AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN
FREMONT, CA
Back to Welcome Page
We Wowed 'Em at the Newark Days Parade - and Won First Prize!
Locate your pointer in the middle of the picture. Click to enlarge it.
Use the web page back button to return the picture to its normal size.
 |
| The whole dazzling group of AAUW, NOW and LWV marchers and car that brought so many cheers from the parade goers. Mary Lynn (left) dazzled the audience with her majorette style, rhythm and friendliness. |
And we marched away with the
FIRST PLACE TROPHY IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS CATEGORY!
The women carried signs that heralded the upcoming Readers’ Theater presentation dramatizing the difficult journey to woman’s suffrage in our state. The presentation will take place on October 15 at the Fremont Main Library at 2:30 p.m. and Saturday’s marchers encouraged the parade watchers lining the streets to attend.
Many of the costumes sported by the “suffragists of 1911” were borrowed from the Ardenwood’s Patterson House collection. And Janice Longo made sashes emblazoned with the words "Votes for Women." Alice Alfaro, Twig editor, twirled an AAUW, LWV and NOW banner as she proudly led the group along Cedar and Newark Boulevard. Her sister Alex, 12, marched behind her.
Mary Lynn Pelican captured the hearts of watchers with her drum majorette style, rhythmic dancing and great showmanship. She hugged audience members she knew and chatted with the crowd along the route.
One of the most striking aspects of the suffragist parade was an old 1930 Dodge vehicle driven by owner Phil Swift with the help of AAUW member Steve Cho. The ancient car was decorated with bunting and suffragist signs just like the car that carried suffragists all through the Bay Area to bring their message in 1911. That car so long ago was called the Blue Liner.
|
|
| Phil Swift was nice enough to contribute his 1930 Dodge to lend authenticity to the suffragist march of 1911. Here he is with AAUW member Steve Cho holding up Votes for Women signs. |
Along with the parade, Newark stages a week-long celebration for citizens and children that includes a carnival, stage show, arts, crafts and trade fair, petting zoo and pony rides.
We marchers for women sang a suffragist song from the 1911 campaign to the tune of: "Oh Dear, What Can the Matter Be?" And we shouted: “Votes for Women: Now!” This elicited waves of cheers from the audience.
Liz Poe reminded everyone that California was the sixth state to get the vote after Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Idaho and Washington. She encouraged everyone on the sidelines to come to our Reader’s Theater.
What made the walk particularly fun was the fact that the Washington High School band was behind us enabling our group to swing and sway throughout the parade.
Members of the three sponsoring agencies -- AAUW, NOW, and LWV -- would have been proud of our contribution to a great cause and a great parade.
Check out the ALBUM of FUN PICTURES taken by Mary Lynn Pelican.
