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History

​​​1983/1985 the first  
Women's Council

ROBERTA GASSMAN Gov. Designee
SARAH HARDER, Chair 
SEN. BARBARA LORMAN, Vice Chair

SEN. JOHN NORQUIST 
REP. MARCIA COGGS 
REP. LOLITA SCHNEIDERS
KAY CLARENBACH
ADA DEER, Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin
SUSAN DUBOIS 
ALMA ROSE GONZALEZ
SUSAN HOBART
TRESA MALONE 
KATHLEEN SODERBLOOM
MARY KAY WAGNER-MALLOY
LORETTA WEBSTER, Oneida Nation of Wisconsin

Executive Director
HANNAH ROSENTHAL

​
Past ​​​Women's Council Members

​1983-Present
Click here for complete list​​ (pdf)

Recommended Viewing

Women's Council's 25th Anniversary Tribute Video

TributeVideoThumbnail.jpg 
Hear about the Council's beginnings and early works from Governors Earl and Doyle and other leading figures in the Women's Council's history. 


Photo (Right): Governor Tony Earl at the signing of the Executive Order creating the WI Women’s Council. From L to Rt:
1. Senator Susan Engeleiter
2. Senator Peggy Rosenzweig
3. Deputy Secretary Eileen Mershart (Department of Revenue)
4. Secretary Doris Hanson (Department of Administration
5. Representative Barb Gronemus
6. Representative Mary Lou Munts
7. Representative Sharon Metz
8. Representative Barb Ulichny
9. Representative Marcia P. Coggs
10. Secretary Linda Reivitz (Department of Health and Social Services)
11. Representative Lolita Schneiders
12. Roberta Gassman (Policy Advisor, Office of the Governor). 
Wisconsin Historical Society, Image 105289. 

Women's Council Programs - 1983 to present


 


Creating a Bi-Partisan Women's Council​

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Today's Wisconsin Women's Council was established by Governor Tony Earl through Executive Order 5, issued February 1, 1983 (pictured above), later codified in statute in 1983 Wisconsin Act 27.  It was preceded by the non-statutory Wisconsin Governor's Commission on the Status of Women, chaired by Katherine (Kay) Clarenbach, created by Governor John Reynolds in 1964 and abolished in 1979.





Historical Documents

A Compilation of Archival Women's Council Documents Including a copy of Governor Earl's Executive Order, "Wisconsin Women's Council - A Brief History: 1983-1997" report; and selected press clippings and program materials (103 pages).  

Gov Earl Remarks on Signing Executive Creating the Womens Council

Wisconsin Governor's Commission on the Status of Women, primarily press clippings, beginning with the Wisconsin Conference on Professional Women (1962), records calling for the first Governor's Conference, announcements on establishing the Commission (1964) and additional topics through June 1968 (245 pages).