History of Nebraska BPW
The Nebraska Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs was organized June 30-July 1, 1919 through plans conceived and executed by the Business Women’s League of Lincoln. Omaha, Grand Island, and Hastings responded to the invitation to organize and nine delegates attended. The organizing meetings were held at the Grand Hotel and 60 people attended the dinner on June 30. Thirty people were entertained at a luncheon July 1 at the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce.
Florence Spencer, an organizer for the National Federation which was also in the process of formation, explained that the Federation plan originated as a result of the war and to fill a need for constructive effort on behalf of business and professional women. Initial funds for the National Federation were furnished by the United War Council. Emma J. Hedges, president of the Lincoln Business Women’s League, presided until temporary organization was formed. Delegates were elected to the National Federation organizing meeting in St. Louis, July 14-18, 1919.
Minnie Throop England, instructor in political economy at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, was elected President and Mabel Hall, Omaha, was elected Secretary. England, Hall and Ada V. Garmine were elected delegates tot he St. Louis Convention. Election of other officers and adoption of a Constitution were deferred until the next meeting when it was hoped additional clubs would be represented.
The second State Federation meeting was also hosted by the Lincoln Business Women’s League in its own club rooms on April 22, 1920. A dinner at the Grand Hotel served 61. A Constitution was adopted and annual dues were fixed at 35¢ per member. Omaha, Grand Island, Hastings, Beatrice, the Business Women’s League, and a new club in Lincoln, later to be called Axis, were represented. Lulah T. Andrews, Lincoln, was elected President. Mabel Hall was a National Vice-President. The evening’s program on Immigrants in New York was presented by Dr. Lida B. Earhart, UNL.
The third meeting was held in Omaha, April 23, 1921. At least six clubs from Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island, Hastings, Holdrege and Beatrice were presented. Mable Hall was again elected State President. Hastings greeted delegates from nine clubs at the Clarke Hotel, April 7-8, 1922 for the fourth State meeting. Superior and Broken Bow joined the previously named seven clubs to elect Grace Roberts, Lincoln League, State President.
National President Lena Lake Forrest attended the fifth State meeting held in Beatrice, May 22-23, 1923. Crete had been added during the year and Holdrege, Fairbury and McCook were welcomed. The Resolutions Committee recommended publication of a State paper and Kate Field, Lincoln Axis, was elected State President.
The Yancey Hotel, Grand Island was the site of the sixth State meeting in 1924. Delegates from 12 clubs: Omaha, Lincoln League, Lincoln Axis, Hastings, Superior, Fairbury, Fremont, Beatrice, McCook, Wayne, Crete, and Grand Island; with representatives of three unaffiliated groups, York, Aurora and North Platte also present. Kate Field, Lincoln Axis, was re-elected State President.
Eleven clubs were represented at the 1925 State meeting in McCook. Norva Wickman, Beatrice, was elected State President.
Organizing and actual Charter dates for clubs vary. Many local clubs were organized apart from and pre-date BPW and later joined the State and National Federations, receiving their official BPW Charters sometimes years after organizing. On the national level and in many localities, the organizing efforts stemmed from activities of the YWCA, which itself was formed in 1916-17. As the National and State Federations evolved, local clubs were organized solely as BPW clubs and its accompanying National and State Federation affiliation. Local organization Charter dates are listed on page 80 of this section.
The number of local BPW organizations more than doubled during the 1930’s and programming during that time probably mirrored the social and political efforts being made to pull the State and Nation out of a deep economic depression.
In 1944-45, Mrs. Nettie Simms, National International Relations Chair, studied in South America under a Lena Lake Forest Fellowship. The 1948 state convention voted to present Arabelle P. Hanna for a National Vice Presidency. The following year, Dr. Lena Madesin Phillips visited the state convention in Hastings where the general public was invited to hear her speak.
Nebraska held the first Small Business Clinic in Lincoln in 1949-50. Mrs. Helen Freed, North Platte, served on the National Conservation Committee, 1950-52. A survey of Nebraska’s Resources was a state project started by the Beatrice Club in 1951. A tour of the state for which college credit was awarded was conducted by Doane College in conjunction with the project.
Nebraska BPW sponsored and actively supported LB167 (Equal Pay for Equal Work Regardless of Sex) in Nebraska Unicameral in 1952-53. A similar bill was again sponsored in 1954 and ’55. During the year, Lorena Hahn, Omaha, was appointed U.S. representative to the United Nations Commission of Women. Nine Nebraskans attended the Sixth International Congress of BPW in Stockholm, Sweden. Hattie Steinberg was elected National recording secretary in 1954 and 1955 Gladys Andersen was elected North Central Region chair.
Nebraska BPW placed fourth in the National Federation Headquarters Building Fund Sweepstakes, achieving 113% of its goal. A check was presented to Hazel Palmer at state convention for $3,419.69 representing 100% participation by Nebraska members in the National building fund drive. Lorraine Brandt was awarded the second BPW Foundation research grant in 1956 for work on her master’s degree and Hattie Steinberg was re-elected National recording secretary. Nebraska BPW hosted the North Central Regional conference in Lincoln in 1957 with Gladys Andersen presiding. A state-wide charter banquet was held in Lincoln to honor two new Lincoln clubs. The first “Woman of Achievement” award for Nebraska BPW was presented in 1958 to Nettie Hills Simms, who served National International Relations chair for ten years and was a renowned lecturer and world traveler.
In August 1956 a proposal by Martha Rohrick to organize a One Hundred Club was submitted. Martha’s original premise was to encourage 100 BPW members to contribute $5 each per year to “underwrite” worthy projects without requesting special donations from clubs. A waiting list was to be used for invitation once the 100 pledged membership was reached, but Martha recommended the plan be abandoned when only 75 applications had been received as of March 1, 1957. Nebraska BPW held the idea over, made some changes and the result was formation of BPW Underwriters in August 1958.
Growth in the number of local organizations tapered off considerably in the 1940’s and ‘50’s, but membership numbers continued to grow.
1960-79
The Nebraska Federation celebrated its Golden Anniversary in 1969 and challenged all Business and Professional Women to present a united effort in the creation of greater opportunities in the unpredictable future.
Each year an outstanding Woman of Achievement is selected from local club entries. Woman of Achievement do not have to be members of BPW. Some of the more notable BPW recipients during the 1960-79 years included: Arabelle Hanna, the first woman elected Mayor in Nebraska and a former State BPW President; Helen Boosalis, Mayor of Lincoln; Dr. Anne Campbell, State commissioner of Education; and State Senator Shirley Marsh.
Governor Frank Morrison created the Governor’s Commission on the Status of Women in 1963 (later made the Nebraska Commission on the Status of Women) . Former State Presidents Sally Cunningham and Arabelle Hanna served as the Commission’s first Chair and Vice-Chair.
In 1961, Nebraska BPW raised $1,200 for the Dr. Maffett Chinese Nurses’ Home. In 1967, gold lettering reading “National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc.” was installed on the front of National BPW headquarters in Washington DC as a tribute to Sally Cunningham's term as National BPW President. Sally’s other National and International assignments included: 1961 Civic Participation Chair, 1962 Legislation Chair, 1963 3rd Vice-President, 1964 2nd Vice-President, 1965 President-Elect, 1966 President, 1968-69 International Vice-President, 1969-71 International Legislation Chair, 1976 National Foundation Loan Fund Committee for Women Graduate Engineering Students Committee Chair. Other Nebraska BPW members serving on the National level include Hanna Schmidt, Legislation Committee 1963; Fran Johnson, Legislation Committee 1964; Evelyn Rankin, Civic Participation Committee Chair 1966; Erma Harvey, Foundation Committee 1975; and Lillian Simi, Foundation Committee 1977.
BPW Underwriters continued its funding of projects to include the Commission on Women, Dr. Maffett Nurses’ Home, Highway Safety Promotion, National Foundation and Young Careerist expenses to National Convention.
During this period, the number of local organizations participating in the National Foundation program increased. To qualify for recognition a $1 per member contribution for each member was necessary.
Past State Presidents continued their proud tradition of meeting as a group during each State Convention. Workshops and seminars conducted on the State and local level included ERA, Health and Nutrition, Highway Safety, Parliamentary Procedure, Career Planning, Leadership Conference, Management Conference and Action Conference.
National Business Women’s Week was observed in 1963 with a motorcade across the state carrying a BPW banner from one district to another.
1965 marked the first year Nebraska BPW participated in the Young Career Woman program (later changed to Young Careerist).
The 1971 International Congress at Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, was attended by Hannah Schmidt, Luella Diekhoff, Gwendolyn Birky and Esther Shubert. Lillian Simi attended the International Congress in Finland.
Virginia Smith, Chappell BPW, was the first woman elected to Congress from Nebraska in 1972. Smith served 18 years, 9 consecutive terms, and chose not to run for re-election in 1990.
Vera Quig researched and Eleanor Barkley edited a 1979 revision of the State Handbook and Margene Shuck and Vera Quig prepared the History 1960-79 for presentation by State President Arline Clark at the January 1980 BPW/USA Board meeting.
1980-89
1980 was a year marked by change and excitement for BPW/USA. Clestine Brock retired as Editor of the Goldenrod, a post she held for 15 years. Her contributions as Editor were noted in a tribute in the July 1980 issue written by Gladys Sorensen. Linda Emery, Axis of Lincoln, was appointed Editor by Faye Stevens, State President. Olive Sorenson, Fremont BPW, received a citation for creating the Recognition Program and designing the materials used for the program. Sally Cunningham, Past National President, served as Chair for the 1980 National Convention in Omaha. With a change in BPW/USA Bylaws allowing men to join, Sally signed up V.J. Skutt, Chairman of the Board of Mutual of Omaha, as the first man to join BPW. Lincoln BPW also recruited Gary Aksamit, a Lincoln attorney, to membership. A large Nebraska delegation attended the Omaha Convention which was highlighted by a Nebraska barbecue at Peony Park. Vera Quig picked up the idea of needle-point pin badges while at Convention and began creating them for Nebraska BPW members in August 1980. The badges sold for $5 with profits contributed to ERAmerica, a national effort to get the ERA ratified. Julie Peatrowski, Norfolk BPW and past State President, was named to the BPW/PAC Committee. 1980 was also the year BPW members were used to audit the organization’s financial records.
1981 marked the first Regional Leadership Orientation Seminar held in conjunction with Fall Board in Scottsbluff. Ann Steinbeck, Colorado BPW and National 3rd Vice-President, conducted the training session. Vicki Swisher a Nuclear Engineer from Atlanta, Georgia and daughter of Irene Swisher, State BPW President, was the keynote speaker at the Fall Board dinner. Three new local organization were chartered in 1981 including Fremont Noon Hour, Panhandle (Scottsbluff) and Buffalo County (Kearney). A memorial was established for Arabelle Hanna and Anna T. Olson, past State Presidents and Underwriters made a $200 contribution to BPW Foundation as the memorial. Equality Day 1981 was held in North Platte.
Gladys Sorenson developed and directed an Emblem Ceremony skit based on the history of the Nike in 1981. Gwendoline Birky, past State President, was honored by the Nebraska Historical Society as its employee of the year. Holdrege BPW celebrated its Golden Anniversary in June 1982. Doris Carpenter, Axis of Lincoln BPW, was responsible for the permanent placement of the Young Careerist Plaque at the Nebraska Commission on Women offices. The plaque with all past YC’s named was to be displayed in the State Capitol Building during National Business Women’s Week. After two years of study, Nebraska BPW adopted a redistricting plan which was implemented with the 1982 Fall Conference. The redistricting plan was designed to equalize the number of local organizations and members within a district. Although that goal was accomplished, the loss of District loyalty and intra-club exchange in some districts were negative factors in the change. Up-front seating at the 1982 National Convention was assured for Nebraska BPW as it won the Winged Victory Award in membership for the Scroll team. (Seating at National Convention is determined by how each State Federation ranks in membership equalization). The 1982 National Convention also marked the adoption of the Strategic Long Range Plan (SLRP) for BPW/USA.
The 1983 State Convention was held in Lincoln with Mayor Helen Boosalis, a BPW member, providing the welcome. The practice of adding handling charges to Emblem items purchased from Nebraska BPW was initiated, to cover costs of shipping and travel costs for the Emblem Chair. Proceeds from the sale of Vera Quig’s pin badges, originally directed to ERAmerica, added over $588 to the Underwriters’ fund. A plan by Underwriters to microfilm BPW’s historical records was adopted with Ramona Freeman and Arline Clark, both Chappell BPW, named to direct the project. Judy Redies Uerling, Hastings BPW, was named Nebraska’s first Counselor to the National Council on the Future of Women in the Work Place (FWW), an adjunct council formed by BPW/USA.
1984 was a year of change for Nebraska BPW including changing the Woman of Achievement award to Woman of the Year, deleting the Transportation Committee as a State Special Committee, initiating the Employer of the Year award as an activity of the FWW Counselor, introduction of a revised State Handbook and the addition of O’Neill as a local organization. Nebraska BPW participated in the “Women’s Vote Project,” a second Leadership Training Seminar sponsored by BPW/USA and the Governor’s Conference on Women Business Ownership. Linda Witko, Panhandle BPW, was named to the National BPW Legislative Committee. Linda Emery, Axis of Lincoln, began her five-year tenure on BPW/PAC which she chaired in 1988-89.
Change continued to impact Nebraska BPW in 1985. Convention action re-arranged responsibilities for State Officers other than President, Secretary and Treasurer and accepted the premise that BPW/USA’s National Headquarters at 2012 Massachusetts Avenue needed major renovation and its capital fund drive, Project 2012. Gov. Bob Kerrey attended the 1985 State Convention. As Governor he appointed a number of BPW members to the Nebraska Commission on the Status of Women although the Nebraska Legislature had defunded the Commission. BPW members lobbied hard to get the Commission re-funded and to override Kerrey’s veto of half that budget in 1986. The first Workplace Recognition Award (Employer of the Year) was presented to Fremont Newspapers, Inc. for its sensitivity to women in the workplace. Nebraska BPW placed 8th overall in National membership.
1986 marked the first full year of volunteer fundraising for Project 2012 with an expected contribution of $20.12 per member which grew to $29 within a year. Women in Nebraska politics made national history in the fall of 1986 when Democrat Helen Boosalis, former Mayor of Lincoln and a BPW member faced Republican Kay Orr, former Nebraska State Treasurer in the first gubernatorial race in history involving two women. Orr won and became Nebraska’s first female Governor.
Nebraska BPW members were saddened in 1987 by the news that State 2nd Vice-President Lynda Cabela was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease and would not run for higher office. BPW sent five members to a retreat for women’s organizations across the State in the fall. That meeting was the starting point for the Women’s Information Network (WIN). The State Board also approved the application by our FWW Counselor to apply for one of ten State pilot projects on the Choices and Challenges program. Members also geared up to attend the Women’s Agenda Conference in Des Moines in January of 1988. The Conference, spearheaded by BPW/USA was a resounding political success timed in conjunction with the Iowa Presidential caucuses.
1988 saw Nebraska BPW conducting ten Choices projects as a part of the National pilot program which would touch 2,477 people throughout the year. Members also toted red bags to signal pay inequity and the organization participated in the Nebraska Women’s Legislative Caucus. Past National President (1966-67) Sarah Jane Cunningham, McCook BPW and State BPW President 1957-59 died while traveling in Scotland just as Nebraska BPW members were leaving for the National Convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A mentor for many, Sally contributed much to her local, State, and National Federations. A Project 2012 window was purchased in Sally’s name with funds raised during the year. The fundraising was so successful that a window for “Nebraska BPW” was also purchased.
Nebraska BPW adopted its own mission statement in the fall of 1988: Nebraska BPW seeks to unite all women in achieving economic, social and political equality.
The 1989-90 Federation marked the fifth year of fundraising for the renovation of “2012.” Delegates to the National Convention in Detroit spent long hours in debate and emotional argument on the question of financing the project. A voluntary effort “The Diamond Anniversary Fund” was finally adopted. The Nebraska BPW Networking book was finished and distributed at the 1990 State Convention. “Friends of Nebraska BPW” was initiated during the year to raise funds for Project 2012. A $7.50 contribution purchased recognition in the Goldenrod for the donor’s “friend.”
