Louisville Equal Rights Association Minute book, 1889-1895

Minutes of

Louisville Woman Suffrage Association

MRS. HERBERT W. MENGEL, PRESIDENT 1910 SOUTH THIRD STREET TELEPHONE, S. 1702

LOUISVILLE, KY.

1890-1915.

1 Louisville Equal Rights Association

Constitution and By-Laws

Constitution Art I.- Name- This organization shall be known as the Louisville Equal Rights Association

Art 2- Object- Its object shall be to advance the industrial, educational, and legal rights of women, and to obtain the franchise for them.

Art. 3- Membership- Any person may become a member of this association by signing the Constitution, and paying the sum of one dollar annually, of which twenty-five-cents per member shall be sent by local Treasurer to the Treasurer of the Kentucky Equal Rights Association. {changed to 35 cts by State Con. and endorsed by L.E.R.A.}

Such persons to be entitled to attendance upon business meetings and participation in its deliberations; and any person may become an associate member by paying one dollar annually.

No distinction on account of sex shall be made in the membership

Art. 4- Organization- The officers of this Association shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer, all of whom shall be Ex officio members of the Executive Committee, and shall be elected annually

3 Art.5- Ammendments- This Constitution may be ammended at any business meeting by a two thirds vote of those present, notice having been given of the intended action at the previous meeting.

By-Laws

Art 1. - Of Meetings- The stated meetings of this Association shall be held the first Saturday afternoon of every month at 3:30.

No delay shall be suffered in opening these meetings.

The duration of session not to exceed one and one-half hours.

Special meetings may be called by the President and any three members.

{at the meeting Jan 8th 1892 the members constituting a quorum was changed from 5 to 3.} Five members shall constitute a quorum, and three members a quorum of the Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee, whose chairman shall be eleceted by the Association, shall consist of the general officers and chairman of standing committees

Art 2.- Methods of Work- To forward the objective of this Association, the following lines of work were adopted. - 1. Bible Study, to set forth the true position of Woman 2. Political Study

5 3. Literature and Press Work 4. National Enrollment 5. Petitions and Legislative Work 6. Eductaional Opportunities for Women. 7. Industrial Opportunities for Women. 8. Hygiene and Dress

The general officers shall constitute a committee on Programme, this Programme to be definitely arranged for each meeting

Art. 4- Order of Procedure - Scripture Reading and Prayer, Roll Call, Reading of Minutes, Secretary's Report, Treasurer's Report, Report of Committees, Literary Excercises Unfinished Business New Business.

Art 5- Book of Reference- Neely's Parliamentary Practice.

11 Louisville Equal Rights Association.

Minutes

On Friday, March 1st, 1889, a meeting was called at the residence of Mrs. B. F. Avery, 318 W. Broadway for the purpose of organizing a Woman's Suffrage, or Equal Rights Association, auxiliary to the State Association.

At four .P.M. the meeting was called to order, with Mrs. Leech as chairman, and Mrs. Huber temporary Secretary.

The chairman opened the meeting with reading an outline of a constitution after which, the first business considered was an election of officers for a term of three months, resulting in the choice of Mrs. M.A. Watts for President, Mrs. C. A. Leech, Vice-President, Mrs. M.W.Huber Secretary, and Mrs. M. F. Rogers, Treasurer.

The President began her duties of office by reading a letter written by Mrs. Eugenia B. Farmer, Corresponding Secretary of the Kentucky Equal Rights Asso. in which certain matters pertaining to organization, and to the relations of an auxilary to the state Association were defined by that officer.

To the following points mentioned therein, the President called attention. -Each local member pays one dollar, and the local treasurer pays twentyfive-cents of this to the Treasurer of State {State Convention of 1894 Changed the due from local, from 20 to .35 cts at same time Louisville E,R,A, reduced membership due to .50 cts. a year.}