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:
- Focus the Democratic Party and its supporters on the principles which historically have informed Democratic philosophy.
- 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 candidates who vale the public interest.
- Identify civic concerns and pursue solutions addressing those
concerns.
- Organize women to motivate others to become politically active.
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.
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 every election since 2003 when they first were organized.
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 Voters ,(see
link) created to reach out to and enroll new voters, the
extensive Get-Out-the-Vote (see link)
efforts by individual volunteers in every campaign, and sponsorship of annual forums which explore issues which implicate the principles the Network advocates; and the creation of The Women’s Institute for Policy Research, a “think tank” dedicated to primary research on those same issues.
The Women’s Network has a state
Board of Directors with members from across
Kentucky (see link), eight branches - Fayette, Metro Louisville, Northern Kentucky, Shelby Area, Barren River, Lake Cumberland, Purchase Area and the Central KY Branch that includes organized chapters in Franklin, Woodford , Jessamine and Boyle counties as well as members in the Greater Lexington area, including Scott, Bourbon and Clark counties.
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