Women's Leadership Tea

GRCC Women's Leadership Tea

The Best Kept Secret in American History

Join us for an elegant afternoon of tea, networking, and a fascinating presentation about the extraordinary women whose courage, perseverance, and leadership secured the right to vote. Through compelling stories and historical insight, Patricia "Pat" Wirth brings to life one of America's greatest leadership movements and the lessons it still offers today's leaders.

What You'll Experience

✔ The untold story behind the 70-year fight for women's suffrage
✔ Tea service with sandwiches, specialty teas, and miniature desserts
✔ Networking with fellow professionals
✔ Insights on courage, perseverance, and leading through change from one of the most significant movements in American history

At a time when our communities and workplaces continue to navigate change, this remarkable story reminds us that lasting progress requires courage, conviction, and perseverance.

More than five million women spent over 70 years fighting for a right many of us now take for granted: the right to vote. Along the way, they faced public ridicule, imprisonment, violence, and deep divisions within their own movement. Yet they persevered, changing the course of American history.

But how much do you really know about the movement that changed America?

Have you ever heard of the Night of Terror, when suffragists were beaten and abused for demanding the right to vote? Did you know the movement succeeded not because everyone agreed, but because women with very different approaches remained committed to a common purpose?

Drawing from years of research and firsthand experience preserving this important chapter of American history, Pat reveals the determination, sacrifice, and resilience of the women whose fight transformed our nation. 

More than a history presentation, this is a story of leadership, resilience, and the courage to create lasting change. Whether you're a business leader, entrepreneur, professional, student, community advocate, or history enthusiast, you'll leave with a deeper appreciation for the women whose efforts helped shape our democracy and a renewed perspective on leading through adversity, conviction, and change.

Your registration includes a thoughtfully prepared afternoon tea featuring:

Choice of Tea Sandwich

• Prosciutto, Burrata, Arugula & Truffle Crema on Mezzaluna Bread or
• Fresh Mozzarella, Tomatoes & Basil Pesto on Mezzaluna Bread

Two Specialty Teas
Enjoy your choice of two featured tea selections.

Three Miniature Desserts
Select any three handcrafted miniature desserts from an assortment of sweet treats.

The fight for the vote wasn't just history. It was one of America's greatest leadership movements.
 

After a successful career in corporate America and more than 30 years as an entrepreneur, Pat was recruited in 2014 to serve as CEO of the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial Association. She successfully led the organization's operations and fundraising efforts as it fulfilled its mission to build the nation's only memorial dedicated to recognizing all suffragists and telling the remarkable seven-decade story of the women's suffrage movement.

Today, Pat serves as the Memorial's Docent Coordinator, leading tours for visitors from across the United States and around the world. In June 2026, she welcomed Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger to the memorial as the Governor signed legislation supporting women and families.

Pat also co-founded the League of Women Voters of the Northern Shenandoah Valley and currently serves as its president.

Her unique blend of executive leadership, entrepreneurial success, and passion for preserving women's history makes for an engaging and unforgettable presentation.