President’s Page – August, 2020

August is the month for Voting Rights. On August 26, 1920 the 19th amendment finally was ratified to give women the right to vote. Suffragettes worked for many years to achieve that right. A new book for middle school students titled, Finish the Fight written by the staff of the New York Times, remains a fascinating read for any age. It shows us how diverse the women were who helped make suffrage reality. It became, not only a white women’s struggle, as has been told in so many history books, but one for women of diverse cultures.

We learn that the Native American Haudenosaunee practiced a form of representative democracy that gave significant power to women. Mary Church Terrell, an African American championed both suffrage and civil rights. There were many other African American women, Latina and Chinese women who fought for the vote as well.

I suggest you buy a copy for all the young women in your families, one for yourself and one to donate to your local library.

APW Central has continued to present interesting speakers each month in Zoom format, so all members are invited to attend. APW Rim Country has monthly Zoom meetings and will be having speakers starting again next month.

Buckshot Dot just informed me that a long time Payson member, Rebecca George, has passed away. She was an author, book reviewer, philosopher, musician and naval veteran. We send her family our condolences.

Are you still practicing social distancing and wearing a mask outdoors? I hope so. I see others getting lax, but numbers of Covid cases continue to blanket our state and country.

Keep Writing,

Marie Fasano
President
Arizona Professional Writers