Byliners Honor Rita Aragon, Martha Burger, Mary Ann Eckstein, Sister Joseph Marie Gibbons, Pam Newby, Mary Lillian (Lil) Ross and Laura Warriner

Joan Gilmore reports that the 49th annual Byliner Awards dinner on Feb 8 will honor the following women:

Rita Aragon - the first female general in the Oklahoma Air National Guard.
Martha Burger - treasurer and senior VP of Human Resources at Chesapeake Energy Corp.
Mary Ann Eckstein - senior VP/director of news for NewsChannel 4 (KFOR-TV).
Sister Joseph Marie Gibbons - leader of the Carmelite Mother House for over 20 years
Pam Newby - director of Special Care Inc.
Lil Ross - active community volunteer.
Laura Warriner - director of Untitled [ArtSpace] gallery.

Congratulations to all.

Okie Lauren Nelson is Miss America

Lawton resident and University of Central Oklahoma drama student Lauren Nelson is the sixth Miss Oklahoma to win the Miss America Pageant. Nelson, 20, received the crown from fellow Oklahoman Jennifer Berry, 23, of Tulsa, who won last year's pageant. Read The Oklahoman story here.

Paula Stover, Polly Nichols = Treasures

Polly Nichols and Paula Stover are among six Oklahoma City leaders who will be honored in April as "Treasurers for Tomorow" by the Oklahoma Health Center Foundation. A well deserved recognition for both of these extraordinary women leaders. Read more here.

Nine Oklahoma Women Selected for 2007 Induction into Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame

The Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women will honor the nine newest inductees into the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame at ceremonies at the State Capitol on March 29. The program will begin at 4:00 p.m. followed by a celebratory reception in the Capitol Rotunda. The public is welcome to attend.

The inductees are Sherri Coale (Norman); Ginny Creveling (Tulsa); Dr. Joe Anna Hibler (Weatherford); Maxine Horner (Tulsa); Dr. Kay Martin (Oklahoma City); Terry Neese (Oklahoma City); Dr. Carolyn Taylor (Claremore); and Della Warrior (Red Rock and Santa Fe, NM). Claudia Tarrington of Tulsa will be inducted posthumously.

Kate Barnard Luncheon Held at State Capitol

Women legislators and statewide elected officials attended a luncheon at the Capitol Thursday hosted by the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women. The occasion was presentation of the Kate Barnard Award to Congresswoman Mary Fallin and Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins. Dr. Anne Morgan, Chair of the Women's Foundation of Oklahoma, spoke and Commission Chair Dr. Jennifer Paustenbaugh made the award presentations.

The Kate Barnard Award was established in 1988 to honor outstanding women in public service in Oklahoma. Nominees are from the ranks of elected or appointed salaried public officials in Oklahoma. Previous recipients include US Federal Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange, State Senator Penny Williams and State Senator Angela Monson. Click here to read the full press release.

Wilma Palmer: First Black Woman on Tulsa County's District Court

Wilma Palmer was selected January 24 to serve as a Special Judge for the Tulsa County District Court - the first black woman to hold that position. Read more here.

2007 Inductees to Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame

Congratulations to the nine women who will be inducted into the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame at the State Capitol on March 29. They know who they are and I will announce them here on Monday when the Commission on the Status of Women sends out a press release.

The mission of the OCSW is to improve the quality of life for women, families, and children in Oklahoma. The Commission established the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame in 1982 to recognize Oklahoma women who are pioneers in their field or in projects that benefit Oklahoma, who have made a significant contribution to the state of Oklahoma, who serve or have served as role models to other Oklahoma women, who are "unsung heroes" who have made a difference in the lives of Oklahomans or Americans because of their actions, who have championed other women, women's issues, or who have served as public policy advocates for issues important to women. Eighty women have previously been inducted into the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame.

Leaving for Kenya :-)

Sorry I have been posting so little recently. I am one week away from leading a mission team to Kenya to work on a children's library that we are building at the Kaaga School for Deaf Children in Meru. Between fundraising and team recruitment and training and all the other pre-departure tasks involved, I have been distracted. I'll get back to work on this blog and the associated (and terribly neglected) website upon my return (toward the end of February). I'd refer you to our mission trip blog but it has been neglected, too. But we will try to post updates on it while we are in Kenya! Pray for my team, please.

Te Ata Honored With Garden

The Oklahoma Arts Council has announced that, as one of its Oklahoma Centennial Projects, it will create a "Te Ata Garden" on the east side of the State Capitol Building. There will be a water feature and a larger than life sculpture of Chickasaw storyteller Te Ata.

Wilma Mankiller to Speak in OKC Feb 22

The Oklahoma Humanities Council will hold its 22nd Annual Oklahoma Lecture in the Humanities on Thursday, Feb 22 at the Oklahoma History Center (2401 N Laird Ave) and Wilma Mankiller is the featured speaker. Say no more.Her address begins at 8; get there early and take in some of the displays. It is free and open to the public. She is an Oklahoma Treasure. Don't miss this chance to here Wilma. For more inf, call 405-235-0280.