Rescheduled from the original March date because of the ice storm, the May 31 program celebrated seven women who have served in various leadership roles in the Alpena community over the years. Panelists included Alpena Mayor Cindy Johnson, former State Representative Beverly Bodem, Alpena City Manager Rachel Smolinski, former Alpena Mayor Carol Shafto, District Court Judge Lora Greene, Alpena City Council member Karol Walchak, and Alpena Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Anne Gentry.

In addition to the panelists, the League of Women Voters honored Vernie Nethercut with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

LWV Vice President Elaine Stenger said LWV member Carol Lund came up with the idea to celebrate women in government with this special panel. The purpose of the event was to celebrate the accomplishments and talents of these female leaders, as well as learn some challenges they’ve faced as women in leadership roles.

“I have been astounded at the number of women business owners, doctors, social service agency directors — There are women everywhere leading this town,” Stenger said before introducing the panelists. “It was like, ‘Well, why don’t we start a conversation?’ ‘Why don’t we start creating some visibility and see if we can connect?’ So, this is the beginning of that.”

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Vernie Nethercut was honored on Saturday with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the League of Women Voters event celebrating women leaders in Alpena. Nethercut, seated, receives the award from Elaine Stenger, vice president of the LWV of Northeast Michigan.

She said more panels will be planned featuring other female community leaders.

“Part of the League of Women Voters’ mission is to educate and encourage informed participation in the government,” Stenger said. “We believe that more informed citizens are better citizens.”

Prior to the panelists speaking, the LWV honored Nethercut with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

“From 1961 to 1965, when the Alpena League was officially formed, Vernie put together voters’ registration, a newsletter, was on television,” said Lund, adding that Nethercut was instrumental in organizing committees and bringing people together. “We’re so grateful that she did that.”

Stenger said Nethercut served as president of the LWV many times.

“The League is deeply, deeply grateful for all that you’ve done to help us get here,” Stenger told Nethercut. “It’s fantastic.”

The women on the panel introduced themselves and each answered questions posed by Stenger, then took questions from the audience.

“As we gather here, I encourage each of us to reflect on the women who inspired, challenged, and empowered us,” Mayor Johnson said. “Whether they be in our families, communities, or history books.”

Johnson is the 42nd mayor of Alpena, and the third woman to hold the position. Camille Nerkowski served as the first female mayor of Alpena, from 1996 to 2000, and Shafto served Alpena for 24 years, including being elected to multiple terms on Alpena Municipal Council. She served as Alpena mayor from 2007 to 2011.

Shafto talked about what it takes to get things done in government, including good communication and compromise.

“I am a compromiser,” Shafto said. “Although I would rather win, I believe a half a loaf is better than none, and I liked to leave the table with a win-win.”

Smolinski is the first femal city manager of Alpena.

“I’ve been here for over five years now, and the time has just flown by,” she said. “I’m the first one to sit in that office, and sometimes, when I’m sitting there at city hall I think, ‘Wow, what a privilege.’ … I go through and I read some of our founding documents, like our charter, where it was never, ever contemplated that a woman would be in any of those positions … It just makes me more proud to sit in that office.”

The women talked about some challenges they’ve faced in leadership relating to their gender, especially in male-dominated fields.

“Women have had to work hard to be accepted as equal,” Shafto said. “I think men are automatically assumed to know what they’re doing and saying, and I think women have to prove it, at least initially.”

From 1991 to 1998, Bodem was a well-respected State Representative of the 106 District.

“In the 1960s, that was my earlier working years, I was told by a gentleman in Madison, Wisconsin, that I would not be considered for the promotion for the open position because he told me, ‘You’re going to get married and leave,’ and the other applicant, the other gal, would not get married and leave,” Bodem said. “Even though I had scored the highest on the state test that was required for the job.”

She said another time in the late 1970s, an employer told her she did not need to get a raise because her husband was working and should be providing for the family.

“So, that makes you want to work a little bit harder to prove them wrong,” Bodem said.

The women each talked about their role models and mentors, and how both men and women have helped shape them into confident community leaders.

Darby Hinkley is News Community Editor. Reach her at dhinkley@thealpenanews.com, or 989-358-5691.