Archives West Finding Aid

The Action Women's Exchange (AWE) was formed in 1978. According to former AWE president Annie J. McKinlay, the organization was formed by "two women who were in management positions in a male-dominated business world and needed another woman in similar situations to discuss mutual problems." By 1979, membership grew to over 70, at which point the organization nominated officers and drafted by-laws. According to the 1979 by-laws, members included Spokane area women who met one of three criteria: business owner, employment in a job requiring exercise of judgment which cannot be standardized, or involvement in work consistently original and creative in nature. In the fall of 2000, the organization discussed the dissolution of the organization after over 20 years of existence. In 1999, the group consisted of 51 dues paying members, down from 137 in 1993.