Journal Record's 2007 "Woman of the Year" Finalists

Each year, The Journal Record honors 50 "women making a difference" from all across Oklahoma. At the Woman of the Year banquet, one of those 50 women is honored as Woman of the Year. Click here to view a list of The Journal Record's 2007 women honorees.

"To My Sisters . . ."

You've probably received this inspiring essay about women supporting women a time or two but it is still worth another look. Click here to view the piece.

Enid Public School Board Member Willa Jo Fowler Honored

Willa Jo Fowler received the 2007 Distinguished Service award from the Oklahoma State School Board Association last week. Fowler has 35 years of experience in education and has served on the Enid Public School Board 32 years. Click here to read more.

Top 500 Women-Owned Business List Includes 4 Oklahoma Firms

Four Oklahoma firms made the "Top 500 Women-Owned Business" list maintained by DiversityBusiness.com. Three are in Tulsa: Walden Energy (ranked 14th), Tamara Walden - Principal (annual sales = $180 million); Tiger Natural Gas (ranked 17th), Lori Nalley - Principal (annual sales $148.7), and Smithco Engineering (ranked 84th), Judith Smith - principal (annual sales $36 million). The fourth firm is based in McAlester: Bonus of America Inc. (ranked 140th), Arleen Cavanaugh - Principal. View details here.

More Images from Women's History Exhibit

Click on images to enlarge.

Teri Bowers Heads Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks

The Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks, Oklahoma has appointed Teri Bowers Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director. She has 18 years experience in television news including at KTUL-Channel 8. She is married to KTUL Chief meteorologist Frank Mitchell and they have two children.

Oklahoma's Jeane Kirkpatrick Profiled

The Okahoman has a nice article on the US's 16th Ambassador to the UN (and Oklahoma native) Jeane Kirkpatrick today. Read the article here...

Wilma Mankiller & Michael Wallis = Tulsa Headliners

The Tulsa Press Club will honor Wilma Mankiller, first female principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, and best selling author Michael Wallis by recognizing them as the 2007 Headliners. They will be honored at a banquet Sept. 7 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Tulsa. The Headliners Club was started in 1956 by the Tulsa Press Club to recognize outstanding civic, business, professional and industrial leaders of the community.

Aug 26 is Women's Equality Day

Happy Women's Equality Day! Check out these websites and take note of which women they choose to highlight!


1.) About.com's page about Women's Equality Day.


2.) The White House's 2007 Women's Equality Day Proclamation.


3.) A 34 page report on women's equality published by the Directorate of Research, Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute, Patrick Air Force Base, Florida. (Hats off to our women in the military!) Were you familiar with Kate Millett (who Time Magazine called "the Mao Tse-tung of Women’s liberation") or her book Sexual Politics?

New Book on Oklahoma "Voices From the Heartland"

The University of Oklahoma Press is about to release Voices From the Heartland -- a collection of essays edited by four Rogers State University faculty - Carolyn Anne Taylor, Emily Dial-Driver, Carole Burrage; and Sally Emmons-Featherston.

Celebrating women's contributions to Oklahoma, the essays are written by renowned Oklahoma women including Wilma Mankiller, Kim Henry, Billie Letts, Maria Tallchief, and Sherri Coale.

To read more, click here.

Check out their great website here.

To purchase a copy at Amazon, click here.

Voice of the Tallgrass - Native Women Artists of Oklahoma

I have blogged previously on this exhibit at the Pioneer Woman Museum in Ponca City that runs through September 16. It showcases a large variety of 25 very talented Native women of Oklahoma including Cherokee bead worker Martha Berry, Osage artist Wendy Ponca, Kaw painter Cindy Russell, Sac and Fox ribbon worker Shalah Rowlen, and Cherokee painter Virginia Stroud. The show is open Tues - Sat: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sun: 1 - 5 p.m.. Admission: $3 adults, $2.50 seniors, $1 youth (ages 6-18), free for children under age 6.

Here is the museum's website: http://www.pioneerwomanmuseum.com/

and here is a nice article about the exhibit: http://www.nativetimes.com/index.asp?action=displayarticle&article_id=8949

Oklahoma Women's Groups meet with Rep Mary Fallin

Representatives from Oklahoma women's organizations including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., American Association of University Women, Federally Employed Women, Girls Scouts - Red Lands Council, League of Women Voters of Oklahoma, National Association of Women Business Owners, National Federation of Business and Professional Women, the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women, the Oklahoma Women's Network, the Women's Foundation of Oklahoma, and the YWCA of Oklahoma City met with Representative Mary Fallin August 21st to discuss legislation and programs that can improve the status of women and girls in Oklahoma.

Billie Rodely Moving from OETA to Mary Fallin's Staff

I know several staffers whose relationship with Congresswoman Mary Fallin's office has ended in recent weeks. So I was delighted to learn via a post on The McCarville Report that Billie Rodely is going onto the Congresswoman's staff. We will miss her fine reporting at OETA but this promises to be an exciting move for both women. I assume this means Billie will have to give up her prominent role in the Oklahoma City Gridiron Show; I'll miss that.

Deana Franke & Miki Farris Nominated for Award

Two Oklahoma women have been nominated for the 2007 “Stand On A Better World” Award and YOU can cast a vote for one. The award is presented by Mannington Mills, a leading manufacturer of flooring.

The program recognizes and celebrates women who “do the right thing” to make a difference in the lives of people and communities in America and around the globe. There are three levels of awards -- local, national and global. One winner will be chosen in each award category and receive $10,000 for her chosen charity. One of those three will be the Grand Prize recipient receiving $25,000 for her chosen charity. One woman, chosen by online voting, will receive the “Your Better World Award” and $10,000 for her chosen charity. Winners will be announced in October 2007, with the awards ceremony held Nov. 15 in Philadelphia.

So cast your vote for either Deana Frank who helped found and now run a battered women's shelter in Tahlequah or Miki Farris who founded the Infant Crisis Center in Oklahoma City. Check out the program and cast your vote here. Voting ends on September 7, 2007.

MJ Alexander's "Salt of the Earth"

Oklahoma artist MJ Alexander has traveled nearly 5,000 miles to photograph the faces of Oklahoma's Centenarians. Beginning August 17th, her photos will be on display at The Oklahoma Heritage Center in Oklahoma City. In addition, Alexander has published the book Salt of the Earth: The Wit and Wisdom from Oklahoma's Elders. Her exhibit and book pay tribute to the individuals who have both lived and created Oklahoma's history.

Stillwater Sculptor Lou Moore Hale

OU's Sooner magazine has a nice article in their Spring 2007 issue about Stillwater sculptor Lou Moore Hale's Centennial project "Facing a Century: Life Stories in Sculpture." Lou carved the portraits and her husband, OSU professor emeritus in history, Doug Hale wrote biographies. The works are on exhibit around Oklahoma. In August, they will be on display at Redlands Community College. View her work here.