AAUW Women’s Equity Celebration
August 28, 2021
First United Methodist Church, Bunnell, FL

AAUW St. Augustine Branch co-president Karen Hayes and secretary Cathie Altman attended the celebration of Women’s Equality Day 2021 and the 101st anniversary celebration of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, hosted by AAUW Flagler branch in Bunnell, FL.

The branch presented an extremely interesting and informative program with speakers including the female mayors of Bunnell and Flagler Beach and Flagler County judge Andrea Totten.   The branch was also honoring the successful completion of its years long effort to enter an early local women’s activist, Alice Scott Abbott (1856-1920), into the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame in Tallahassee, FL.  Many branch members created period suffragette dress which they wore to publicize its nomination of Alice Abbott and her unique contributions to women’s suffrage.

The Flagler branch was supported in its efforts by the Flagler County Historical Society, and the two groups formed a strong alliance in their efforts to promote the nomination of Alice Scott Abbott.   The final selection of Ms. Abbott was made by the governor earlier this year, and the plaque honoring her selection was presented to the AAUW Flagler branch co-president Martha Butler and Flagler County Historical Society director, Ed Sharkovits.  In addition, a United States flag that hung over the nation’s capitol in honor of Alice Abbott’s induction was also presented to Flagler AAUW.

The program concluded with a lovely lunch served in the social room of this historic church.  AAUW Florida President Patricia DeWitt was in attendance and expressed her appreciation for this excellent program.