On Wednesday July 14, 2021 at the LWVDE Advocacy Corps end-of-season celebration, long-time League members and volunteer lobbyists Sandy Spence and Joann Hasse were honored by the LWVDE and presented with a letter of recognition by the Delaware House of Representatives.
Ms. Spence received the League's Mary Ann Sorden Stuart Advocacy Award, and Ms. Hasse received the League's Mabel Lloyd Ridgely Advocacy Award. Both were also presented a letter of tribute signed by House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf and Chief Clerk Richard Puffer along with the resolution sponsors.
Congratulations to Sandy and Joann for this well-deserved recognition!
Joanne Hasse
Mabel Lloyd Ridgely Advocacy Award
The namesake of this award - Mabel Lloyd Ridgely – is strikingly similar to our honoree Joann Hasse of New Castle County.
Ms Ridgely's suffrage work included a term as president of the Delaware Equal Suffrage Association. Along with others, she interviewed fifty-two legislators and other "influential men" regarding their stance on women's suffrage. She made a statement to the State Democratic Committee on January 22, 1920, and won over their support. Ms Ridgely served as the first president of the Delaware Chapter of the League of Women Voters.
Mary Ann Sorden Stuart Advocacy Award
Sandra Spence
Again, the namesake of this award – Mary Ann Sorden Stuart – is strikingly similar to our honoree Sandy Spence of Sussex County.
Ms Stuart was a fast and persistent talker, reportedly able to talk 10 hours a day at the rate of 200 words a minute. She was the Delaware vice president of the National Woman Suffrage Association.
She testified in favor of woman’s suffrage before the U.S. Judiciary Committee in 1878; and three years later, along with Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, addressed the Delaware General Assembly in an effort to have the Delaware Constitution changed to grant the right to vote to women.
DE House Tribute Letter for Sandy Spence
House members presented this letter of tribute to Ms. Spence personally at the Advocacy Corps end-of-season celebration:
DE House Tribute Letter for Joann Hasse
House members presented this letter of tribute to Ms. Hasse personally at the Advocacy Corps end-of-season celebration:
