As part of increased efforts for community engagement, the Thurston County Board of Commissioners proclaimed March as Women’s History Month during its Tuesday, March 18, meeting.
Representatives from six local groups attended the presentation to kick off the meeting, and three spoke to the commissioners: Ashley Whitley, program manager for Washington Center for Women in Business (WCWB); Angela Jefferson, of the Thurston County League of Women Voters; and Margaret Eby, musical director for the Olympia Chorus.
They presented in front of the board about their respective organizations. Members of the Soroptimist International of Olympia, Junior League of Olympia and Young Women’s Christian Association were also in attendance.
Whitley opened her presentation by sharing a list of inventions by women, including the circular saw in 1813, computer programming in the 1840s and Wi-Fi and bluetooth contributions in the 1940s. She highlighted several local businesses that the WCWB has supported, including Wildkind Outdoors, Jelly’s Kitchen, Balanced Being Healing, Restart the Heart CPR and Whispering Wood Designs. Owners of each business were in attendance for the meeting.
WCWB hosts an annual women’s business conference, with the 2025 event scheduled for May 22 at Great Wolf Lodge.
Jefferson took the podium to tell the history of the League of Women Voters and the group’s impact in Thurston County.
“Over the past century, the league has worked tirelessly to expand access to voting, as well as advocating for good public policy. Here in Thurston County, we are an integral part of teaching civics and telling the community at every opportunity how government works,” she said.
Jefferson shared a message of hope and took a stand on behalf of the League of Women Voters to defend democracy.
“The Thurston County League of Women Voters stands unwavering in its commitment to democracy, the Constitution and the sacred rights of every American,” she said. “We are resolute in our mission to empower all citizens, especially whose voices have too long been ignored and silenced, ensuring that everyone has a rightful place in the decisions that shape our nation. Defending the rule of law and standing up against hate are not partisan acts. They are fundamental duties of all who believe in justice.”
Jefferson issued an “urgent call to action” for every citizen and elected official to join the league in rising to defend democracy and reject efforts to silence or exclude people from “the promise of America.”
“Use your voice, use your talents, use your networks, and speak out against hate at every opportunity,” she said. “It is only through unity and collective action across political affiliations and backgrounds that we can safeguard our republic together.”
Eby shared the story of the Olympia Chorus, which is celebrating its 60th year in 2025, and how they unite through barbershop music.
“I have the wonderful opportunity every Tuesday night at rehearsal to watch a little miracle take place, and that’s because all of us come from very different backgrounds,” she said. “We couldn’t be more different, but when we walk in that door at rehearsal, somehow those individual important things to us take a back seat and we become one chorus.”
The Olympia Chorus sang two songs for the board and members in attendance in the Atrium lobby during a recess of the meeting.
In the commissioners’ proclamation, the board highlighted the contributions of women toward the growth and development of the local economy. The board’s three female commissioners, Carolina Mejia, Emily Clouse and Rachel Grant, read the proclamation aloud.
“American women play a unique role throughout the history of the nation by providing the majority of the volunteer labor force of the nation,” the proclamation said. “We recognize the long, storied history of great women helping to realize our nation’s founding promise and highest aspirations … We all must continue working to build a world worthy of the dreams and goals of all women and girls.”
