About Us
Our Mission
The mission of the Greater Kansas City Women's Political Caucus is to recruit,
train and elect women who support public policies that advance equal rights and
opportunities for women, and to promote participation by women in the political
process.
What We Do:
Our Structure:
GKC/WPC consists of two separate organizations:
The mission of the Greater Kansas City Women's Political Caucus is to recruit,
train and elect women who support public policies that advance equal rights and
opportunities for women, and to promote participation by women in the political
process.
What We Do:
- Get women elected and appointed to public office.
- Screen, endorse and provide financial support to state and local candidates.
- Train potential candidates and campaign volunteers.
- Recruit volunteers to go door-to-door, do mailings, phoning for individual
candidates. - Hold educational forums on WPC legislative issues.
- Provide educational programs on getting involved in the political process.
- Lobby cooperatively with other organizations in Jefferson City and
Topeka.
Our Structure:
GKC/WPC consists of two separate organizations:
- Greater Kansas City Women's Political Caucus (C-4) is the membership
organization. Dues are not tax-deductible and include State & National
Caucus dues. Click here to join - GKC/WPC Endowment and Education Fund (EEF) (C-3). Donations to the
Endowment are tax-deductible.
| GKC/WPC, founded in 1972, is the only women-run political organization in Greater Kansas City. The organization is affiliated with the National Women's Political Caucus in Washington, D.C. and is a descendant of groups who worked to gain women the right to vote. |
A tribute to caucus founder, Doris Quinn by Rosemary Smithson
It is with much sadness that I write this tribute to a long-time friend and activist,
Doris Quinn, who died on May 22, 2003, at the age of 79. Doris was a nationally
known leader in the second wave of the women's movement. As an industrial
editor she was a member of Women In Communications and attended the group's
national convention in 1971. At the meeting she was inspired by a speech given
by Congresswoman Martha Griffiths who announced that a National Women's
Political Caucus was being formed in Washington.
Doris came back home and with her buddy Norma Storms, and convened the first
Missouri state caucus meeting in February 1972. Shortly after, she launched the
GKC Caucus at a meeting at UMKC and served as its first president. Doris herself
ran for political office and in 1974 joined the three "D's" (Doris Quinn, Della
Hadley and Dottie Doll) and took Jefferson City by storm. Doris instilled the
Caucus with the spirit of women helping women. It was her heart cause and she
was the soul of the organization. Doris personally helped hundreds of women
reach their goals. It is clear that one of the reasons the GKC Caucus is alive and
well 31 years later is that its founder was a woman of incredible integrity and
unique people skills. Beneath that halo of white curls and behind those innocent
brown eyes was the spirit of a first-class troublemaker.
Doris and I always joked that we should turn our passing into a fund raising
opportunity. So her friends, Carol Bates and Biddy Hurlbut have done just that.
They have started a Doris Quinn Tribute Fund for the WPC Endowment. Please
pledge in Doris' honor and help keep her passion for women's political equality
well-funded!
It is with much sadness that I write this tribute to a long-time friend and activist,
Doris Quinn, who died on May 22, 2003, at the age of 79. Doris was a nationally
known leader in the second wave of the women's movement. As an industrial
editor she was a member of Women In Communications and attended the group's
national convention in 1971. At the meeting she was inspired by a speech given
by Congresswoman Martha Griffiths who announced that a National Women's
Political Caucus was being formed in Washington.
Doris came back home and with her buddy Norma Storms, and convened the first
Missouri state caucus meeting in February 1972. Shortly after, she launched the
GKC Caucus at a meeting at UMKC and served as its first president. Doris herself
ran for political office and in 1974 joined the three "D's" (Doris Quinn, Della
Hadley and Dottie Doll) and took Jefferson City by storm. Doris instilled the
Caucus with the spirit of women helping women. It was her heart cause and she
was the soul of the organization. Doris personally helped hundreds of women
reach their goals. It is clear that one of the reasons the GKC Caucus is alive and
well 31 years later is that its founder was a woman of incredible integrity and
unique people skills. Beneath that halo of white curls and behind those innocent
brown eyes was the spirit of a first-class troublemaker.
Doris and I always joked that we should turn our passing into a fund raising
opportunity. So her friends, Carol Bates and Biddy Hurlbut have done just that.
They have started a Doris Quinn Tribute Fund for the WPC Endowment. Please
pledge in Doris' honor and help keep her passion for women's political equality
well-funded!
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| All Rights Reserved |
2010 Executive Board
Barbara Womack
President
Serena Hein
KS Vice-President
Chere Chaney
MO Vice-President
Michele Newby
Secretary
Rebecca Richardson
Treasurer
Catriese Johnson
Midtown PAG
Kathy Bray
Northland PAG
Sharon Bryant
South KC PAG
Judy Morgan
MO Legislative Chair
Andrea Flinders
Membership Chair
Linda McNicholas
Program Chair
Jamie Epstein
Young Friends Chair
Lee Smithson Burd
EEF President, Ex officio
Barbara Womack
President
Serena Hein
KS Vice-President
Chere Chaney
MO Vice-President
Michele Newby
Secretary
Rebecca Richardson
Treasurer
Catriese Johnson
Midtown PAG
Kathy Bray
Northland PAG
Sharon Bryant
South KC PAG
Judy Morgan
MO Legislative Chair
Andrea Flinders
Membership Chair
Linda McNicholas
Program Chair
Jamie Epstein
Young Friends Chair
Lee Smithson Burd
EEF President, Ex officio
P.O. Box 10095, Kansas City, Mo. 64171 (816) 531-9595 www.gkcwpc.org info@gkcwpc.org
July 5, 2010
Dear Friends,
As of July 1st the Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus is in compliance
with the endorsement policy of our National Caucus of “Women Only.” The
return of the letter affirming this policy by more than two-thirds of the membership,
female and male members eligible to vote, constituted the necessary bylaws
change needed according to legal counsel. The Missouri State Board President
Peggy Cochran will formally reinstate the Greater Kansas City Women’s Political
Caucus at the State Board Meeting this month. I am also glad to report that more
than half the board chairs elected to remain. We do have positions that remain
open from positions previously not filled. Please contact me for a list of openings if
you might be interested in filling any of these until the board election in December.
Our Vice- Presidents have submitted grants to the Women In Politics Board that
oversees the Education and Endowment Fund for the Caucus. We are seeking
money for serious outreach and membership growth. We also are seeking funds to
start what is long overdue an official history of our organization, Torch Dinner
Awardees, and prominent area women politicians. We wish to develop and
maintain an electronic “Women’s Political Hall of Fame Museum.” We hope to
receive funding to start these exciting projects soon.
I am very glad to report that the Torch Dinner will be celebrated this year
September 30th. Please mark your calendars for this anticipated wonderful event.
Negotiations are ongoing with the location and we will announce that soon. Any of
you that might want to work on Torch this year please contact Torch Chair Judy
Morgan by July 9th at judym691@yahoo.com .
We are presently screening Missouri and Kansas female candidates and hope to
have endorsement recommendations available for a confirmation vote by the
membership at our July 22nd meeting.
Finally thank you for your support and belief in this organization. Membership
continues to be open to all and the Greater Kansas City Women’s Political
Caucus continues its mission of finding and supporting qualified women for public
office in both Missouri and Kansas. How about 50/50 by 2020??!! With the
talent and dedication of the members of this organization that certainly could
become a reality.
Sincerely,
Barb Womack
President
July 5, 2010
Dear Friends,
As of July 1st the Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus is in compliance
with the endorsement policy of our National Caucus of “Women Only.” The
return of the letter affirming this policy by more than two-thirds of the membership,
female and male members eligible to vote, constituted the necessary bylaws
change needed according to legal counsel. The Missouri State Board President
Peggy Cochran will formally reinstate the Greater Kansas City Women’s Political
Caucus at the State Board Meeting this month. I am also glad to report that more
than half the board chairs elected to remain. We do have positions that remain
open from positions previously not filled. Please contact me for a list of openings if
you might be interested in filling any of these until the board election in December.
Our Vice- Presidents have submitted grants to the Women In Politics Board that
oversees the Education and Endowment Fund for the Caucus. We are seeking
money for serious outreach and membership growth. We also are seeking funds to
start what is long overdue an official history of our organization, Torch Dinner
Awardees, and prominent area women politicians. We wish to develop and
maintain an electronic “Women’s Political Hall of Fame Museum.” We hope to
receive funding to start these exciting projects soon.
I am very glad to report that the Torch Dinner will be celebrated this year
September 30th. Please mark your calendars for this anticipated wonderful event.
Negotiations are ongoing with the location and we will announce that soon. Any of
you that might want to work on Torch this year please contact Torch Chair Judy
Morgan by July 9th at judym691@yahoo.com .
We are presently screening Missouri and Kansas female candidates and hope to
have endorsement recommendations available for a confirmation vote by the
membership at our July 22nd meeting.
Finally thank you for your support and belief in this organization. Membership
continues to be open to all and the Greater Kansas City Women’s Political
Caucus continues its mission of finding and supporting qualified women for public
office in both Missouri and Kansas. How about 50/50 by 2020??!! With the
talent and dedication of the members of this organization that certainly could
become a reality.
Sincerely,
Barb Womack
President