INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Members of the Democratic Women’s Club of Indian River County, friends and guests gathered at Marsh Landing Restaurant in Fellsmere on May 24, to celebrate National Democratic Women’s Month.
The guest speaker for the luncheon was Richard Votapka, local historian, who gave a presentation on the history of Fellsmere and its role in the women’s suffrage movement.
In 2015, the National Federation of Democratic Women designated the month of May as “National Democratic Women’s Month.” The idea of a time set aside to honor the achievements of Democratic women was initially conceived by Eleanor Roosevelt in 1940. At that time, the designated date was May 24.
May 24 also marks the date, 60 years ago, that the Democratic Women’s Club of Florida (DWCF) had its official beginning, with 18 active members. The DWCF has since grown to encompass nine regions, with nearly 50 local clubs and almost 3,000 members.
Fellsmere was chosen as the location for the luncheon due to its historical significance in women’s rights. In 1915, Zena Drier, a Fellsmere resident, became the first woman in the state of Florida, and south of the Mason-Dixon Line, to vote in a municipal election. Guest speaker Richard Votapka discussed the circumstances that led to the decision to allow women to vote.
After the luncheon, several of the attendees gathered at the Florida Heritage site marker commemorating the election. The marker is located on the west side of North Broadway Street and is titled “Birthplace for Equal Suffrage for Women in Florida.” It was a fitting end to the celebration, and an opportunity to reflect on how the accomplishments of Zena Drier and of her generation paved the way for women of today.