By the selection committee of Ann Molison, Chair; Faith Finnemore; Ruth Hamilton and Shirley Karas. This article was printed in The Voter in April 1995.
Julia Faltinson Anderson is the recipient of the Third Annual LWV of Ames Carrie Chapman Catt Award. She will be honored at the Annual Dinner and Meeting on April 20, 1995.
Julia has been recognized time and time again because of her commitment to the welfare of children, women, and families. The majority of her life has been lived in Ames as a Professor at ISU, where she is now Professor Emeritus. She has earned worldwide recognition for her global humanitarian efforts. She has lived and worked in Yugoslavia, Taiwan, the Philippines, Nyasaland, Austria, Thailand, and Yucatan.
Julia often works “behind the scenes" for her church, community, state, or nation. In accepting the Iowa Women's Hall of Fame recognition in August 1993, she said that she has done the things she has been interested in, thought were important, and needed to be done.
She embodies the strength, courage, and wisdom of Carrie Chapman Catt. Congratulation, Julia! During the Award Presentation the following was said: We're here this evening to recognize one of our own League Members, Julia Faltinson Anderson, long regarded by those of us who have known her as a woman who is highly competent and goal directed and someone who involves herself in a variety of projects with contagious enthusiasm. Through her activities and leadership, she has made and continues to make many many contributions to the Ames community, to Iowa State University, to the State of Iowa as well as contributions nationally and internationally. Some of these include:
• Member of the Iowa Women's Hall of Fame
• Counselor to hundreds of 4-H club members in Iowa and even more students at Iowa State University
• First Woman on the Iowa State Banking Board •Service on Mary Greeley Medical Center Board, Mary Greeley Medical Center Foundation, Ames Fair Housing Commission, Story Housing House, Ames Parks and Recreation Commission, social Concerns Chair of St. Andrews Lutheran Church, President of St. Andrews Congregation.
• Co-Director of American Home Economics Association pilot project to integrate family planning with education in family health and nutrition in developing countries
• Member, Board of Governors ISU Foundation, ISU Memorial Union Board of Directors, Board of Green Hills Residence Association
• Member, U.S. National Commission for UNESCO
• Member, Iowa Division Board of Directors, United Nations Association; on the planning committee and on the program for the Iowa UNA Association Role of Women Conference in May, 1990
• First Chair of the Women in Development Committee of the Iowa-Yucatan Partners of the Americas
• Director of work camps in Austria, Malawi, Yugoslavia Director of ISU Peace Corps Programs and Director of International Nutrition Workshop for all African students supported by USAID and FAO Chair, International Relations, Iowa Division of American Association of University Women
Those who worked closely with Mrs. Anderson over the years remember a wonderful colleague who was often innovative and always practical in accomplishing the task at hand. They report, for example, that during her extension days she was quite adept at driving all kinds of vehicles. If you are impressed with “the mail must go through” and “the show must go on, these are understatement about the manner in which Julia operated.
If you've ever worked on a project with Julia, you know it has to be organized to the nth degree. Some of those organizational skills were carried over from her World War II experience in the WAVES, and she can regale you with stories of how to reorganize the military to be more efficient.
In earlier days some of her recreational time was spent camping. Her idea of a great vacation was camping in the Grand Tetons with exotic equipment—a small tent, a few dishes, an iron skillet and plenty of time for reading and hiking.
Another major interest both in the “old days” and more recently in folk dancing. She participated in the International Folk Festival several years ago and attended workshops at Camp Iduhape. She is a graceful dancer and a good teacher.
We all have phobias about something—for some it is snakes, others mice, Etc. etc. With Julia it's flies. If you're a fly, stay out of he way. When she retired there was great concern that she would run out of fly swatters—with that in mind her colleagues presented her with quite an assortment—such creativity. And she accepted these gifts with grace and appreciation.
Her friends and colleagues see her, not only as a goal oriented, organized and highly competent problem solver but as someone who doesn't take herself too seriously, has great sense of humor and someone who takes time and knows how to listen to and act on the concerns of others.
Julia Faltinson Anderson is most deserving of this Carrie Chapman Catt Award.
