Republican Women of Anne Arundel County Maryland Contact Us  
A History of the Republican Women of Anne Arundel County


 

 

 

 

 

 

Membership In RWAAC is open to any woman believing in the principles of the Republican Party and intending generally to support its candidates. Associate membership has been extended to Republican men. Membership ( except for associate members) in RWAAC automatically confers membership in the Maryland Federation of Republican Women, MFRW, and to the NFRW.

Objectives of the club remained the same as when it was founded:

  • to broaden the understanding of Republican aims in government,
  • to increase the number of voters registered in the Republican Party, and
  • to unite efforts along party lines in order to elect Republican candidates.
History of RWAAC

The Republican Women of Anne Arundel County, RWAAC, originally called the Federation of Republican Women of Anne Arundel County, FRWAAC, was formed about the same time as the National Federation of Republican Women, NFRW, in 1937. Edna Payne of Annapolis, was one of the founders of both organizations.

FRWAAC attracted members from various parts of the county and formed units in Severna Park, Pasadena, and Crofton. These units later became independent clubs and members of the MFRW.

During the 1940s, voter registration in Anne Arundel County was approximately five to one in favor of the Democrats and many voters were reluctant to register as Republicans. As a consequence, membership dwindled and the club became dormant.

In 1952, Kay Monvid, of Harwood, an Eisenhower delegate to the Republican National Convention, reactivated the club at which time the name Republican Women of Anne Arundel County was adopted. The club was small in the 1952 under the first president, Laura Trieste. In 1959 a meeting was held whose the main purpose was to officially promote the Republican Party in Anne Arundel County and to provide leadership and effective organization. This meeting provided the impetus for growth, and in the 1960s, under the leadership of President Ida Woods, the club’s membership reached 150. Following the Nixon – Agnew years, membership declined somewhat, but the resurgence of strength and pride in the Republican Party was once again reflected in the increase in membership by the 1990s. The current ratio of Democrats to Republicans is 1.1 to 1.

RWAAC Members & Political Office

A number of club members have achieved success in the political field. These include:

  • Virginia Fullman, who in 1960, became the first female candidate from Anne Arundel County to run for the House of delegates.
  • In 1972, Marjorie Holt was elected to the House of Representatives, where she served for 14 years.
  • Elizabeth S. Smith served a number of terms in the House of Delegates of the Maryland General Assembly.
  • In 1994 Janet Greenip was elected to the House of Delegates, and she was elected to the Maryland Senate in 2002.
  • In 1990 Diane R. Evans was elected to the County Council and became its Chairman.
  • In 1990, Mary Rose was elected Clerk of the Court of Anne Arundel County.
  • Terri De Graff and Ruth Gray were both elected to the city Council of Annapolis, with Terri later running as a candidate for mayor of this city of Annapolis.
  • Joan Beck served as president of the MFRW and was elected to the Republican State Central Committee of Anne Arundel County
  • Laura Green and Helen Fister were elected to the Republican State Central Committee of Anne Arundel County and both Laura and Helen served as chairman.
  • Merri Mullaney was elected to both the Republican State Central committee of Anne Arundel County, and to the same office for the city of Annapolis.
  • Joan Dennis was elected to the Republican State Central committee of Anne Arundel County.
  • Annette Madigan Carr was elected Corresponding Secretary of MFRW.
  • Joan Beck and Karen Cook were candidates for the House of Delegates.
  • Cathleen Vitale was appointed to the County Council in 2000 and became chairman of the Council in 2002.
Honors received by RWAAC members
  • Joyce Lyons Terhes was elected Chairman of the Maryland state Republican Party.
  • In 1988, Helen Fister was honored by the Republican State Central Committee as “Republican Woman of the Year” and in 1992 she and her husband John were cited as “Volunteers of the Year” by this same group.
  • In 1992, Laura Green was presented with the Thomas Stone Award by the Maryland state Republican Party.
  • In 1993 Lee Phillips was appointed by the Governor to the board of elections supervisors of Anne Arundel County and was reappointed in 1997. She was honored in 1995 with the “Republican Woman of the Year” award by the County Central Committee.
  • Grace Kelly was a chaplain of RWAAC, chairperson of the Mamie Eisenhower Library Project, And she was honored in 1997 by the County Central Committee as “Republican Woman of the Year” for more than 40 years of volunteer service.
  • Marianne Pelura was named “Republican Woman of the Year” by the County central committee for 2000.
Club’s Own Honors
  • In 1989 Betty Ann Pahr received RWAAC’s first Distinguished Service Award.
  • Edie Hustvedt received RWAAC’s Distinguished Service Award in 1991.
Members & Community Involvement

Many members are active individually in community service areas and the club as a whole supports a variety of interests. For such activities the club received Gold Achievement Awards from the NFRW in 1985, 1987, 1993, and honorable mention in 1997.

Through the efforts of the dedicated board and the members, the club was honored with the Diamond Award, presented to only 10 clubs in the country by the NFRW and 1999.

The activities of RWAAC members include:

  • voter registration drives;
  • support of Republican candidates by assisting in campaign activities, hosting receptions, manning offices, preparing the mailings, poll watching and financial support;
  • hosting a fashion show/luncheon each spring since 1966. Then gubernatorial candidate Spiro Agnew was auctioneer at the first luncheon;
  • Supporting the Domestic Violence Shelter with monthly financial contributions as well as twice yearly “showers.” The club also furnished two rooms at the shelter.
  • assisting as needed at the headquarters of the Maryland state Republican Party, stuffing envelopes, etc.;
  • volunteering at the White House during Republican administrations;
  • participating in the Mamie Eisenhower Library Project by donating books to the Anne Arundel County Public Library each year;
  • volunteering at Eastport Elementary School in response to President Bush’s “No Child Left Behind” Program;
  • legislation lobbying;
  • attending semiannual meetings of the MFRW and the biennial meetings of the NFRW;
  • contributing to the Salvation Army of Annapolis;
  • individual members have been naming Eastport Elementary School as recipient of grocery store credits to be used for school supplies;
  • supporting the annual Anne Arundel County Central Committee Lincoln Day Dinners;
  • taking trips to sites of cultural or historic importance;
  • visiting the General Assembly when it is in session, and meeting with Republican members from our County delegation;
  • hosting a breakfast for Republican legislators at the beginning of the legislative session.
In past years, RWAAC supported the Annapolis Opera, Helping Hand, Senior Citizens Association, Anne Arundel County Fair and the Paca House Restoration.

Other past accomplishments include:

  • publication of a bicentennial cookbook in 1976 under the direction of Roberta Smith.
  • recipient of White House Honors in 1967 during the Johnson administration for the club’s cleanup efforts in Annapolis, and in Anne Arundel County.
  • recipient of the Governor’s Award for Public Service presented to Francie Stone and Betty Ann Pahr in 1967.
  • initiation of the voters’ registration booth at the Anne Arundel County fair, and in the Annapolis Mall.
  • assistance in helping to find and staff the biennial convention of the NFRW in Baltimore in 1989.
  • sponsoring a reception for First Lady Nancy Reagan in 1980.
  • sponsored and distributed a “Fact” report on the graduated income tax as proposed by then Governor Agnew ( Gov. Agnew disagreed with the report and sent a messenger to silence the club. The club continued with its efforts to inform the public.)
  • campaigned in support of charter government and the election of the first Republican County Executive and Councilman
  • participation in the “Clean Up Annapolis” project. ( Members served on the Mayor’s Committee for a Clean and Beautiful Annapolis through the administrations of mayors Griscom, Moyer, Apostol, and Hillman.) This project, helped with the revitalization of Annapolis, as it stands today.
  • recipient of MFRW’s Best Newspaper Award in 1993.
  • recipient of MFRW’s Best Newspaper Award in 2005
  • recipient of MFRW’s Community Service Award in 2005
  • recipient of MFRW’s Maryland Shield Award numerous years.
The club’s oldest member, Suffragette Edna Payne died in 1991 at the age of 100. The garden at the NFRW headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia is dedicated to her.

At the time of her death, Grace Kelly had the longest continuous membership in the club – more than 40 years. Since Grace Kelly’s death, Betty Ann Pahr now has the longest continuous membership with more than 44 years in the club.

Fund Raisers

The major fund raiser for the club is the annual fashion show and luncheon held in April. Fashions are presented by leading fashion houses, and members and elected officials serve as models. A jewelry raffle, a 50-50 raffle, and a silent auction, round out the event. This luncheon provides a great opportunity to meet and mingle with other Republicans, and generates funds that the club uses for its community service projects, and in supporting Republican candidates.

Meetings

RWAAC meetings are held on the morning of the second Wednesday of the month from September through June. Dinner meetings are held several times in the fall and in the spring. A Christmas/Membership Luncheon is a feature of the December meeting. An outdoor picnic is the focal pont of the June meeting. Many meetings feature elected officials and candidates who bring their perspective to the members. Visitors are welcomed to the club’s meetings and are invited to join members for a quick lunch after the morning meetings.

The club remains firm in its commitment to the principles of the Republican Party.

Past Presidents

The following women have served as president of RWAAC from 1952 through 2005:

Laura Triest; Chris Weinrich; Betty Taussig; Ida Wood, Bim Fisher; Betty Moore; Shirley Manson; Bim Fisher; Dede Knox; Mary Rose; Betty Caulk; Helen Fister; Rachael Peabody; Helen Fister; Marilyn Stachelczyk; Joan Gray, Dorothy Gwinn; Merri Mullaney; Frances Brennan; Merri Mullaney; Marianne Pelura; Marti Fridrich; Mary Alter

Written by Betty Ann Pahr and edited by Jane Fanning & Lee Phillips in 1993
Edited by Betty Ann Pahr & Mary Alter in 2005
Posted July 2005

Contact Us at: info@rwaac.com

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