Substitute for House Resolution No. 251.

            A resolution to recognize and honor the eleven women who served as delegates to the 1961-1962 Michigan Constitutional Convention.

            Whereas, One hundred forty-four delegates gathered at Lansing to re-write Michigan's Constitution; and

            Whereas, Of the one hundred forty-four delegates, only eleven were women; and

            Whereas, The women were Vera Andrus, Ruth Gibson Butler, Anne M. Conklin, Katherine Moore Cushman, Marjorie Frances McGowan, Daisy Elizabeth Elliott, Adelaide Julia Hart, Lillian Hatcher, Dorothy Leonard Judd, Ella Demmink Koeze, and Ann Elizabeth Donnelly; and

            Whereas, The women, five Democrats and six Republicans, were elected from districts across the state; and

            Whereas, Identified in the official record by occupation, they included: five homemakers, four teachers, two attorneys, one realtor, and one union representative; and

            Whereas, All had distinguished themselves with extensive participation in civic and political organizations and the leadership positions they attained within those groups; and

            Whereas, Women were appointed to eleven of the fourteen convention committees, but as was typical of the times, none was appointed to chair a committee, and only three served as vice “chairmen"; and

            Whereas, After the convention, several of the women delegates served in other political offices, such as the state legislature and gubernatorial commissions, or received statewide recognition from notable organizations; and

            Whereas, The success of the "Con-Con Eleven" encouraged more women to run for statewide public office, making women a greater and more powerful voice in the governance of our state; and

            Whereas, 2013 marks the 50th anniversary of Michigan’s current state constitution, approved by voters in 1963; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body recognize and honor the eleven women who served as delegates to the 1961-1962 Michigan Constitutional Convention. We offer this expression of our gratitude and admiration, in honor and in memory, to the eleven women of the 1961-1962 Constitutional Convention; and, be it further

            Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the only surviving member of the "Con-Con Eleven," Daisy Elizabeth Elliott, as evidence of our highest esteem.