♪ HELLO, I'M BERYL DAKERS.

WELCOME TO SISTERHOOD SOUTH CAROLINA SUFFRAGIST MOVING FORWARD.

SOUTH CAROLINA ETV AND PUBLIC RADIO ARE OBSERVING THE CENTENNIAL MARKING, THE PASSAGE OF THE 19TH AMENDMENT.

WITH A SERIES OF SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEGUN AND WILL CONTINUE TO UNFOLD THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR.

BECAUSE THEIR EFFORTS ARE OFTEN UNHERALDED, WE ARE RECOGNIZING THE ROLES SOUTH CAROLINIANS PLAYED IN THIS HISTORIC MOVEMENT.

HIGHLIGHTING THE EFFORTS OF THREE SETS OF SISTERS, THE GRIMKES, THE ROLLIN SISTERS AND THE POLLITZERS - - ALONG WITH THEIR CONTEMPORARIES WHO WERE ALL INSTRUMENTAL IN THE STRUGGLE FROM THE 1830S UNTIL THE 1920S.

WE HOPE YOU WILL LOOK FOR THESE CONTINUING STORIES.

TONIGHT, HOWEVER, OUR DISCUSSION HAS A MORE CONTEMPORARY BENT.

WHAT IS THE LEGACY OF THE PASSAGE OF THE 19TH AMENDMENT?

THIS IS NOT JUST THE CELEBRATION OF HOW FAR WE'VE COME, BUT A CANDID LOOK AT WHERE WE STAND TODAY AND WHERE WE NEED TO GO FROM HERE.

JOINING US FOR THIS DISCUSSION, SOCIALLY DISTANCED OF COURSE, WE WELCOME LAUREN HARPER, PUBLIC AFFAIRS STRATEGIST AND CEO OF CITYBRIGHT.

KELLER BARON, VETERAN ACTIVIST AND FORMER PRESIDENT AND BOARD MEMBER OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS.

ANN WARNER CEO, OF WREN THE WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND EMPOWERMENT NETWORK.

AND ATTORNEY AND COLUMBIA CITY COUNCIL WOMAN, THE HONORABLE TAMIKA ISSAC DEVINE AND DOCTOR LILY FILLER, AN OB/GYN AND CHAIR OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOLOCAUST COMMISSION.

ALSO, I THINK PRESIDENT OF THE JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

WE HAVE ALSO ASSEMBLED A PANEL OF STAKEHOLDERS VIA WEBEX TO JOIN OUR CONVERSATION.

WE THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING PART IN THIS DISCUSSION.

100 YEARS AGO, CONSTITUTIONALLY, WOMEN WERE GRANTED THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

BUT THAT WAS A BENCHMARK, NOT THE END OF THE FIGHT.

OUR THELISHA EADY SETS THE STAGE FOR US.

LET'S WATCH.

ON AUGUST 18, 1920, THE 19TH, AMENDMENT WAS RATIFIED BY CONGRESS, ALLOWING WOMEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

THIS HISTORIC MOMENT WAS PART OF ALMOST A CENTURY LONG FIGHT FOR WOMEN SUFFRAGISTS ACROSS COUNTRY.

THROUGH CONVENTIONS, PETITIONS, CLUBS AND PARADES, A MOVEMENT WAS BORN.

BUT WITHIN THAT MOVEMENT, THERE WERE STRUGGLES.

ESPECIALLY WHEN IT CAME TO RACE.

IN SOUTH CAROLINA, ONE GROUP OF SISTERS WERE NOT ONLY FIGHTING FOR SUFFRAGE, BUT THEY WERE ALSO STRONG ABOLITIONISTS.

THE GRIMKES WERE ONE OF THREE GROUPS OF SISTERS INFLUENTIAL IN LEADING THE FIGHT BUT WERE MOSTLY UNKNOWN.

FOLLOWING THE GRIMKES, THE ROLLINS SISTERS INFLUENCED PUBLIC POLICY DURING THE CONSTRUCTION RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE STATE CAPITAL.

AND THE POLLITZER SISTERS CONTINUE TO BREAK BARRIERS AND EVENTUALLY HELPED GET THE AMENDMENT RATIFIED.

BUT IN SOUTH CAROLINA, IT WAS NOT RATIFIED UNTIL 50 YEARS LATER.

BUT THEN TOOK AN ADDITIONAL FOUR YEARS TO GET IT ADDED TO THE STATE LAW BOOKS.

SO, WHERE ARE WE NOW?

SINCE THE PASSAGE OF THE 19TH AMENDMENT, WOMEN FROM MANY WALKS OF LIFE HAVE SHAPED SOCIETY FROM LOCAL OFFICES TO GOVERNMENT MANSIONS AND POSSIBLY THE WHITE HOUSE.

WOMEN ARE VOTING AND RUNNING FOR OFFICES.

BUT MUCH LIKE THE SUFFRAGIST MOVEMENT, STRUGGLES PERSIST.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S BEGIN WHERE THAT VIDEO LEFT OFF.

WITH WHAT ELSE BUT THE FIGHT FOR EQUAL PAY.

AND OF COURSE TAKING A LOOK AT VOTING.

NOW, I DO WANT TO REMIND THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY BE JOINING US VIA THE LIVE BROADCAST, IF YOU'D LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR DISCUSSION, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO USE THE FACEBOOK CHAT.

OUR WEBEX FOLKS ARE THERE, OUR STUDIO GUESTS ARE READY.

SO LET'S GO.

I WANT TO START WITH A VERY GENERIC QUESTION, WHY IS VOTING CENTRAL TO THE MYRIAD ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS TODAY?

I THINK I WILL START WITH YOU.

THANK YOU, VOTING IS THE WAY WE USE OUR VOICE.

IT IS THE MOST BASIC MECHANISM WE HAVE FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS DEMOCRACY.

AND IT IS INCREDIBLE THAT IT TOOK SO MANY YEARS AND DECADES OF STRUGGLE BY WOMEN, BY AFRICAN-AMERICAN PEOPLE, BY LOTS OF DISENFRANCHISED PEOPLE TO REALIZE THAT RIGHT.

IT'S SOMETHING WE ARE STILL WORKING ON TODAY.

WE HAVEN'T QUITE ACHIEVED FULL AND EQUAL ACCESS TO THE VOTE.

THERE ARE STILL BARRIERS WE NEED TO WORK ON.

AND IT REALLY IS THE ENTRY POINT TO PARTICIPATING IN OUR DEMOCRACY, BUT IT'S NOT THE END POINT.

BECAUSE AFTER WE VOTE, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO USE OUR VOICE TO HOLD THE PEOPLE WHO REPRESENT US ACCOUNTABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW WHAT WE WANT, NEED AND EXPECT FROM OUR REPRESENTATIVE OFFICIALS AND TO INSIST THEY ARE THERE TO REPRESENT US.

IT'S FOUNDATIONAL AND IT'S ASPIRATIONAL AND IT'S SOMETHING WE CONTINUE TO STRIVE FOR.

I'M CURIOUS, IS IT THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

SOME OF US HAVE HAD IT FOR THE PAST 100 YEARS.

OTHERS HAVE NOT.

BUT WAS IT NOT THE MAGIC ELIXIR WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE?

I DON'T THINK IT WAS TO EVERYONE.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE EACH ELECTION ENSURES THAT OUR POLICIES REFLECT THE COMMUNITY AND OUR VALUES.

SO WE HAVE SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS COMING UP, WHO ARE WE GOING TO VOTE FOR THAT WILL REFLECT HOW WE THINK SCHOOL BOARDS AND STUDENTS OUGHT TO BE TREATED?

I'M GOING TO ASK COUNCILWOMAN DEVINE BECAUSE YOU HAVE HELD OFFICE FOR OVER A DECADE NOW.

18 YEARS.

ALMOST 2 DECADES.

THEN WHY IS IT THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR WOMEN TO BE ON THE BALLOT?

IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR WOMEN TO BE ON THE BALLOT NUMBER ONE IS WE BRING A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE TO THE ROOMS WHERE DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE.

SO DIVERSITY IS VERY IMPORTANT ON EVERY LEVEL.

IF YOU HAVE WOMEN ON THE BALLOT, THE LIKELIHOOD YOU'LL HAVE MORE WOMEN SERVING IS INCREASED AND THEN OF COURSE WE KNOW THAT WHEN YOU HAVE WOMEN IN THOSE POSITIONS TO MAKE POLICY DECISIONS, YOU HAVE POLICIES THAT REFLECT POLICIES THAT SUPPORT WOMEN AND FAMILIES AND EQUALITY.

I THINK THAT HAVING MORE WOMEN ON THE BALLOT, AND WE ARE SEEING IT GETTING MORE AND MORE.

BUT HAVING MORE WOMEN ON THE BALLOT I THINK IS BEING TALKED ABOUT THAT VOTING IS THE ENTRY POINT.

HAVING MORE WOMEN ON THE BALLOT AND IN ELECTED OFFICE HELPS US REALLY BE PART OF THE TABLE THAT IS MAKING POLICIES THAT AFFECT OUR FAMILIES AND STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITIES.

LAUREN, DO WE SEE THIS INCREASING NUMBER?

I THINK WE HAVE WHAT?

I'M NOT SURE THE PERCENTAGE OF LEGISLATORS THAT ARE NOW WOMEN.

BUT IT'S THE HIGHEST NUMBER WE'VE EVER HAD.

YET, DO WE SEE THEM BEING AS EFFECTIVE AS WE WOULD WISH OR IS IT NECESSARY THAT WE KEEP PUSHING FOR PARITY?

FOR SAY 50 PERCENT?

ABSOLUTELY.

WE ALWAYS HAVE TO KEEP PUSHING FOR MORE AND BETTER FOR WOMEN, FOR BLACK PEOPLE, FOR BLACK WOMEN ACROSS THE STATE.

OUR SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE HAS FOUR WOMEN IN THE SENATE, RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS RIDICULOUS.

WE HAVE ONE OF THE LOWEST REPRESENTATIONS OF WOMEN IN OUR SENATE IN THE COUNTRY.

WHICH IS ABSURD.

WE NEED TO DO BETTER AT MAKING SURE THAT WOMEN KNOW THEY CAN RUN FOR OFFICE.

THERE ARE PROGRAMS RIGHT NOW, NOT ONLY ENCOURAGING WOMEN TO RUN BUT GIVING THEM THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED TO RUN FOR OFFICE AND KNOW THAT THEY CAN BE BOLD AND COURAGEOUS.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE AS QUALIFIED AS THEY THINK THEY ARE.

QUALIFICATION IS AT THE BARE MINIMUM FOR THESE DAYS, FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO RUN FOR OFFICE BECAUSE WE HAVE EVERYBODY RUNNING.

WE WANT TO SAY HEY, IF YOU THINK YOU ARE CLOSE TO THE ISSUES, THAT MEANS YOU'RE CLOSE TO THE SOLUTIONS.

IF YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE WELL.

IF YOU THINK YOU KNOW A SOLUTION YOU CAN BRING TO MAKE SURE LIKE MISS DEVINE WAS SAYING, THE POLICIES THAT WE WANT TO SEE IN OUR LEGISLATURES AND OUR STATE HOUSES AND OUR CITY AND COUNTY COUNCILS, THEN YOU SHOULD RUN.

WE NEED TO BE BETTER ABOUT ENCOURAGING PEOPLE AND SUPPORTING THEM IN THEIR EFFORTS LIKE THAT.

LET'S EXPLORE THE ISSUE OF QUALIFICATIONS, A LITTLE.

THAT'S A TOUCHY ISSUE SOMETIMES.

YOU DON'T WANT PEOPLE WHO ARE UNINFORMED AND YET, YOU DO WANT PEOPLE WHO COME FROM THE BROAD SPECTRUM OF SOCIETY.

SO HOW DO WE DEAL WITH THAT IN A WAY THAT WE ARE NOT FORCED WITH POTENTIALLY PUTTING PEOPLE IN WHO ARE GOING TO FIND PROBLEMS AND NOT BE AS EFFECTIVE AS WE WANT THEM TO BE?

ABSOLUTELY.

A PERFECT EXAMPLE IS THAT OUR TICKET RIGHT NOW FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT IS ONE WHERE THERE'S NOT ANY IVY LEAGUE RUNNING.

WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A MASTERS OR YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A JURIS DOCTOR TO BE A LAWYER TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

OUR REPRESENTATION IN THE STATE HOUSE IS LARGELY MADE UP OF LAWYERS BUT THAT MEANS THEY REPRESENT INTEREST THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM REGULAR PEOPLE LIKE TEACHERS AND PHARMACISTS AND PEOPLE ACROSS OUR STATE.

I'M NOT SAYING YOU SHOULD BE UNINFORMED LIKE YOU MENTIONED BUT WE NEED TO GET RID OF ALL THESE, I NEED TO HAVE A THIS AND THAT AND THESE TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING THAT AS LONG AS YOU KNOW WHAT PEOPLE CARE ABOUT, YOU KNOW WHAT PEOPLE ARE EXCITED ABOUT, YOU KNOW WHAT PEOPLE ARE BEING AFFECTED BY, PARTICULARLY IN COVID-19.

IF YOU KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOR AND THE PEOPLE AT YOUR CHURCH AND THE PEOPLE DOWN THE STREET FROM YOU ARE DEALING WITH AN ISSUE AND YOU KNOW THERE'S A SOLUTION FOR THOSE ISSUES, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO RUN FOR OFFICE AND NO YOU DON'T HAVE THESE LETTERS BEHIND YOUR NAME TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

BERYL, I WOULD JUMP INTO THAT AND ALSO SAY A THING ABOUT IT IS FOR ANY ELECTORATE, WE NEED TO BE INFORMED ABOUT THE CANDIDATES AND EDUCATED ABOUT THE CANDIDATES.

SO I THINK, WHEN YOU HAVE FOLKS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A CERTAIN PEDIGREE TO RUN.

YOU JUST HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES AND BE WILLING TO WORK AND BE THE VOICE FOR THE PEOPLE.

I THINK AS AN ELECTORATE, AS WE LOOK AT CANDIDATES, AS WE VET OUR CANDIDATES AND SO OFTEN IN THIS COUNTRY, WE'VE GOTTEN SO PARTISAN.

IF WE LOOK AT CANDIDATES AND LOOK AT IF THEY'RE SPEAKING TO OUR ISSUES, THAT'S REALLY THE BEST QUALIFICATION THERE IS.

WHETHER THEY UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE WILLING TO LET THEIR SLEEVES AND COME UP WITH REAL SOLUTIONS.

YES.

I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, THAT'S RECOGNIZED BY THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS.

AND WE HAVE A NATIONAL PROJECT CALLED VOTE 411.ORG.

THIS PROVIDES ELECTION INFORMATION.

YOU PUT IN YOUR ADDRESS AND YOUR BALLOT COMES UP AND TELLS YOU WHO YOU CAN VOTE FOR.

THEN THE QUESTION IS WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THESE PEOPLE?

THEN WE ASK THOSE CANDIDATES QUESTIONS AND THEY PROVIDE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS AND THEIR QUALIFICATIONS.

SO THE QUALIFICATIONS AS FAR AS TEACHING OR WHATEVER YOUR INTEREST MIGHT BE.

IN COLUMBIA, WE ARE DOING RICHLAND AND LEXINGTON COUNTIES AND WE HAVE 69 OFFICES JUST IN THOSE TWO COUNTIES.

THEY ARE DOING IT STATEWIDE AS WELL.

I WANT TO GO BACK TO SOMETHING THAT COUNCILWOMAN DEVINE SAID.

YOU TALKED ABOUT THE PARTISANSHIP.

IN OUR CURRENT SOCIETY, IT WOULD SEEM THAT REGARDLESS OF YOUR FAMILIARITY WITH YOUR ISSUES, YOUR WISDOM AND YOUR BEING IN TOUCH WITH THE POPULATIONS BECAUSE OUR POLITICS AND OFFICES HAVE BECOME SO PARTISAN.

IT MAKES IT VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE DIFFERENT PERSUASIONS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

I THINK WE'VE SEEN IT CERTAINLY THE LAST 10-20 YEARS IN THIS COUNTRY.

WE'VE GOT A LOT MORE POLARIZED AROUND PARTY VERSUS ISSUES.

THAT'S WHY I LOVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

OUR SCHOOL BOARD, AND MUNICIPAL RACES, ARE NONPARTISAN IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

I THINK THAT'S GREAT BECAUSE WE CAN REALLY GET DISCUSSION AROUND ISSUES VERSUS WELL MY PARTY THINKS.

I THINK IT'S REALLY STILL UP TO US AS VOTERS.

TO TELL THOSE WHO ARE ELECTED, NO MATTER WHAT PARTY THEY'RE IN, WHAT WE EXPECT AND WANT.

I HAVE FOLKS WHO CALL ME AND THEY SELF IDENTIFY AS A REPUBLICAN THEY MIGHT SELF IDENTIFY AS A DEMOCRAT.

I DON'T CARE, I REPRESENT THEM AND I NEED TO SERVE THEM.

EVEN THOSE RACES THAT ARE PARTISAN, THEY NEED TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE CITIZENS WHETHER IT'S SOMEONE VOTED FOR THEM OR NOT.

IF THEY'RE REPRESENTING UP, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR VOICES ARE HEARD AND WE HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE TO IT.

MUCH EASIER TO DO ON THE LOCAL LEVEL.

YES.

THAN THE STATEWIDE OR THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

I'D LIKE TO MENTION SOMETHING, BERYL, IF IT'S OKAY.

ESPECIALLY NOW THAT WOMEN STEPPED FORTH AND COME INTO THE ELECTION PROCESS.

WOMEN ARE MUCH HARDER ON THEMSELVES THEN ARE THE MEN.

YOU ASK A WOMAN, MAYBE YOU WOULD LIKE TO RUN FOR OFFICE AND HER FIRST RESPONSE IS, I DON'T KNOW I KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT IT.

I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN DO IT.

YOU ASK THE SAME QUESTION TO A MAN, OF COURSE!

NOT EVEN GIVING IT A SECOND THOUGHT.

THAT'S BECAUSE WOMEN HAVE NEVER BEEN ENCOURAGED TO DO AS MANY OF THE MEN HAVE.

SO, I THINK HAVING WOMEN IN OFFICE PUTS IN A BALANCE, PUTS IN A RESPONSIBILITY AND A DUTY.

BECAUSE WE DO OUR HOMEWORK.

WE DO KNOW WHAT THE ISSUES ARE.

WE DO LOOK AFTER THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR US AS A FAMILY, FOR OUR COMMUNITY, FOR OUR STATE.

I THINK THAT IS AN AREA THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING USE TO NOW BY HAVING MORE WOMEN - - ONLY FOUR IN THE SENATE BUT 26 IN THE HOUSE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THAT'S GOOD.

BUT NOT ENOUGH.

WE JUST NEED TO ENCOURAGE WOMEN NOT TO BE AFRAID.

THEY CAN LEARN THE ISSUES.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A MASTERS OR PHD OR DOCTORATE OR BA JURISPRUDENCE - [LAUGHTER] A LAWYER.

IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE WHATEVER THAT SITUATION MIGHT BE.

WE HAVE A COMMENT NOW FROM WEBEX.

GO AHEAD PLEASE.

HEY, THIS IS BARBARA.

I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT WE HAVE THE LARGEST NUMBER OF WOMEN EVER RUNNING FOR OFFICE CURRENTLY IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

IT'S ONLY BY A SMALL PERCENT BUT WE NEED TO GET BEHIND THOSE THAT WE BELIEVE IN.

WE HAVE 16.5 PERCENT OF OUR STATE LEGISLATURE IS FEMALE.

WITH ONE NEW ONE HAVING BEEN ADDED AT THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST.

IT WAS A SEAT THAT WAS FLIPPED IN CHARLESTON.

SO WE HAVE 24 WOMEN IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE AND FOUR WOMEN IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE.

WE ARE STILL 45TH IN THE NATION, WHICH IS UP FROM 50TH JUST EIGHT OR TEN YEARS AGO.

BUT WE'VE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JUST LETTING ME ADD THAT IN.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

- TO SERVE ON BARBARA'S BOARD.

BARBARA HEADS UP AN ORGANIZATION CALLED SOUTH CAROLINA WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP.

AND IT IS A MULTIPARTISAN GROUP THAT IS SEEKING TO GET MORE WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, WHETHER IT BE ELECTED OR APPOINTED.

SO, THOSE NUMBERS THAT SHE TALKS ABOUT, THEY HAVE A GOAL TO MAKE SURE THOSE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO INCREASE IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

I WANT TO JUST TAKE ONE HISTORICAL BENT FOR JUST A MOMENT.

ANN KELLER I'M GOING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THIS.

WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT OUR STATE THAT IT TOOK 50 YEARS AFTER THE FACT FOR SOUTH CAROLINA TO RATIFY THE 19TH AMENDMENT?

AND I BELIEVE ANOTHER FOUR BEFORE WE FORMALLY ADOPTED IT.

IS THAT A COMMENTARY ON HOW WE THINK ABOUT WOMEN AND THEIR ROLE IN OUR SOCIETY?

I THINK THEY'RE AFRAID OF WOMEN.

YOU KNOW THEY WERE AFRAID IN THE 1920S IF WOMEN GOT ELECTED, WE'D HAVE PROHIBITION AND YOU KNOW WHAT - WE HAD IT.

AND ALSO THEY WERE ALSO AFRAID THAT - THEY WORKED ON TAKING CHILD LABOR, WOMEN AND CHILDREN OUT OF THE MILLS AND CHILD LABOR.

THEN WE DID THE FOOD AND DRUG.

WOMEN HAVE COME IN, AS TAMIKA KNOWS AND MADE A CHANGE FOR THINGS THEY ARE PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN AND THEY ABOUT.

AND IF YOU HAVE READ THE COMMENTARY AND THE ARGUMENT, IT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE WHAT THE MEN SAY ABOUT THE WOMEN.

I WAS TALKING WITH MY SON ABOUT IT.

WE HAD TO MAKE A LAW THAT SAID THAT MEN COULD NOT GO INTO THE POLLING BOOTH WITH THEIR WIVES BECAUSE THEY WERE GOING TO TELL THEM HOW TO VOTE.

HE SAID WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN?

I SAID PROBABLY WITHIN 20 OR 30 YEARS.

WORKING AT THE POLLS, WE HAVE TO REALLY BE CAREFUL AND SAY, NO MR. SMITH, YOU CAN'T GO IN.

EVEN NOW.

THAT SOUNDS INCREDIBLE TO US BECAUSE WE JUST ASSUME THAT ONCE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT, IT'S YOUR RIGHT.

AND YOU GO FORTH BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

WELL WE DIDN'T HAVE WOMEN ON JURIES UNTIL 1967.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY?

THAT WAS MY QUESTION AND SIMILARLY, HOW IMPORTANT IS IT THAT WE ACTUALLY DID FINALLY ADOPT THE 19TH AMENDMENT?

SINCE IT WAS RATIFIED AND BECAME PART OF THE CONSTITUTION, WHY WAS IT NECESSARY FOR SOUTH CAROLINA TO FINALLY GO AHEAD?

IT ALL CAME ABOUT BECAUSE - THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS WAS GOING TO CELEBRATE THEIR 50TH ANNIVERSARY IN 1970.

SO THEY ASKED ALL THE UNVERIFIED STATES TO RATIFY.

SO MS. SALLY CAME AND CAROLINE FREDERICKS.

A WOMAN REPUBLICAN FROM GREENVILLE WAS THE ONE THERE.

SO, GOVERNOR McNAIR SIGNED IT AND I WAS AT THE BEACH AND THE BIG HEADLINE WAS, GOVERNOR McNAIR WOULD NOT GIVE MS. SALLY THE PEN.

WHAT?

WE FORGOT ABOUT THE FACT THEY WERE SIGNING THE 19TH AMENDMENT.

THE HEADLINE WAS HE WOULDN'T GIVE HER THE PEN.

SO LATER, I WAS LOOKING AT LAWS, WHICH SOME OF US DO.

DISCOVERED THAT SOUTH CAROLINA WAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED AS HAVING SIGNED IT.

WE KNEW IT HAD.

AND VICKI ESLING SAID THE FIRST TIME SHE VOTED, SHE VOTED NOT BECAUSE SHE COULD VOTE IN SOUTH CAROLINA, IT WAS NOT IN THE LAW, BUT NATIONALLY.

SO WE DIDN'T GET IT UNTIL 1973 AND GOVERNOR WEST, CHIEF OF STAFF, DRAKE SPOKE WITH SENATOR HOLLINGS WROTE ME A LETTER EXPLAINING IT SAID, THROUGH INADVERTENCE, IT WAS NOT SENT TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

THE FACT THAT THAT HEADLINE HAD TO DO WITH THE GOVERNOR NOT GIVING OVER THE PEN TO MRS. SALLEY WHO SAID SHE'D BEEN WAITING 50 YEARS TO ACTUALLY RATIFY THE AMENDMENT.

SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT THE PERCEPTION OF ITS IMPORTANCE.

I THINK THAT'S THE NUCLEUS OF WHAT WE WANT TO GET OUT HERE.

HOW DO WE GET BEYOND THIS THING OF WOMEN AS BEING, YOU KNOW, YOU MOVED INTO THE PROCESS BUT YOU REALLY STILL ARE NOT CENTRAL.

YOU KNOW?

IT REALLY IS NOT CRITICAL.

I THINK THAT WOMEN HAVE TO INSIST ON IT.

ONE OF THINGS WE LEARNED FROM SUFFRAGE AND EVERYTHING LEADING UP TO IT WAS THAT WAS NOT HANDED OVER.

WOMEN WERE NOT GRANTED THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

THEY FOUGHT FOR IT AT ENORMOUS COST.

MANY OF THEM.

OVER MANY DECADES.

IT TOOK INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATION.

IT TOOK MASS MOVEMENTS.

IT TOOK SACRIFICE.

AND IT TOOK A TENACITY AND A DEMAND THAT WOMEN JUST SIMPLY WOULDN'T ALLOW THIS TO REMAIN AN UNFULFILLED PROMISE IN A DEMOCRACY.

THAT THEY ARE PART OF.

AND THEY PAID TAXES AND STILL DIDN'T HAVE THIS RIGHT.

I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE IS NOTHING WILL BE GIVEN TO US IF WE SIT AROUND AND WAIT FOR IT.

WE HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE LIKE KELLER WHO HAS BEEN DOING THIS MUCH LONGER THAN ME, TO GET TOGETHER AND TO DEMAND IT AND WORK WITH OTHERS AND RAISE THEIR VOICES.

THERE ARE MANY IMPORTANT WAYS THAT WOMEN, BEING IN ELECTED OFFICE CAN HELP TO FACILITATE CHANGE.

BECAUSE WE KNOW WITH MORE NUMBERS, WE WILL START TO SEE THAT POWER WITHIN THE OFFICIAL CHAMBERS OF BUREAUCRACY AND GOVERNMENT BEGAN TO INCREASE.

THERE IS STRENGTH IN NUMBERS.

AND WE ALSO HAVE TO WORK ON THE OUTSIDE AS COMMITTED AND TENACIOUS ADVOCATES TO INSIST THAT WE CAN AND WILL DO BETTER AS PEOPLE.

IT'S INTERESTING THAT WE CANNOT - - WE DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF ASSUMING THAT WOMEN ARE A MONOLITHIC GROUP.

WITHIN THE RANKS OF WOMANHOOD, THERE'S GREAT DIVERSITY.

AND YET, IN THESE BATTLES, SO OFTEN YOU ARE FORCED INTO FEELING THAT YOU ALL HAVE TO THINK ALIKE OR AT LEAST ACT ALIKE.

SO HOW DO WE GET TO A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN BE DIVERSE.

YOU CAN EXPRESS THE VARIED OPINIONS WITHIN THE VAST CACHET OF WOMEN AND STILL BE EFFECTIVE?

IF I ASKED THIS GROUP WHAT'S THE MOST PRESSING ISSUE FACING WOMEN TODAY, WOULD I GET THE SAME ANSWER FROM EVERYONE?

PROBABLY BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT VOTING, THAT WOULD BE IT.

I THINK - - WOULD AGREE THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES THAT WOMEN CONTROL THEIR OWN BODIES.

ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND WILL PROBABLY CONTINUE FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

EVEN SUCH THINGS AS BEING ABLE TO HAVE INSURANCE PAY FOR WOMEN'S MEDICATIONS.

WHETHER IT'S HORMONAL REPLACEMENT THERAPY OR ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES, REALLY TALKS TO A DIFFERENT ISSUE THAN WHEN MEN HAVE GENDER RELATED MEDICATIONS COMING FORTH AND IT'S EXCEPTED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE WAS SITTING IN THE LEGISLATURE THAT IS PASSING SOME OF THIS IS PREDOMINANTLY MEN.

THE GREATEST EXAMPLE IS FORMAL CONTRACEPTIVES VERSUS MALE ENHANCEMENT DRUGS THAT CAME OUT IN THE PILL WAS OUT EVEN LONGER THAN THE MALE ENHANCEMENT DRUGS BUT THOSE GOT APPROVED FOR REIMBURSEMENT.

YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT VIAGRA.

EXACTLY.

ONES THAT WE'VE ALL HEARD ABOUT.

BECAUSE IS PREDOMINANTLY A MALE WORLD AND REMAINS IN TERMS OF MAKING THOSE DECISIONS.

BUT WOMEN HAVE A VOICE NOW.

ESPECIALLY IF WE STEP FORWARD AS AND HAS SAID, NUMBER ONE, VOTE.

NUMBER TWO, SUPPORT YOUR CANDIDATE.

NUMBER THREE BE ACTIVE IN WHATEVER ARENA THAT IS.

MINE CERTAINLY IS IN THE HEALTH ACCESS.

HEALTH EMPLOYMENT TYPE OF CONCERNS.

BOTH FOR THE NON-PREGNANT AND PREGNANT WOMAN.

I THINK SOUTH CAROLINA HAS A LONG WAY TO GO IN ORDER TO OFFER A ACCESSIBILITY, AFFORDABILITY TO ALL THE WOMEN ACROSS THE STATE.

WE WORK VERY HARD TO TRY TO BRING THAT TO AN EQUAL PART.

BUT IT'S GOT A WAYS TO GO.

IF YOU ARE NOT HEALTHY, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS AND IT'S THIS DIFFICULT TO MOVE YOUR FAMILY FORWARD ECONOMICALLY.

HEALTH REALLY HAS TO DRIVE THE SYSTEM.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT MATERNAL HEALTH CARE IN SOUTH CAROLINA IS STILL LAGGING BEHIND.

THIS IS PARTICULARLY TRUE IN MINORITY POPULATIONS.

IT IS.

SOUTH CAROLINA IS BASICALLY A RURAL STATE.

IF YOU GO TO YOUR URBAN AREAS, YOU HAVE PLENTY OF PHYSICIANS.

NURSE PRACTITIONERS, YOU'VE GOT PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS.

IF YOU GO INTO THE MORE RURAL AREAS WHICH IS THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE STATE, YOU DON'T HAVE AS MUCH OF THE PROFESSIONAL CARE THAT YOU NEED.

CONSEQUENTLY, WILL FALL ON SOMEONE WHO TRIES TO DO THE RIGHT THING OR THEY HAVE TO TRAVEL, 50-100 MILES IN ORDER TO GET TO A QUALIFIED HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL.

IT'S GETTING BETTER.

WE ARE GETTING CLINICS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

BUT WE ARE SEEING HOSPITALS SHUTDOWN THROUGHOUT THOSE AREAS.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THEY CAN'T SUSTAIN WHAT'S NECESSARY TO RUN A HOSPITAL.

BUT THE SMALLER CLINICS MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO IT AND HAVE A REGIONAL CENTER BY WHICH THEY CAN REFER PATIENTS TO.

I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, IT'S INTERESTING, YOU MIGHT REMEMBER A FEW YEARS AGO, SENATOR MACLEOD INTRODUCED WHAT THEY CALL THE VIAGRA BILL.

THERE WAS A LOT OF PUSHBACK AND TALK.

SHE ADMITTED IT WAS RIDICULOUS BUT SHE WAS TRYING TO MAKE A POINT AT HOW THE SAME TYPE OF THING FOR MEN IS LOOKED AT SO DIFFERENTLY THAN IT IS FOR WOMEN.

AND IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE IT WAS WHOLEHEARTEDLY DISMISSED HER WHOLE POINT WAS RAISING THAT ISSUE.

THAT GOES TO THE POINT OF HAVING THE REPRESENTATION.

WHEN YOU HAVE A WOMAN WHO CAN BRING ATTENTION TO THE ISSUE, A LOT OF PEOPLE I KNEW HAD NO IDEA THAT THE MILK CONTRACEPTIVE IS NOT COVERED BUT THAT THE MALE ENHANCEMENT BILLS OF MEDICATIONS WERE COVERED.

THAT BROUGHT ATTENTION TO AN ISSUE THAT THEN EDUCATED A LOT OF PEOPLE ABOUT THE DISPARITIES IN OUR REPRESENTATION.

THE QUESTION ABOUT RECOGNITION OF INEQUALITY.

THAT WAS A RECOGNITION OF INEQUALITY.

THE FACT THAT OUR PEOPLE COULDN'T GO TO THE CITADEL WAS A RECOGNITION OF INEQUALITY.

WOMEN IN MEDICAL SCHOOL.

WOMEN IN LAW.

ONCE WE RECOGNIZE WOMEN ARE NOT PAID THE SAME AS MEN.

I HOPE YOU ARE.

[LAUGHTER] I DON'T THINK WOMEN ARE PAID THE SAME AS MEN IN MOST PROFESSIONS IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

THAT'S WHY THE MILITARY IS THE GREAT EQUALIZER.

IT'S A CAUSE.

IT BECOMES A CAUSE.

I WOULD CHALLENGE EVERYBODY TO THINK, CAN YOU RECOGNIZE AND - - AND INEQUALITY.

YOUR PARTNER, DO THEY ALWAYS WASH THE DISHES?

DO YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO GO GROCERY SHOPPING.

DO YOU ALWAYS TAKE THE CHILDREN TO THE DOCTOR.

ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT MAKE YOU EQUAL THEN YOU KINDA MOVE FORWARD TO TRY TO EQUAL THOSE THINGS.

ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT KIND OF MOVE PLAGUING, CERTAINLY ON THE FRONT PAGES OF THESE DAYS IS THE ISSUE OF VOTER SUPPRESSION.

I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE A COMMENT FROM OUR WEBEX VIEWERS.

DO WE HAVE A WEBEX QUESTION AT THIS POINT?

TECHNOLOGY YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO UNMUTE.

[LAUGHTER] THIS IS CHERYL NUNNLEY.

CAN YOU HEAR ME?

AS WOMEN, AFTER WE RUN FOR OFFICE, AFTER WE GET FOLKS OUT TO VOTE, HOW DO WE FIGHT THINGS LIKE VOTER SUPPRESSION?

ALL RIGHT, WHO WOULD LIKE TO TACKLE THAT?

LAUREN, THAT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S IN YOUR - WELL WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT VOTER SUPPRESSION COMES IN DIFFERENT FORMS, PARTICULARLY HERE IN OUR BELOVED RICHLAND COUNTY.

WE HAVE PLACES LIKE THE POLLING PRECINCTS.

THAT ARE OBVIOUSLY IN COVID TIMES IT'S A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT.

BUT THE LINES ARE OUT THE DOOR AND OTHER PLACES THAT ARE NOT AS POPULATED HAVE SHORTER LINES.

SO THAT'S A FORM OF VOTER SUPPRESSION AND INTIMIDATION AND VOTING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT'S GOING TO BE MORE OF A COLLECTIVE EFFORT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE FOLKS WHO ARE LAWYERS MORE ABLE TO PROTECT PEOPLE.

THERE'S A HOTLINE FOR VOTER SUPPRESSION THAT PEOPLE CAN CALL IF THEY ARE EXPERIENCING IT.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE RESPONSIBLE THIS NOVEMBER 3RD IN MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE NOTING ANY TYPE OF VOTER SUPPRESSION WHETHER IT'S YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW.

THE OTHER ISSUE IS RECOGNIZING VOTER SUPPRESSION.

WE JUST ASSUME IN THIS ROOM THAT YOU KNOW IT WHEN YOU SEE IT.

BUT IS THAT ACTUALLY TRUE?

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALLY THINK OF VOTER SUPPRESSION IN THE MANY FORMS IT TAKES.

SOME FOLKS WILL THINK VOTER SUPPRESSION IS I GO AND THEY SAY YOU CAN'T VOTE HERE AND THEY SEND YOU AWAY AND YOU END UP NOT VOTING.

BUT IT COULD BE A VARIETY OF THINGS.

LAUREN MENTIONED HERE IN RICHLAND COUNTY AND I KNOW OTHER PLACES IN THE STATE FOR THE PRIMARIES, THEY MERGED SEVERAL VOTING PRECINCTS.

SO THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO VOTE WHEN THEY GOT THERE AND STOOD IN LINE.

THEY FOUND OUT THEY WERE IN THE WRONG PLACE.

ALL OF THAT IS FORMS OF VOTER SUPPRESSION.

I THINK UNDERSTANDING WHAT EXACTLY IS VOTER SUPPRESSION.

VOTER SUPPRESSION IS TRYING TO GET PEOPLE NOT TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE, NO MATTER.

IT TAKES MANY FORMS.

AND SO UNDERSTANDING THAT AND EDUCATING OURSELVES ABOUT WHAT CAN BE DONE, THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO DO GO OUT.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE AN ATTORNEY TO BE PART OF THE POLL WATCHERS TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE.

SO, PLAYING A ROLE IN THAT.

VOLUNTEERING AND MAKING SURE YOU HELP PEOPLE GET TO THE POLLS IF IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO GET TO THE POLLS.

MAKING SURE THAT FOLKS WERE STANDING IN LINE MIGHT HAVE WATER OR OTHER THINGS STILL HAVE TO LEAVE THE LINE.

ALL THAT IS PART OF UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENT TACTICS FOR VOTER SUPPRESSION AND THEN EDUCATING OUR VOTERS ABOUT THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE AND HOW THEY CAN VOTE WHETHER IT BE ABSENTEE, BY MAIL, ETC.

THE LEGISLATURE IS COMING BACK SEPTEMBER 2ND TO TALK ABOUT ABSENTEE VOTING.

IN THE PRIMARY IT WAS STATED AS A STATE OF EMERGENCY SO ANYBODY COULD DO IT.

IT'S NOT THAT WAY NOW.

SO, YOU'LL HAVE TO DECIDE FOR YOURSELF UNLESS THEY MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHETHER YOU WILL STAND THERE OR WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE ABSENTEE.

AND THAT'S VOTER SUPPRESSION.

AND I THINK THAT AGAIN, IT POINTS TO THE NEED FOR COLLECTIVE ACTION, CALLING ATTENTION WHEN IT IS NOT EASY TO ACCESS THE VOTE AND DEMANDING OUR LEGISLATORS TAKE ACTION TO MAKE IT EASIER.

SO BY JOINING THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AND WREN SC WELL, THESE ARE COLLECTIVE GROUPS THAT CAN HELP YOUR VOICE BE STRONGER AND LOUDER THAN IT CAN ON ITS OWN.

YOU MENTIONED HOW COVID-19 IS MAKING VOTING ACCESS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT.

IT'S MAKING ALMOST EVERYTHING, MUCH MORE DIFFICULT.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONCERNS THAT I HAVE IS WOMEN HEADING HOUSEHOLDS WHO ARE STRETCHED MORE THIN THAN EVER.

WOMEN ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE WORKING IN JOBS THAT ARE HIGH RISK.

AND ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE WERE COUNTING ON THEM FOR THEIR INCOME.

UNEMPLOYMENT RATES AMONG WOMEN, PARTICULARLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND LATINO ARE HIGH.

THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A REAL TOLL ON INDIVIDUAL WOMEN AND OUR ECONOMY AS A WHOLE.

BECAUSE WE DEPEND ON WOMEN'S LABOR AND THOSE JOBS ARE HIGH RISK OR THEY'RE UNAVAILABLE.

THE JOBS ARE IN THE RETAIL, INDUSTRY AND HOSPITALITY, FOOD SERVICE.

THOSE JOBS ARE REALLY CRUMBLING.

AND WE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE EFFECT THAT'S GOING TO HAVE ON OUR ECONOMY AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.

CHILDCARE.

YOU KNOW, WOMEN WHO ARE OUT OF WORK BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO SEND THEIR KIDS RIGHT NOW.

ALL OF THESE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN - - ECONOMIC EXCLUSION, VOTING ACCESS, HEALTHCARE ACCESS ARE GOING TO BECOME MORE DIFFICULT, ARE MORE DIFFICULT AND WILL ONLY BECOME MORE DIFFICULT NOW THAT WE ARE CONFRONTING COVID FOR MONTHS TO COME.

SO WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT IT?

[LAUGHTER] WE ORGANIZE.

AND, WE VOTE BUT ALSO WE HAVE TO HOLD OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE.

THAT MEANS STAYING ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS.

UNDERSTANDING HOW THEIR VOTING, WHAT ISSUES ARE THEY CHAMPIONING.

EVEN IF IT'S NOT AN ISSUE WE THINK THEY SHOULD BE CHAMPIONING, COMMUNICATING WITH THEM AND LETTING THEM KNOW THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE AND WE NEED YOU TO CHAMPION IT.

AND I THINK THAT PART OF THE THING IS GOING BACK TO WHAT ANN SAID IS, VOTING IS THE ENTRY POINT, A LOT OF FOLKS THINK IT'S THE END.

I VOTED FOR THE PERSON.

MY PERSON WON AND I'M DONE.

THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

WE HAVE TO VOTE AND THEN STAY ENGAGED THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS AND MAKE SURE OUR ISSUES CONTINUE TO BE FRONT AND CENTER SO THAT WE CAN SEE A CHANGE.

AND HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THOSE PEOPLE THAT YOU VOTED FOR OR DIDN'T VOTE FOR.

IT'S A MATTER OF GETTING TO KNOW THE PEOPLE TOO.

LIKE WE KNOW TAMIKA BECAUSE SHE'S FAMILY, SHE'S OUT THERE SHE GOES TO ALL THE MEETINGS.

I HAD SOMEONE TELL ME THAT THE PREACHER WASN'T GOING TO KNOW WHAT TO SAY ABOUT HER WHEN SHE DIES.

WHY?

BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T KNOW THE PREACHER.

OF COURSE .

WELL, DID YOU HAVE HIM FOR DINNER?

DID YOU SPEAK TO TAMIKA, DID YOU INVITE HER TO COME TO YOUR CLUB?

I REALLY THINK THAT IT'S A PART OF US.

WE ARE AFRAID OF EM.

ASK PEOPLE, THEY'LL SEE YOU.

THEY'LL WANT YOU TO COME.

IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE ABOUT THE LETTERS AND THE CONTEXT.

IT REALLY DOES.

I WANT TO ADDRESS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, OR THE ELEPHANT THAT'S IN A LOT OF ROOMS THESE DAYS AND THAT'S THE ISSUE OF RACE AS IT COMES TO THE ISSUE OF VOTING.

I FIND IT IRONIC AND PECULIAR THAT THE ORGANIZED SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT IN THIS COUNTRY ACTUALLY GREW OUT OF THE ANTI-SLAVERY MOVEMENT.

WE LOOK BACK TO THE GRIMKE SISTERS WHO FOUND THEIR WAY TO SUFFRAGE BECAUSE OF THEIR WORK IN ANTI-SLAVERY.

WE LOOK BACK TO FREDERICK DOUGLASS AS THE ONLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN WHO ATTENDED THE HISTORIC SENECA FALLS CONVENTION IN 1848.

AND YET WAS LATER ASKED TO STEP ASIDE OUTSIDE THAT MOVEMENT.

HERE IN SOUTH CAROLINA, IF WE PICK UP THE HISTORY AND WE TALK ABOUT SUFFRAGE IN OUR STATE.

I'VE READ NUMEROUS THINGS THAT SAY, THE SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT STARTED IN THE 1890S IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

AND YET WE TOTALLY, TOTALLY IGNORE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THE ROLLINS SISTERS WHO WERE A PART OF THE RECONSTRUCTION GOVERNMENT WHO ACTUALLY STARTED THE FIRST SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION IN THE STATE AND WHO LOBBIED VERY HARD FOR SUFFRAGE AMENDMENT TO OUR STATE CONSTITUTION AND WERE EXTREMELY ACTIVE.

SO, YOU GO FARTHER AND YOU SEE BLACK SUFFRAGISTS BEING ASKED TO MARCH AT THE BACK OF THE LINE IN THE NATIONAL PARADES AND THE WOMEN WE HOLD DEAR TO THIS MOVEMENT BEING TOLD, WE CAN'T AFFORD TO ENDORSE THEM.

BECAUSE IT WILL OFFEND THE SOUTHERNERS.

LOOKING AT THAT LEGACY, WHICH IS NOT PART OF THE PROUD LEGACY OF THE SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT, HOW DOES IT IMPACT WHERE WE GO TODAY AND WHAT WE DO?

AND IT'S NOT JUST ALONG THE LINES OF RACE.

SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT IN THIS COUNTRY WAS ACCOMPLISHED PRIMARILY ON THE BACKS OR PRESENTED AS AN ACCOMPLISHMENT OF WELL-TO-DO WHITE WOMEN.

YOU HAD ALL OF - YOU HAD LABOR FORCES, WOMEN WORKING IN FACTORIES.

YOU HAD ALL OF THESE BLACK WOMEN AND OTHERS WHO ACTUALLY GOT OUT AND WORKED REALLY, REALLY HARD.

NOT TO BE ABLE IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS TO ENJOY THE FRUITS OF THAT LABOR.

BERYL, WE DIDN'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT THAT.

YOU KNOW WHY?

BECAUSE THE HISTORY BOOKS WERE WRITTEN BY WHITE PEOPLE.

YES.

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT MY QUESTION IS, WHAT DO WE DO IN THIS DAY AND TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT LEGACY DOES NOT INTERFERE WITH OUR PROGRESS AS WE GO FORWARD?

I THINK IT'S PART OF THE COURAGEOUS CONVERSATIONS THAT I THINK REALLY HAVE BEEN ELEVATED THIS YEAR IN IN LIGHT OF GEORGE FLOYD AND BREONNA TAYLOR.

I'VE HAD SOME REALLY AMAZING CONVERSATIONS.

ANN AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS WITH A LOT OF FOLKS.

I THINK CONTINUING TO UNDERSTAND THAT OUR HISTORY AS A NATION, AS A STATE ISN'T ALWAYS ROSY.

BUT WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT IT IS, BUT THEN SAY, WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED FROM THAT?

AND HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD?

FOR ME, I THINK IT'S VERY INTERESTING.

THERE IS A HASHTAG THAT'S BEEN TRENDING FOR THE LAST WEEK, HASHTAG WIN WITH BLACK WOMEN.

ONCE KAMALA HARRIS WAS NAMED AS THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR VICE PRESIDENT, THAT STARTED TRENDING.

THERE WAS A LOT OF FOLKS HE UNDERSTOOD THAT NOT ONLY WAS THAT NAMING OF A NOMINATION, IT MEANT SOMETHING HISTORICALLY, PARTICULARLY FOR BLACK WOMEN.

BUT BECAUSE, I THINK IT'S BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN SO MUCH PART OF THE PROCESS.

VOTING FOR FOLKS, BEING ENGAGED BUT NOT FEELING LIKE WE WERE ALWAYS REPRESENTED IN THE PROCESS.

I HAD TO EXPLAIN TO A FRIEND OF MINE THAT IT WASN'T AS MUCH ABOUT HER PARTICULARLY AS IT WAS IT WAS A RECOGNITION THAT BLACK WOMEN FELT LIKE WE WERE BEING SEEN.

WHEN I SAID THAT TO SOMEBODY, THEY SAID, I GET IT.

I THINK HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT HISTORICALLY, ALTHOUGH WE RECOGNIZE THAT'S HISTORY, HOW DO WE GO FROM NOW?

IT'S BEING SEEN, IT'S BEING HEARD.

IT'S BEING ASKED TO THE TABLE IT IS MAKING OUR WAY TO THE TABLE EVEN IF WE ARE NOT ASKED BUT THEN WHEN WE GET THERE, WE ARE RESPECTED.

THAT'S PART OF HOW WE MOVE FORWARD BUT IT'S NOT JUST ONE THING.

WE HAVE TO KEEP KNOCKING, KEEP KNOCKING AND KEEP PUSHING AND MAKING SURE THERE'S EQUITABLE REPRESENTATION OF EVERYBODY AT EVERY TABLE.

DO WE HAVE A COMMENT FROM WEBEX?

GO AHEAD PLEASE.

HELLO.

I AM MONICA OWENS.

I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THE 22 AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN OF DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY INCORPORATED WHO MARCHED ALONG WITH OTHER GROUPS ON MARCH 13, 1913 WITH COURAGE AND CONVICTION DURING THE SUFFRAGE MARCH.

AS AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN, WE DID HAVE TO MARCH AT THE BACK OF THE LINE.

WE WERE TOLD WE HAD TO GET TO THE BACK OF THE LINE.

BUT JUST WANTED EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT THESE WOMEN WERE PIONEERS IN THE FUTURE OF BLACK POLITICAL ACTIVISM.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I'M WONDERING, DO WE HAVE LINGERING SEEDS THAT BECAUSE OF THOSE EARLY SEPARATIONS AND THINGS OF THAT SORT THAT MIGHT MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR OUR COALITIONS TODAY?

WHAT KIND OF PROACTIVE REACHING OUT AND GATHERING TOGETHER NEEDS TO BE DONE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VESTIGES OF THOSE EARLY SLIGHTS ARE NOT IMPACTING OUR ABILITY TO MOVE FORWARD.

I THINK THERE HAVE BEEN GENERATIONS OF RACISM AND WHITE SUPREMACY THAT HAVE BEEN INSIDIOUS FORCES IN ALL PARTS OF OUR HISTORY INCLUDING IN SUFFRAGE.

IT IS A PART OF THE HISTORY I THINK WE NEED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT AND RECKON WITH.

AND AS WE GO FORWARD, THE SAME WAY THAT WE AS WOMEN CALL ON MEN TO SHARE POWER AND SOMETIMES GIVE IT UP, THAT WHITE PEOPLE TOO NEED TO SHARE POWER AND SOMETIMES GIVE IT UP AND SUPPORT BLACK WOMEN AND OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR AND OTHER DISENFRANCHISED PEOPLE.

IN WAYS THAT ARE BEING ARTICULATED BY THEM AND THAT WHERE THEY ARE USING THEIR VOICE AND WE ARE STANDING IN SUPPORT.

I THINK IT'S A CONVERSATION THAT TOO OFTEN, WE CALL ON PEOPLE OF COLOR TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS AND REALLY SOMETIMES IT'S ABOUT THE WHITE FOLKS STEPPING BACK AND SUPPORTING FROM BEHIND.

I THINK THAT DIVERSITY IS A BIG ISSUE.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION.

THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS HAS TAKEN THAT ON AS A NATIONAL EFFORT.

WE HAD A LOCAL COMMITTEE MEETING AND WE WERE THINKING ABOUT, WHERE SHOULD WE PUT THESE ADS AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.

WE HADN'T THOUGHT ABOUT CAROLINA PANORAMA.

LADY JUNE BROUGHT THAT UP.

BECAUSE SHE WAS THERE AND SHE COULD PUT THAT FORWARD.

WE NEED TO HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE.

WE NEED YOUNG PEOPLE REPRESENTING THINGS THAT WE WEREN'T AWARE OF.

I THINK THAT'S INTERESTING FOR THE LEAGUE BECAUSE THE LEAGUE IN PARTICULAR WAS FORMED WHEN THE 19TH AMENDMENT WAS RATIFIED AND IT WAS FORMED.

IT WAS LIMITED TO WHITE WOMEN ONLY.

BASICALLY, EDUCATED WELL-TO-DO WHITE WOMEN.

BUT WE MADE AN EFFORT IN COLUMBIA AND WE INVITED WHITE AND BLACK AND WHATEVER COLORED PEOPLE TO COME IN AND WE INVITED TODD CHAPELLE.

WE DON'T WANT TO NAME NAMES [LAUGHTER] WE INVITED A NUMBER OF BLACK WOMEN TO COME AS A GROUP, WE DIDN'T WANT JUST ONE, AND MADE AN EFFORT AND IT WORKED, I WOULD NAME ONE WHOSE HUSBAND WAS A PROMINENT JUDGE THAT WE ALL KNOW THAT ALWAYS CONTINUED HER MEMBERSHIP IN THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AND IT WAS GREAT.

OKAY.

AS WE START ROUNDING UP HERE, I'D LIKE FOR EACH OF YOU TO TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK IS THE MOST CRITICAL ISSUE WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THIS MOMENT, AS WE GO FORWARD.

WHAT IS THE CRITICAL ISSUE FOR WOMEN?

DON'T EVERYBODY SPEAK AT ONCE.

I'LL START.

SUPPORTING WOMEN, MANY OF WHICH ARE HEAD OF HOUSEHOLDS, SO THAT WE CAN SUPPORT OUR FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITIES.

THAT MEANS ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE AND EQUITABLE CHILDCARE.

THAT MEANS GOOD PAYING JOBS, THAT MEANS ACCESS TO HIGHER-PAYING JOBS AND HIGHER ECHELON JOBS, BUT ALLOWING WOMEN TO HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES, RECOGNIZING WE HAVE CHILDCARE ISSUES AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING ISSUES AND WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THOSE AND PAY EQUITY IS A BIG PART OF THAT.

I WOULD SECOND THAT.

I THINK PAY EQUITY HAS TO COME TO THE TOP, BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE SUPPORT ECONOMICALLY, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO BE ABLE TO GO INTO A LOT OF DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE PROFESSION, I THINK PEOPLE ARE SOMETIMES VERY SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT THERE'S INEQUITY EVEN IN THE MEDICAL PROFESSION WHICH IS ARGUABLY THE MOST HOMOGENEOUS GROUP THAT YOU'VE GOT IN TERMS OF TRAINING TO GET TO BECOME A PHYSICIAN.

THERE'S REALLY NO DEVIATION FROM MEDICAL SCHOOL, RESIDENCY AND THEN GOING INTO PRACTICE.

AND YET, WOMEN IN MEDICINE STILL ARE ONLY GETTING 80 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR, REGARDLESS OF SPECIALTY.

I MEAN THIS IS SPECIALTY LOOKED AT IN SPECIALTIES AND THEN LOOKED AT ACROSS.

SO, I THINK PAY EQUITY IS DEFINITELY VERY IMPORTANT AND YOU CAN DO A LOT MORE WHEN YOU ARE FINANCIALLY SOUND, YOUR KIDS ARE BEING TAKEN CARE OF, AND YOUR HEALTH IS GOOD.

VERY CLOSE TO THAT IS HEALTH EQUITY, THE ABILITY TO ACCESS HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WHEN YOU NEED THEM.

AND TO NOT ONLY GO WHEN YOU NEED THEM, WHICH IS WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD AN INSURANCE POLICY AND GET YOUR WELL CHECKUPS, BUT BEING ABLE TO SEE PROFESSIONALS FOR WELL CHECKUPS IN ORDER TO PREVENT EMERGENCY SITUATIONS THAT THEN BECOME CATASTROPHIC.

AND FLOODING THE EMERGENCY ROOMS.

AND FLOODING THE EMERGENCY ROOMS.

INTERESTINGLY, DON'T KNOW IF DR. MARJORIE SPRUILL IS ON OUR WEBEX GROUP, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT PAY EQUITY, IT MAY SURPRISE YOU TO KNOW WAS ONE OF THE INITIAL SUFFRAGIST DEMANDS AND ISSUES, WAY BACK WHEN IN THE 1840'S WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE, SO, WE'VE GONE HUNDRED YEARS AND WHAT?

[LAUGHTER] WELL, NOT A LOT HAS CHANGED ESPECIALLY IN RECENT DECADES IN REGARDS TO THE PAY GAP.

I MEAN IT HAS BARELY BUDGED IN THE LAST 4 OR 5 DECADES AND SOUTH CAROLINA OVERALL ACROSS PROFESSIONS, IT'S WOMEN EARNING ABOUT 77 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR COMPARED TO MEN.

AND BLACK WOMEN, IT'S ABOUT 57 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR COMPARED TO WHITE MEN.

SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT THOSE RACIAL DISPARITIES AS WELL AS GENDER DISPARITIES AND HOW THEY INTERSECT AND AFFECT ACCESS TO ALL KINDS OF OPPORTUNITY.

SO I WOULD AGREE THAT ABILITY TO EARN A GOOD INCOME AND ALSO TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A JOB THAT AFFORDS YOU ACCESS TO PAID SICK DAYS TO PAID LEAVE BECAUSE IF WE LEARNED ANYTHING IN COVID, IS HOW CRUCIAL OUR BASIC HEALTH IS TO OUR ABILITY TO WORK AND PROVIDE FOR OUR FAMILIES.

SO OUR WORKPLACES REALLY MUST START TO ADJUST AND ACCOMMODATE TO NOT ONLY PAY WOMEN FAIRLY BUT ENSURE THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES UNDER FAMILIES AS WELL.

SO ALL OF THOSE WORKPLACE RELATED ISSUES ARE CRUCIAL.

IS THERE A STRATEGY FOR GETTING WOMEN TO-YOU KNOW WE USED TO TALK ABOUT THE GLASS CEILING, NOW SOME OF US THINK OF IT MORE AS A BRICK CEILING, BUT, IS THERE A STRATEGY TO EFFECTING MORE WOMEN IN HIGHER MANAGEMENT POSITIONS AND HAVING WOMEN BE THE VOICES THAT MAKE THOSE DECISIONS, AND HAVING THEM SERVE ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WHERE THEY GET PAID AS OPPOSED TO ALL OF THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WHICH ARE NECESSARY THAT WE DO THAT ARE BASICALLY NURTURING AND MATERNAL KINDS OF THINGS, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS YOU DON'T SEE OUR NUMBERS INCREASING IN THOSE MAJOR ONES THAT WOULD HELP IMPACT THE BOTTOM LINE.

WE HAVE TO STOP LOOKING AT IT AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

YOU KNOW, WHAT, COULD WE HAVE A STRIKE?

I MEAN, WHAT CAN WE DO?

SO WE CAN SAY THAT BUT THEN WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT IT?

I THINK THE MAIN THING IS SISTERHOOD, THAT WOULD BE MINE TO SAY BECAUSE IF YOU'RE UP THERE, THEN YOU GOT TO BRING IT UP AND YOU GOT TO SAY WE'VE GOT TO PAY MORE.

I MEAN, I JUST FEEL LIKE TO SIT BACK AND NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, ALTHOUGH SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT.

UNFORTUNATELY WHEN YOU BRING THAT UP, PAY EQUITY WAS WHAT, EARLY ON AND WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THERE YET?

OBVIOUSLY NOT.

WHAT ABOUT THE MEDICAL PROFESSION?

YOU CHARGE JUST AS MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICES AS A MAN, DIDN'T YOU?

NO.

NO?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

THE CHARGES WERE LOOKED AT VERY CLOSELY AS TO WHAT THE PREVAILING AREA IS, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE PHYSICIAN MAKES IF SHE OF HE, SHE IS IN A GROUP, OR WORKS FOR AN AGENCY AND IS NOT IN PRIVATE PRACTICE, IT IS AT LEAST 20 PERCENT LESS THAN MEN.

YES.

THE INTERESTING THING IS, UP UNTIL PROBABLY 30 YEARS AGO, IT WAS PREDOMINANTLY A MALE PROFESSION.

YOU HAD YOUR INDIVIDUAL WOMAN HERE AND THERE.

BUT IT'S REALLY CHANGED A LOT.

IF YOU LOOK NOW, I WAS LOOKING AT SOME OF THESE NUMBERS, FOR WOMEN UNDER 35 WHO ARE IN THE MEDICAL FIELD NOW, THEY ARE 60 PERCENT COMPARED TO 40 PERCENT MALE.

SO WE'RE SEEING MORE WOMEN NOW COMING INTO THE MEDICAL PROFESSION THAN EVER BEFORE AND IT USED TO BE JUST THE OPPOSITE.

IT WAS MORE 80/20 AND THEN IT GOT TO A 70/30.

BUT THAT GOES BACK TO, EVEN WHEN YOU CAME OUT OF THE SAME RESIDENCY PROGRAM WITH THE SAME SPECIALTY AREA AND YOU WENT TO THE SAME HOSPITAL TO WORK, THE WOMAN WOULD BE GIVEN ONE SALARY AND THE MAN WOULD BE ANOTHER.

A LOT OF TIMES YOU DIDN'T REALIZE IT UNTIL YOU DISCUSSED IT.

JUSTICE AND THE OTHER FIELDS AND I'M RUSHING YOU ALONG.

WE DO HAVE ONE MORE COMMENT FROM WEBEX AND LAUREN YOU STILL HAVEN'T MADE YOUR COMMENT.

WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME SO GO AHEAD PLEASE.

OKAY, LAUREN.

MOST IMPORTANT.

IT SO STUFF BECAUSE WHERE DO YOU START?

SO MANY ISSUES.

I THINK SOMETHING I'VE SEEN A LOT OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS LIKE WHAT MS. DEVINE WAS SAYING IN LIGHT OF THE GEORGE FLOYD AND BREONNA TAYLOR MURDERS WAS SOMETHING ABOUT LIKE AN ENLIGHTENMENT OF A LOT OF COMMUNITIES, PARTICULARLY YOUNG AND BLACK COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY REALIZING, WE NEED TO HOLD OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS MORE ACCOUNTABLE WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO BE IN POSITIONS OF LEADERSHIP TO HAVE THE INFLUENCE WE SO DESIRE, SEE THE CHANGE WE WANT TO MAKE.

ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK IS SUPER CRUCIAL RIGHT NOW IS THE EDUCATION THAT WE GIVE TO EMPOWER PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO EVEN LOBBY, NOT LOBBY, BUT JUST REACH OUT TO THEIR LEGISLATORS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT THEY CAN REACH OUT TO COUNCILWOMAN DEVINE ABOUT ISSUES LIKE YOU WERE MENTIONING.

THEY CAN WRITE LETTERS TO THEIR SENATORS.

THEY CAN WRITE TO THEIR CONGRESS PEOPLE TO MAKE CHANGES.

THERE ARE BILLS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE RIGHT NOW THAT WE DO WANT PASSED.

BUT THEY'RE NOT BEING PASSED RIGHT NOW.

BEING ABLE TO GO BACK TO THE FUNDAMENTAL BASICS OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE CIVICALLY ENGAGED?

BEING A POLL WATCHER OR POLL WORKER.

BEING SOMEONE WHO PARTICIPATES IN THE VOTING AND ELECTORAL PROCESS.

BEING SOMEONE WHO IS GOING TO CITY COUNCIL, COUNTY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND BEING JUST REALLY ENGAGED.

I THINK THAT THOSE THINGS ARE GOING TO REALLY CHANGE THE WAY THAT OUR STATE AND COUNTRY LOOK BECAUSE THEY'RE SAYING I DIDN'T REALIZE I COULD LOOK AT XYZ, OR I DIDN'T REALIZE MY COUNTY COUNCIL PERSON DECIDED THIS ABOUT MY HOUSE OR LIKE, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY, REALLY FUNDAMENTAL TO CHANGING DIFFERENT THINGS ACROSS OUR STATE.

AND I THINK THAT LIKE I SAID, OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, WE ARE REALIZING EVEN IN COVID THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES WE WOULD LIKE OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO DO AND THEY ARE NOT DOING THEM.

WE NEED TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.

WE NEED TO KNOW HOW TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.

INTERESTINGLY, I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING YOU SAY IS ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS WE NEED TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE AN INFORMED ELECTORATE.

NOT JUST THAT WE VOTE, BUT THAT WE ARE INFORMED VOTERS.

THAT WE LEARN ABOUT THE ISSUES, THAT WE KNOW WHAT WERE DOING AND THAT WE GO FROM THERE TO TAKE THE STEPS.

LADIES, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, OUR TIME HAS FLOWN BY.

I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND STARTING THIS CONVERSATION TONIGHT.

THERE IS SO MUCH MORE THAT COULD BE SAID AND WE WOULD BE REMISS OF COURSE IF I DIDN'T MENTION OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO HELPED MAKE THIS PROGRAM TONIGHT POSSIBLE.

THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, WREN, THE WOMEN'S AND RIGHTS EMPOWERMENT NETWORK.

SC WIL, SOUTH CAROLINA WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP, THE SOUTH CAROLINA CHAPTERS OF DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, HISTORIC COLUMBIA AND OF COURSE, THE SOUTH CAROLINA JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU TO EACH OF YOU FOR GIVING YOUR TIME HERE IN THE STUDIO.

ALSO TO OUR STAKEHOLDERS ARE TAKING PART VIA WEBEX AND TO OUR ONLINE AUDIENCE.

I DIDN'T HEAR THOSE FACEBOOK QUESTIONS BUT I HOPE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CHATTING GOING ON AND AS WE AND OUR BROADCAST PROGRAM HERE, WE'RE GOING TO STICK AROUND FOR JUST A FEW MINUTES IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION VIA CHAT.

SO FOR ALL OF US HERE AT SOUTH CAROLINA ETV, I'M BERYL DAKERS.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

GOOD HEALTH AND GOOD NIGHT.

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