OK Policy asks Gov Henry for Oversight Board for Economic Stimulus Package

A new budget brief from Oklahoma Policy Institute provides detailed analysis of the newly-enacted $787 billion federal economic stimulus package including the monies coming to Oklahoma.

OK Policy has also issued a press release urging Governor Henry to promote transparency and public confidence in the expenditure of funds coming to Oklahoma by forming an Oklahoma Economic Recovery Accountability and Oversight Board. "Creating an accountability and oversight board made up of key elected officials, agency directors, and non-governmental representatives will allow both valuable input on the front-end on the allocation of resources and ongoing transparency as to how money is being spent," stated Matt Guillory, OK Policy's Executive Director.

Click here to read their brief on the funds being made available to Oklahoma in the economic stimulus bill including the major provisions, setting out the purpose, the total national appropriation, Oklahoma's share, and details and conditions on how the funds may be spent. You can also download a two-page summary table.

Click here to read their press release calling on the Governor to create an accountability board to help oversee federal recovery funds.

March 28 Walk/Run benefits YWCA of OKC

Sexual Assault Awareness Month is April. Every “2 minutes” a woman is sexually assaulted. To help raise awareness, educate, dispel myths and prevent sexual assault, a 5k race will be held at Lake Hefner Stars & Stripes Pavilion (off of 63^rd and Portland) at 9am on March 28^th 2009. Live entertainment from The Ride and a community fair will follow the run/walk. Go to www.ywcaokc.org to register for this event. (The format is really easy to use and you are able to send it out to your friends and family members all over the world, so they can pledge for you to walk/run!) If you have any questions, contact Karla Docter at 405) 948-1770.

House Bill 1535 provides nursing homes with portable generators

Q. When an ice storm knocks out power, what happens to senior citizens in nursing homes?
A. If State Rep. Corey Holland's bill passes the Senate, Oklahoma nursing homes and other specialized facilities will have portable generators.

House Bill 1535 would require the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to use federal and state funding to retrofit these facilities and submit a funding plan to the state Legislature. It would also make nursing homes immune from liability for civil damages during any efforts to provide assistance to individuals seeking shelter during natural and man-made disasters -- yet another blow to all those "frivolous lawsuits." (The bill passed the House 95-5 and is on its way to the Senate.)

Brookings Institution Joins Chorus Promoting Early Childhood Education

A recent report by the Brookings Institution concludes that "good care early in life helps children to grow up acquiring the skills to become tomorrow’s adult workers, caregivers, taxpayers, and citizens" and that "investing in high-quality services for young children and their parents produces significant returns, both to individuals and to the larger economy." Read more HERE. Read their 5=page set of recommendations here:
Supporting Young Children and Families: An Investment Strategy That Pays

State-Level Impacts of HR 1 (American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009)

The Center on Budget and Policu Priorities has issued a report entitled "AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT OF 2009M (HR1): State by State Estimates of Key Provisions Affecting Low- and Moderate-Income Individuals." Updated Feb 25, 2009, their press release says:

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is designed to boost employment and the economy. It contains a number of spending and tax measures crafted to inject more aggregate demand into the sagging economy. This paper provides state-by-state estimates for a number of the major spending and tax provisions that will affect low- and moderate-income Americans (some provisions cannot be allocated on a state-by-state basis).

The provisions providing relief to low- and moderate-income families and to states facing serious budget shortfalls are among the most effective economic stimulus in the package. Low-income and unemployed families will spend benefits or tax refunds quickly to meet household expenses. The state fiscal relief will lessen the degree to which states will have to enact very painful budget cuts and tax increases, both of which have a negative effect on the economy. In addition, the measures included in the package will help avert severe hardship among low-income populations and preserve some needed state and local services.

The paper provides short descriptions and tables with estimated state-by-state impacts of several key provisions. These estimates are based on the best available data to CBPP. The agencies that administer these programs will provide the official allocations of formula grants in the coming days.

Temporary Increase in State FMAP
State Fiscal Stabilization Fund
Education
Unemployment Insurance
Child Care
Child Support
Training and Employment Services
Food Stamp (or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance) Program
Emergency Shelter Grant Program
Child Tax Credit
Making Work Pay Tax Credit
Economic Recovery Payments for Those with Social Security, SSI, and Veterans Benefits

Learn About Federal Stimulus Program's Impact on Oklahoma

The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) has scheduled a series of audio conferences aimed at providing information for state and local policymakers and advocates on the opportunities states will have with economic recovery funds. Details on speakers and how to participate will be vailable next week.
***

Child Care and Early Education: Opportunities to Serve More LowIncome, Working Families
Wednesday, February 25, 2008, 1 p.m. EST
• The audio conference will discuss the opportunity for states and local communities to serve more low-income working families and to make long-term investments in quality programs through new investments in child care and early education in the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA).
http://www.clasp.org/audio_registration.php?id=652

Workforce Development: New Opportunities for Creating Pathways to Good Jobs and Sustainable Employment
Wednesday, March 4, 2009, 1 p.m. EST *
• This audio conference will highlight opportunities created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for addressing the needs of low-skill workers under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and linking training to job creation and retention efforts.
http://www.clasp.org/audio_registration.php?id=657

Rebuilding the Safety Net: State and Local Opportunities in Income Support
Wednesday, March 11, 1 p.m. EST*
•This audio conference will feature opportunities for improvements in income support programs created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Unemployment Insurance Modernization Act and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Emergency Contingency Fund both provide additional funds for states – but only if they take action to expand program access. The expansion in tax credits for low-income workers also providesopportunities for community tax assistance providers.
http://www.clasp.org/audio_registration.php?id=663

Making the Employment Connection: New Opportunities to Develop Transitional Jobs Programs for the Hard to Employ
Wednesday, March 18, 2009, 1 p.m. EST*
• This audio conference is co-sponsored by the National Transitional Jobs Network and will feature new opportunities created through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program to develop and expand Transitional Jobs programs to help individuals with barriers to employment enter and succeed in the labor market.
http://www.clasp.org/audio_registration.php?id=669

Making the Connection: New Opportunities to Serve Older Youth
Wednesday, March 25, 2009, 1 p.m. EST*
• Even before the economic downturn, youth in our economically distressed urban and rural communities were hurting. This audio conference will identify opportunities in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to serve older youth and will outline approaches states and local communities should consider to improve youth outcomes.
http://www.clasp.org/audio_registration.php?id=675


* Date may change depending on invited speaker availability.

Internet Resources Regarding US Federal Government

Interested in federal issues? Check out USA.gov ( http://www.usa.gov ). Visit USA.gov's newest page -- Government 2.0 -- where you can find blogs, RSS feeds, videos, gadgets, and more! With these and other tools, USA.gov hopes to improve your access to government information and resources:
Blog -- Visit our blog, Gov Gab, and find a listing of active federal blogs.
Videos -- Find government videos on health topics, space travel, food preparation, and more.
News -- Get the latest RSS feeds from across the federal government.
Gadgets -- Find government gadgets or widgets developed and maintained by one agency and shared across the web.
Word Cloud -- See a visual representation of the 75 most popular words on USA.gov.

Job Opening at the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Ed

The Oklahoma Guaranteed Student Loan Program, a division of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, seeks to hire a part-time Communications Clerk. Specific duties and position qualifications are outlined in the attached job description.

Interested candidates may submit a cover letter and resume as follows. Mail: OSRHE, ATTN: Human Resources, P.O. Box 108850, Oklahoma City, OK 73101-8850
Fax: 405.225.9230
E-mail: hr@osrhe.edu
Questions about the position may be directed to Tiffany Tomlinson, Human Resources Specialist, at 405-234-9415 or ttomlinson@osrhe.edu. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

A Women's Work Is Never Done (AAS Exhibition)

The American Antiquarian Society (AAS) has an online exhibit about women and work that "brings together a selection of images from the Society's collections that illustrate many facets of American women's work, from the beginning of the American Revolution through the Industrial Revolution." View it by clicking HERE.

Assuring elderly Oklahomans are safe from abuse at home or in a nursing home.

Oklahoma State Representative Anastasia Pittman's House Bill 1627 that would protect the elderly from abuse or neglect while in the care of a nursing home passed the House Human Services Committee this past week.The bill requires a nursing facility to notify local law enforcement, in addition to the Department of Human Services, if an incident of physical or sexual abuse occurs in the facility and requires the administrator of the facility to preserve the scene in which any alleged criminal act took place. If sexual assault is suspected, the bill directs that the administrator arrange for sexual assault examination.

"Huh?" you are saying. "This inn't already the law now?" Nope. And yet, in 2008, Adult Protective Services confirmed a total of 10,315 reports of abuse, neglect or exploitation in nursing homes and long term care facilities.

Another provision in the bill requires a person who has reason to believe that a vulnerable adult is being abused, neglected or exploited to report it to both the Department of Human Services and local law enforcement and to preserve any evidence of the abuse or neglect. This part of the bill will help protect elderly people being abused in their home.

Sally Bell now chair of Tulsa County Republicans

Conservative Republican Sally Bell has been elected Chair of the Tulsa County Republican Party. See Tulsa World story.

Tulsa World Editorial on Oklahoma Women's Coalition

New Voice: Will group raise status of women?
Editorial from Tulsa World's Editorial Writers
Friday, February 20, 2009
2/20/2009 3:27:25 AM

It's too early to know whether a new advocacy organization, the Oklahoma Women's Coalition, will make a difference on the status of women in this state. One thing's for sure — such a group can't hurt.

A recent study by the Institute of Women's Policy Research found that Oklahoma is the second-worst state for women to reside.

A number of factors, none of them good, go into that discouraging, disturbing and embarrassing ranking. Oklahoma puts more women in jail, per capita, than any other state in the nation. The state ranks No. 4 nationally per capita in the number of women killed by their partners.

Various dedicated groups and leaders are tackling both problems as well as others, but the situation cannot be turned around overnight and needs the full attention of the policymakers and, of course, the public.

Jean Warner, director of Oklahoma Women's Coalition, said she and others interested in the subject had been meeting for years informally. "I was not aware of the dire situation Oklahoma women are in until I saw a study a few years ago that brought all the factors together. It was quite disturbing.

"There's really no organization like this in Oklahoma," Warner said. "We want to fill that void for people who want to know how policies at state agencies and the Legislature impact women and girls."

The group, funded by a $10,000 grant from the Women's Foundation of Oklahoma, came to the Capitol this week to educate new members on the legislative process and to meet state leaders.

Effective advocacy presupposes someone is listening. Members of this group probably heard supportive statements in the corridors of power. The trick will be turning that sympathy into action.

Source: http://www.tulsaworld.com/opinion/article.aspx?subjectid=61&articleid=20090220_61_A12_Itstoo592288

Check out OKPolicy.org's 2009 Legislative Primer

Need a basic primer on the Oklahoma legislative and budget process?

Check out OKPolicy.org's "2009 Legislative Overview" at http://okpolicy.org/2009-legislative-primer/.

You can view it as a slideshow presentation or print it as a 41-page PDF document.

More TV coverage of OWC launch

The Oklahoma Women's Coalition official launch also got nice coverage from Tulsa's KTUL HERE, Fox23 HERE, News9 in Oklahoma City HERE, NewsOn6 HERE. Thank you, all. (I promise to stop this soon!)

Thank you KFOR-TV for reporting on the OWC event

Thank you, KFOR television in Oklahoma City for reporting on the Oklahoma Women's Coalition event at the State Capitol yesterday!

The Oklahoman article on Oklahoma Women's Coalition event

Julie Bisbee, Capital Bureau reporter for The Oklahoman, wrote a nice article today on the Oklahoma Women's Coalition event at the State Capitol. But who took that awful picture of me? To read it, click HERE.

The Journal Record's article re Oklahoma Women's Coalition event

Janice Francis-Smith has a super article about the Oklahoma Women's Coalition launch in The Journal Record you can read by clicking HERE.
Ooops - they locked nonsubscribers out again. Wish they wouldn't do that! Here's the article; I'll try to get the Publisher's permission on Monday! (Sorry, Mary!)
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Coalition advocates for women’s advancement
by Janice Francis-Smith
The Journal Record February 19, 2009

OKLAHOMA CITY – On Wednesday, another organization added its name to the list of groups formed to advocate for women in Oklahoma – the Oklahoma Women’s Coalition – with the intentions of taking Oklahoma off the top of several lists the state does not want to be on.

“We are No. 1 in incarcerated women and child abuse, No. 4 in the divorce rate and No. 6 in teen births,” said Jean Warner, chairwoman of OWC. Oklahoma is ranked the third worst state in America for women, said Warner, adding that the state ranks fourth in women murdered by men, 41st in women’s employment and earnings, 42nd in women’s overall health and 45th in women in managerial and professional jobs.Warner also writes for the Oklahoma Women’s Network Web site and blog, is a co-founder of Oklahoma’s N.E.W. (National Education for Women) Leadership program, and serves as a member of the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women’s Advisory Committee.

Coalition members include the Oklahoma chapters of Business & Professional Women and the American Association of University Women, the League of Women Voters, the Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma, the Chickasaw Nation, YWCA Oklahoma City and YWCA Tulsa, as well as other groups. The group represents more than 75,000 Oklahoma women and girls.
Oklahoma consistently ranks near the bottom of the national Institute for Women’s Policy Research state rankings, scoring poorly in political participation, employment and earnings, social and political autonomy, health and other quality-of-life indicators.

“The state is coming up short when it comes to creating an environment that influences women and girls to achieve their full potential,” Warner said. OWC, which is two months old, now is working to establish relationships with experts in key policy areas and with policymakers.
“We want to be a highly respected resource for legislators and policymakers,” said Warner. OWC, formed as a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, will focus this year on building its knowledge regarding education, health care, incarceration, violence, aging and work and families.
Warner was joined by Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Jari Askins and Corporation Commissioner Dana Murphy in unveiling the commission’s logo – the letters O, W and C arranged to look like a woman’s face.

Oklahoma Women's Coalition on OETA's Oklahoma News Report

I got to talk about the Oklahoma Women's Coalition on OETA's "Oklahoma News Report" last night. Oklahoma's newspapers are coping with the depressed economy by cutting back on staff -- including Capitol Bureau reporters. So Oklahoma is truly blessed to have a statewide educational television station committed to reporting on what is happening in the Oklahoma Legislature.

Thank you OETA - and especially Lori Rasmussen for sending me a Tweet, Bob Sands for lining me up (don't wear green if you will be sitting in front of a green screen), Dick Pryor for asking great questions, George Tomek and Ross Dixon for making me feel at ease (and for the thumbs up signs)!

And very special thanks to the nice young man I flagged down in the KOCO-TV parking lot at 6:12pm in desperation (yes - in spite of Bob's great directions I managed to get hopelessly lost). He just smiled and said, "Follow me" and drove to the OETA studios! God is good.

Oklahoma Women's Coalition Officially Launched Today at State Capitol

Most Oklahomans are not aware of the sobering statistics regarding Oklahoma women and girls:

Oklahoma ranks

# 1 in incarcerated women and 2/3rds are single mothers
# 1 in child abuse
# 4 in the divorce rate
# 4 in females murdered by their partners
# 6 in teen births
Nearly one in five Oklahoma girls never graduates high school.

The Institute for Women’s Policy Research ranked Oklahoma 48th in the nation on the status of women. That puts us third from the bottom.

I think you will agree with me . . . these statistics are NOT OKAY.

The Oklahoma Women’s Coalition is a new statewide bipartisan organization that wants to change these statistics.

Today the Coalition went to the Oklahoma State Capitol to put the spotlight on women across the state who struggle every day just to provide basic needs for their families. These are Oklahoma women and girls who are overlooked, who fall through the safety net and
who do not achieve their full potential.

The Coalition will gather and disseminate information on programs and issues important to women and girls. It is also looking at bills in the Oklahoma Legislature that would help women and girls succeed. They are focusing on a range of issues -- as they relate to women and girls -- including aging, education, families, health care, incarceration, violence, and work.

Images: US Congresswoman Mary Fallin offers suggestions and encouragement. Center: Legislative leaders of the house and Senate brief participants on the "Hot Topics" in the 2009 Legislature. Bottom: Lt Governor Jari Askins, Corporation Commissioner Dana Murphy and Coalition Chair Jean Warner unveil the Coalitions official logo in the blue Room during press conference.

A special thanks to Oklahoma City TV channel KFOR and Dick Pryor at OETA's Oklahoma News report for covering the event on their news broadcasts this evening. :-)

And here is the AP story on the event:

Coalition to advocate for women, girls
2/18/09, 11:47 a.m.


OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - A new coalition will advocate for policies to help women in Oklahoma reach their full potential. Oklahoma Women's Coalition chairwoman Jean Warner says Oklahoma is the third worst state in the nation for women and girls. Warner says Oklahoma is No. 1 among the states in incarcerating women, No. 4 in the divorce rate and No. 6 in teenage births.

Lt. Gov. Jari Askins and Corporation Commissioner Dana Murphy took part in a news conference on Wednesday to formally launching the coalition. Warner says Oklahoma is coming up short when it comes to creating an environment favorable to women. She says the coalition will advocate and disseminate information on women's issues to lawmakers, state agencies and other organizations.

Oklahoma woman blogger makes Time Magazine's Top 25 Blogs list

Congratulations to Ree Drummond who authors Confessions of a Pioneer Woman blog. She has been included in Time Magazine's Top 25 blogs list! Read about is here.

NSF Grant to Boost Women and Minority Representation in Science Programs and Studies at OSU

OSU has received a $499,372 three-year grant from the National Science Foundation to evaluate and implement programs to increase the recruitment and advancement of women and minorities in agriculture, science, echnology, engineering and mathematics at OSU. The principal investigator on the grant is Jean Van Delinder, associate professor of socialogy and core faculty in gender and women's studies at OSU. Read more on this initiative HERE.

Edith Kinney Gaylord

Has anyone written a biography of Oklahoman Edith Kinney Gaylord? She had a fascinating professional career and left a major legacy for Oklahoma and the United States in the Inasmuch Foundation and the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation.

The daughter of Inez and E.K. Gaylord, she was the first female employee on the Associated Press general news staff. She worked in New York but was soon assigned to their Washington, D.C. bureau. When First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt insisted that the AP provide a female reporter, they sent Edith Gaylord. She served as president of the National Women's Press Club.

Today there are professorships and libraries and school of journalism buildings across the nation named for her. She deserves a well written biography. If there is one out there already, someone please let me know!

Image above comes from www.journalism.umd.edu/gaylordlibrary/

Human Trafficking Update

For most of us, the concept of human trafficking seems like an issue for foreign nations to address. However, Having talked with Oklahoma City police officers, I can assure you it is an issue in Oklahoma! No only do those being trafficked get moved through Oklahoma but Oklahoma girls get tricked into sex slavery - often by what appears to be a friendly "boyfriend" they have met over the Internet.

The movie Taken starring Liam Neeson (released Feb 1) provides a look into sex trafficking today.

An article in The Oklahoman today revealed a disturbing fact about the human trafficking industry. According to a U.N. report, "women are the majority of traffickers in almost a third of the 155 nations surveyed by the U.N." Read the story here.

Lt Gov Jari Askins Calls for an Oklahoma Children's Cabinet

In an opinion piece in The Oklahoman Friday Feb 13, Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins called for creation of a Children's Cabinet "to make sure state agencies striving t improve the lives of children are working closely to develop a well-coordinated plan." The cabinet would "identify and implement long-term strategies to improve our children's quality of life." Askins also called for creation of a Youth Advisory Alliance composed of young peopled who would meet to consider issues and develop recommendations for the Children's Cabinet. Fifteen other states have a Children's Cabinet including New Mexico and Kansas. There are two bills in the 2009 Oklahoma Legislature that would implement Askin's recommendations: House Bill 1655 and Senate Bill 697. Read the full article by clicking here.

Carrie Underwood to Compete for Academy of Country Music "Entertainer of the Year"

Kuddos to Checotah, Oklahoma native Carrie Underwood. She has been selected to compete for the entertainer of the year award at the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. The event will be aired April 5. Learn more by clicking here.

League of Women Voters is 89 on Feb 14

The League of Women Voters celebrates its 89th birthday on February 14.

The organization was founded by Carrie Chapman Catt in 1920 during the convention of the National American Woman Suffrage Association. The convention was held just six months before the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, giving women the right to vote after a 72-year struggle.

The League began as a "mighty political experiment" designed to help 20 million women carry out their new responsibilities as voters. It encouraged them to use their new power to participate in shaping public policy. From the beginning, the League was an activist, grassroots organization whose leaders believed that citizens should play a critical role in advocacy. It was then, and is now, a nonpartisan organization. League founders believed that maintaining a nonpartisan stance would protect the fledgling organization from becoming mired in the party politics of the day. However, League members were encouraged to be political themselves, by educating citizens about, and lobbying for, government and social reform legislation.

This holds true today. The League is proud to be nonpartisan, neither supporting nor opposing candidates or political parties at any level of government, but always working on vital issues of concern to members and the public. The League has a long, rich history,that continues with each passing year.

Oklahoma is blessed with a strong state LWV board and active League chapters across Oklahoma (OKC, Tulsa, Lawton, Norman, Stillwater and more). Learn more about the LWV at the LWV of the US website or at the League of Women Voters of Oklahoma website.

Tell Undergraduate Women to Apply for N.E.W. Leadership Program

Applications are now being accepted for the 2009 N.E.W. (National Education for Women’s) Leadership program. Any undergraduate woman in Oklahoma attending an Oklahoma college or university or an out-of-state institution is eligible to apply for this five-day summer leadership program designed to encourage women to consider careers in politics and public service.

Please forward this information to undergraduate women you think would have an interest in the program.

The 2009 N.E.W. Leadership program will be held May 19-23, 2009 on the University of Oklahoma’s Norman campus.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to complete the on-line application that is now available at www.ou.edu/carlalbertcenter/leadership/2009application.htm.

The deadline for applications is Thursday, March 5, 2009. For more details, please obtain a program brochure at www.ou.edu/carlalbertcenter/leadership.

An Open Letter to Angela Monson

Dear Angela,

Congratulations on being elected Chair of the Oklahoma City Public School Board. The school district faces many challenges but you are most certainly up to this task.

You are a product of Oklahoma City Public Schools.
You are a graduate of Oklahoma City Douglass High School (and a graduate of OCU with a masters in public administration from OU).

You are a proven public servant. You have served in the Oklahoma Legislature as both a state Senator and state Representative. You are currently president of the PTSA at Northwest Academy. You chair the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy's AfterSchool Network Leadership Team. You are chair of the Advisory Council for Metro College and Career Academy/Parent Resource Center. And you work with S.O.S. (Save Our Students), a youth to youth program sponsored by your church.

You love children. Anyone who knows you knows that!

But most importantly, you know this school district through your children (your sister's children, who you adopted when they were so young after your sister's tragic death). One of those children is a graduate from an Oklahoma City Public School. The other currently attends Northeast Academy, an Oklahoma City Public School.

God has been preparing you your entire life for this moment. Congratulations again and good luck. We are all watching you and pulling for you and for the children in the OKC Public School District.

Full text of Mary Melon's opinion piece on the need to advance the potential and equity of women and girls in Oklahoma

Oklahoma lacking in number of women legislators
by Mary Mélon
The Journal Record
February 11, 2009

As the 2009 session of the Oklahoma Legislature convened last week, it is clear that many issues affecting the state’s business climate and economic future will challenge our lawmakers over the next four months. While much of the talk is focused appropriately on jobs and economic development, it is also important to recognize the challenges facing many Oklahoma families. Now is the time to invest in our families and communities. Unfortunately, we must also note that the Oklahoma Legislature may lack some of the strongest voices for Oklahoma families – women.

Last November’s election returned fewer women to the Oklahoma Legislature than the prior session, and you have to go all the way back to 2002 to find fewer women. The Oklahoma Senate Republican majority has no women members. In 1979, Oklahoma ranked 43rd nationally in the percentage of women serving in the state legislature. Since that time the number of women lawmakers has risen nationally, and today, on average, 24.2 percent of the membership of the 50 state legislatures are women. In Oklahoma, that percentage is 11.4, which places our state 49th among the 50 states.

Upon examination of other states in our region, the scarcity of women in the Oklahoma Capitol is all the more puzzling. Colorado leads the country, with women comprising 39 percent of its legislature, but other neighboring states also put Oklahoma to shame: Arkansas (23 percent), Kansas (29.1 percent), Missouri (20.8 percent), New Mexico (30.4 percent) and Texas (23.2 percent).

Just what difference does it make to have women serving in the legislature? Cindy Simon Rosenthal, director of the Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center, points to a large body of research that shows women lawmakers are more likely to propose and advocate for policy solutions addressing the concerns of children and families. Women are more likely to identify families and communities as their top legislative priority and to devote scarce time and energy to those issues. Women are also more likely to speak on behalf of under-represented groups. In short, women lawmakers change the legislative agenda and provide a critical voice for some of the issues confronting our state.

At the end of the day, there is a strong correlation between the lack of women in our state Legislature and key indicators of economic health and well-being of families. Oklahoma families are under stress. We rank No. 1 in incarcerated women, No. 1 in child abuse, No. 4 in divorce rate, No. 7 in teen births, No. 42 in overall women’s health, No. 45 in women in professional jobs and No. 49 in political representation. Our state ranks among the highest in the nation in terms of unhealthy lifestyles such as obesity and smoking, and poverty levels among female-headed households. We lead the nation in areas where it’s not desirable to be national champions.

Fortunately, there are leading citizens who are tackling this challenge. The handful of women in the Oklahoma Legislature are providing critical leadership at this juncture. The Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women leads the way on advocacy around issues of poverty and criminal justice. The Oklahoma Women’s Coalition represents a new statewide nonpartisan association of organizations and individuals founded to support specific legislation and policies that advance the potential and equity of women and girls in Oklahoma. The Coalition is hosting an advocacy day at the Capitol on Feb. 18.

Insuring full and adequate representation at the Capitol requires a more systemic change. Research suggests that women, compared with equally qualified men, are more likely to doubt their capabilities for political office, less likely to think about running for office and less likely to be recruited as a potential candidate by political insiders. To address that problem, the Women’s Leadership Initiative at the Carl Albert Center sponsors N.E.W. Leadership for undergraduate women across the state in an effort to encourage, empower and inspire them to become community and political leaders. N.E.W. Leadership and the Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma are partnering to promote a vision of leadership, self-esteem and possibilities to young girls.

Until those future leaders change the face of political representation in our state and take their place as legislators, we must hope our current assemblage of legislators will begin their deliberations this week by heeding the words of Abigail Adams spoken so many years ago – to remember the ladies. We need them at the state Capitol.

Mary Mélon is the publisher of The Journal Record. You may reach her by fax at (405) 278-2890 or by e-mail at mary.melon@journalrecord.com.

Reprinted with permission from The Journal Record; hotlinks added by blogger Jean Warner.
Here is the link to the original piece on The Journal Record website.

Oklahoma Vocalist Molly Bee Dies at 69

You may not remember the name of this Oklahoman who achieved fame at age 13. But you might recall the song she recorded: "I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus." Bee (n. Molly Gene Beachwood) was born in Oklahoma City on August 18, 1939. Read more about Molly Bee HERE.

Mary Melon says, "Oklahoma lacking in number of women legislators"

Mary Melon, publisher of The Journal Record, has a wonderful opinion piece on the need for more women in the Oklahoma Legislature. She references the Oklahoma Women's Coalition, Oklahoma's N.E.W. Leadership program, the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women and more. Her best line perhaps is this:

At the end of the day, there is a strong correlation between the lack of women in our state Legislature and key indicators of economic health and well-being of families.

Go, Mary! Check it out at by clicking HERE.

Oklahoma Woman Blogger "Cari-Okie"

The author of the Cari-Okie blog describes herself thus:

After living and working on three continents, we've settled down in the town where I was born. I hope we'll be here awhile. I'm too tired to move.

I like her already! She is opinionated, funny, insightful and profound. And she Twitter, too, at http://twitter.com/CariOgden. Check out Cari-Okie.

Event, OKC, March 8: Lunafest Oklahoma

March 8, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at the Lyric Theatre (1727 NW 16th Street, Oklahoma City)

In its eighth year nationally, LUNAFEST is being brought to Oklahoma for the first time this spring by the Oklahoma WOW! Network. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Work of Women program at World Neighbors and the Breast Cancer Fund. Tickets are $8 for general admission and $6 for students.

Want to be one of the first to get a taste of what this year's LUNAFEST films have to offer? The Oklahoma WOW! Network invites you to the LUNAFEST Oklahoma Patron Party at the ultra-posh XO Lounge below the Colcord Hotel. Watch the trailer, have a glass of wine, sample hors d'oeuvres and support the Work of Women initiative at World Neighbors. Tickets are $50, and are available online.

LUNAFEST is a creation of LUNA, the makers of the whole nutrition bar for women and a division of Clif Bar & Company. LUNA developed LUNAFEST to simultaneously promote women filmmakers, raise awareness for women's issues and support local nonprofits that help women.

WOW! is pleased to have the collaboration of deadCENTER Film Festival, the Oklahoma Film & Music Office, and the Oklahoma City Museum of Art film program in this presentation of LUNAFEST. For more information contact Sundra Flansburg at (800) 242-6387. Get your tickets today!

Event Sponsors:

Susan Chambers
The City Sentinel
Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison & Lewis

Your Biggest Money Mistake

Tinker Federal Credit Union, sponsors a "video scholarship competition". This year's theme is "My Biggest Money Mistake." You can help choose a winner by going to the web site below and casting your vote: http://www.buckthenorm.com/contests

The winner gets $2,000 and a Mac Book.

Oklahoma Breastfeeding Hotline Open for Questions

From Oklahoma State Department of Health

A new telephone support hotline is now open to answer questions about breastfeeding. The support line is a partnership of the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program, Title V Maternal and Child Health Service (MCH), and University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center OB/GYN Department.

The Oklahoma Breastfeeding Hotline, 1-877-271-MILK (6455) is available to nursing mothers, their families, partners, prospective parents, and health professionals seeking breastfeeding support and information.

“We are pleased to be able to provide this service as part of the health initiatives to make Oklahomans strong and healthy. Breastfeeding provides a good start in life for mother and child.

It helps improve the baby’s immune system to fight off numerous diseases as well as reducing obesity and diabetes for both mother and child,” said Becky Mannel, Lactation Manager at OU Medical Center.

“We hope this hotline will help more mothers overcome some of the barriers they face to continue to breastfeed,” said Interim Commissioner of Health Rocky McElvany, MS. “This hotline is part of a long-range plan to help improve the health of Oklahoma’s babies.”

The Oklahoma Breastfeeding Hotline is open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day amd staffed by International Board Certified Lactat ion Consul tants ( IBCLCs) provided by the OU Medicine Lactation Team.

Callers may leave a message for a return call that day. Those with urgent questions may page the IBCLC on call. The hotline cannot provide a medical diagnosis. All medical questions should
be directed to a health care provider.

The Oklahoma Breastfeeding Hotline provides accurate, up-to-date information for common breastfeeding issues and questions about:
Not making enough milk
Baby refusing to nurse
Breast or nipple pain
Medications and breastfeeding
Working and breastfeeding
Breast pumps
Breastfeeding in public
Weaning

Referral information is provided including outpatient lactation services available in Oklahoma, La Leche League breastfeeding support groups, and breast pump rental locations in Oklahoma.

For more information about the hotline contact: Becky Mannel, Lactation Center Manager at Rebecca-mannel@ouhsc.edu.

Congratulations, 2008 Okie Blog Award Winners!

Here are the winners of the 2008 Okie Blog Awards. Congratulations to each and every one of them! Their recognition is well deserved indeed.

Best Overall Blog

Confessions of a Pioneer Woman
City girl Ree plows through country life
one calf nut at a time.

Runner-up, The Lost Ogle

Best Political Blog

BatesLine
Michael Bates is a MVP
in the game of Tulsa politics.

Runner-up, Peace Arena

Best Family Blog

Dawn's Diversions
Bloggers get a rise from Dawn.

Runner-up, Rocks in my Dryer

Best Humor Blog

Decisionally Challenged
Georgie loves ♥ ♥ ♥,
and bloggers ♥ to laugh.

Runner-up, The Lost Ogle

Best Audio Blog

The Daily Bitch
Monty tops the Okie blog charts yet again.

Runner-up, Blog Oklahoma Podcast

Best Looking Blog

Confessions of a Pioneer Woman
Ree keeps up appearances
on the Oklahoma prairie.

Runner-up, Design Crush

Best Unusual Blog

That's Baloney!
And Okies think it's very tasty!


Runner-up, Strange State Paranormal Mysteries in Oklahoma

Best Writing Blog

Rocks in my Dryer
Shannon says it
the way folks want to hear it.

Runner-up, JenX67

Best Culture Blog

Tasha Does Tulsa
And she does it well for two years in a row.

Runner-up, Yogi's Den

Best Commentary Blog

Today in Idabel Oklahoma
Four women, four times the fun.

Runner-up, But I digress...

Best Inspirational Blog

6 Happy Hearts
Oklahomans get happy thoughts
from this blog with heart.

Runner-up, Animal Rescue

Best Commercial Blog

Turtle Rock Farm
Slow and steady
wins the race.

Runner-up, DoubleShot Coffee Company

Wear a Black Ribbon for Sherry Susan Lovely, Enid

Sherry Susan Lovely is Enid's first murder of the year. She had filed a protective order against her husband in December - and filed for divorce - but dismissed the PO 3 weeks ago. Now she is dead. Her husband is dead of self inflicted wounds. And Oklahoma can rack up yet another case of domestic violence ending in death. Very sad. Read more here: http://www.enidnews.com/localnews/local_story_038235642.html/

Teresa Miller's New Website is Great Resource for Book Lovers

Teresa Miller's OETA television program "Writing Out Loud" on Monday nights at 10:30 p.m. has brought us excellent interviews with top writers including Ken Burns, Pat Conroy, Shelby Foote, Janis Ian, Sue Monk Kidd, Lynn Redgrave, Alexander McCall Smith, Amy Tan, Shirley Jones.

Teresa now has a new web site called Write TV where episodes of her shows are archived. Before the end of the year, there will be 50 episodes on line. Her interviews with world-famous authors are extremely well done.

Click here to watch her interview with Tulsa's own Putlizer Prize winner, Tracy Letts, that was aired in September 2008 about his wonderful play, August: Osage County.

More shows will be added soon, including an interview with Tracy's mom, Billie Letts, author of Where the Heart Is and Made in America. Billie's segment will be aired on Channel 11 on Monday, February 16th, and later it will be added to the web site.

Thanks, Barbara Santee, for calling this to our attention.

Harlem Renaissance Exhibit at OKC Art Museum

Read about this great show by clicking here.

It is too late to register for Oklahoma Women's Coalition "Advocacy Day at the Capitol" but...

Sorry. We feel really bad about this but we have had such an amazing response to the invitation to our upcoming "Advocacy Day at the Capitol" that we have had to cut off registration.

Our "problem" is that we are meeting in Room 104 of the State Capitol which holds about 100 people. We cut registration off with the 125th person. (Some of the board will step out of the room if we run out of chairs or oxygen.)

Clearly, in the future, we need to hold our meetings at a location near the State Capitol (maybe Metro Tech Career Center?) and bring everyone to the Capitol afterward to visit their elected officials.

The good news is that we hope to host additional issue briefings - maybe on each of our issue focus areas (aging, education, girls, health, incarceration, violence against women, and work & family).

So, please still become a member either online using payPal or by downloading the membership Application Form and mailing it in.

Then please get as involved as you have time/interest. You'll get information on what is happening at the Capitol. You can help shape this very new organization at our annual meeting in June. And you can help set our issue agenda for 2010 at our fall agenda setting event.

Update: Cheryl Williams Also Running for Oklahoma GOP Chair

Left Cheryl Williams; Right Gary Jones

On April 18, Oklahoma Republicans will vote for who will lead their party forward. Gary Jones, the current chair, has announced he is running again for the position. Current Vice Chair Cheryl Williams has also announced she would like the post. The OK GOP chair also serves as Executive Director of the party with a salary around $65,000/year.

Images: Photos are from The Oklahoman article of Feb 7, 2009; to read full story, click here.

Oklahoma Republican Party Chair Gary Jones Will Seek Re-election

Oklahoma Republican Party leader plans to seek re-election as state party chair. Jones lead the Oklahoma Republican Party though the 2009 election cycle and helped achieved unprecedented gains for the party including Oklahoma's recognition as the "reddest" state in the union.

Oklahoma Has Structurally Deficient and Obsolete Bridges

The following information from the National Bridge Inventory was compiled by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration. The information reflects inspections through December 2005. A status of ‘D’ means the bridge has been rated structurally deficient; ‘O’ means it has been rated functionally obsolete. The following is a list of Oklahoma counties and the number of ‘D’ and ‘O’ rated bridges within that county:

●BRYAN four ‘O’ rated bridges.

●CANADIAN four ‘D’ rated andfive ‘O’ rated bridges.

●CARTER one ‘D’ rated and five ‘O’ rated bridges.

●CHEROKEE one ‘O’ rated bridge.

●CLEVELAND eight ‘D’ rated and 16 ‘O’ rated bridges.

●COMMANCHE five ‘O’ rated bridges.

●CREEK one ‘D’ rated and two ‘O’ rated bridges.

●CUSTER four ‘D’ rated and two ‘O’ rated bridges.

●GARFIELD two ‘O’ rated bridges.

●GARVIN seven ‘D’ rated bridges.

●LeFLORE one ‘D’ rated bridge.

●LINCOLN five ‘O’ rated bridges.

●LOGAN one ‘D’ rated bridge.

●LOVE three ‘O’ rated bridges.

●McCLAIN ten ‘D’ rated and nine ‘O’ rated bridges.

●McINTOSH two ‘D’ rated and two ‘O’ rated bridges.

●MURRAY two ‘O’ rated bridges.

●MUSKOGEE four ‘D’ rated and two ‘O’ rated bridges.

●NOBLE one ‘O’ rated bridge.

●OKFUSKEE two ‘O’ rated bridges.

●OKLAHOMA 45 ‘D’ rated and 66 ‘O’ rated bridges.

●OKMULGEE two ‘D’ rated bridges.

●OTTAWA one ‘D’ rated and two ‘O’ rated bridges.

●PAYNE two ‘D’ rated and two ‘O’ rated bridges.

●PITTSBURG two ‘O’ rated bridges.

●POTTAWATOMIE 12 ‘D’ rated and nine ‘O’ rated bridges.

●ROGERS seven ‘D’ rated and 11 ‘O’ rated bridges.

●SEMINOLE one ‘D’ rated and two ‘O’ rated bridges.

●SEQUOYAH three ‘O’ rated bridges.

●STEPHENS one ‘O’ rated bridge.

●TULSA 72 ‘D’ rated and 67 ‘O’ rated bridges.

●WASHINGTON one ‘D’ rated bridge.

●WOODS one ‘O’ rated bridge.”

Source. Tom Clapper's Fam- Gram of 2-6-2009

Rep Ann Coody to represent Oklahoma on the Education Commission of the States

State Representative Ann Coody (R-Lawton) has been appointed by House Speaker Chris Benge as the Oklahoma Legislature’s representative on the Education Commission of the States. The Education Commission of the States is part of the Compact for Education that meets in Denver, Colo. It provides a forum for all branches of government in the compact states to discuss educational policies. “The House leadership is committed to providing greater accountability and standards to Oklahoma schools,” Coody said. “As chair of the Oklahoma Common Education Committee, I will already have a role to play in crafting educational policy here. Being on this commission will provide a view of policy in other states.”

Event Feb 15 in OKC: Tornado Alley Rollergirls Performance Benefits Volunteers for Animal Welfare

Join the Oklahoma City Roller Derby (OKCRD) on Sunday, February 15 at Farmers Market (311 S. Klein in OKC), their home venue, where OKCRD will be hosting their second home bout of the 2009 season, Puppy Love. (Click on poster to enlarge)

OKCRD’s Tornado Alley Rollergirls (TARG) is an athletic team of women actively involved in making positive changes within their community. On February 15 the ladies are lending a helping hand to a couple of charities that are making a positive impact in OKC. FAST Hound Greyhound Adoption finds homes for retired racing greyhounds. Volunteers for Animal Welfare finds homes for pets at the OKC animal shelter and also operate the SPOT (Stop Pet Overpopulation Today) Clinic, a low cost spay/neuter clinic for low income families.

This is your chance to show you care about the animal population in OKC. These organizations need support from the community in which they are making a difference. They are in constant need of pet food, towels/blankets (new or used), cleaning supplies, treats, and medium/heavy duty leashes. Please bring an item of need to the Puppy Love Bout and receive $1 off your admission ticket. Help those that can’t help themselves and enjoy a hard-hitting good time while you’re at it.

Beer, merchandise vendors and tickets bought at the door accept cash only. Tickets at the door are $12. Advance tickets can be purchased online at OKCtickets.com or from your favorite rollergirl for $10. Tailgating starts in the parking lot at 5:00pm and doors open at 6:00pm. The bout begins at 7pm and will consist of two 30-minute halves with some “Puppy Love” given at halftime.

To learn more about FAST Hound Greyhound, who will have some greyhounds at the bout for you to admire, visit www.fasthound.org. To learn more about what the Volunteers for Animal Welfare are doing and how you can help, visit www.vawokc.org.

For a recap of their Season Opener, Busting Out Against Breast Cancer Bout, in January, check out this article and video.

Celebrate International Women's Day - Attend "A Powerful Noise"

Hey - let's all do this! At 6:30 pm on Thursday, March 5, join with more than 120,000 people gathering in 450 theaters - including Norman, Oklahoma City and Tulsa - to celebrate International Women’s Day 2009.

That evening, CARE and The ONE Campaign are hosting an unprecedented one-night event featuring "A Powerful Noise", an acclaimed documentary that follows three extraordinary women, Hanh is an HIV-positive widow in Vietnam, Nada is a survivor of the Bosnian war, and Jacqueline educates girls in Mali. The film takes you inside the lives of these women to witness their daily challenges and significant victories over poverty and oppression.

Immediately following the film, a town hall discussion will be broadcast live from New York to participating theaters for a discussion on how we can empower women around the world to fight global poverty.

The live panel will include Madeleine Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State,
CARE president and CEO Dr. Helene Gayle; CARE advocate for maternal health and contributing editor for Marie Claire Christy Turlington Burns; and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, New York Times columnist and acclaimed author Nicholas Kristof.

you can purchase your ticket in OKC or Norman or in Tulsa now ; depending on the theater, ticket prices range from $15-18. Participating movie theaters in Oklahoma are the Spotlight 14 (Norman), Quail Springs 24 and Tinseltown USA (Oklahoma City) and Cinemark Tulsa 17 with IMAX (Tulsa).

To learn more about the film or for theater and ticket information, visit A Powerful Noise and FathomEvents.com.

I already bought 4 tickets for Tinseltown in Oklahoma City. Hope to see you there!

The Clothesline Project - Bearing Witness to Violence Against Women

The Clothesline Project is an interesting effort that gives voice to women victims of violence. Visit their website by clicking here. Psychology Today magazine published an article by Cathy Malchiodi about the Clothesline Project in their September 2008 issue. You can read it online or as a PDF.

Langston University Hosts Festivities for Black History Month

Langston University's main and Oklahoma City campuses will be hopping all month with activities hosted in honor of Black History Month.

"The recent inauguration of President Barack Obama, the first African American president of the United States, gives this year's celebration a deeper meaning," said Marc Flemon, chair of the Black History Month Programming Committee and assistant vice president for student affairs.

"We have so much to be proud of in regards to the contributions that African Americans have made to our country," Flemon said. "We are excited at Langston University about sharing these contributions with the public; and hopefully, we will teach and inspire others to make a positive change in their own communities."

At 7 p.m. on Saturday, February 7, the world renowned dance troupe, The Dallas Black Dance Theatre II, will entertain members of the community in our I.W. Young Auditorium. They will follow up their showcase with a question and answer session.

The month's activities will also tackle the seriousness of HIV/AIDS in the Black community. A forum hosted on the main campus on Tuesday, February 10, will include the personal testimonies of individuals living with AIDS, and an expert who will share the latest statistics and information on prevention.

The Oklahoma City campus will also host a conversation about the country's new president on Wednesday,February 11, from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. This unique dialogue, A Room Full of Women, will shed light on women's perspective of President Barack Obama. Langston University's very own Dr. Carole Hardeman, professor of education, will host this forum.

On Thursday, February 19, at the main campus, Nancy Rudolph Davis will share her story as the first African American to enroll at Oklahoma State University. This conversation will be hosted in our Black Heritage Center from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

For a more complete listing of events, please visit http://www.lunet.edu/.

HRSA-funded Health Workforce Information Center Goes Live

The Health Resource and Services Administration has funded a new Health Workforce Information Center, www.healthworkforceinfo.org, that will provide free access to the most recent resources on the nation's health workforce in one easy-to-use online location.

"HRSA is pleased to have the University of North Dakota as a partner in creating the center," Administrator Elizabeth M. Duke said. "As shortages of physicians, nurses and allied health personnel worsen, information available through the center will help lawmakers, hospitals and schools develop strategies to meet future workforce demands."

Operated by the University of North Dakota's School of Medicine and Health Sciences, the center will offer the latest on:

• health workforce programs and funding sources;
• workforce data, research and policy;
• educational opportunities and models;
• best practices; and
• related news and events, also available through e-mail updates.

In addition, information specialists will be on hand with customized assistance to locate statistics, create data-based maps, develop lists of possible funding sources, supply publications and connect users to the right organizations or federal programs. Users can contact the specialists online or by phone or fax.

"Many people in government and private and nonprofit organizations need access to the type of quickly assembled, user-friendly data the center will make available," said Kristine Sande, the center's deputy director. "Accurate information on the health workforce will be vitally important in the ongoing health care debate, and we will provide a way for individuals to get it from a single, trusted source."

#

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), part of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the primary Federal agency for improving access to health care services for people who are uninsured, isolated, or medically vulnerable. HRSA also is responsible for promoting and improving the health of our nation's women, children and families. For more information about HRSA and its programs, visit www.hrsa.gov.

Event, Feb 10, OKC: Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, III at OCU

On Tuesday, February 10 at 5 pm, Oklahoma City University's Black Law Student Association presents “Realizing the Dream” featuring Dr. Frederick “Freddy” D. Haynes, III, Senior Pastor, Friendship-West Baptist Church Dallas, Texas. Dr. Haynes will speak in the Homsey Family Moot Courtroom, Sarkeys Law Center on the OCU campus (2501 N. Blackwelder Ave, Oklahoma City).

A passionate leader, captivating orator, educator and activist engaged in fighting against racial injustice; committed to increasing economic and social justice in urban areas; and devoted to transforming the lives of the disenfranchised.

For 26 years, Dr. Frederick Douglas Haynes, III has made it his mission to empower changed people to change the world. A native of San Francisco, California, Dr. Haynes is the Senior Pastor of the Friendship-West Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas, and is the third generation of well-known, socially conscious preachers. Dr Haynes graduated from Bishop College with a Bachelor of Art in Religion and English in 1982, earned a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and on May 6, 2005, Dr. Haynes received a Doctorate in Ministry from Oxford University in Oxford, England. Dr. Haynes is a dynamic speaker who leaves listeners eager and ready to learn more.

Come for an enlightened experience in history and heritage as OCU celebrates Black History Month. You don't want to miss this wonderful opportunity. Seating in the stately Homsey Family Moot Courtroom is limited, so EARLY is the keyword. Questions regarding this event should be directed to Kendra Gill: kgill.stu@okcu.edu.

(Here is what radio personality Jana Lewis Harkins has to say about this event: "While on one of my road trips a few years ago, I became acquainted with Dr. Haynes and Friendship-West while listening to several of his sermons on the radio. One of the sermons was so powerful that I had to take a break from driving and just listen. Some of you may also recall that Dr. Haynes was on the short list last year for National President of the NAACP. Rev. Joseph Lowery, the civil rights icon who delivered the benediction at President Obama's Inaugural Ceremony, introduced me to Rev. Haynes last year at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. I have read both of Dr. Haynes' books--Soul Fitness and Healing Our Broken Village--and highly recommend both.")

Dana Tiger's Obama Print(s)

Check out Dana's new Obama print honoring our new president at danatigerart.blogspot.com.
Want to buy one for $15?
Just e-mail her to purchase one at danatiger@hotmail.com.
There are three versions; they say "Yes we can" in either Cherokee, Choctaw or Muscogee. I think they are all 8 x11.

Nice, huh.
:-)

JoKay Dowell has a blog, too - Yippee!

JoKay Dowell is a writer who has been published in Indian Country Today, Native American Times, Native Americas Journal, The Cherokee Phoenix, Indigenous Women's Magazine. She has won awards for creative writing.

She learned traditional coil pottery making from Cherokee potter Jane Osti and is learning basketry from a couple of Cherokee basket artists.

She is a wife, mom and 'Nanny' to her 4-year old granddaughter Bibi. She lives near Tahlequah and Lake Tenkiller in eastern Oklahoma.

I think I met JoKay through Dana Tiger; both Dana and JoKay are truly remarkable women -- well worth following via their blogs!

Check out JoKay's blog here: http://jokaydowell.blogspot.com/

Dana Tiger Has a Blog - Yeah!

Remarkable person and remarkable Oklahoma artist Dana Tiger has a blog.
Yippee.
Check it out here: http://danatigerart.blogspot.com/

Sara's Guided Relaxation CD

Sara Alavi, Manager and Instructor at 3rd Street Yoga Studio in Edmond has recorded a 20 minute guided relaxation audio CD. It is a tool for you to be able to take the time for yourself to be. To sit back in a chair or lay down on a bed, turn off the phones and just listen. She will guide you through relaxation techniques so that you will be able to renew and rejuvinate. (It is a voice only CD). Our brain and nervous systems are overworked and in need of calming and downtimes. Hopefully you will find this CD a pleasant tool to offer yourselves and your loved ones the much needed downtime each day. To order your copy or copies you may email Sara at hafseen@cox.net or call her at 405-203-8927. There are copies also at the studio. The cost is $15 each. Sara teaches my Yoga for Seniors weekly class that I can't live without. Soooooo relaxing and cxentering. I suspect this CD will be a wonderful tool for those of you living harried, stressful lives!

Wear Red This Friday (Go Red for Women)

Heart disease is still the No. 1 killer of women. There are too many women who are not aware of this disease and the actions they can take to reduce their risk. As a result of their ignorance, women are dying at the rate of 1 per minute.

That’s why this Friday, February 6, hundreds of thousands of people will celebrate National Wear Red Day. It's the day to wear your favorite red clothes or accessory — a red blouse, a red dress pin, a fabulous red handbag — put on red lipstick, or sport a red tie and red socks. Go red in your own fashion to show your support for women. Join us in our fight against heart disease.

My Congressional Delegation: "NO, NO, NO"

Recent Senate Votes

Confirmation of Timothy Geithner to be Secretary of the Treasury -
Vote Confirmed (60-34, 4 Not Voting)
The Senate confirmed Timothy Geithner to be Secretary of the Treasury.
Sen. James Inhofe voted NO......send e-mail
Sen. Tom Coburn voted NO......send e-mail

Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 -
Vote Passed (66-32, 1 Not Voting)
The Senate voted to reauthorize and expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program.
Sen. James Inhofe voted NO......send e-mail
Sen. Tom Coburn voted NO......send e-mail

Recent House Votes

Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 -
Vote Passed (250-177, 6 Not Voting)
The House gave final approval to this wage discrimination measure.
Rep. Mary Fallin voted NO......send e-mail

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 -
Vote Passed (244-188, 1 Not Voting)
The House passed this $819 billion bill providing for additional 2009 fiscal year appropriations.
Rep. Mary Fallin voted NO......send e-mail

How'd YOUR House member vote?

New Hampshire has 2 US Senators with Bonnie Newman replacing Judd Gregg

New Hampshire Governor John Lynch has selected J. Bonnie Newman, a Republican, to serve the remainder of US Senator Judd Gregg's term. She has agreed to only serve for the next two years. The amazing part of this story is that Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen beat Republican incumbent John E. Sununu in November to become the first woman from the state to hold a US Senate seat. Now NH has TWO female Senators. Read more here.

Feb 3 is National Women and Girls in Sports day

This Wednesday is the 23rd annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day, which began in 1987 as a day to remember Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman for her athletic achievements and her work to assure equality for women's sports. NGWSD is marked annually with events around the country and on Capitol Hill to celebrate the athletic achievements of girls and women and to promote the continued expansion of opportunities for girls to play sports and live physically active lives.

Unfortunately, women and girls continue to face barriers to fair play in the athletics arena, far too often receiving far fewer opportunities to play sports than their male peers and inferior benefits and services when they do play. This year, champion female athletes and young girls will arrive in Washington D.C. to advocate for bills in Congress that address the ongoing inequalities girls face at the high school level by requiring these schools to report information on the gender breakdown of their teams and athletics expenditures.

Source. National Women's Law Center

Oklahoma NASA Astronaut in OKC

Dr. Shannon Lucid held a press conference at the Science Museum Oklahoma today to highlight the Oklahoma Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research’s (EPSCoR) efforts to encourage more students to participate in science, technology, engineering and mathematics career fields. The annual Women in Science Conference began in 1997 and is sponsored by Oklahoma EPSCoR, in collaboration with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the National Science Foundation. The goal of the conference is to help achieve EPSCoR’s central goal to increase the state’s research competitiveness through strategic support of research instruments and facilities, research collaborations, and integrated education and research program.

Valentine's Day Gift - "Pink Edition" of Garth Brooks' The Ultimate Hits

Garth Brooks has teamed up with Susan G. Komen for the Cure to end breast cancer.

For every "Pink Edition" of The Ultimate Hits album sold, $10 will go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Each CD is packaged with important information to help you protect your breast health, and the health of people you love.

How about THAT for a Valentine's Day gift?! Learn more and buy the album by clicking here.

February 10 - School Board Elections

Watch your local newspapers this week for articles about the school board candidates who will be on the ballot February 10.

Know any of them? Tell your friends who'd be good.

Don't? Ask around and get the scoop on them all.

Then remember to go vote on Tuesday, February 10.

:-)

Women in the US Senate -- and House

About.com has a nice list of all women to ever serve in the US Senate (it is a short list). You can view it HERE. While we are at it, their list of all of the women to ever serve in the US House of Representatives HERE. Jeannette Rankin was the first women to serve but Oklahoma's Alice Mary Robertson was the second.

V alentine's Day Gift - World Neighbors Has Ideas

Girlfriend on a diet? Forget that box of chocolates.
Instead, try a truly unique gift this year.
Such as?
A flock of chicks - $25
Help for an HIV/AIDS Orphan - $25
Clean water for a home - $50
For these and more great gift ideas, view the World Neighbors' Gift Catalog (Click HERE).

Gov Brad Henry's State of the State Address

Mike McCarville has the Governor's address from today on his blog. You can read it here. Thanks, Mike.

Check Out Wanda DeBruler's Blog

For ages, Wanda DeBruler has been emailing me interesting information to post on my blog. Finally, she started her own blog. Her thing is housing and poverty and entrepreneurship and upcoming events and lots, lots more. Go take a look for yourself here.

Gen-xers a Lost Generation? I think not!

JenX67 has a great video on her blog today. You really need to view it. Click here - and watch it to the end; it's way cool. Nice one, Jennifer. :-)

I wish I was at Fem 2.0

If we lived closer, I'd be at Fem 2.0 today. But AAUW was there and lots of others.

Conference conveners are:

• American Association of University Women (AAUW)
• BlogHer
• Care2
• Culture Kitchen
• Feminist Majority
• Feminist.com
• Feministe
• Momsrising
• National Council of Negro Women
• National Council of Women’s Organizations (NCWO)
• National Organization for Women (NOW)
• VivirLatino
• Women in Media and News (WIMN)
• Women’s Media Center

Read more here.