For Social Media Tips, See Heather Lytle & Cyndy Hoenig Online Book

Tons of Okie women are public relations experts but how many of them are pros in social media? The Journal Record recently recognized one, Heather Lytle, with H+L Media Partners. An Edmond native, Lytle started the Shop Gadget Girl website in 2009 and then HVM Solutions Inc - a webdesign and social media marketing company. Lytle and Cyndy Hoenig are co-authors of the (free to download) online book 550 PR, Marketing and Social Media Tips.

Source. "Women Combine PR, Social Media Experience," The Journal Record, August 19, 2010.

Oklahoma's Largest Women-Owned Businesses

Q. What do YOU think are Oklahoma's largest women-owned businesses? 

A. Enterprises (Oklahoma City)

Bonus Building Care (Indianola)

Bentley Hedges Travel Service Inc (Oklahoma City)

Terry Neese Personnel (Oklahoma City)

Source. The Journal Record, August 17, 2010

Click on image above to enlarge.

Blogfather Hossein Derakhshan (Windows, Bridges, Cafes) Sentenced to 19.5 Years In Iranian Prison

Bloggers and lovers of free speech everywhere: Please take action on this now!

Blogfather of the Iranian blogosphere Hossein Derakhshan (whose weblog name is Hoder) needs your help. At least Iran is not putting him to death (as Iranian authorities threatened). But he has just been sentenced to 19.5 years in an Iranian prison. He has been imprisoned in Iranian for several years awaiting trial. You can read about the outcome of Hoder's July 2010 trial in this article from The Guardian. and on the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran website. This is a terrible injustice and we all need to express our outrage.

Please join the effort to win Hoder's release from Iranian prison and ask your friends to do so as well. For starters, join the petition drive on Facebook by clicking here. Then go to http://freetheblogfather.org/ and sign that petition.

I was inspired to start this blog in 2006 by the brilliant Dave Weinberger and his reference to Hoder's blog metaphors. Weinberger writes JoHo the Blog, is coauthor of the truly amazing book The Cluetrain Manefesto and is currently a fellow at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School. Dave's December 4, 2004 blog post on bridgebloggers referenced Hoder's three metaphors for blogs -- windows, bridges and cafes. Ethan Zuckerman summarized the talk Hoder gave that included the metaphors in Ethan's Dec 10, 2004 blog post. If you haven't read this post, you should - it is true blog history!

Sign Up for Oct 23 Oklahoma Freedom Rally in OKC

Make plans to participate in a freedom rally October 23  designed to draw attention to modern day slavery. Groups from cities all over Oklahoma will walk, ride, or bike to the Capitol in Oklahoma City on the same highways that traffickers are using to transport victims of labor and sex trafficking. Oklahomans Against Trafficking of Humans (O.A.T.H) freedom advocates will be wearing chains as they travel to symbolize the fact that modern slaves are being moved throughout our state on these "Trade Routes." Find out what your community is doing and how to register: www.okfreedom.org

Oklahoma Journalists Melba Lovelace & Susan Ellerbach

Congratulations to two extraordinary Oklahoma women journalists - Melba Lovelace and Susan Boling Ellerbach. Both were inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame this spring. 

Lovelace writes the "Melba's Swap Shop" column for The Oklahoman. Ellerbach is Managing Editor of the Tulsa World. Information on the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame is on display in Exhibition Hall (3rd floor), in the Nigh University Center at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond.

Congratulations to Oklahoma US Representative Dan Boren

Congratulations Congressman & Mrs. Dan Boren: Hunter Daniel Boren arrived at 1:07p.m. weighing 7lbs., 5 oz. Read more at http://blog.newsok.com/politics/2010/09/23/rep-dan-boren-and-wife-welcome-baby-boy-hunter/

~ Thanks @jpgumm (Jay Paul Gumm on Twitter) for the heads up.

Oklahoma's Hottie Toddie Now Has Cheesecakes, too!

I love this place - for the cakes - and now they have added cheesecakes handmade with a rich blend of the finest ingredients (they say they are the best cheesecakes you will have ever eaten). Hottie Toddie cheesecakes are sold only locally in Ada, OK and come in Cherry Vanilla, Strawberry Vanilla, Triple Chocolate, Chocolate Eclair, Black Forest, Lemon Vanilla, Amaretta Almond and Chocolate Turtle. You can call them at 580-272-0221 or 580-399-7750 to place your order.  Or - what I do - go on line and order one of their scrumptious specialty liquor cakes which come to your door! See http://www.hottietoddieliquorcakes.com/cakes.html

Debby Hampton to Head United Way of Central Oklahoma

Every since Bob Spinks, long time President and CEO of United Way of Central Oklahoma, announced his intent to retire, the nonprofit world has been wondering who would take his place.

Today we know: Debby Hampton - current head of the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits - will step into the position January 1, 2011.

You can read all about it by clicking here.  Congatulations, Debby!!!

Image from http://journalrecord.com/files/2010/03/hampton-debby-web.jpg

Tulsa Community Foundation to Support News on Women's Issues

The Tulsa Community Foundation has received a $153,000 grant from the Knight Foundation to create an online news hub focusing on women’s issues such as teen pregnancy and female incarceration. The content will be distributed to the mainstream media, in an effort to increase coverage on these critical topics. Over time, the project will develop a reporter-in-training program.

The Tulsa Community Foundation is the largest community foundation in the United States.

Thanks, Mary Francis, for the heads-up. Source: http://www.informationneeds.org/round-iii-kcic-winners

Oct 12-13: OK Institute for Child Advocacy's Fall Forum

The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy’s Fall Children’s Legislative Forum events which will be held at the University of Central Oklahoma on October 12-13, 2010:

October 12, 10:00 am: Making KIDS COUNT in Oklahoma! – A special KIDS COUNT data training and the release of the 2010 KIDS COUNT Factbook; free-of-charge, but pre-registration is required.

October 12, 7:00 pm: The Oklahoma State School Board Superintendent candidates will be featured in a panel discussion co-sponsored with the UCO College of Education and Professional Studies, the Early Childhood Association of Oklahoma, and the Oklahoma Child Care Resource and Referral Association. Free-of-charge.

October 13, all-day: PROTECT KIDS. -- The annual Children’s Legislative Forum; registration begins at 8:00 am, program begins at 9:00 am. In response to the current state economic and legislative challenges – and with extensive input from our partners across the state -- this year’s Legislative Forum will focus on shaping guiding principles to strengthen our collaborative child advocacy efforts in the new decade, including the expansion of the Institute’s policy work to the federal level. Registration is $75 ($35 for full-time students with current student I.D.). Registration deadline is October 8.

For more information and to register, see flyer below:

2010 Fall Forum Flyer as of 9.9 am.pdf 197K   View   Download

Oklahoma's Next Governor was a Girl Scout

There is a lovely article in The Oklahoman today about how both Jari Askins and Mary Fallin were both Girl Scouts. They both have wonderful memories and say they learned a lot through Girl Scouts about honor, hard work, courtesy, honesty, etc.

In case you didn't know it, Girl Scouts has always meant leadership development for women and that is even more true today!

Read the story at http://newsok.com/hopefuls-have-skills-in-common/article/3494577

You can read about Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma HERE and Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma HERE.

Teen Parent Resource Center in Oklahoma City

Did you know there is a resource center for teen parents in Oklahoma City whose mission is to help our Oklahoma teen parents "Get Back on Track"?

According to their website,  Teen Parent Resource Center (TPRC) encourages teen girls and boys "to become better, self sufficient and nurturing parents and teens as well as great contributors to our society's well being."

They also provide information and referrals -- providing teen parents with resources and connections to other agencies that can help meet their needs. Resources include regularly scheduled classes on education and academic tutoring, leadership skills, job searches, budget and money management, parenting education and counseling. In addition, the center will house items for newborns and toddlers, such as clothes, diapers, furniture and baby formula and food.

You can learn more at their website and follow them on Facebook.

Will Our Next Governor be Jari Askins or Mary Fallin?

This year's gubernatorial race is history making for Oklahoma. That is because for first time Oklahoma will elect a woman as Governor. I think Mary Fallin is the first woman to run for Governor of Oklahoma on the Republican ticket. Am I right? Jari Askins is the second woman to run for Governor as a Democrat; the first was former State Representative Laura Boyd in 1998.

This year everyone gets to cast a vote for a woman in the gubernatorial race so gender isn't a factor. Have you decided yet who you will vote for in this race? For many it will be easy - they'll just vote the party. How about you? If you aren't using political party as the key determinant, what factors cause you to prefer one over the other?

Movie "Pearl" About Oklahoma Woman Showing at Warren Theatre in Moore, OK Sept 10-16.

Check out this great movie -- esp for kids -- about an Oklahoma woman!

The Chickasaw Nation is pleased to announce that its first feature film “Pearl” will be showing at the Warren Theatre in Moore starting Friday, Sept. 10 through Thursday, Sept. 16.

“Pearl” is an award-winning film that tells the true story of Eula Pearl Carter Scott, a Chickasaw who in 1928 became the youngest licensed pilot in the nation.

Tickets are on sale now. Four showings of the film will be available each day. For more information about show times, contact the Warren Theatre movie line at (405) 703-3777. Tickets are available at the Warren Theatre box office or online at http://www.movietickets.com (enter Moore, OK).

I went to the premiere of this movie this summer and enjoyed it very much. This is a well done movie about a remarkable Oklahoman. She died in 2005 right here in Oklahoma; you can read her obit here.

Human Trafficking and the Four "P"s

Certainly, a common response to hearing about the prevalence of human trafficking for the first time is disbelief. The numbers are staggering. The toll on human dignity, terrifying. The harm to innocent women and children, heartbreaking. As the facts sink in, the truth can engender many responses: outrage at the actions of the traffickers, disgust at the appetite of the consumers, compassion for the victims, and a desire to help. Now, where to start? How to help? The insidiousness and prevalent nature of this crime can seem overwhelming.

Probably the best way to start helping is to educate yourself on human trafficking. There are many good resources that dispense information on the subject. One such resource is the US Department of State's annual Trafficking In Persons (TIPs) Report. This is available online in pdf format and has almost 400 pages focused on human trafficking-definitions, first-hand accounts, global statistics, legislation (existing and upcoming), and what government resources are available to help trafficked victims.

The State Department recommends a "3 P" approach to eliminating human trafficking: prevention, protection, and prosecution. In addition to these, Christians should add a 4th P - prayer. This four-pronged approach can take shape in many different ways, but here are a few starting suggestions:

Prayer: Pray continually for the victims, the traffickers, the end users, the law enforcement, the legislators, and the ministries that are fighting to abolish trafficking

Prevention: Educate yourself and those around you about what is happening

Protection: Get involved with a ministry that is giving aid to the victims of trafficking; donate time, money, or other resources

Prosecution: Encourage your local representatives to change laws and enforce legislation that will punish the perpetrators and not the victims

With the four P's acting as cornerstones, we have a foundation on which to start building a future. A future where trafficking no longer exists.

Source. All Things New, Inc; September 2010 Newsletter

All Things New
P.O. Box 2297
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102

Tulsa's Kathy Taylor Is Changing Jobs Again: Thanks, Kathy!

Kathy Taylor recently announced that she will be stepping down from her role as public servant to join the law firm McAfee & Taft later this fall. Taylor is the former Secretary of Commerce for the State of Oklahoma and the former mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was elected the 38th Mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma on April 4, 2006, in the city's largest voter turnout for a mayoral election. She is only the second woman to serve as Tulsa's mayor. Most recently, she has been serving as Governor Brad Henry's top education advisor and chief of education strategy.

Book "Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the New American Politics"

Cindy Simon Rosenthal and Ron Peters have written a book titled Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the New American Politics  (Oxford University Press).

Cindy is the first woman elected mayor of Norman, Oklahoma and Director of the Carl Albert Center at the University of Oklahoma. The very readable book give a great explanation of what the authors call the :new American politics."

Confused about Congress and national politics today?  Read their book!

Oklahoman Tesse Thomas Launches Social Site for Nursing Moms

Good for Oklahoman Tesse Thomas. She has just launched the website BreastfeedingMomsCafe.com. This is a social networking site for nursing mothers. Check it out!

Oct 2: Tulsa Breast Impressions' Gala and Live Art Auction

Tulsa's Breast Impressions will host their annual Gala and Live Auction October 2, 2010 at the OU Schusterman Campus in Founders Hall in Tulsa, OK. You are invited to attend and/or consider be a sponsor of this benefit event.

 100% of the proceeds from the Breast Impressions Art Auction will be donated to Tulsa Project Woman which provides breast health education, no cost mammography, diagnostic procedures and surgical services for women who, because of financial hardship, may delay seeking medical attention.

Breast Impressions' mission is to increase breast cancer awareness and fundraise to support breast cancer education, prevention, and treatment.  Breast Impressions donates breast casting kits to women who have been recently diagnosed with breast cancer and wish to make a memory prior to surgery.

For more information, contact Judi Grove at 918-691-3874.