Kathy LaFortune to be Honored

Congratulations to Tulsan Kathy LaFortune. She will be the 2011 recipient of the Oklahoma Psychological Association Distinguished Professional Service Citation at the annual OPA meeting in November.  A licensed psychologist and attorney, LaFortune serves as Chief of Forensic Psychological Services for the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System. She is also an Adjunct Faculty Member in both the College of Law and the Department of Psychology at the University of Tulsa.  She received a  

OKC's Girlie (Art) Show 2012

It’s only 9 days away! The 8th Annual Girlie Show is coming up! Is it on your calendar?
Here’s the scoop: Friday, November 4th, 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Saturday, November 5th, noon to 5 p.m.
Farmer’s Public Market in OKC

Friday features fab food from some of the finest area restaurants, so get there early and get some! (First 100 in the door get a Girlie goodie bag, too!)

Saturday there is live music from some of the hottest female musicians around; they'll be rockin’ the house all day.

Friday admission: $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Friday ticket stub gets you in FREE on Saturday.
Saturday admission: $5. Tickets available at the door only. Kids 12 and under FREE.

Purchase tickets online at http://www.ticketstorm.com/event/thegirlieshow2011/okcfarmersmarket/oklahomacity/7742/

Or in person at Blue 7 on N. May & Grand and DNA Galleries in the Plaza District.

Donna Branson Inducted into Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame

Congratulations to Dr. Donna H. Branson who was inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame at the 2011 induction ceremony October 11 at the Oklahoma Athletic Hall of Fame Museum in Oklahoma City. Here is the Oklahoma Higher Education Heritage Society's write up on Dr. Branson:

Donna Branson has left a matchless record in the area of material design and construction of body protection clothing.

In 1972, she earned a Ph.D. in Family Ecology, emphasizing functional apparel design, from Michigan State University. She had already served as instructor at the University of Rhode Island and at Michigan State University for several years before she was hired as Associate Professor in the Department of Clothing, Textiles, and Merchandising in the College of Human Environmental Sciences at OSU in 1983.

She became Professor in four years and in 1992 was chosen Head of her department. Under her leadership, for nearly seven years (1998 to 2005), almost all faculty obtained external funding for their research projects, and she was instrumental in setting up the Christine Salmon Endowed Visiting Professorships. As well, Donna Branson has produced an inspiring record as a researcher.

She has co-authored 32 journal articles, 23 pamphlets and professional reports, refereed 86 presentations, and juried seven design exhibits or competitions. Over the years, she has obtained 28 grants and now owns one manufacturing license and has four pending patents. Much of this scholarly output has been related to designing body armor that protects against bomb attacks but still allows for mobility and temperature control. Her work has been instrumental in protecting United States soldiers in the Middle East.

For her work, she has been given the Mortar Board Outstanding OSU Teacher Award, the Marguerite Scruggs Award for Meritorious Research, the National Textile Center Scientific Excellence Adviser, Oklahoma State University Regents Professor, and in 2006, the Homeland Security Award.

Professor Branson retired from OSU in 2006 but continues to serve as the Director of the Institute of Protective Apparel Research and Technology in Stillwater.

For this marvelous record of research and service to state and nation, the OHEHS proudly inducts Donna H. Branson into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame.

Dana Weber Named 2011 Oklahoma Woman of the Year

Congratulations to Dana Weber (left) for being named "2011 Woman of the Year" by the Journal Record this evening. Weber is President/CEO and Vice Chairman of Webco Industries in Sand Springs. Under her leadership, she took her family's business from less than $20 million in sales when she started in 1971 to around $450 million today. In addition to her corporate success, Dana is active in the Tulsa Metro Chamber, The State Chamber of Oklahoma and Tulsa's Young Professionals and many other civic organizations.

Kudos to Mary Melon, President and Publisher of The Journal Record Publishing Company, for hosting the Woman of the Year Gala  and the morning Forum - both extraordinary events!  During the morning forum, we talked about our role models so I thought I'd have this picture taken in front of a protrait of my mother, Margaret McAvoy. In the image below, I am holding the special edition Journal Record magazine which contains  bios on all 50 "women making a difference in Oklahoma." (The bio of Dana Weber (click to enlarge) is on the right). In addition, Terry Neese and Shelia O. Lee were honored this evening. AND - five women-serving organizations were honored -- Suited for Success, Work of Women (World Neighbors), the YWCA of Oklahoma City, Stand in the Gap Ministries, and the Women's Leadership Initiative. There were also five runners up: Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma, the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women, Smart Start of Central Oklahoma, Legal Aid of Oklahoma, Inc and - - - -  wait for it. . . (ta da) . . .  the Oklahoma Women's Coalition!!! Yeah.

This year, the decorations, magazine cover and forum materials all bore the image of a peacock feather  which is why they are in the floral arrangement (a take home centerpiece from the banquet) and the feather I'm holding in the picture below. All in all, it was GREAT day!