Past President and Former Board Member Sharol Herr was recently named the second recipient of the Lannette K. Davis Impact Award from the Marion Women’s Club for outstanding service and leadership.
A longtime Marion resident, Herr was credited with helping to “save” the Club which had dwindled to a handful of members in 2014. “I talked with Sharol, and told her we really needed her help to save the Club and our history,” explained Lannette Davis, longtime Club member and first to receive the award, named in her honor, in 2022. “Sharol was elected president and with her strong people skills, the Club moved forward on solid ground.”
Working with other local women, Herr shared the Women’s Club story with colleagues, friends and acquaintances, building membership, support, participation, and stability.
“Sharol was instrumental in helping to create our mission statement, which still exists today, as well as securing grants, reducing operational costs, and increasing collaboration with other non-profits,” explained Nancy E. Hafer, past president and current treasurer. “Sharol was also the driving force behind placing our property on the National Register of Historic Places and receiving the Ohio bronze marker from the Ohio History Connection.”
Perhaps her most significant accomplishment, Hafer pointed out, is that “Sharol had the dream of renovating and restoring the original carriage house into a facility to permanently house our Club archives – valuable records that tell the stories of women’s impact in Marion since our Club was formed in 1895.”
That dream was realized last October when the Club dedicated the “Women’s History Resource Center” which also features a meeting room for small groups and office space for the Club’s growing operations.
“Dreams really do come true,” said Herr in accepting the award. “It takes grit, determination and tenacity.”
Herr serves as co-chair of the Club’s History, Museum & Preservation Committee and assists in the Club’s archiving process to permanently record women’s local history and impact at the local, State and national levels.
“As our membership approaches 100, we certainly will continue to dream of ways we can carry out our mission and continue to enrich our community,” noted Valerie Wigton, Club president. “Much of our progress over the last several years has been a result of the foundation which Sharol created. Throughout our 130-year history, we’ve positively impacted healthcare, education, culture, and the Arts, here in Marion. Sharol’s legacy will remain a solid symbol of strength, integrity and determination to empower women, enrich Marion, while preserving our historic property, its significance and impact in our community. The award is a symbol of outstanding service and leadership—and we are grateful.”
Membership in the Women’s Club is open with annual dues of $75.
