Women For: Orange County.

In 1984, ten liberal, public-spirited Orange County, California women came together to address the issue of how to be politically effective in conservative Orange County. In an election year these women were particularly interested in having an impact on the nuclear arms race, but issues of interest to them also included protection of the environment and equal rights for women among other concerns.The first gathering consisted of 10 women who had never before all met each other. They were Ruth Bellows, Grace Dunkley, Constance Haddad, Vivian Hall, Lynn Osen, Joyce Rothfeder, Joan Rowland, Mary Lou Sortais, Vivian Thorp and Paula Werner. Vivian Hall recommended affliating with a group from Los Angeles called Women For: which had been in existence for 20 years and was an established political action organization. These 10 women contributed $950 for the establishment of an Orange County group and set the date for their first meeting.The first official meeting of Women For: Orange County was held February 24, 1984 at a restaurant in Fullerton, California. The speakers were Marilyn Kizziah, coordinator of the Los Angeles Women For:, and Selma Seligman, chairman of their politics committee. They explained that Women For: is loosely organized and that its activities include lobbying, letter writing and supporting important issues and candidates. Women for: is non-partisan and independent with no political favors owed to either party, although the Democratic platform often reflects more of Women For:'s concerns. The first officers elected were: Vivian Hall, chair; Joan Rowland, treasurer; and Paula Werner, politics chair.In 1991, an incident occured at the Great American Write-In involving the unexpected participation of the Cousins Club of Orange County, representing American Jews and Palestinians for peace. Two factions emerged in Women For: Orange County, one for and one against the Cousins Club participating. There were meetings and correspondence in 1992 expressing strong feelings, which ended in seven members resigning, including President Beverly Jacobs.

From the description of Women For: Orange County records, 1984 - 2003 1984 - 1996. (University of California, Irvine). WorldCat record id: 700620154

Historical Background

In 1984, ten liberal, public-spirited Orange County, California women came together to address the issue of how to be politically effective in conservative Orange County. In an election year these women were particularly interested in having an impact on the nuclear arms race, but issues of interest to them also included protection of the environment and equal rights for women among other concerns.

The first gathering consisted of 10 women who had never before all met each other. They were Ruth Bellows, Grace Dunkley, Constance Haddad, Vivian Hall, Lynn Osen, Joyce Rothfeder, Joan Rowland, Mary Lou Sortais, Vivian Thorp and Paula Werner. Vivian Hall recommended affliating with a group from Los Angeles called Women For: which had been in existence for 20 years and was an established political action organization. These 10 women contributed $950 for the establishment of an Orange County group and set the date for their first meeting.

The first official meeting of Women For: Orange County was held February 24, 1984 at a restaurant in Fullerton, California. The speakers were Marilyn Kizziah, coordinator of the Los Angeles Women For:, and Selma Seligman, chairman of their politics committee. They explained that Women For: is loosely organized and that its activities include lobbying, letter writing and supporting important issues and candidates. Women for: is non-partisan and independent with no political favors owed to either party, although the Democratic platform often reflects more of Women For:'s concerns. The first officers elected were: Vivian Hall, chair; Joan Rowland, treasurer; and Paula Werner, politics chair.

In 1991, an incident occured at the Great American Write-In involving the unexpected participation of the Cousins Club of Orange County, representing American Jews and Palestinians for peace. Two factions emerged in Women For: Orange County, one for and one against the Cousins Club participating. There were meetings and correspondence in 1992 expressing strong feelings, which ended in seven members resigning, including President Beverly Jacobs.

From the guide to the Women For: Orange County records, Bulk, 1984-1996, 1984-2003, (University of California, Irvine. Libraries. Special Collections and Archives.)