The Women's Network - Advocates for Democratic Principles

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 Women’s 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. Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms will reign—the 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 Committee—as 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 Women’s 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.