In the San Juan Islands, women have long held positions of civic and political leadership | Women in Business

Today is National Women’s Equality Day, the anniversary of the date that the 19th Amendment was formally adopted into the U.S. Constitution.

To commemorate that anniversary, this week’s edition of The Journal of the San Juan Islands features an eight-page Women in Business section, profiling local businesswomen and their contributions to our local economy.

In the San Juan Islands, women have long held positions of civic and political leadership.

In 1999, all service clubs on San Juan Islands were led by women.

From 1999-2004, two of three members of the San Juan County Commission were women.

For most of this decade, the Friday Harbor Town Council has been comprised mostly of women; women currently occupy four of five council positions. In addition, women occupy the offices of town clerk and town treasurer.

Women continue to occupy positions of leadership, influencing public policy and guiding services that meet the needs of islanders.

Here’s a list of some notable public women on San Juan Island:

— Karin Agosta, member, San Juan County Planning Commission.

— Jeri Ahrenius, member, San Juan Island Cemetery District Commission.

— Jenny Atkinson, director, The Whale Museum.

— Georgia Baciu, member, Northwest Senior Services Board.

— Lenore Bayuk, chairwoman, San Juan Public Health District No. 1 Commission (Inter Island Medical Center and San Juan EMS).

— Ann Benedict, co-president, Inter Island Medical Guild.

— Carrie Brooks, member, Friday Harbor Town Council.

— Sally Bryan, member, San Juan Island School Board.

— Mary Jean Cahail, president, San Juan Historical Society.

— Julie Corey, president, Kiwanis Club of Friday Harbor.

— Anna Maria de Freitas, member, Friday Harbor Town Council.

— Susan Dehlendorf, member, San Juan County Planning Commission.

— Nancy DeVaux, executive director, San Juan Community Home Trust. She is also president of Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor.

— Stephanie Buffum Field, executive director, Friends of the San Juans.

— Ruth Fleming, chairwoman, Democrats of San Juan County.

— Ingrid Gabriel, clerk of the San Juan County Council.

— Tami Hayes, harbormaster, Port of Friday Harbor.

— Vicki Heater, member, San Juan Islands Conservation District Board of Supervisors.

— Milene Henley, San Juan County auditor.

— Deborah Hopkins, executive director, San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau.

— Liz Illg, member, Friday Harbor Town Council.

— Nancy Jones, chairwoman, San Juan County Land Bank Commission.

— Susan Key, manager, San Juan Islands Conservation District.

— Mary Knackstedt, coordinator, San Juan County Marine Resources Committee.

— Carrie Lacher, member, Friday Harbor Town Council. She is also chairwoman of the San Juan County Solid Waste Advisory Committee and a member of the San Juan County Housing Bank Commission.

— Dorothy Lawson, president, Friday Harbor Food Bank.

— Robbie Lawson, president, Friends of the San Juan Island Library.

— Heidi Lopez, member, San Juan Island School Board.

— Helen Machin-Smith, director, Island Stage Left.

— Barbara Marrett, member, Friday Harbor Port Commission.

— Patricia McKay, member, San Juan County Ferry Advisory Committee.

— Pat Nieman, president, Community Arts Theatre Society.

— Cloud Oakes, member, San Juan County Parks and Recreation Commission.

— Marilyn O’Connor, executive director, Port of Friday Harbor.

— Randi Dooley Park, member, San Juan Public Health District No. 1 Commission.

— Janice Peterson, president, San Juan Community Theatre.

— Wendy Picinich, Friday Harbor town treasurer.

— Lovel Pratt, member, San Juan County Commission (San Juan South).

— Barbara Rosenkotter, lead entity for salmon recovery, San Juan County.

— Pierette Rouse, co-president, Inter Island Medical Guild.

— Joyce Rupp, director, San Juan County Senior Services Department.

— Doris Schaller, supervisor, San Juan County Elections Department.

— Alisa Schoultz, member, San Juan Island Park and Recreation District Commission. She also served as chairwoman of the Friday Harbor Centennial Advisory Committee.

— Judy Sear, member, Cape San Juan Water District Commission.

— Jan Sears, San Juan County treasurer.

— Joy Sevier, president, San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce.

— Joyce Sobel, director, San Juan Island Family Resource Center.

— Lori Stokes, co-leader, San Juan Anti-Litter Initiative.

— Keri Talbott, member, San Juan Public Health District No. 1 Commission.

— Amy Taylor, Friday Harbor town clerk.

— Sally Kerr Thomsen, director, San Juan Island Park and Recreation District.

— Laura Tretter, director, San Juan Island Library.

— Elyse Van den Bosch, publisher, The Journal of the San Juan Islands.

— Nancy White, president, League of Women Voters.

— Joan White, San Juan County clerk.