PRESIDENT'S BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Lois Frels is a highly qualified, hard-working visionary who brings to the office of presidency of the Illinois Federation of Republican Women the knowledge, experience and creativity, as well as a lifetime of being placed in leadership positions required to meet today and tomorrow's challenges. Her extensive history of public, professional and political experiences is found at the international, national, state and local levels.

Nationally, she has served as a NFRW Board Member, researcher having conducted two NFRW surveys, as well as political studies at the state and local levels. She is immediate 1st Vice President of IFRW, past president of Republican Women of Rock Island County and led the reorganization of that organization. She served as a member of National Policy Forum, Reforming Health Care Council.

Frels is a prolific writer, having authored more than 70 publications. Frels has been the recipient of many awards and honors, such as member of Leadership American Class 2002. She has served on numerous policy making boards, such as Illinois Health Care Cost Containment Council. To her credit are many 'firsts,' such as first woman elected to Riverdale School Board (3 terms) and earning a Ph.D. at a time when few women were admitted.

Educationally, she started by earning a diploma in nursing, progressing to a Ph.D. in Education, Public Health Nursing from the University of Minnesota. Professionally, her career has led her on a path of achievement from nurse, teacher, guidance counselor, and from instructor to full professor and administrator of University Baccalaureate / Masters Degree Program. She currently is principle of a consulting firm.

A native of Illinois, Frels resides on a farm in western Illinois with her husband. They have two sons, two daughters-in-law, and two grandchildren.

Dr. Frels is committed to the promotion of women in politics holding elected and policy making positions, to the promotion of younger women in IFRW while at the same time maintaining programs of interest for IFRW members as they progress along the continuum of life. She encourages an outreach, diverse and all-inclusive organization.

She believes that a combination of yesterday's history with today's technology will formulate tomorrow's ideologies where women play an even greater political role.

Publisher's Note: Text published as provided by Illinois FRW.

FEDERATION HISTORY

Illinois Federation of Republican Women is the largest all-volunteer Republican women's organization in Illinois. We are a grassroots organization organized into seven regions and 65 clubs. We are united by the Republican philosophy and are dedicated to electing Republican candidates to local, state and national office.Additionally, IFRW provides leadership training, assistance in running for office, opportunities to meet political leaders and elected officials, networking opportunities, information about local, state and national issues and involvement in campaigns and elections. 

The Illinois Federation affiliated with the NFRW in 1940. According to state history, "In 1891, the women in Illinois had been granted the right to vote in school elections, and to these women that meant political action. In 1896, a group of Illinois feminists felt that the time had come for action and advertised in the newspapers for a mass meeting of women to be held in Springfield just before the regular state convention." The call stated it was for the purpose of "perfecting a women's Republican club" and selecting a woman candidate for university trustee. 

In the following years, independent clubs were formed. In September 1940, Republican women from all over the state met and elected Marie Suthers the first state president. She served until 1943, the year she was elected president of the NFRW. Two other former state presidents have also served as NFRW president: Patricia Hutar (1976-77) and Mary Jo Arndt (1998-99). 

Past presidents include:
Kay Hatcher
Shirley Fazio
Maralee I. Lindley
Regina Benson
Frances Killey
Josephine Oblinger
Chloanne Greathouse, 1998-99
Charlotte Mushow, 1994-97
Jan Landis, 1992-93
Virginia Macdonald, 1973
Hazel Watson, 1969
Ginny Kenney, 1964
Phyllis Schlafly, 1960
Maryan Boardman, 1959

Publisher's Note: Text published as provided by Illinois FRW.

LOCAL CLUBS

Addison County RW African American RWC of    Rock Island Alexander County RW Aurora RWC Bloomingdale Township    RW Bureau County RW Capital City RW Carroll County RW Cass County RW Champaign County RW Charleston Area RW Chicago RWC * Chicago RW Network Christian County RWC Clark County RWC Coles County RW Crawford County RW Cumberland County RWC DeKalb County RWC Dewitt County RWC Douglas County RW Downers Grove WRC DuPage FRW Eastern Will County RW Edgar County RWC Edwardsville RWC Effingham County RW Elgin RW Elmhurst RWC

Fox Valley Council of RW Fulton County RW GBS RWC Glen Ellyn RWC GROW: A Republican    Organization for Women Grundy County RW Hancock County RW Henderson County RW Homer RW Illinois R Comm W's    Roundtable Iroquois County RWC Jackson County RW Jefferson County RW Johnson County RW Kendall County RW Knox County RW La Salle County RWC Lee County RW Logan County RWC Lombard RWC Macon County RW Macoupin County RW McDonough County RW McLean County RW Moultrie County RWC Naperville RWC Northern Illinois RW Northern Kane County RW

Northwest RWC Northwest Suburban RW Oak Brook WRC Ogle County WRC Peoria County RW Perry County RW Piatt County RW RWC of Union County RW of Henry County RW of South Lake County RW of Rock Island Salem WRC South DuPage Women's    Republican Organization St. Clair County RW Streator RWC Union County RWC United Southland RW Upper Northwest Illinois RW Vermilion County RW Villa Park RWC Warren County RWC West Suburban RW Wheaton WRC Wheeling County RW Whiteside County RWC Williamson County RWC Wayne Winfield Township    RW York Township RW