Our Story

Democratic Women of Nevada County History

The Democratic Women of Nevada County (formerly The Nevada County Democratic Women -NCDW) was formed in 1992 by Debbie Lange, Annette Gilette and Susan Genovese. The earliest known Constitution & Bylaws were approved on March 12, 1994.

Presidents: Jenny Olsen, Debbie Lange, Mona Mathias, Linda Sather, Shanti Emerson, Sushila Mertens, Janet Reynolds, Shanti Emerson, Sandy Yanko, Carol Turner, Laurie Segal, Erin Minett, Debbie Lindh.
(Information on years and officers welcomed).

The Democratic Women of Nevada County Eleanor Roosevelt Award

Polly Bacich thought of honoring a woman who best fulfilled the purpose of the club as proposed in the Bylaws and Policies and Procedures. Lynda Lasich bought the sculpture of Eleanor Roosevelt, the base and the plate to engrave. Recipients:
2000 Marie Maxwell
2001 Annette Gillet
2002 Mary Tucker
2003 Debbie Lange
2004 Lynda Lasich
2005 Rachel Rue
2006 Pat Roden
2007.Polly Bacich
2008.Carol Kuczora
2009 Marti Avery
2010 Margie Joehnck
2011 Shanti Emerson
2012 Sharon 0’Hara
2013 Lily Marie
2014 Janet Reynolds
2015 Sushila Mertens
2016 Heidi Hall
2017 Marilyn Chambliss
2018 Itara O’Connell
2019 Meri Mohr
2022 Carol Turner
2024 Lani Howard & Karen Tricomi
2025 Leah Schwinn

The Democratic Women of Nevada County Scholarship

Debbie Lange and Jenny Olsen, members of The Nevada County Democratic Women, NCDW, created a Scholarship in 2003 for a high school senior in honor of Annette M. Gillette, a founding member of the NCDW in 1992, an outstanding local educator, and former debate coach for Al Gore’s father. She lived to be 100-years old. In 2025 the club name changed to The Democratic Women of Nevada County and the scholarship was renamed The Democratic Women of Nevada County Scholarship.