Past Luncheons & Events

2022 -- Theme: Providing Healing, Promoting Hope

Open House Speakers: Mel Russell, Dr. Aimee Sisson, Julia Levine, Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, Woodland Community College

2020 -- Theme: Valiant Women of the Vote

Luncheon canceled

2018 -- Theme: Nevertheless She Persisted: Honoring Women Who Fight All Forms of Discrimination Against Women

Speaker: Martha S. West, Professor of Law Emerita, University of California Davis, School of Law

2017 -- Theme: Honoring Trailblazing Women in Labor and Business

Speaker: Janice Labadie, co-owner of Strelitzia Flower Co. 

2016 -- Theme: Working to Form a More Perfect Union: Honoring Women in Public Service and Government

Speaker: Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye, Chief Justice of California 

2015 -- Theme: Weaving the Stories of Women's Lives 

Program: Dramatic presentation by Davis High School drama students on the lives of Bessie Anderson, Alice Carbahal, Frances Sakai, and Tanya Volkers 

2014 -- Theme: Celebrating Women of Character, Courage, and Commitment 

Honorees: Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, Ann Foley Scheuring, Nicole Smith, Paula Lorenzo Tackett 

2013 -- Theme: Women Inspiring Innovation Through Imagination: Celebrating Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics 

Speaker: Linda P.B. Katehi, UC Davis Chancellor 

2012 -- Theme: Celebrating 25 Years of Yolo County Women's History Month! 

Honorary Chair and Speaker: Helen M. Thomson, retired California Assemblymember and Yolo County Supervisor, 2nd District 

2011 -- In lieu of hosting an annual luncheon, the YCWHM Committee took this year to focus on becoming an independent nonprofit organization. 

2010 -- Theme: Writing Women Back into History 

Honorary Chair and Speaker: Ramona Prieto, Assistant Commissioner, California Highway Patrol 

2009 -- Theme: Women Taking the Lead to Save our Planet 

Honorary Chair: Mary Ann Warmerdam, Director, CA Dept. of Pesticide Regulation 

Honorees: Georgeanne Brennan, Ann Brice, Debra Chase, Annie Main, Judy Moores, Christine Shewmaker 

2008 -- Theme: Women's Art, Women's Vision 

Honorary Chair: Donna Billick, artist and educator 

Program: Virtual art presentation and live performances by Yolo County women artists 

2007 -- Theme: Generations of Women Moving History Forward 

Honorary Chair: Mary Stephens DeWall, Yolo County Librarian 

Speaker: Shipley Walters, local historian.  Dramatic presentation featuring eight women in Yolo County history 

2006 -- Theme: Women: Builders of Communities and Dreams 

Honorary Chair: Debbie Davis, Editor and Assistant Publisher, Davis Enterprise 

Honorees: Ann Evans, Joan Hogan, Joan Sublett, Lucinda Talkington, Helen Voss, Natalie Wormeli 

Legacy awards: Grace Hiddleson, Mary Lynne Ishikawa 

2005 -- Theme: Women Change America 

Honorary Chair: Dr. Angela Fairchilds, Dean, Woodland Community College 

Speaker: Mariko Yamada, Yolo County Supervisor, District 4 

2004 -- Theme: Women Inspiring Hope and Possibility 

Honorary Chair: Betsy Marchand, President, CA State Reclamation Board and Tribal Gaming Commissioner 

Honorees: Charlotte Beal, Barbara Boehler, Pattie Fong, Mary Schiedt, Katie Villegas, Myrtle Zentner 

Legacy awards: Jean Harvey, Margaret McDowell 

2003 -- Theme: Women Pioneering the Future 

Honorary Chair: Helen Thomson, Yolo County Supervisor, District 2 

Speaker: Dorothy Stevens Enomoto, former Deputy Director, CA Dept. of Corrections 

2002 -- Theme: Women Sustaining the American Spirit 

Honorary Chair: Rose Conroy, City of Davis Fire Chief 

Honorees: Pat Daugherty, Peggy Epstein, Debbie Kaake, Dorothy Laben, Donna Neu, Twyla Thompson 

Legacy award: Emilia Quirarte Guerrero 

2001 -- Theme: Celebrating Women of Courage and Vision 

Honorary Chair: Lois Wolk, Yolo County Supervisor, District 2 

Honorees: Penny Farrington, Nadine Noelting, Evelyn Praul, Kathy Trott, Pat Williams 

Legacy awards: Kathleen Barsotti, Grace Ohlson 

2000 -- Theme: An Extraordinary Century for Women... Now Imagine the Future 

Honorary Chair: Cindy Tuttle, former Mayor of West Sacramento 

Speaker: Dr. Marian Cleeves Diamond 

1999 -- Theme: Women Putting our Stamp on Yolo County 

Honorary Chair: Dona Mast, Yolo County Agri-Business Woman of the Year (1998) 

Honorees: Jean Jordan, Robin Kulakow, Juanita Lopez, Paula Lorenzo, Mary Stephens, Marya Welch 

1998 -- Theme: Living the Legacy of Women's Rights 

Honorary Chair: Hon. Donna Petre, Yolo Superior Court Judge 

Speaker: Martha West, Professor of Gender Law, UC Davis 

1997 -- Theme: A Fine and Long Tradition of Community Leadership 

Honorary Chair: Lynnel Pollock, Yolo County Supervisor, District 5 

Honorees: Joan Callaway, Theresa Foster, Dorothy Montgomery, Joan Moses, Sheila Murray 

1996 -- Theme: Program not available 

Quilt show and reception. Luncheon sponsored by Beta Sigma Phi, League of Women Voters of Woodland, and Elizabeth Z. Zemmels, Yolo County Superintendent of Schools 

Speaker: Ruth Rosen, UC Davis professor.  "What would a family-friendly society look like?" 

1995 -- Theme: Promises to Keep 

Honorees: 15 outstanding high school girls: Stephanie Boegeman, Jennifer Campos, Min-Huey Chen, Chelsea Clough, Jennifer Denny, Erika Felix, Sierra Kent, Jennifer Morrison, Deena Nicol, Ami Hasmukhlal Patel, Erin Quinn, Brenda Shaw, Hoang Thi My Truong, Karina Urbano, Cindyd Vieu 

Speaker: Delaine Eastin, California Superintendent of Public Instruction 

1994 -- Theme: In Every Generation Action Frees Our Dreams 

Quilt show and five brown bag lunches in the Woodland Public Library along with video presentations which highlighted the contributions women have made to culture.  Additionally, community women's groups sponsored various luncheons and discussions.

Speaker: Assemblywoman Dede Alpert (D-San Diego) 

Honoree: Dr. Pamela Marrone, President of Novo Nordisk Enotech, Inc., and recipient of Women in Leadership Award 

1993 -- Theme: Growing up as a Minority Woman in Yolo County 

Speakers: Christina Mendez, Marilyn Hayes 

1992 -- Theme: Women’s History -- A Patchwork of Many Lives 

Quilt show and reception with Congressman Vic Fazio and Assemblyman Tom Hannigan. Davis City Councilmember Susie Boyd and Davis Mayor Lois Wolk hosted a reception honoring women employees of Davis and Woodland. Woodland City Councilmember Elaine Timothy hosted a luncheon for women employees of Woodland. 

1991 -- Theme: Nurturing Tradition, Fostering Change 

Quilt show and opening gala. “Women Helping Youth Awards” hosted by Woodland Business and Professional Women. 

1990 -- Theme: Courageous Voices Echoing in our Lives 

Honorees: Mary Gordon, Kathrine Merwin, Jane Reiff, Evelyn Rominger, Twyla Thompson, Isabelle Wilson 

Quilt show and opening gala honoring Yolo Superior Court Judge Donna Petre. Salad luncheon hosted by Yolo County Farm Bureau and California Women for Agriculture on March 20 at the Farm Bureau headquarters. 

1989 -- Theme: Heritage of Strength and Vision 

Events included three Wednesday lunchtime brown bag events, a quilt show and an opening gala with Sally Roesch Wagner appearing as "Elizabeth Cady Stanton." On March 29, a luncheon was held at the Yolo County Farm Bureau hosted by the Farm Bureau and California Women for Agriculture. 

1988 -- Theme: Reclaiming the Past...Rewriting the Future 

First annual Women’s History Month luncheon in Yolo County held at the Yolo County Farm Bureau office in Woodland. The luncheon was part of 18 events celebrating women in history including a gala and quilt show. 

Organizer: Helen Thomson, Yolo County Supervisor, District 2 

1987 -- Theme: Generations of Courage, Compassion, and Conviction 

Supervisor Helen Thomson organized the first Yolo County Women’s History Month luncheon. The event was a success and it was decided that the luncheon would become an annual event.