A Committee of Ladies
A Committee of Ladies
The General Federation of Women's Clubs is an international women's organization dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service. This year we celebrate 125 Years of Federated Service, 1890 - 2015
GFWC Macomb Woman's Club Mission Statement: “The object of this club shall be mutual counsel, assistance in philanthropic and charitable works, unity of action in case of need, and promotion of higher social and moral conditions.” The Woman's Club McDonough County Women's Social Service Memorial Committee, a committee within the GFWC Macomb Woman's Club, began a project to bring attention to the actions of two ladies in Macomb's early history. This project falls within the GFWC Community Improvement Program in that it enhances the relationship between our club and our community. We hope that this memorial will promote higher social and moral attitudes and encourage women to strive to better the lives of others by remembering what others have accomplished in the past.
FACING THE STORM,
the name given the statue by the sculptor, will stand as a lasting tribute to women
active in social services, past, present and future.
DEDICATION
September 12, 2015
A Committee of Ladies, by Tina Belz
Ten years ago, October 2005, Marilyn Pastorelli told our GFWC Macomb Woman's Club about two ladies Dr. John Hallwas spoke about at another club of which she was a member. Dr. Hallwas had been speaking at local women's clubs about Josie Westfall and Rose Jolly, two of Macomb's early female social activists.
These two ladies and their life stories are remarkable in their struggles and accomplishments to better the lives of children, women and animals during the early 1900's, a time when change was needed. Rose Jolly encountered many difficulties including angry husbands, fathers and animal owners while she helped provide asylum or legal counsel for the abused at the hands of the abuser. These were difficult times for all because changes were being made and we all know how difficult it is to bring about changes. Josie Westfall took in two orphaned children and this number continued to grow. The only option for local unclaimed-orphaned children at that time was the “orphan train” where orphans would ride until they were taken-in by someone. Unfortunately, this could be someone secretly in need of a cheap laborer who would work for food and lodging. Known as “Aunt Josie” to the children, she opened the first McDonough County Orphanage, campaigned for donations, worked day and night and helped care and feed over 600 children during her lifetime. Dr. Hallwas asked that Macomb's women organizations discuss these ladies to see if there was sufficient interest to pursue some form of formal recognition for them in our community. Jean Waller, then Club President, made a motion at the General Meeting, November 2, 2005, and the club voted that some sort of recognition needed to be given them.
Nothing much came of the issue, however, several ladies continued to talk about the need of a memorial so that these two ladies' efforts would not be forgotten. One local club had the desire but not the members they felt were needed to raise money for a memorial. Until Dr. Hallwas's talk most of us had not heard of Rose Jolly or Josie Westfall, let alone know of the great changes and sacrifices they made for our community. We know of many of local influential people because their names adorn buildings, parks, streets and the like. But what about these women who were not wealthy but worked hard to take care of those less fortunate. How would their efforts be remembered and celebrated, or be used as an example for others to follow?
Sally Sallee and I were incoming Co-Presidents of the Macomb Woman's Club and I asked her if we should pursue the club building a memorial for Rose and Josie. She was all in. At the September 2008 Board Meeting a local female artist brought one of her small bronze pieces and we discussed feasibility of building a bronze statue and estimated prices. As shown in the Board Minutes, the Board voted to create an investigative committee to determine the feasibility of a “statue-memorial” project.
When Sally and I held our first General Meeting/Luncheon, Oct 2008, six excited members asked to be on the committee with us. The committee of eight ladies began meeting once a month during the club-year October through May. The committee was voted in by the club as a formal committee May 2009. Current members of the Memorial Committee are: Co-Chairmen Tina Belz and Marilyn Pastorelli, Elaine France, Sally Sallee, Garnette Hallwas, Jean Waller, Mary Ann Griffin, and Sharon Lindahl (the fore mentioned are the original 8 from 2008), Vicky Torreson, Sheila Shearer and Sandy Kessler.
One of the early challenges of the committee was to determine the best way to proceed. Should we decide what we want as a memorial and then fund-raise to meet the projected costs or should we fund-raise and see how much we raise before we committing on the breadth of the memorial. For our dream monument the estimated costs were high but felt people would not give if they believed we would not accomplish our goal. Secondly, we did not want the club to be held to a high future cost figure. Time helped us with a decision. Our planned fundraisers were about to begin and we had not locked into a cost figure. We felt we would be able to raise enough to do a nice but small memorial but we would fund-raise and see where it took us. A flurry of fund-raising ideas was always on the table at our meetings, because, after all, we are women who love to entertain and have fun. Throw in a good-cause and we are ready to host a party.
To sell bricks and ask for large donations, we wanted to have a 401C3 tax-deduction status for our donors. We contacted GFWC State and GFWC International but learned their tax status is not available for use by local clubs. When someone mentioned that perhaps we could partner with the Western Illinois Museum, a local non-profit, we were ecstatic. What a perfect fit of similar interests, if they were willing. August 2011, The Museum Board announced the partnership between the club and the museum and has been very helpful to the committee while embracing the role of teaching others about the ladies we have chosen to memorialize.
The committee decided to memorialize additional local female social activists. Many names were coming to us, and we determined that we needed to limit the number of ladies we would memorialize while honoring all women, past, present and future (to show that local social activism is a continuing tradition.) Most of the local women we were considering performed their remarkable acts during the late 1800's through the 1920's. This was during the period of time that women were first stepping out from the home to make differences. Therefore, we felt they were the “pioneers” of female humanitarianism and social activism. We decided to memorialize early pioneering women activists born in the 1800's. The women chosen to be memorialized and pictured on the statue base crusaded in many different ways to help others: Josie Westfall, Rose Jolly, Dr. Elizabeth Miner, Dr. Ruth Tunnicliff, Rebecca Everly, Sadie Moon, Lida Crabb and Clara Bayliss.
Oh yes, I do need to mention we had many discussions over the term “activist”. Many associate the term with militant-activism and politics. Rose Jolly definitely fits the “crusader, social reformer” title, however, one might have a problem associating Mother Moon with “activism.” I know I did. However, it was pointed out that whenever someone goes outside of their home and does something that is not common practice at the time, others may find this controversial. Sadie Moon took “actions” to provide for the needy and hungry regardless of her own health or what others might think. This memorial should remind us to do what is right in taking care of others and influencing changes to better social services regardless of the common practices of the day. At times, the Memorial Committee members have felt like activists.
“Sometimes, during the past several years, as the committee strove to conceptualize the memorial, find a sculptor, communicate our purpose, deal with a few unsupportive voices, raise enough funds, arrange for a suitable location, design the patio area, and plan the dedication ceremony, I felt like we, too, were “Facing the Storm.” But the great purpose behind this wonderful “Women’s Social Service Memorial,” to do what no other American community has ever done, honor a whole local tradition of crusading women, drove me and the other committee members forward. I am so proud to have been part of the effort.” ---- Garnette Hallwas
In the search for the centerpiece for the memorial, the Committee carefully reviewed a list of artists which was provided by a friend of the committee. Two talented artists produced examples for our review, one local and one from Peoria. Three committee members traveled to Peoria to see the clay rendition produced by Jaci Willis. We were awestruck with the beauty, strength, and appropriateness of Jaci's clay presentation of a woman from the early 1900's shielding a small child who is holding a cat. Jaci Willis describes “Facing the Storm”: “The costumes are from the 1900's, which was a dramatic time for women's rights. Women were gaining strength in their voice to be heard and their right to vote. Facing the Storm reflects on this impact on women in society and refers to the hardships they had to overcome. Standing against the wind represents the struggle. The woman is protecting the little girl from the force of the wind. Women wore hats, often with flowers on them, and the red rose is the GFWC International flower. The little girl is holding a cat. Cats represent feminine intuition.” In May 2012, we presented Jaci's clay rendition to the club, and the General Club unanimously voted to accept Jaci Willis's “Facing the Storm” as the centerpiece for the memorial. Upon the statue's completion, Jaci wrote: “I found this was an important project personally. I wanted to be one of the few women sculptors who created, poured, and welded a 650 pound bronze with her own two hands. This is my addition to the lineage of women who achieved something great for the next generation of women to realize that anything is possible.”
Today, September 12, 2015, we proudly dedicate the GFWC Macomb Woman's Club McDonough County Women's Social Service Memorial.
This project has been made possible by a great many people over a ten year time period. Dr. Hallwas planted the seed, the Memorial Committee built the roots, the Macomb Woman's Club provided the trunk, the Western Illinois Museum supplied the watering system, but it was the people and businesses within this community who supplied the many branches needed for this memorial to come to fruition. Without the gardens, the pies, the artwork, the positive words of encouragement, beautiful china, the cards, the history, the generous donations, the bricks that pave our patio, the benches to sit and ponder upon, the concrete to hold the weight, this beautiful statue and patio vision would not be the reality it is today.
This monument honors all women active in bettering the lives of those in need; and we hope the monument will teach and lead future women to continue good works and step out of the 'norm' if it means a better tomorrow. The seed that was planted ten years ago, thanks to a caring community and a wonderful committee of eleven ladies I proudly call friends, will grow into a beautiful lasting bronze statue that will grace our City Park for many years to come. The Committee thanks you for your encouragement and support, you have all played a part in the building of this memorial.
Tina Belz
The General Federation of Women's Clubs is an international women's organization dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service. This year we celebrate 125 Years of Federated Service, 1890 - 2015
GFWC Macomb Woman's Club Mission Statement: “The object of this club shall be mutual counsel, assistance in philanthropic and charitable works, unity of action in case of need, and promotion of higher social and moral conditions.” The Woman's Club McDonough County Women's Social Service Memorial Committee, a committee within the GFWC Macomb Woman's Club, began a project to bring attention to the actions of two ladies in Macomb's early history. This project falls within the GFWC Community Improvement Program in that it enhances the relationship between our club and our community. We hope that this memorial will promote higher social and moral attitudes and encourage women to strive to better the lives of others by remembering what others have accomplished in the past.
FACING THE STORM,
the name given the statue by the sculptor, will stand as a lasting tribute to women
active in social services, past, present and future.
DEDICATION
September 12, 2015
A Committee of Ladies, by Tina Belz
Ten years ago, October 2005, Marilyn Pastorelli told our GFWC Macomb Woman's Club about two ladies Dr. John Hallwas spoke about at another club of which she was a member. Dr. Hallwas had been speaking at local women's clubs about Josie Westfall and Rose Jolly, two of Macomb's early female social activists.
These two ladies and their life stories are remarkable in their struggles and accomplishments to better the lives of children, women and animals during the early 1900's, a time when change was needed. Rose Jolly encountered many difficulties including angry husbands, fathers and animal owners while she helped provide asylum or legal counsel for the abused at the hands of the abuser. These were difficult times for all because changes were being made and we all know how difficult it is to bring about changes. Josie Westfall took in two orphaned children and this number continued to grow. The only option for local unclaimed-orphaned children at that time was the “orphan train” where orphans would ride until they were taken-in by someone. Unfortunately, this could be someone secretly in need of a cheap laborer who would work for food and lodging. Known as “Aunt Josie” to the children, she opened the first McDonough County Orphanage, campaigned for donations, worked day and night and helped care and feed over 600 children during her lifetime. Dr. Hallwas asked that Macomb's women organizations discuss these ladies to see if there was sufficient interest to pursue some form of formal recognition for them in our community. Jean Waller, then Club President, made a motion at the General Meeting, November 2, 2005, and the club voted that some sort of recognition needed to be given them.
Nothing much came of the issue, however, several ladies continued to talk about the need of a memorial so that these two ladies' efforts would not be forgotten. One local club had the desire but not the members they felt were needed to raise money for a memorial. Until Dr. Hallwas's talk most of us had not heard of Rose Jolly or Josie Westfall, let alone know of the great changes and sacrifices they made for our community. We know of many of local influential people because their names adorn buildings, parks, streets and the like. But what about these women who were not wealthy but worked hard to take care of those less fortunate. How would their efforts be remembered and celebrated, or be used as an example for others to follow?
Sally Sallee and I were incoming Co-Presidents of the Macomb Woman's Club and I asked her if we should pursue the club building a memorial for Rose and Josie. She was all in. At the September 2008 Board Meeting a local female artist brought one of her small bronze pieces and we discussed feasibility of building a bronze statue and estimated prices. As shown in the Board Minutes, the Board voted to create an investigative committee to determine the feasibility of a “statue-memorial” project.
When Sally and I held our first General Meeting/Luncheon, Oct 2008, six excited members asked to be on the committee with us. The committee of eight ladies began meeting once a month during the club-year October through May. The committee was voted in by the club as a formal committee May 2009. Current members of the Memorial Committee are: Co-Chairmen Tina Belz and Marilyn Pastorelli, Elaine France, Sally Sallee, Garnette Hallwas, Jean Waller, Mary Ann Griffin, and Sharon Lindahl (the fore mentioned are the original 8 from 2008), Vicky Torreson, Sheila Shearer and Sandy Kessler.
One of the early challenges of the committee was to determine the best way to proceed. Should we decide what we want as a memorial and then fund-raise to meet the projected costs or should we fund-raise and see how much we raise before we committing on the breadth of the memorial. For our dream monument the estimated costs were high but felt people would not give if they believed we would not accomplish our goal. Secondly, we did not want the club to be held to a high future cost figure. Time helped us with a decision. Our planned fundraisers were about to begin and we had not locked into a cost figure. We felt we would be able to raise enough to do a nice but small memorial but we would fund-raise and see where it took us. A flurry of fund-raising ideas was always on the table at our meetings, because, after all, we are women who love to entertain and have fun. Throw in a good-cause and we are ready to host a party.
To sell bricks and ask for large donations, we wanted to have a 401C3 tax-deduction status for our donors. We contacted GFWC State and GFWC International but learned their tax status is not available for use by local clubs. When someone mentioned that perhaps we could partner with the Western Illinois Museum, a local non-profit, we were ecstatic. What a perfect fit of similar interests, if they were willing. August 2011, The Museum Board announced the partnership between the club and the museum and has been very helpful to the committee while embracing the role of teaching others about the ladies we have chosen to memorialize.
The committee decided to memorialize additional local female social activists. Many names were coming to us, and we determined that we needed to limit the number of ladies we would memorialize while honoring all women, past, present and future (to show that local social activism is a continuing tradition.) Most of the local women we were considering performed their remarkable acts during the late 1800's through the 1920's. This was during the period of time that women were first stepping out from the home to make differences. Therefore, we felt they were the “pioneers” of female humanitarianism and social activism. We decided to memorialize early pioneering women activists born in the 1800's. The women chosen to be memorialized and pictured on the statue base crusaded in many different ways to help others: Josie Westfall, Rose Jolly, Dr. Elizabeth Miner, Dr. Ruth Tunnicliff, Rebecca Everly, Sadie Moon, Lida Crabb and Clara Bayliss.
Oh yes, I do need to mention we had many discussions over the term “activist”. Many associate the term with militant-activism and politics. Rose Jolly definitely fits the “crusader, social reformer” title, however, one might have a problem associating Mother Moon with “activism.” I know I did. However, it was pointed out that whenever someone goes outside of their home and does something that is not common practice at the time, others may find this controversial. Sadie Moon took “actions” to provide for the needy and hungry regardless of her own health or what others might think. This memorial should remind us to do what is right in taking care of others and influencing changes to better social services regardless of the common practices of the day. At times, the Memorial Committee members have felt like activists.
“Sometimes, during the past several years, as the committee strove to conceptualize the memorial, find a sculptor, communicate our purpose, deal with a few unsupportive voices, raise enough funds, arrange for a suitable location, design the patio area, and plan the dedication ceremony, I felt like we, too, were “Facing the Storm.” But the great purpose behind this wonderful “Women’s Social Service Memorial,” to do what no other American community has ever done, honor a whole local tradition of crusading women, drove me and the other committee members forward. I am so proud to have been part of the effort.” ---- Garnette Hallwas
In the search for the centerpiece for the memorial, the Committee carefully reviewed a list of artists which was provided by a friend of the committee. Two talented artists produced examples for our review, one local and one from Peoria. Three committee members traveled to Peoria to see the clay rendition produced by Jaci Willis. We were awestruck with the beauty, strength, and appropriateness of Jaci's clay presentation of a woman from the early 1900's shielding a small child who is holding a cat. Jaci Willis describes “Facing the Storm”: “The costumes are from the 1900's, which was a dramatic time for women's rights. Women were gaining strength in their voice to be heard and their right to vote. Facing the Storm reflects on this impact on women in society and refers to the hardships they had to overcome. Standing against the wind represents the struggle. The woman is protecting the little girl from the force of the wind. Women wore hats, often with flowers on them, and the red rose is the GFWC International flower. The little girl is holding a cat. Cats represent feminine intuition.” In May 2012, we presented Jaci's clay rendition to the club, and the General Club unanimously voted to accept Jaci Willis's “Facing the Storm” as the centerpiece for the memorial. Upon the statue's completion, Jaci wrote: “I found this was an important project personally. I wanted to be one of the few women sculptors who created, poured, and welded a 650 pound bronze with her own two hands. This is my addition to the lineage of women who achieved something great for the next generation of women to realize that anything is possible.”
Today, September 12, 2015, we proudly dedicate the GFWC Macomb Woman's Club McDonough County Women's Social Service Memorial.
This project has been made possible by a great many people over a ten year time period. Dr. Hallwas planted the seed, the Memorial Committee built the roots, the Macomb Woman's Club provided the trunk, the Western Illinois Museum supplied the watering system, but it was the people and businesses within this community who supplied the many branches needed for this memorial to come to fruition. Without the gardens, the pies, the artwork, the positive words of encouragement, beautiful china, the cards, the history, the generous donations, the bricks that pave our patio, the benches to sit and ponder upon, the concrete to hold the weight, this beautiful statue and patio vision would not be the reality it is today.
This monument honors all women active in bettering the lives of those in need; and we hope the monument will teach and lead future women to continue good works and step out of the 'norm' if it means a better tomorrow. The seed that was planted ten years ago, thanks to a caring community and a wonderful committee of eleven ladies I proudly call friends, will grow into a beautiful lasting bronze statue that will grace our City Park for many years to come. The Committee thanks you for your encouragement and support, you have all played a part in the building of this memorial.
Tina Belz