JOHNSTOWN- A timeless message of empowerment that extends from Elizabeth Cady Stanton's fight for women's suffrage to the modern-day women, whoever she chooses to be, was the focus of the 2010 Elizabeth Cady Stanton Women's Symposium on Saturday.
The Eleanor Roosevelt quote "Do the thing you think you cannot do," capsulated the spirit of the event, which culminated in a talk by keynote speaker Robin Gerber, who has penned several books and articles including "Leadership the Eleanor Roosevelt Way: Timeless Strategies from the First Lady of Courage."
Gerber told stories of Roosevelt's press conferences as the first lady, a move unprecedented in Washington, D.C., and her forgiveness and grace toward her husband's mistress.
She said that Roosevelt was not received well by many in her time and the Ku Klux Klan had a $25,000 price on her head.
"She did not consent and drove herself further into the issues she was most concerned about," Gerber said.
Gerber lives in Washington, D.C. and also teaches the course, "Authentic Leadership for Women" at the Institute for Management Studies.
She said there is a double standard that women leaders must struggle with that was highlighted in the 2008 presidential election.
She said women should "reach out and try to make changes" rather than grumble about being left out in the workplace.
"We should look at women leaders as leaders," she said. "It shouldn't matter what their gender is."
The symposium, held at Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery Board of Cooperative Education Services on Route 67, drew more than 100 women. The group included students and senior citizens who shopped at local vendors set up at the event and take part in three of 15 workshops that ranged from herbal infusions to lessons in self-defense.
Justine Maxian, 18, and Victoria Maxian, 21, sisters from Johnstown, registered for the symposium after they saw a flyer for it at the library.
"It's an opportunity to learn about history," Victoria said.
"Elizabeth Cady Stanton, being a local from our town-that should really mean something to us," Justine said.
Both said they enjoyed learning about the undergarments women from Stanton's era wore, including four layers of petticoats and restraining corsets.
"We're lucky we don't have to wear those," Victoria said.
Cindy Flanagan, from Hagaman, said she loved seeing both young and senior women at the event.
"I like the fact that we all come together to learn and appreciate what happened in the past," she said.
Flanagan, a teacher, enjoyed learning about starting a business at one of the workshops she attended.
"I'm very proud we have a lot of women in this are who have been leaders and even women mayors in Johnstown and Amsterdam. I like the fact that young girls don't hesitate to enter any field," Flanagan said.
Coline Jenkins, Stanton's great-great-granddaughter, said she believes Stanton would have been proud to attend the event if she were alive.
"She would have been thrilled to step out of the past and see after 250 years, Johnstown elected a female to lead," Jenkins said.
Lee Lanois, a member of the Johnstown Historical Society, sold CD's of photo slideshows of the historic places in the city. He pointed out that the legacy of Stanton stretches beyond women to all people.
"It wasn't just women's rights, it was person's rights," he said. "She was important to all women and it happened that her father [a lawyer and judge] was strong enough to help her realize that she was a strong woman."
Johnstown's Mayor Sarah Slingerland pointed out the importance of strong men in women's lives.
"When I was first approached [to run for mayor] I said, 'No way, I can't do that,'" Slingerland said, but her husband helped persuade her to run.
She said sometimes being a woman and a leader is difficult because when people attack her decisions it can turn into a personal attack based on her gender.
Helen Martin, the president of the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Women's Consortium, said the group began planning for the event in 2008.
"It's a labor-intensive effort-but a labor of love. It's the culmination for everything we try to stress to the community about what Elizabeth Cady Stanton stood for," Martin said.
