Democratic Women of Wake County

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Membership is open to all Democrats who want to improve government and our way of life in North Carolina.

August Luncheon - August 28 - Council of State Candidates Will Speak

Democratic Women of Wake County will meet Thursday, August 28, 2008 at the NC State University Club, 4200 Hillsborough Street. The program will feature Democrats Wayne Goodwin, candidate for Insurance Commissioner, Ronnie Ansley, candidate for Agriculture Commissioner, and Mary Fant Donnan, candidate for Labor Commissioner. The buffet lunch lines open at 11:30 am with the program starting at 12:00 Noon. The cost of the luncheon is $13.00.

For reservations email Nancy Looper at info@dwwc.net or call Martha Farmer at 782-1272. The deadline for reservations is Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at 10:00 am.

Making Change Happen: Meet the Grassroots Leaders Bringing Change to the Triangle - September 9

Democratic Women of Wake County will host a post-convention celebration honoring our Democratic Presidential Nominee, Barack Obama. Our special guests will be Paulette Hill, organizer of Triangle for Obama and Lorrin Freeman, Wake County Chair of Women for Obama and all the 2008 Democratic National Convention delegates.

Please join us for the Happy Hour event at the Humble Pie restaurant in downtown Raleigh on September 9, 2008 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm. Appetizers will be provided and there will be a cash bar. Cost is $10, payable at the door.

Please RSVP to Nancy Looper at info@dwwc.net or call Martha Farmer at 782-1272 by Friday, September 5, 2008.

DWWC's Blue Store

Information about the Blue Store is being revised. Check back soon for new instructions for ordering items. Thank you for your patience.

Monthly Luncheon Calendar

The DWWC monthly luncheon meetings are held on the last Thursday of the month from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at the NC State University Club located at 4200 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC.

Reservations can be made by sending an email to Nancy Looper at info@dwwc.net or by calling Martha Farmer at 782-1272.

2008 Luncheon schedule:

  • January 31
  • February 28
  • March 27
  • No regular meeting - JJ Breakfast
  • May 29
  • June 12 (evening meeting)
  • No meeting scheduled for July
  • August 14 (evening meeting)
  • August 28
  • September 25
  • October 30
  • November 20
  • No meeting scheduled for December

2008 MABEL CLAIRE MADDREY AWARD WINNER – MARY ALICE SIMMONS

The Mabel Claire Maddrey Award for Distinguished Service was established in 1997 by Democratic Women of Wake County to honor club members who have consistently provided outstanding service to the club and the Democratic Party over the years. Named in honor of Mabel Claire Maddrey, former DWWC President and founder of the JJ Breakfast, the award recognizes members who are routinely supportive without expectation of recognition or reward.

The 2008 Mabel Claire Maddrey Award was presented on June 12, 2008 to Mary Alice Simmons at an evening meeting of DWWC. Mary Alice has been a strong supporter of the Democratic Party for more than 50 years and has been consistent with award criteria.

She has served for years on the Board of Democratic Women of Wake County in several different positions including:
• assistant treasurer for several terms
• assistant to the Chair for Volunteers
• member of the Nominating Committee
• member of JJ Breakfast Committees including ticket sales, registration and publicity
• liaison for the Wake County Democratic Party
• delegate to state and national Democratic Women conventions

Mary Alice has also been active in the Wake County Democratic Party as president of the Senior Democrats and as a dedicated precinct chair for years.

In addition to her service to the Democratic Party on all levels, she volunteered with the guardian ad litum program and currently is a member of the Department of Health and Human Services Community Advisory Committee on Nursing Homes. Her professional life was also characterized by service to the public. She worked with the Department of Administration in the Employee Suggestion Unit helping to save state monies, with Terry Sanford’s U.S. Senate Office in Raleigh helping constituents with problems and with the State Bar Association as assistant to the Executive Director.

Always enthusiastic and involved, she has plenty of ideas, has supported Democratic candidates through the years with time, energy and money and is devoted to the Democratic Party – a true “Yellow Dog Democrat.” She follows in the footsteps of her mother, the late Mary Alice Simmons, Sr., who received this same award in 2002.

Executive Board Meetings Calendar

DWWC Executive Board meetings are held on the first Monday of the month from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm at the Goodwin House. The Board does not meet in December.

2008 Meeting Schedule

  • January 7, 2008
  • February 4, 2008
  • March 3, 2008
  • April 7, 2008
  • May 5, 2008
  • June 2, 2008
  • July 14, 2008
  • August 4, 2008
  • September 1, 2008
  • October 6, 2008
  • November 3, 2008
  • No meeting scheduled for December

Mission Statement

1. To maintain and promote growth of the Democratic Party in the county, state and nation.
2. To encourage and stimulate women voters to a greater interest in government and in party activities.
3. To encourage women to participate fully in all areas of the political process.
4. To support legislation in the General Assembly and the U.S. Congress that conforms to the principles of the Democratic Party; and
5. To provide information to policy makers concerning qualified women available for elective and appointive positions.

Board of Directors 2007 - 2009

Officers

  • President: Pat Hawkins
  • 1st VP, Membership: Linda Gunter
  • 2nd VP, Arrangements: Mary Starkey
  • 3rd VP, Programs: Joanne Casey
  • Treasurer: Grace Ann Chirico
  • Assistant Treasurer: Judy Austin
  • Recording Secretary: Margie Maddox
  • Assistant Recording Secretary: Rosemarie Downie
  • Corresponding Secretary: Greer Beaty
  • Historian: Penny Faulkner
  • Immediate Past President: Betsy Watson

Committees & Liaisons

  • Awards/Recognition: Rachel Eagles
  • Bylaws: Juanita Bryant
  • Chaplain: Ann Howe
  • Chaplain, Associate: Wanda Schrader
  • Communications: Martha Farmer, Nancy Looper
  • Hospitality: Ellen Taylor
  • Issues: Barbara Ann Hughes
  • JJ Breakfast 2008: Christy Terrell
  • Minority Outreach: Matty Lazo-Chadderton
  • NCDP Liaison: Sallie Leslie
  • Newsletter: June Brotherton
  • Nominating: Julia Lee
  • Parliamentarian: Juanita Bryant
  • Publicity: Janine Zane
  • Teen Dems Liaison: Susan Oller
  • Volunteers: Carolyn Honeycutt
  • WCDP Liaison: Mary Alice Simmons
  • Website: Glenn Looper

Membership Application

Please click on the attachment below to download our membership application. The application is in Adobe Acrobat PDF format.

Wake Democratic Woman - the Newsletter of DWWC

The August issue of Wake Democratic Woman - the Newsletter of Democratic Women of Wake County is now available.

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the newsletter.

Submit articles and comments to newsletter@dwwc.net.

Past issues are available in the DWWC Newsletter Archive below.

DWWC Newsletter Archive

All past issues of Wake Democratic Woman published since February 2007 are available here.

DWWC Newsletter Archive

All issues of Wake Democratic Woman published since August 2005 are archived here.