42 MAY 2020 By Rachael Bouley This year marks the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote. A century later, the tireless dedication and determination of the women who fought for voting rights lives on. One local author is helping to shed light on the struggle. Jana Bommersbach is a journalist, author and speaker with AZ Speaks, a popular program of Arizona Humanities. She has researched and reported on many topics over the years, but one subject that has always stuck with her is women’s suffrage. That interest led Bommersbach to create a presentation dedicated to the 19th Amendment, called “Hyenas in Petticoats.” Although her upcoming appearances were postponed, Bommersbach looks forward to sharing her message in the future and encouraging women to embrace a deeper appreciation for their right to vote. “Many in this country don’t even know the story of what happened or how long it took, how much they worked, how much they suffered,” Bommersbach said. “It took suffragettes almost 75 years to get the vote from when they started.” Despite facing incredible opposition, American women persevered in their attempts. Arizona became the 10th state to give women the right to vote in 1912. Eight years later, that right was finally guaranteed for women around the country. “When we voted as a state on suffrage for women on the ballot in November 1912, 68 percent of male voters approved it. Every single one of the counties passed it,” Bommersbach said. While 90 percent of eligible women were registered to vote following the monumental suffrage, that number has dropped since then. Bommersbach said that currently, only 62 percent of women in Arizona are registered to vote, and only about 50 percent of them do. “Many women do not understand how important it was, what fight we had to go through, and how we shouldn’t take our vote for granted,” Bommersbach said. She is passionate about highlighting the huge sacrifices women made on their journey to vote, and she hopes modern-day women remember this and secure the most from their rights. “I hope they have respect for how strong these women were and their persistence. They just kept on and didn’t give up,” Bommersbach said. Bommersbach said that during the women’s suffrage movement, suffragists submitted 480 petitions to state legislatures to ask for the right to vote and initiated 227 campaigns to get state political parties to put women’s suffrage in their platforms. There were 56 state referendum campaigns, with Arizona being one of them. Many of the suffragettes faced relentless ridicule, suffered verbal and physical abuse as they took to the streets and even went to jail for speaking their minds. Considering those remarkable efforts, Bommersbach is eager to see more women voting, not only in this anniversary year but beyond. “I’d like to see every eligible woman in Arizona register to vote.” 19th Amendment: 100 years of women’s right to vote Early 1900s suffragette posters against women’s right to vote were meant to warn men about the ‘dangers’ of women’s rights. Jana Bommersbach IMAGES: JANA BOMMERSBACH By Mallory Gleich As parents and kids are finally getting used to the idea of working and “attending” school from home, families are searching for activities to keep themselves busy – and sane. Luckily, parents don’t have to look far, as local libraries offer families a wealth of resources for learning, experimenting and reading new books. The Scottsdale Public Library has a virtual storytime program called Virtual Little Libros, where kids can join in with local librarians as they read and act out scenes from books. “We are Facebook streaming storytimes and Books to Boogie programming so kiddos can see their favorite library staff and enjoy the fun without being in a library building,” Library Director Kira Peters said. There are links to other read-along book sites. There’s also a section called “Learn Something New,” where kids can follow the links to sites like Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems. Kids can watch each episode and create their photos, then share them on social media. There are various podcasts, YouTube channels, and educational resources for both kids and parents. The library’s call center is open to help people with general questions. Another feature is the Ask a Librarian On-Line, where guests can input a question to a librarian. Folks can also take advantage of the drive-through window service, where physical library materials can be picked up while maintaining an appropriate distance. At the beginning of April, the library had 2,322 items put on hold, and 1,973 cars came through the drive-through windows to pick up. “People from all demographics are working hard at staying home to stop the spread of the Coronavirus,” Peters said. “People are looking for more than toilet paper. They are looking for an escape, looking for entertainment, looking for news; they need fresh reading material for their kids; they are looking for their library, and Scottsdale Public is here and ready to safely serve during this community challenge of COVID-19.” At the Phoenix Public Library website, kids and parents can find online storytimes, educational resources and Kanopy Kids, which is a wealth of fun and instructional videos that kids can watch. For teens, there is the Student HQ, where kids can keep up with current events, read biographies or find resources for literature. There’s also a section dedicated to learning a new language, getting ready for college and Flipster, where kids can read the most recent editions of various magazines. For more: scottsdalelibrary.org and phoenixpubliclibrary.org. Local libraries offer activities You Could Be Eligible To Receive: Bill Gordon & Associates, a nationwide practice, represents clients before the Social Security Administration. Member of the TX & NM Bar Associations. Mail: 1420 NW St Washington D.C. Office: Broward County Florida. Services may be provided by associated attorneys licensed in other states. Call for a free consultation (602) 883-8702 Steady monthly income depending on your paid in amount A lump sum payment of benefits owed from back-pay Annual cost of living adjustments Need Help With Your Start The Process Today! 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