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“RALLY FOR THE VOTE”

A LIVELY PROGRAM

 The Conejo Valley AAUW , co-sponsored by the Thousand Oaks Library, VC League of Women Voters, and the VC Commission for Women, presented a celebration of the 100^th Anniversary of the California Woman Suffrage Amendment on Saturday, March 12 at the Thousand Oaks Library.  The reenactment of a “1911 Conejo Valley Votes for Women Club” featured authentic suffrage songs, special guests introducing suffragists of the period, a tribute to Susan B. Anthony, and a reading of suffragist author Selina Solomons’ “The Girl From Colorado or the Conversion of Aunty Suffridge.”

Participants assumed the costume of 1911, including hats and jewelry of the period, and encouraged the audience to participate in the suffrage songs authentic to the time period.  Among them was “The New America” (1891), sung at the National American Woman’s Convention to the tune of “America.”  Readers assuming the suffragists’ roles  were Caroline Severance, one of the last surviving suffragists of the early years of the movement; Clara S. Foltz, a California lawyer and writer; Maud Younger, who worked for the passage of the 19^th amendment in 1920; and Selina Solomons who spent two years after the 1911 election writing How We Won the Vote in California, a valuable resource for historians.

A group of suffragists marched in and out of the community room to a rousing rendition of “Hurrah for Suffrage” (1911).  Audience members, numbering around 100, enjoyed the performances and participated with gusto!  AAUW and LWV member, Jeanette Hosek, was the event coordinator.

— Pat Murray, Voter Editor