Wednesday, June 8, 2005 Event

Read about our Lillian's List Celebration Breakfasts!

Wednesday, June 8,2005, at the home of Betsy Buford in Raleigh. This is where it all started - the first Lillian's List event was in September, 1997, at Betsy Buford's home. Special Guest Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, who had become in 1996 the first woman elected to the Council of State, said, "Tonight we are making history."

And, indeed, we were. Since then, the number of Democratic women in the General Assembly has more than doubled. In 1997, there were 14 Democratic women and 15 Republican women in the legislature. Lillian's List has now helped elect 20 new Democratic women legislators, bringing the total number of Democratic women to 29. Total number of women in the legislature is now 39, a record high.

Please join us as we celebrate our past successes and launch our 2006 campaign.

Beginning with the inaugural event in Raleigh at the home of Betsy Buford in September, 1997, Lillian's List has held events across the state of North Carolina. This event drew more than 200 guests - an unusual combination of women who had been active in the unsuccessful ERA (Equal Rights Amendment) campaign as well as many younger women. A sense of excitement and anticipation filled the air. "We are making history tonight", declared Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, welcoming the crowd to the launching of this new organization dedicated to electing pro-choice Democratic women.

Lillian's List fundraising events attract new members as well as current members, and provide enthusiastic forums for members to meet the new legislative candidates recommended by Lillian's List as well as incumbent Democratic women and men legislators. Many other elected officials and candidates also attend.

Since 1997, events have been held at the homes of Betsy Buford of Raleigh, Secretary of Cultural Resources Libba Evans in Winston Salem, Kay Edwards in Greensboro, Patsy Kinsey in Charlotte, Kathy Taft in Greenville and Figure Eight Island, Mimi Cecil in Asheville, Jeanette Hyde in Raleigh, Crandall and Erskine Bowles in Charlotte, and Kay Cashion in Greensboro.

In September, 2001, for the first time, Lillian's List sponsored the reception at the 2001 Democratic Women State Convention at Sunset Beach, which drew more than 200 people. The popular Lillian's List reception preceded the Saturday night dinner, where North Carolina First Lady Mary Easley addressed the audience. Lillian's List again hosted the reception at the 2002 state convention in Greenville.

For information about these or any events, contact Lillian's List at:
(919) 834-9008
kim@lillianslist.org
304 East Jones Street
Raleigh, NC 27601