The Yellow Rose Luncheon
The Yellow Rose has a long history of being associated with women's equality. In August of 1920, women from all over the United States and from all areas of Tennessee came to Nashville to fight for the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which would give all women in the United States the right to vote.
The women were as diverse as any group of women ever assembled. National suffragist leaders from all over the country came to Nashville to work with prominent Tennessee suffragist leaders. There were women from rural and urban backgrounds, different social classes, all different ages and different races. They worked together in writing letters, making speeches, and canvassing legislators.
Despite their diversity, they were united under a single symbol: the yellow rose.
The special meaning of yellow roses, as defined by florists today, is friendship and freedom, which seems very fitting given the role of the yellow rose in women's history.
 Had the women who came to Nashville in August of 1920 not prevailed, the women honored at the 2009 Yellow Roses Luncheon would not have been given the opportunities to work in the political arena or to make the substantial contributions they have to the people of Tennessee.
There are three primary reasons the Tennessee Women's Political Caucus chose to honor Jane Eskind and Kim McMillan. Each is a long time member of the Tennessee Women's Political Caucus, they've dedicated their lives to public service and each has tossed their hat into the ring to run for the office of Governor of Tennessee.
 Another member of the Caucus who falls into this same category of extraordinary women is Anna Belle Clement O'Brien. Miss Anna Belle wasn't able to attend the luncheon, but conveyed her deep regret that she couldn't be there that she was honored to be included in the same class of women as Jane Eskind and Kim McMillan.
Miss Anna Belle ran for the Governor's seat in 1982, losing in the primary to Knoxville mayor, Randy Tyree - who lost in the general election to Governor Lamar Alexander.
Miss Jane was a candidate in 1986. She came in second to Ned McWherter in the primary, who went on to win the Governor's seat against Winfield Dunn.
Kim McMillan has recently announced her candidacy for Governor in the 2010 election.
 The Tennessee Women's Political Caucus is proud of the contributions each of these Caucus members have made and continue to make to the political fabric of Tennessee and the people who live here.
Bouquets of a dozen yellow roses were presented to both Jane Eskind and Kim McMillan, and another bouquet was delivered to Miss Anna Belle at her home in Crossville.
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