Full IWOGC Local History

Our local NAIW chapter had it’s beginnings in February, 1942. Several days after a meeting of the Surety Managers Association in Columbus, Mr. Robert DeVore,

Manager of the Cincinnati Branch of Hartford Accident and Indemnity Company asked Rose Schill if she knew of a women’s insurance club in Cincinnati. It seems the meeting he had just attended had been arranged by the Columbus Women’s Club.

In March, 1942, preliminary meetings were held in the offices of Fidelity and Deposit Company. Rose Schill, Nita Sloan, and Dorothy Rath had all been members of the former Surety Luncheon Club, which was no longer in existence. Between twelve and fifteen women came, most of whom expressed interest in organizing a local club. The members of this club would be employed in all lines of insurance, except life insurance, with payment of dues and the sponsoring of educational talks and discussions. No records were kept and there are no definite dates of the two meetings.

In June 1942, the first official meeting was held in the offices of Fidelity and Deposit Company, with about fifteen women attending. At this meeting, they adopted the name of Cincinnati Association of Insurance Women and elected their officers. The minutes of this organizational meeting are a matter of record.

In June 1943, the Cincinnati Association of Insurance Women was chartered and became a part of the National Association of Insurance Women, International.

Local Membership Dues: $2.50

In 1949, a convention savings account was established with each member paying $5.00 per year.

Presidents during this period (As far as we can tell from records) were:

Rose Schill Gingerich (First President)

Geraldine Woolever (Deceased)

Irma Ankenbauer Landt (Deceased)