Rep. Annette Glenn, along with other women elected to public office in Midland County, will host an event Monday marking the historic certification of the 19^th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which gave women the right to vote. The amendment was certified on Aug. 26, 1920, and on Nov. 2^nd of that year, millions of American women voted in elections for the first time.

“This historic change has improved American government and society – for men and women – in ways that couldn’t have been imagined 99 years ago,” Glenn said. “Mindful of what it must have felt like for our grandmothers and great grandmothers to exercise for the first time the most fundamental freedom and responsibility of voting, I’m proud to host an event at the Midland County Historical Society celebrating the history of this monumental reform.”

The free public event – from 7:00-8:30 p.m. Monday at the Midland County Historical Society, 3417 West Main Street in Midland – will feature a panel discussion focused on the leadership roles women play in state and local government.

Among those scheduled to join Rep. Glenn will be county Commissioner Jeanette Snyder, county Treasurer Cathy Lunsford, Village of Sanford President Dolores Porte, and Larkin Township Supervisor Maria Sandow.

Emcees for the evening will be Sharon Mortensen, president and CEO of the Midland Area Community Foundation, and Jenee Velasquez, executive director of The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation.

If time allows, there will be a question-and-answer segment at the end of the event. Question may be submitted in advance to [email protected].

Rep. Glenn is the first woman in history to represent the city of Midland in the state House of Representatives, and is among a record-high 53 women currently serving in the Legislature.

“People of good will recognize the obvious reality that no one person or organization can claim to speak for all women, or for the diversity of views held by women in our community,” Glenn said. “Instead, this event will provide a wonderful opportunity to recognize and celebrate the fact that, even when we disagree, women now help lead and shape public policy in our community, state, and nation.”