2022 95th Annual Convention
The 95th annual convention of the Democratic Woman's Club was held October 7-8 in Somerset, KY. The Pulaski County Democratic Woman's Club did a fantastic job hosting the event. Friday evening included a social gathering at the Marriott. Saturday's meeting was held at Kentucky Community & Technical College. Rodney Casada, Chair of the Pulaski County Democratic Executive Committee, welcomed the attendees and stressed the importance of the work done by Democratic Woman's Clubs.
SPEAKERS: Gail Buckner, President of the National Federation of Democratic Women (NFDW), and Brenda Rosen, Executive Director of the Kentucky Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, speaking for Protect Kentucky Access, were guest speakers.
Ms. Buckner was formerly a Georgia State Assembly representative from 1990 to 2006. She was elected to the Georgia State Senate in 2009 and served until 2011. As President of the NFDW, Ms. Buckner is a member of the Democratic National Committee. Ms. Buckner gave a short history of the NFDW, which was formed in 1972. Perseverance and hard work led to the NFDW being officially recognized and accorded three seats on the DNC with the President of the NFDW granted a seat on DNC Executive Committee. Currently Democratic Women organizations from 32 states form the NDFW, with pending membership of two additional states. Ms. Buckner spoke about her time in the Georgia legislature, the current Georgia election, and the importance of the work being done by the NFDW.
Brenda Rosen, representing the group Protect Kentucky Access, spoke about Kentucky Constitutional Amendment 2, which would amend the Kentucky constitution to say that there is nothing in the constitution that would guarantee a right to an abortion. Passage of this amendment would allow the legislature to control healthcare. This has far-reaching consequences and would impact more than just abortions. For example, drugs and treatments that could terminate a pregnancy, but used to treat cancer, auto-immune issues, etc. could become difficult to get. Women suffering incomplete miscarriages might not be able to secure drugs used to control hemorrhaging. These are only a few consequences that can occur if Amendment 2 passes. Ms. Rosen encouraged everyone to get involved by volunteering to phone bank or canvass at protectkentucky.com.
BUSINESS: During the business part of the convention, proposed bylaw changes were voted on and passed. New officers were elected (or re-elected): JoAnne Bland was re-elected as President, Dora Sue Farmer was re-elected as First Vice President, Cheryl Greene was re-elected as Treasurer, and Tammy Cranfill was elected as First Member at Large.
The group voted to remain a member of the National Federation of Democratic Women and voted to not host the 2023 NFDW convention.
Five women were presented a new award from the National Federation of Democratic Women. Each state is allowed to select up to five recipients annually.
Pulaski County won the digital scrapbook competition, with Knox County in second place.
Franklin County offered to host the spring 2023 meeting of the Democratic Woman's Club of Kentucky.
