October 2026 Newsletter

Our WE non-partisan meetings are held at the Rogers County Building, 416 S. Brady, Claremore, OK at 4:30 on the last Thursday of each month. 
Significant others are always welcome.

11 Days to the Midterms!!!

You Need To Know!

Thurs., Oct. 29, 4:00/4:30—Our next meeting needs you! WE will be holding election of officers, board members, and updating our bylaws and standing rules. The proposed changes will be mailed to 2026 dues-paying members in advance of the meeting next week. In addition to this important election, we will be holding a round-table discussion, the first WE members have had in some time, our version of a “think tank.” It is always good to hear your ideas (frustrations?) about what is currently happening in our nation and state, but we also need to hear what direction you feel Women Empowered needs to take next year. Please join us on Thurs., the 29^th for this important meeting.

Sat., Oct. 31—Will Rogers Parade—WE is entered in the parade, and we will be emphasizing the importance of voting. We are to line up at 9:00 on the Expo Center grounds. We are not receiving our place in the lineup until that morning, so you may have to search a bit.

The parade begins at 10:00 and will end at the First Baptist Church. You will need transportation back to the Expo, if that is where you park. Our van can take five and riders in our entry can ride in it back to the fairgrounds, if needed. 

We need an additional six to ride in the pickup bed with our Lady Liberty. We have three walkers who will pass out candy. We need one more walking—anyone need to get in steps? If you would like to participate, contact Sharon at (918) 981-0509 or sdouthitt@prodigy.net. Please bring wrapped candy for the parade to the WE mtg., Thursday, Oct. 29.

Sat., Nov. 7, 9:00—Claremore Pride Flea Market—WE will be participating in the Claremore Pride Flea Market at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1301 N. Sioux in Claremore. Our tables will be a fundraiser for Women Empowered. You may bring items you wish to donate to our membership meeting on the 29^th, or you can bring them to the flea market yourself on that moring. If you cannot make the meeting but have small to medium-sized items you would like to donate, reach out to Lesley Thomas at (918) 853-2343 to make arrangements for picking them up.

From the President's Desk
As we approach what is likely the most important election in our lifetime, I must believe that the efforts of our relatively small group of very caring women are going to have made a difference in our little corner of the world. The darker the campaigning becomes, and it’s reaching lows never seen before, we can openly see the desperation in the MAGA world. The blatant lies that we all recognized long ago are finally being brought home to his followers by the pain in the pocketbook and the loss of so much that matters. 

For those who pray, let’s pray for the protection of the election from our would-be dictator, for an outcome that allows for the correction of so many wrongs that we have suffered as a nation, and for a divided nation once again finding a way to work together for the common good of all.

May our final meeting of the year on November 20 be a time when we truly have cause for celebration!

WE Members--You Are the Best!! 

WE asked for your help sending postcards to Rogers County women who did not vote in the last midterms, and you came through. We were initially able to send cards to 1150 women. 900 of those cards mailed we ordered from the organization, Signs of Justice. Because of our participation in their effort, Signs notified us that across the nation, 2,316,665 of their cards were sent out to people who haven’t been voting.

Then WE started on an additional list of those women in Rogers County who did not vote in the last TWO elections with cartoon cards centered on issues like “Only you can prevent a dictator--VOTE!!” and to date I estimate that we have mailed an additional 400 cards. Thank you to all who donated time, stamps, or funding. Give yourselves a pat on the back, ladies!

I also want to praise our board members and officers who have given their time to meet every month leading to the election this year. The board held its last meeting of 2026 this month. The officers will carry the torch in November. That is no small thing considering the extra time everyone gave when all are leading busy lives. I could not have asked for a better group to work with.  

On September 25 th , WE member Debra Whitfill was honored by Appleseed with one of the Good Apple Awards as Volunteer of the Year in a lovely ceremony held at The Vista at 21 in Tulsa. Her award was presented by Erika Wright (one of our former speakers from Appleseed). Melissa Provenzano was also honored as one of two Legislators of the Year.

Kudos to Chris Thomas for a great effort in holding a second NO ICE Protest at RSU on Oct. 1. The weather did not cooperate, but the comments, the music by our own Amber Robinson-Rodriguez and others, the poetry, and the art provided by RSU professors and students were impactful to those who were able to attend.

WE was once again represented with a table display at the Tar Creek Conference held at NEO in Miami on Oct. 6-8. Amber Rodriguez was one of the panelists for the discussion held about data centers. She did an excellent job of representing the steps to a data center here in Claremore, the difficulty in getting public records, and the role that the lack of transparency played. The conference continues to be impressive. The Stop the Smelter effort was an important part of the programming on the final day. 

Fortunately, the weather did cooperate for the NO KINGS Protest last Saturday. It was a beautiful day, and the decision to hold the event at 41^st and Yale was a winning idea. The turnout was great. I counted at least ten WE women in attendance. The signs created by the attendees were terrific. My favorite: Grab Him by the Midterms. The response in the traffic was very different from the last time we were at that site. Constant supportive horn honking, thumbs up, and peace signs in the traffic; no “universal signs of disapproval” this time. Very uplifting to be there.

Standing Together for a Better Tomorrow

Sharon Douthitt, President

Calendar of Events

You can find these events on our website under the Calendar tab

OCTOBER

Fri., Oct. 23, 3:00-4:30—Car window painting to get out the vote. Parking lot south of Rogers County Building. Drop by if you want to participate.

Sun., Oct. 25, 4:30—Defunding Our Future: UNEQUAL EDUCATION & The Impact of School Vouchers, Historic Big 10 Ballroom, 1624 E. Apache St., Tulsa, Free & Free Dinner but you must register here.



Weds., Oct. 28—Early voting begins and lasts through Saturday. W, Th, Fri 8-6; Sat. 8-2

Thurs., Oct. 28—Anniversary of the dedication of the Statue of Liberty

Thurs., Oct. 29 - WE Meeting, Rogers County Building, 416 S. Brady in Claremore

4:00—WE Sign In & Table Sale

4:30-6:00—WE Membership Meeting/Vote on Officers, Board,

and Bylaws & Standing Rules Revisions

6:30—RoCo Dems. Meeting

Fri., Oct 30 at 4 p.m. - Parade to the Polls--Meet at the Dem/WE office (106 S. Cherokee in Claremore) and walk together to the Election Board at 4:00 to participate in early voting.

Sat., Oct. 31, 10:00—Will Rogers Parade (line up at 9:00)

NOVEMBER

Tues, Nov. 3—Midterm Elections

Sat., Nov. 7, 9:00—Claremore Pride Flea Market at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1310 N. Sioux.

Tues., Nov. 11, 11:11—Veterans Day Parade

Thurs., Nov. 12, 4:00—WE Officer’s Mtg. at office

Fri., Nov. 20, 4:00/4:30—Final WE Membership Meeting of the year (different date, same location)

December

No meetings!! 

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