‘Women of Influence’ luncheon held Sunday

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

The National 19th Amendment Society (NNAS) held its Fourth Annual Woman of Influence recognition on Sunday, at the Floyd County Youth Enrichment Center, with a catered lunch and program.

The theme for the luncheon was “Honoring Pioneers on Main Street, Past, Present and Future,” and NNAS recognized local women who operate their own business or serve in management positions.

The four women honored Sunday were Roberta Vogelhuber, Helen Hart, Tami Vetter and Danielle DeBower Ellingson. Each of the four presented informal remarks after the lunch, and spoke about their experiences and connections to Charles City businesses.

This recognition is one in a series of five annual events to celebrate the approaching centennial of Carrie Lane Chapman Catt’s achievement in coordinating the work that resulted in passage of the 19th Amendment which gave women the right to vote in 1920.

Vogelhuber’s great-grandparents, C.W. and Minnie Rhinesmith, started the Charles City linotype school. Her great-grandmother continued running the linotype school after the death of her husband at age 30. She taught high school English, served as a high school principal and taught education at the University of Dayton.

Hart started Cedar Valley Printing in Charles City in 1980, along with Bonnie Korver. Hart taught in Spirit Lake for four years before moving to Charles City in 1971.

Vetter, a 1982 graduate of Charles City, currently owns and operates The Rustic Corner in Charles City and started Working Women Inc., which provides marketing support and product logistics for pet food manufacturers.

Ellingson is a 2008 Charles City grad who is an attorney with the local law firm of Eggert, Erb, Mulcahy and Kuehner, where she became a partner in 2017.

Cheryl Erb, chairwoman of the 2020 NNAS committee, emceed the event, and introduced past NNAS presidents, who included Marilu Wohlers, Mary Ann Zanotti, Holly Connor, Lisa Adelmund, Susan Jacob and Sue McDonnell Brumm.

The luncheon was catered by U-2 BBQ & Catering, with meal service provided by Immaculate Conception youth and valet parking provided by Charles City FFA students.

The 19th Amendment Society is a local, non-profit group that is dedicated to telling the story of Carrie Lane Chapman Catt, who grew up just outside of Charles City. Carrie’s girlhood home, located at 2379 Timber Avenue, was purchased, restored and opened for public tours in 2005 followed by a newly constructed Interpretive Center in 2011 on the same site. Both facilities are dedicated to telling the story of Carrie and her leadership that resulted in passage of the 19th Amendment.

Catt served as president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association and was the founder of the League of Women Voters and the International Alliance of Women. She helped to pressure Congress to pass the constitutional amendment giving women the right to vote and convinced state legislatures to ratify it.

Erb is president of the local NNAS, and Nancy Simerson, Brenda Bailey and Ivadelle Stevenson serve as vice-presidents; 2020 committee members are Erb, Joy Frank, Susan Jacob, Phyllis Meyer and Marilu Walters.