History
The Women's Network, Advocates for Democratic Principles, was
established by a group of dedicated women in Central Kentucky who
initially volunteered for the Lois Combs Weinberg Womens Network
in the 2002 U.S. Senate campaign. Without that campaign there would
be no Women's Network today.
After the election, a number of women in the Central Kentucky Network
indicated a desire to continue to work together in a reconstituted
network.. Two weeks and two days after the election, the chair of
that network, Lillian Press, called together 13 talented members who
had worked hard in the campaign and were eager to pursue and promote
common goals. Specifically, they wanted to:
- Help strengthen the Kentucky Democratic Party, with an emphasis
on Democratic Party principles.
- Establish a broad-based statewide Women's Network.
- Expand participation of women in politics and their role in
policy decisions.
- Educate Kentuckians about Democratic values. Remind voters
that the system of public benefits brought to them by sustained
and energetic efforts of Democrats has lifted millions of Americans
out of poverty. Help them understand that public interest is the
mark of Democrats, and that it is in their - the voters-
personal interest for a better future to support Democrats..
- Identify civic concerns and pursue solutions addressing those
concerns.
- Organize women to motivate others to become politically active
Democrats
Renewing their commitment to the mission and
credos of the Democratic Party--with the ideal of securing a fair
and just world in which Franklin D. Roosevelts Four Freedoms
will reignthe Network women met and worked as a unit from November
20, 2002, until the first meeting of The Women's Network statewide
Board on March 5, 2005
Meeting often, sometimes weekly, the founding members, all volunteers,
(see Founding Executive Committee) wrote the
Mission, Goals and Objectives and the Core Principles, embracing the
Four Freedoms, all of which became the foundation for today's Network.
They then fanned out across Kentucky to interview prominent Democratic
Party leaders-- former governors and senators, past and present office
holders, civic, minority and religious leaders-- to seek and get their
candid insights about the future of the Democratic Party in Kentucky.
They promised anonymity and sought advice on:
- strengthening the party
- projects for The Network to undertake with that goal in mind,
and
- pitfalls to try to avoid in future elections and in party organization
and actions.
These interviews produced a large, fresh,
valuable body of advice and recommendations that helped The Network
define its priorities.
Once these initial tasks had been completed, eight months after
their first meeting, the Executive Committeeas they had dubbed
themselves-- were ready to begin the organization of a statewide
network. They had added three members to their original 13. They
mailed a letter on July 28, 2003, inviting women across Kentucky
to join The Network, and the memberships came flying in. Membership
grew so rapidly, that in areas where it was organized, The Women's
Network was able to supply many dedicated volunteers who won accolades
for their performance, savvy, and commitment in the 2003 and 2004
elections.
Signature Network projects have already reached specified goals
and made a difference in various parts of Kentucky. These include
the work of the Task Force for New Democrats,(see
link) created to reach out to and enroll new Democrats, and the
extensive Get-Out-the-Vote (see link)
efforts by individual volunteers in the 2003 and 2004 election campaigns.
The Womens Network now has a state
Board of Directors with members from across
Kentucky (see link), five branches (multi-county regions) and
a number of local chapters (single county ) with branch organization
now underway in the Warren County , Pulaski County area, and Calloway
County areas. There is a Metro Louisville
Branch , the Northern Kentucky
Branch , a Barren River Branch based in Bowling Green, a Lake Cumberland Branch based in Somerset, and a Central Kentucky
Branch , the latter with Fayette,
Boyle, Franklin, and Woodford counties having highly active chapters
with chairs and committees.
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