Past Events
Sioux Falls Area SDANW Celebrates Women's Equality Day on August 23, 2025
An enthusiastic crowd gathered at Lyon Park near downtown Sioux Falls, Saturday August 23rd to honor the suffragists who secured women's right to vote 105 years ago. Tere Engebretson, Chair of SDANW, kicked off the celebration by sharing Mayor Paul TenHanken's "Women's Equality Day Proclamation."
"We know we are three days early," said Engebretson, "but it's never too early to remember and recognize the contributions women make to our democracy."
Observing that violent thought, word, and deed have become commonplace in public discourse, SDANW Board Member Cathy Piersol urged participants to believe in themselves and assert themselves. "Whatever your position, this is not the time for weakness. Women have always understood that human needs fostered the Rule of Law." Piersol said.Casey Murschel, Chair of South Dakotans for Healthy Families, a Sponsoring SDANW Organization, traced the 70-year history of the effort to secure voting rights for women.Over those many years, women believed that once they achieved suffrage, all of their issues with inequality would be solved. Sadly, that was not the case. Women's rights are still being achieved, challenged, litigated and even denied. Murschel advised participants to "Come together. Don't let differences get in the way of working with one another. Like the fight for suffrage, overcoming today's challenges is a marathon, not a sprint."
In addition to featured speakers, SDANW recognized present and past women elected officials with "Votes for Women" sashes. On hand were Sen. Liz Larson, District 10, former Representatives Linda Barker, Linda Duba, Casey Murschel, and Elaine Roberts and 2026 legislative hopefuls Sonja Mentzer and Erinn Williams.
Gail Swenson, League of Women Voters, described South Dakota women’s long struggle to win the right to vote.
Women's March
January 18, 2025
It was a cold day, and the march was moved indoors. CK Van Dam worked the SDANW membership booth. There were many participants at this event.
Women's Equality Day
August 24, 2024
We gathered at Lyons Park in Sioux Falls,
and celebrated 104 years of women having voting rights in America.
Individuals and reps from local women’s organizations gathered to mark the 104th anniversary of the 19th Amendment – Women’s Right to Vote!
2024 SDANW Spring Fundraiser
Thank you to all who staffed, donated, and purchased treasures from SDANW’s rummage sale. Special thanks to Gayleen Riedemann for offering the use of her home, to Cyndi Olson for chairing the committee, to Connie Byrne-Olson for arranging the post-sale donations, and to Common Grounds, which although not a sponsoring organization, encouraged donations and arranged to have them dropped off at the Riedmann’s in time for the sale.
Thank you to those who joined us in Pierre for Women 4 Women Day on 2/8/24.
If you are not yet a member, please join us!
State Capitol Building, Pierre, SD