020, at 5:00 p.m.
In Chandler Park
A Centennial Celebration of the 19th Amendment is being planned by local organizations, including the GFWC Macomb’s Woman’s Club, the League of Women Voters of McDonough County, the Macomb Feminist Network, and the Western Illinois Museum. The 19th Amendment was passed in August of 1920 and gave women in the United States the right to vote. To mark the anniversary, a program will be held in Chandler Park, in Macomb, Illinois, on Wednesday, August 26th at 5:00 pm. The public is invited to attend; face coverings and social distancing will be observed. Following at 7:00 pm will be a live online program on Facebook.
At 7:00 pm, an online program will be held live on Facebook where the commentaries will be broadcast followed by an opportunity for questions and discussion. The live stream can be found on a special Facebook page for the event at 19th Amendment Celebration Macomb, IL.
The gathering in Chandler Park to celebrate the anniversary will start at 5:00 pm at the Gazebo with short commentaries by local women. Each will speak briefly on the impact the 19th Amendment has had on our country and our community. Speakers include Jane Ellickson Coplan, President of the League of Women Voters of McDonough County; Brenda Allison, President of the GFWC Macomb’s Woman’s Club; Tammie Leigh Brown Edwards, Macomb City Alderwoman; Julia Albarricin, Western Illinois University Professor of Political Science; Sue Scott, Director of the Western Illinois Museum; Gayle Carper; Macomb City Alderwomen. Additional online speakers include Kim Rice and Maren McIlvaine Newsad, Macomb High School graduate and student at Denison University. In the tradition of the suffragettes, guests are encouraged to wear white and participate in a brief parade around the park following the remarks.
On August 18, 1920, Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote –36 being the number of states needed to make it a federal law. The nearly 73-year suffrage movement was begun at the 1848 Women’s Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, New York, by Elizabeth Cady Stanton. It was signed into law on August 26th, when United States Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby signed his certification that all conditions required for ratification had been met. The Amendment states, “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.”
Chandler Park is located one block north of Macomb’s Courthouse Square. Free street parking is available. Guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs, wear masks, and practice social distancing. For more information contact the Western Illinois Museum at call 309.837.2750, text 309.837.2613, or email info@wimuseum.org.
Writing Women Into History 2019 Award Winners
The 2019 Writing Women Into History Award was given to 5 very deserving women: Susan Lawhorn, Belinda Carr, Patricia Walton, Essie Rutledge, and posthumously Winona Malpass.
Macomb Feminist Network 