FEATURE
The National Votes for Women Trail marker in Dunedin. From left, City of Dunedin Commissioner Maureen Freaney, Vice Mayor Jeff Gow, Commissioner Deborah Kynes, Mayor Julie Ward Bujalski and Commissioner John Tornga in front of the marker.
ENGAGEMENT
Celebrating Women
Cities reinforce their commitment to female residents through recognition by Kelli Gemmer Florida League of Cities
E
arlier this year, Florida cities joined communities across the nation in reaffirming their commitment to women’s rights. Several Florida cities celebrated women throughout March by recognizing historic achievements within their communities and among female residents who have helped advance and shape the cities over the years.
DUNEDIN MARKS HISTORIC SITE
The City of Dunedin partnered with the General Federation of Women’s Clubs North Pinellas Woman’s Club, the William G. Pomeroy Foundation and the National Collaborative for Women’s History Sites
to launch the first marker in Florida on the National Votes for Women Trail commemorating the history of women’s suffrage. The Trail is a project of the NCWHS that identifies and highlights sites across the country that were integral to the suffrage movement and beyond the passage of the 19th Amendment. More than 2,000
sites are accessible on a mobile-friendly website, ncwhs.org/votes-for-women-trail, that is searchable by location, suffragist, ethnicity and other criteria. The marker in Dunedin is a tribute to suffrage leader Elizabeth Skinner. A resident of Dunedin, Skinner was a state organizer for the women's suffrage effort in Florida. The marker was placed at the former site of Library Hall where Skinner hosted suffrage meetings and Florida Federation of Women’s Club meetings. In March, the city hosted a dedication ceremony attended by members of the community, including Skinner’s family who still live in the area. “We couldn’t be more proud to be the first Florida city to honor the women who fought for the right to vote,” said Mayor Julie Ward Bujalski . “For generations, Dunedin has had strong women leaders. Today, all three charter officials are women as well as three of five members of our commission, including the mayor.”
City of Brooksville female employees and women in the community attended the City Council meeting where March 8 was proclaimed International Women’s Day.
44 QUALITY CITIES | SECOND QUARTER 2021
EVENTS AND PROCLAMATIONS
Several cities celebrated women with events and proclamations for Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day. The City of Brooksville issued a proclamation designating March 8 as International Women’s Day. The Brooksville City Council invited all female employees and women in the community to attend and be recognized at the March council meeting. The Largo City Commission celebrated women with a proclamation accepted by the City of Largo’s 2021 Women’s History Month honoree, Largo Police Major Ann Starling, the first female major in the Largo Police Department.
City of Largo Police Major Ann Starling with Vice Mayor James Robinson.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF CITY OF BROOKSVILLE (BOTTOM LEFT) AND CITY OF LARGO (BOTTOM RIGHT)
PHOTOS COURTESY OF CITY OF DUNEDIN
QC
