It was in 1922 that Vice Chairman of the State Republican Party, Mrs. Helen Bell, requested that Mrs. Harry Chandler, Vice Chair of the Pueblo County Republican Party, organize a club in Pueblo. Mrs. Martha Dibble became the first president of a club of twelve members. The original name of the group is unknown but they were a part of the Republican Federation of Colorado Women. This organization was established long before any national organization. When the national organization was established in 1938, Colorado was one of the 11 charter members.
By 1924, there were 45 chapters of "The Republican Federation of Colorado Women" and they were 4,500 strong. On August 5th of that year, 150 delegates met at the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver to elect officers and members of a Board of Directors (four representatives from each congressional district) and complete final steps in the organization of a state federation.Mrs. John Lemming, Jr. (daughter of former Governor Shoup) was elected president, Mrs. E.H. Velhagen of Alamosa was elected First Vice President, Mrs. Nate Warren of Ft. Collins was elected secretary, Mrs. R.S. Dibble of Denver was elected treasurer, Mrs. Helen Bell was elected representative of the Republican State Central Committee, presided.
On September 19, 1938, the Pueblo chapter joined the present Federation, with 350 members. The first president of the Pueblo chapter under the National Federation of Women's Republican Club was Mrs. Dorothy L. Rugg.
Our unit, Bel Nor Republican Women, was charted in 1962. Our name, Bel Nor, comes from "Belmont" and "Northside" however women from all areas of Pueblo County are always welcome.
Republican Women have been organized and active in Pueblo for the last 84 years!
