Coalition Celebrates Women's Past and Future

Business leaders, professionals, activists, mothers and daughters all came together to celebrate their common denominator: they are all women striving towards success.

"History is Our Strength" was the theme of  Saturday's brunch at State Bank of the Lakes in Grayslake. The event was hosted by the Lake County Women’s Coalition, and it coincided with Women’s History Month.

Members of various groups throughout the county attended, including: Altrusa International of Lake ounty, American Association of University Women, Aux Plaines Chapter 99s, Beta Sigma Phi, General Federation of Women’s Clubs-Lake County IL, League of Women Voters of Lake County, Waukegan Area Church Women United, Waukegan Women’s City Club, Women’s Business Exchange, Women Interested in Government, Women’s Business Network and YWCA Lake County.

June Maguire, chair of the Lake County Women’s Coalition, said the event was meant to celebrate women across a wide spectrum of achievements, from those in the arts to those serving in police and fire.

“We are celebrating certain individuals in Lake County for what they did for the community. A lot of times people go unrecognized, are unsung heroes,” she said.

Barbara Richardson, honorary speaker and founding chair of the Lake County Women’s Coalition, introduced 12 women, living or deceased, as honorees of the event.

“So many women’s voices are ringing, unheard. Stories remain lost, hidden, untold. Today we’ll meet some women who have worn many hats. Today, these women are our royalty. They are wonderful women to remember, too wonderful to forget,” she said.

The Coalition honored the following women:

• Margaret Kaiser, a long time member of both YWCA Lake County and AAUW Waukegan, represented by Susan King
• Stephanie Sulthin of Altrusa International Lake County, represented by Joan Allstrom
• Sue DeWulf of Aux Plaines Chapter 99s, represented by Dee Jay Kweder
• Emily Rees Wilcox, Virginia Blomquist and Doris Devore of Waukegan Area Church Women United
• Mary Leben of Women’s Business Exchange
• Sally Zeit of League of Women Voters Lake County
• Virginia Fiester Frederick of Women Interested in Government, represented by Senator Suzi Schmidt (R-31st)
• Margaret Young of Waukegan Women’s City Club
• Eleanor Luby of Beta Signa Phi, represented by Amanda Wolf.

Honorees and those representing them were crowned with hats representative of the era in which they served. 

Shirley Christian, chair of the Lake County Women’s Coalition from 2007-2008, said the event recognized women’s strength and history.

“[It’s the] bringing together of women. We get a chance to touch base with women of all different walks of life in Lake County. We see new faces every year,” she said.

Christian also introduced the recent Lake County Women’s Coalition scholarship recipient Leslie Jackson. The second recipient Carrie Effinger was unable to attend. The scholarship will award each with $500. The money is raised through contributions to an ongoing fund within the coalition. The scholarship can be used towards tuition, fees, books, transportation and/or on-site child care, according to the coalition website.

Jackson said the contribution was greatly appreciated. She is studying accounting at College of Lake County with plans to attend the University Center. She is also a single parent of two children.

Debbie Larker, vice chair of the Lake County Women’s Coalition, and Richardson presented a slide show honoring women’s firsts, beginning with Amelia Earhart’s feat of being the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean in May of 1932. Women nation-wide and Lake County-based were recognized, including Richardson and Senator Suzi Schmidt (R) 31st District, who served as Lake County chairman for 10 years prior to her appointment to the senate.

"This annual event allows us to look back and celebrate the women who were trailblazers in opening the doors for other women,” said Larker. 

The coalition formed in 1995 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment, which gives women the right to vote. For more information visit www.lakecountywomen.org.