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Issue 46
May 2019
'Women, Whiskey and Chocolate' June 27;
Celebrate Summer with Sweet Sips
Taste local whiskeys paired with luscious local chocolates at the Women, Whiskey and Chocolate Party to benefit the Women’s Council on June 27.
Designer chocolatier, Chef Phillip Ashley Rix, will share a selection of his wildly imaginative chocolates, carefully matched with an array of local and regional whiskeys.

Save the date now – and reserve your attendance .

The party will be from 5:30 pm to 7:30 p.m. in the gracious gallery and courtyard of ANF Architects, 1500 Union, with parking beside and north of the building. Enjoy ANF’s impressive regional art collection and the company of fascinating women (and men) along with samples of fine whiskey and chocolate. Guests also will be able to buy chances in a wine pull to win bottles of wine.

Wine and non-alcoholic beverages will also be available.
Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Memphis) Chairs ERA Hearing –
First in 36 Years!
Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the
Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, presided over the first hearing on the Equal Rights Amendment in 36 years and enthusiastically supported ratification of the constitutional amendment guaranteeing equal rights for women. See Congressman Cohen’s opening statement in the video clip above.

The hearing took the testimony of witnesses Kathleen M. Sullivan, former dean of the Stanford Law School; Nevada State Senator Pat Spearman; Professor Elizabeth Price Foley of the Florida International University College of Law; and actor and advocate Patricia Arquette.
The subcommittee also heard testimony from Representative Carolyn Maloney of New York
whose H.J.Res.35 would restart the amendment ratification process, and from Representative
Jackie Speier of California whose H.J.Res.38 would remove the arbitrary deadline to ratify that was included in the preamble of the original constitutional amendment in 1972.

As reported in a press release from Cohen’s office, toward the end of his opening statement he said: “A great person, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, was asked in an interview what amendment she would most like to see added to the U.S. Constitution. She answered it would be the Equal Rights Amendment. As she explained, the ERA means ‘women are people of equal stature before the law,’ and ‘that principle …is in every constitution written since the Second World War.’ Justice Ginsburg said she would like to see her granddaughters, ‘when they pick up the Constitution, to see that that is a basic principle of our society.’

“I understand there’s a possibility Justice Ginsburg is watching today’s hearing and, just to channel our president: Justice Ginsburg, if you’re listening, get us the ERA.”

At a press conference after the historic hearing, Congressman Cohen told the story of 24-year-
old Tennessee State Representative Harry Burn’s historic 1920 vote for women’s rights. Burn, a Republican, on his mother’s instruction, cast the deciding vote for the 19th Amendment to give women the right to vote. That made Tennessee the 36th state to ratify it and make it part of the Constitution.

Two states—Nevada and Illinois—have recently ratified the Equal Rights Amendment, bringing
the total to 37, just one short of the 38 needed for ratification. The key passage at the heart of the ERA is: “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.” The ERA, if ratified, would provide a strong legal defense against a rollback of the significant advances in women’s rights that have been achieved since the mid–20th century.

Click here to learn more.
Youth Broadcasters Feature Local Women's Activism
Skip to 11:23 for segment with Deborah Clubb
Deborah Clubb discussed the importance of documenting and sharing women’s history in an
interview on the student-run TV show Crosstalk at Germantown High.

She also shared other work of the Women’s Council including student participation in the Memphis Says NO MORE campaign and MAWC’s employer training program about domestic violence.
Women’s Council Welcomes New
Board Members
Bettye Boone, Carol Danehower,
and Erma Elzy
The Women’s Council proudly welcomes two new board members who bring strong
experience in non-profit governance, communications, programming and volunteer leadership.

Bettye Boone, past president of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women – Memphis Chapter, has been a frequent and dedicated partner with the Women’s Council in many events and programs. She brings her passion for helping women and girls along with wisdom from a long career in corporate America. Bettye served this year as co-Selections Chair for Women of Achievement 35. She was elected to the board in February.

Award-winning veteran stage, television and short feature director Erma Elzy returned to the
Women’s Council board in April. A native of Los Angeles, Erma is also a member of Women of
Achievement and volunteers as a docent at the Brooks Museum, the Brooks League and the Brooks Collection Committee. She also gives time to the Women’s Foundation for a Greater
Memphis and Memphis Challenge.

Returning directors include Dr. Carol Danehower, University of Memphis Fogelman College of
Business and Economics; Dr. Cathy Meredith, Christian Brothers University; Shayla Purifoy,
Shelby County judicial commissioner; and Jill Stem, Crown Manufacturing.

"With these women providing expertise in research, in domestic violence law, in corporate and
political circles across multiple key local community groups, we anticipate exciting strategies
and projects in the months ahead" said Executive Director Deborah Clubb.
Thanks, Adrianna!
University of Memphis Spring intern Adrianna Buchanan graduated in May with her degree
in Psychology. Her research, social media content and creative outreach ideas added greatly to
the Memphis Says NO MORE efforts and April Sexual Assault Awareness programs. We wish her luck in her future endeavors!
Watch for Details
Coming Soon!
What : training for clergy on sexual assault and DV trauma, disclosure and consent.

When : July or early August

Where : Memphis Theological Seminary

For more information:
dclubb@memphiswomen.org

click here to support the Women's Council today