Initial Calendar of Events Released for State's Centennial Celebration of the 19th Amendment

Charleston, W. Va. – The statewide Coordinating Committee for the West Virginia Centennial Celebration of the 19th Amendment is proud to release its calendar and announce an inaugural event scheduled for next week in Charleston.

The year-long commemoration will kick off on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020, with an “EqualiTea” reception sponsored by AARP-West Virginia, ahead of the Governor’s State of the State Address. The reception will take place from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Culture Center, and will include women from various organizations dressed in period clothing. The committee has also invited legislators and representatives from the legislature to attend.

First Lady Cathy Justice has tentatively accepted the invitation to attend the reception to unveil the centennial logo adopted by the Coordinating Committee at approximately 5:45 p.m.

In addition to the reception, the group has also released its first calendar of events, including those which begin in January.

Led by Secretary of State Mac Warner, the Coordinating Committee includes a team of community, business, education, political, and civic leaders from throughout the state working together to develop a list of events to celebrate the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage. Throughout 2020, members of the Committee will also work to share the history and the role West Virginia women played in the passage of the 19th Amendment.

The full calendar can be found here and will be updated throughout the year as new events are added. Other January events include several showings of a documentary about the suffrage movement at the Underground Theater in Charleston, a lecture at Marshall University, and Women's and Girls’ Day at the Legislature.

The Committee will frequently update the calendar through a link on the Secretary of State’s 19th Amendment page, located here. Events will also be shared on social media through a special Facebook page for the Committee titled "West Virginia Centennial Celebration of the 19th Amendment."

Warner formed the West Virginia Centennial Celebration of the 19th Amendment to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which gave women the right to vote.

“Our committee has worked hard over the past few months to collect and distribute information related to women’s suffrage in West Virginia,” Warner said. “Now that the New Year has arrived, we’re excited to bring these events to the public. We are also encouraging others to get their communities involved in recognizing such an important moment in our history.”

Demonstrating the non-partisan nature of the celebration, State Republican Party Chairwoman Melody Potter and State Democratic Party Chairwoman Belinda Biafore are the honorary co-chairs of the Committee. Representatives from the Mountain Party, as well as the Libertarian Party, are also members. Click here for a full list of Committee members.

Those interested in the commemoration can receive updates on the latest information about the Committee, events throughout the state, and the latest news from the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office by sending a request to communications@wvsos.gov.

Media inquiries or requests to add events to the calendar should be directed to Deputy Press Secretary Jennifer Gardner at jgardner@wvsos.gov.