Okie Woman Blogger: Piper of Love

I just added a new Okie woman blogger to my page dedicated to Oklahoma woman bloggers. She is Piper and her blog is Piper of Love. It is hard to tell that she's an Okie but if you scroll through enough of her blog, you'll final an Oklahoma Chevy Dealers image - so there you go! Check out Piper's blog at Piper of Love.

Larkin's Remarks on Area Economy at Last Night's Panel Presentation

Last night we held a panel discussion at my church (Nichols Hills United Methodist Church)  on "Oklahoma and the US Economy: Where Are We Headed?" 

Presenters were (see image; left to right) Steve Agee, PhD, Professor of Economics and Interim Dean, Meinders School of Business, Oklahoma City University (OCU); Gordon Sellon, Ph.D., Professor of Macroeconomics, Meinders School of Business, OCU; and Larkin Warner, PhD, Regents Professor Emeritus, Economics, Oklahoma State University. For those who wanted to come but couldn't, I talked Larkin into letting me post his handout. To view the handout,  click here. These panel presentations are open to the public. Next week we have presenters talking about "The Poverty Around Us."

Patrice Douglas Receiving 2011 Kate Barnard Award Today

Today is Kate Barnard Luncheon at Capitol Blue Room.

Edmond Mayor Patrice Douglas is being honored for her "elected service" as an Outstanding Oklahoma Woman.

The event is hosted by the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women. You can read more about Mayor Douglas and the Commission's event by clicking here.

Congrats, Mayor Douglas!

Nancy Day Named Tulsa Press Club 2011 Headliner

Club President Ashley Parrish has announced that Nancy Day, executive director of the Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice, is one of the Tulsa Press Club's 2011 Headliners. Read more here.

Come Hear the Amazing Darcie Harris on March 1, 11:30-1

OKC – Women Entrepreneurs Speaker Series
Mar 1, 2011 - 11:30 am, Oklahoma City, ok

11:30 am to 1:00 pm

Coppermark Bank
3333 Northwest Expressway
Oklahoma City , Oklahoma 73112

$15 per person – Contact Jennifer Edwards to register – jedwards@ruralenterprises.com or 405.319.8630. Registration deadline is Monday, February 28.

Joins us as successful women entrepreneurs share their experiences, challenges and triumphs in small business! This is your opportunity to learn, ask and connect with inspirational visionary women entrepreneurs in OK. Featuring:

03/01 Darcie Harris, CEO, EWF Int’l. and “2010 OK Women in Business Champion of the Year”
and, coming soon:
04/12 Jeretta Horn Nord, Professor and Author “A Cup of Cappuccino for the Entrepreneur’s Spirit”
05/03 Dr. Louise M. Thurman, M.D., FAPA, CEO, IPS Research Company

Darcie Harris is a business consultant, mentor, coach, champion, and advocate for female business owners and executives. As CEO and founder of EWF International, a company offering peer advisory groups, coaching and consulting for female business owners and executives, Darcie has helped hundreds of women realize their professional dreams. Under Darcie’s leadership, EWF International has grown to four locations and provides resources to countless women through the world wide web.
In 2010 Darcie was named Oklahoma Women in Business Champion by the Small Business Administration. Her achievements have been recognized by The Oklahoman, who selected her as one of five finalists for Woman of the Year, by the Edmond, OK Chamber of Commerce who selected her as one of three finalists for Woman of the Year and by WE Magazine when she was named as one of 15 finalists in the We Magazine for Women cover story competition.

Co-Sponsors:
EWF Int’l.
Francis Tuttle Tech Center
Coppermark Bank
Northwest Chamber

Sizzlin' Savages (Okie Woman Blogger)

I just added Sizzlin' Savages to my list of Oklahoma women bloggers. This is a Blogger.com site that puts mine to shame -- so pretty!!! It features pages on Meet the Savages, In the Kitchen, My Two Cents, and Thankful Thursdays. Oklahoma City blogger Nicole Savage blogs about her "family, cooking, books, movies and life." Her latest post is about a Junior Hospitality fundraiser March 26 in Oklahoma City that benefits The Bethel Foundation (an Oklahoma foundation that provides help and services to single mothers).

First Survey of Wikipedia Available (65K Visits/Second)

Last March, Wikipedia announced that The Wikimedia Foundation and the Collaborative Creativity Group at UNU-MERIT [a joint research and training centre of United Nations University (UNU) and Maastricht University] were going to conduct their first ever survey. Well, it is out and you can read about the findings. Here are links to the Report sections:

• Gender and sexuality
• Internet
• Social and cultural issues
• Technology

Source:

• Collaborative Creativity Group

Did you know, for instance,that Wikipedia is the 9th most visited website in the world, receiving up to 65,000 hits per second?

Cheryl Evans Named First Female President of an Oklahoma Two-Year College

Cheryl Evans has been named president of Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa, Oklahoma. She is the first woman to serve as president of a two-year college in Oklahoma. The announcement was made Thursday. She will oversee NOC campuses in Tonkawa, Enid and Stillwater. You can read more about Cheryl here.

Cheryl is a member of the Okahoma Women's Coalition board and serves as  vice chair of the Coalition's Education Committee.  She will be a fabulous college president.

Support Wounded Oklahoma City Police Officer Chad Peery

Friends of Chad Peery have created a website and Facebook page. 

The Chad Peery Online Benefit Fund was established to assist the Chad Peery family with online donations.  Prior to the creation of this site, only in-person or mail-in donations were available.  This site provides a way for people to help Chad via online donations.  This was done with express permission of the Chad Peery family and all money goes directly to them.

If you'd like to donate to help Chad with his recovery, visit the website. They are:

Website	http://www.chadpeeryfund.org
Facebook	facebook.com/chadpeeryfund

Red Dirt Ruckus has a good overview on Chad on her blog at http://blog.newsok.com/red-dirt-ruckus/2011/02/18/how-to-help-officer-chad-peery/

Oklahoma Tips on Adult Guardianship and Grandparenting Available

Two helpful new free publications are now available from the Senior Law Resource Center in Oklahoma City


Striking a Balance covers adult guardianship, including the process of obtaining guardianship, the rights of a ward, and the legal duties of a guardian.


Grandparenting in Oklahoma is a legal guide for grandparents and other relatives raising children. It addresses various living arrangements as well as visitation and financial issues. The guide includes legal forms grandparents and other relatives may use to obtain decision-making authority.

Both guides may be downloaded from the Senior Law Resource Center webiste or ordered by emailing info@senior-law.org.

The Senior Law Resource Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to empowering Oklahomans to age with independence, dignity, and security by providing high-quality, affordable legal information and services. It is located at 600 N.W. 23rd Street, Ste. 106, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73103. Questions? Call (405) 528-0858.

Okie Women in the News:

Jane Haskins, president and CEO of First Bethany Bank and Trust in Bethany, OK has been appointed to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's new Community Depository Institution Advisory Council.

Danne L. Johnson, associate professor of law at Oklahoma City University was recently elected chair of the American Association of Law Schools' section on Women in Legal Education.

Kimmi Houston was recently installed as national chair of the Professional Women in Building Council of the National Association of Home Builders. Last year she was named "Woman of the Year" for the Oklahoma Professional Women in Building Council which she helped found and chaired. Interesting aside: During the current economic downturn, her firm shifted from building homes to remodeling and Kimmi is a certified "aging-in-place" specialist.

Source. The Journal Record

Study Out on Americans And Their Gadgets (Do I want an iPad?)

Pew Internet and American Life recently issued results of a study on about Americans and their gadgets.

Are you surprised to learn that only 4% of adults own an iPad or other tablet? (Maybe I should stop feeling sorry for myself that I still don't have one.) I am waiting, waiting, waiting for iPad 2 to come out (soon) or to fall in love with an alternative tablet just hitting the market. How about you? Is there an iPad or other tablet in your home? If not, do you lust for one like I do or couldn't care less? If yes, did you get something other than the iPad? If yes, what did you get and do you love it?

I think the thing that struck me the most is that I am now categorized as an "Older Boomer." You can read the February 3rd Press Release and the Full Report>>

Cassie Brown's blog: Living Better Daily

I just added Cassie Brown's blog, Living Better Daily, to my "Women Bloggers" page.

Cassie is an early childhood teacher in Tulsa.

There is also a Living Better Daily Facebook page and she writes a second blog, Endurance for Education. Check her out!

Senior Day is February 28

Senior Day at the Oklahoma State Capitol is February 28 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

The program will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the House Chamber and will conclude at 11:30 a.m.

Scheduled speakers include Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb; Rep. David Dank; Rev. George E. Young Sr., a member of the Oklahoma Commission for Human Services and pastor at Holy Temple Baptist Church in Oklahoma City; and Lance Robertson, director of the OKDHS Aging Services Division. Exhibits will be on display on the second floor of the Capitol rotunda immediately following the program.

For more information, contact the OKDHS Aging Services Division at (405) 521-2281.

Pray For OKC Police Office Chad Peery

An Oklahoma City police officer was critically injured in an off duty incident last night that left him unconscious and with a spinal cord injury. He underwent surgery  last night and is at OU Medical Center.

Just three years ago his very proud parents attended his recruit academy graduation. I remember his mom glowing with pride telling about that day.

This is a very sad day; please say a little prayer for Officer Chad Peery's recovery.

Read more==> http://www.koco.com/news/26885127/detail.html

Oklahoma City University Honors Four Exceptional Women

The Societies of Oklahoma City University is honoring four women during its Annual Awards of Excellence dinner on February 26 at the Skirvin Hilton Hotel in Oklahoma City. Honorees are Jenny Love Meyer, Julie Hall, Lori Hill, and Jeannette Sias. Learn more at http://bit.ly/hLCpGq.

Scholarships for Single Mother Students at OU

Please help spread the word about scholarships for single mothers attending the University of Oklahoma:

The Women's and Gender Studies Program offers two awards for single mothers, the Betty Baum and Norman Hirschfield Award and the EOS Award. The application deadline for 2011-2012 applications is March 1, 2011 at 5:00 p.m.

Betty Baum and Norman Hirschfield Award
Three scholarships of $4,000 each are awarded annually.

EOS/Empowerment of Spirit Award 
The EOS/Empowerment of Spirit Award was created to empower single mother students at the University of Oklahoma, Norman Campus to succeed in their quest for higher education. The number and amounts of scholarships vary from year to year depending on funding available.

Application Criteria
Applicants for both awards must satisfy the following criteria to be eligible for the competition:
• be a single mother raising children;
• have completed, within the previous five years, the equivalent of two semesters of study (30 hours);
• have completed coursework with GPA 3.0 or better; and
• be a full-time student at the University of Oklahoma, Norman Campus

For application information: http://wgs.ou.edu/Betty-Baum-Scholarship.html

Judy Roberts' Blog "Frugality Online"

Oklahoma woman blogger Judy Roberts has a blog (plus) called Frugality Online that is all about stretching your dollars. Who can't benefit from that?!
Check it out at http://www.frugalityonline.com/stretch-a-dollar/

About Breast Cancer in Women Over 50 in the US

During 2004-2006, a total of 147,430 late-stage breast cancer cases (rate: 108.5 cases per 100,000 women) were diagnosed in women aged ≥50 years in the United States.

Incidence rates were lowest among women aged 50-59 years (93.0), highest among women aged 60-69 (119.2) and 70-79 (123.9) years, and intermediate among women aged ≥80 years (109.7). Incidence rates were highest among black women (124.3), followed by white (107.6), Hispanic (87.8), API (67.1), and AI/AN (61.4) women. Incidence rates were lowest in AI/AN women aged 50--59 years (48.8) and highest among black women aged 70--79 years (140.5).

Among states, late-stage breast cancer incidence rates ranged from 92.2 to 132.1 and were highest in Alabama, the District of Columbia, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Washington (range: 115.0--132.1).

Among all women, approximately a third of breast cancers were late-stage. This percentage decreased with increasing age, from 38.4% among women aged 50--59 years to 29.3% among women aged ≥80 years, because of an increase in the number of localized cancers in women up to age 79 years and an increase in the number of unstaged cancers in women aged ≥80 years.

The percentage of late-stage cancers was lowest for white women (32.7%) and highest for black women (42.4%). Black women aged 50-59 years had the highest percentage of late-stage cancers (46.4%). Among states, the percentage of breast cancers that were late-stage varied by state (range: 27%--41%) (Figure 8).

Overall, 81.2% of women aged 50-74 years reported receiving recommended breast cancer screening in 2008. This percentage was lower only for women who were AI/AN (70.4%).

The percentage of women in each state who reported receiving recommended breast cancer screening varied (range: 72.1%--89.8%) (see figure below) and was highest in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, and Rhode Island (range: 83.9%--89.8%). Oklahoma ranked near the bottom.

Source. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report,  Nov. 26, 2010: Surveillance of Screening-Detected Cancers (Colon and Rectum, Breast, and Cervix) --- United States, 2004--2006

Okie Women in Law: Gurich, Reheard, Christensen, Strubhar

This year three extraordinary women hold the top three positions in our state bar association which is a first for Oklahoma.

Deborah Reheard (right above) of Eufala is OBA President, Cathy Christensen of Oklahoma City is president-elect and Judge Reta Strubhar of Piedmont is vice-president. Think there are other states that can claim three women at the top of their bar leadership?

Meanwhile Oklahoma County District Judge Noma Gurich (left above) is the third woman ever named to serve on the Oklahoma Supreme Court but she is waiting to be sworn in until a lawsuit brought by Tulsan Jerry Fent that challenges the appointment process is resolved in the courts.

So Prempro Causes Breast Cancer? Well, I'll Be!

I remember like it was yesterday the visit to my (ex-) doctor when I informed her that I had stopped taking Prempro. She was not happy to hear that and insisted it was safe AND it would reduce my chance of heart problems, too. She recommended I start taking it immediately and I said, "Nope. Not going to. Period." I couldn't say why except that I worried it might cause breast cancer - a thought she found preposterous.

Today I read an article about the mass tort underway over Prempro. The lawsuits have split between wins for the plaintiffs and victories for Wyeth which manufactured Prempro. But a case recently won by plaintiff Helen Rivera-Adams may have tipped the scales. Wyeth's internal memos came out in which they told employees "dismiss and distract" whenever a doctor raised concerns about the safety of Prempro. I see a movie here, ladies. Dang I'm glad I stuck to my guns and got off Prempro when I did. Rivera-Adams only took Prempro for 19 months; I took it for 7+ years. But, as the National Institute of Health put it, "There is no safe time in which to take this drug." Ouch. This news makes me feel much better that I changed doctors after that confrontation! See http://www.cyb8.com/html/Women_s_Health/20110102/3199.html

Hepatitis C: Is this Silent Killer About to Be Defeated?

About 3.2 million Americans have chronic Hepatitis C -- the leading cause of liver transplants. 12,000 US patients die each year from Hepatitis C and that number could triple in the next 20 years. Experts think two-thirds of Hepatitis C sufferers in the US are baby boomers and most don't even know they carry a virus that is destroying their liver. If you had a blood transfusion before 1992, you could be carrying this blood-borne virus. The Centers for Disease Control report promising new drugs on the horizon that may cure many more people than the current treatment. Baby Boomers: At your next annual check-up, ask your doctor to check you for Hepatitis C. See http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2011/01/17/new-hope-for-hepatitis-c-sufferers/.

Should Open Meeting Laws Apply to the Oklahoma Legislature?

State Rep Jason Murphy has introduced House Bill 1805 to bring the Oklahoma Legislature under Oklahoma's Open Meetings and Records Act. He argues it would lead to better oversight. According a  Journal Record story January 20, 2011), "Twenty states make their legislatures at least partially exempt from sunshine laws, but Oklahoma is one of only five sates that exempt the Legislature completely." State agencies must comply but not the legislature, the judiciary and several law enforcement agencies. Is this a good idea or is it rife with negative "unintended consequences?"

Profhacker's Six Steps for Locking Down Your Facebook Privacy Settings

The "Profhacker" blog at The Chronicle of Higher Education has an up-to-date list of steps for assuring your privacy on Facebook.

You can read the post at http://chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/six-steps-for-checking-your-facebook-privacy/30402/. 

Thank you, Brian Croxall, for this very helpful blog post!

Tell Undergraduate Women in Oklahoma to Apply for "N.E.W. Leadership"

Oklahoma's Women's Leadership Initiative is looking for qualified Oklahoma undergraduate women for their N.E.W. Leadership Institute to be held May 20-24, 2011.
Each year, they select approximately thirty students to participate through a competitive application process. Students are chosen based on numerous factors including, but not limited to: individual leadership potential, maturity, ability to deal with challenges, and capacity to reflect on one's own personal strengths and weaknesses, special interests, unique characteristics or diverse experiences which contribute to the N.E.W. Leadership learning goals, interest in politics, public service or public policy, and a commitment to participate fully in the N.E.W. Leadership institute.
If you know of any Oklahoma undergraduate women interested, please direct them to WLI's website and encourage them to apply online. The application deadline is March 11, 2011. Click here to download the N.E.W. Leadership Poster for this year. If you would like a hard copy of the brochure to distribute please contact Lauren Schueler, Lauren.E.Schueler-1@ou.edu or Caitlin Campbell, cccampbell@ou.edu with a mailing address.
Join us in making a difference! We need your input - and your financial support! Please click here to donate or visit our website to learn more.
To learn more about how you can participate in our programs, contact Sheryl Lovelady at slovelady@ou.edu or by phone at 405-325-4934.

Oklahoma Lost $156.3 Million to Online/Catalog Sales

The Oklahoma Policy Institute reports $156.3 million in Oklahoma sales taxes was lost to online and catalog retailers who do not collect tax from Oklahoma customers.

Hey, Oklahoma Legislature, how about addressing that revenue loop hole?

Oklahoma House of Reps Increases Transparency with New Rules Changes

This is WONDERFUL, really remarkable news. J

Oklahoma House of Representatives

Media Division

February 8, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: House Media           

Capitol: (405) 557-7421

House Adopts Dramatic Rule Reform

Changes Increase Transparency, Openness

OKLAHOMA CITY – House lawmakers have voted to dramatically reform the chamber’s rules of operation by requiring that conference committees hold public meetings with recorded votes.

            “The rules adopted this week represent a major change in the way business is done at the state Capitol,” said House Speaker Kris Steele, R-Shawnee. “While we have made tremendous strides towards increased transparency in recent years, the rule changes we have now adopted dramatically increase the opportunity for public scrutiny of legislative actions and implement greater safeguards against last-minute changes escaping thorough review.”

            The rule changes are the result of a working group created in November and many of the proposals adopted had previously been endorsed by Democrats as well as Republicans.

Conference Committee Reforms

            When the House and Senate pass different versions of the same bill, the legislation is then sent to a joint conference committee where a final version is negotiated. In the past, those conference committees did not convene in any actual meeting of the members and no votes were cast in public.

            Under the reforms adopted this week, the House will establish permanent standing conference committees to handle its half of the process. Those permanent conference committees will hold public meetings and all votes will be cast in public. Advance public notice that includes a detailed listing of bills on the agenda will be required for each conference committee meeting.

            In addition, the rules prevent any standing conference committees from meeting during a floor session of the House unless special leave has been granted by the Speaker of the House.

            The House rules will continue to prohibit completely gutting a bill in conference and replacing it with language unrelated to the measure’s original topic.

To provide extra safeguards against such action, no bill can be assigned to a standing conference committee unless the group’s membership includes the chairperson and vice-chairperson of the traditional standing committee that previously heard the measure.

            Steele said there would be six standing conference committees with 10 members each, including both Democrats and Republicans on each committee.

            Prior to receiving a vote in conference committee, proposed versions of each bill will be publicly posted online for member and public review with a link to previous versions with changes highlighted.

            As in the past, for a bill to emerge from conference committee and receive a vote from the entire Oklahoma House of Representatives, the conference committee report must receive the support of a majority of both the House and Senate members constituting the conference committee.

The reforms also include a hard 24-hour rule that requires a House conference committee report to be filed and posted online for a full day before it can be considered on the House floor. Previously, there was no 24-hour rule during the final two days of session.

-30-

Okie Women in the News: Martin, Kavanaugh-Williams, Holland, Jayroe

JaRaia Martin, a senior at Central High School in Tulsa, won the Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratorical Contest this year. The event has been sponsored since 1997 by Oneok.

Marty Kavanaugh-Williams will be honored by A Change to Change on February 22 for her 31 years of dedicated service to individuals and families coping with addiction. A Chance to Change offers education classes, school-based programs and counseling related to drug abuse, trauma, depression, anxiety and other disorders.

Kim Holland, former Oklahoma State Insurance Commissioner, has joined Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association in Washington, DC as their Executive Director for State Affairs.

Jane Jayroe has a new book out entitled Devote 40 Days. It is a collection of devotionals that also tell about her life. Some chapters were written by friends including Sherri Coale, Yvonne Kauger, Cathy Keating, Donna Nigh and Linda Cavanaugh.

Reducing Oklahoma's Incarceration Rate (#1 for Women): But Will Legislators Take Action

Have you noticed that we are seeing more and more excellent articles on women incarcerated in Oklahoma? For example, in yesterday's Oklahoman there was this piece: :

Social factors and Oklahoma law lead to high female imprisonment rate, experts say

Here is the good news: Leaders across Oklahoma are moving from being "tough on crime" to being "smart on crime." The Oklahoma Women's Coalition hosted a statewide conference on this subject last spring (see Oklahoma SIS website for background and to view the Public Agenda  Action Plan for getting OK down from #1 at incarcerating women).  The Oklahoma Women's Coalition then helped organize the "Count the Costs" collaborative effort (see Count The Costs website).

Tell your State Senator and State Representative Oklahoma needs to stop incarcerating nonviolent female offenders with addiction problems and the Legislature needs to pass bills that let the courts assign those women to alternative sentencing programs where they can overcome their addiction, learn coping skills and stay in contact with their children.

Why might they actually do this? Because a number of our legislative leaders recently traveled to Texas to learn how Texas radically reduced their incarceration rates (and the tax dollars they spend on corrections). Now Texas uses those saved tax dollars to provide more slots for citizens seeking drug addiction  treatment -- a win-win solution.

Women Leaders in the 2011 Oklahoma Legislature

SENATE

There are 48 Oklahoma State Senators; 32 are Republicans.

There are four women in the Senate -- one Republican (Kim David) and three Democrats (Constance Johnson, Judy McIntyre, and Susan Paddack).

There are 21 Senate committees, subcommittees and joint committees. The sole Republican woman, Kim David, is Vice Chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.

HOUSE 

There are 101 Oklahoma State Representatives; 70 are Republicans.

There are fifteen women in the House -- 11  Republicans (Lisa Billy, Ann Coody, Marian Cooksey, Lee Denney, Elise Hall, Sally Kern, Skye McNiel, Jadine Nollan, Leslie Osborn, Pam Peterson and Sue Tibbs)  and four Democrats (Rebecca Hamilton, Jeannie McDaniel, Anastasia Pittman and Emily Virgin).

There are 26 House committees, subcommittees and joint committees. Eight of the 11 women Republicans in the House were appointed as chair or vice chair of a House Committee.

The women chairs are:

Pam Peterson (Human Services)
Sue Tibbs (Public Safety)
Ann Coody (Common Education)
Sally Kern (Long-Term Care and Senior Services)
Lee Denney (Appropriations Subcommittee on Education)
Lisa Billy (Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety)

The women vice-chairs are:

Marian Cooksey (Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Health and Social Services)
Leslie Osborn (Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural Resources and Regulatory Services)

Oklahoma Snowstorm Leaves Grocery Shelves Bare

Yesterday at the Belle Isle Walmart store you couldn't buy eggs or ground beef (see images above) and other shelves were nearly bare as well. With the temperature above freezing today, I am hoping trucks are arriving with supplies!

Web Urbanist's Homage to Bottle Cap Art (via AllTop)

I love AllTop.

It searches the Internet every day for me and then sends me links that make me either laugh out loud or say, "Awsome!"

Like today's story from Web Urbanist about bottle cap art.

I bought a purse in Kenya made out of wire and beer bottle caps once. But I had no idea bottle cap art was so widespread or such an advanced craft!

Now I REALLY do have to start collecting bottle tops.

This is too great a challenge. 

See lots more images at  http://weburbanist.com/2011/01/18/bottle-caps-31-reasons-to-create-gorgeous-recycled-crafts/

New Oklahoma TV Programs on KSBI OK 52 Family Television

Unlike Texans, Oklahomans are humble folk; we need to do more   bragging about what makes Oklahoma a great state!  So I am thrilled that new KSBI OK52 president and CEO  Vince Orza is adding more local, community-focused TV programs about the great things and people that make Oklahoma such a wonderful place to live. At the top of the list is a new show entitled Oklahoma Live that will be hosted by Lyn Hester. Her program will feature interesting Oklahomans, stories about fun places to visit in Oklahoma, movie reviews, sports, Oklahoma musicians and more. This programs will air from noon to 1 pm Monday through Friday starting February 7. Set your DVR for this what's-great-about-Oklahoma show.

H.E. Gene Rainbolt Suggests Ways to Reduce OK's High Incarcerations Rates

Fifteen years ago, Oklahoma spent $180 million on corrections; today we spend $500 million. Our state has ranked #1 in the incarceration of women in 14 of the past 15 years. We run about 4th or 5th in the nation in the incarceration of men. Two-thirds of the women we incarcerate are nonviolent offenders; many of them are victims of child abuse, domestic violence and/or substance abuse.

There are several very exciting initiatives underway including the Oklahoma SIS Project, Oklahoma Watch and Count the Costs to draw attention to ways to reduce the number of people Oklahoma incarcerates without endangering the public safety.

BancFirst Chairman and Oklahoma philanthropist H.E. (Gene) Rainbolt has written an excellent article for Oklahoma Watch entitled Break the Poverty, Incarceration Cycle. It ends with suggested public policies the Oklahoma legislature might consider in 2011 including:

reviewing mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent crimes; enhancing community sentencing programs and mandatory supervision; limiting the governor's role in the parole process for nonviolent crimes; defining qualifications for parole board members; and capping time a substance abuse offender has to serve for failing drug court if he/she does not commit a new crime.

Call to Action to Support Breast Feeding

MedPageToday has an article reporting on how the US Surgeon General is urging mothers to breast feed. You can read it here. What can you do?

Tell friends about OU's Breast Feeding Hotline.

Encourage new mothers to breast feed. US culture has so sexualized breasts that women are sometimes embarrassed or hesitant to breast feed outside their own home. Our culture needs to value breast feeding as it results in healthier babies.

Urge businesses to offer paid maternity leave and lactation support programs.

Urge employers to provide women with a clean, pleasant, private place (other than a bathroom!) where they can nurse or pump breast milk. There is such a room at the OU School of Nursing that is named in honor of my dear friend Florence Mubichi of Meru, Kenya.

Oklahoma Women in State Elective Office in 2011

Now that the November elections are behind us and the Legislative session is about to begin, I thought I'd tally up how many women in Oklahoma hold a statewide-elective position, how many women are State Senators and how many women are State Representatives. I've also tried to determine how many women state legislators are in a position of leadership this year. Here is what I came up with; let me know if I got any of this wrong, please! Thanks...
 :-)

WOMEN IN STATEWIDE ELECTIVE OFFICE (3 of 8 positions or 38%)

There are 11 statewide elective offices in Oklahoma of which three are currently held by women. They are:
Mary Fallin, Governor
Dana Murphy, Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner 
Janet Barresi, Superintendent of Public Instruction

WOMEN IN OKLAHOMA STATE SENATE ( 4 of 48 or 8%)

Of the 48 members of the Oklahoma State Senate, four are women. One is a Republican and three are Democrats. 
They are:
1.) Judy Eason McIntyre (D - District 11)
2.) Susan Paddack (D - District 13)
3.) Kim David (R - District 18)
4.) Constance N. Johnson (D - District 48) 

Women in Senate Leadership Positions for 2011-2012 (Republicans 0%; Democrats 22%):

Thirty-two of the 48 Senate members are Republican. There are 11 Senate Majority Leadership positions. None are held held by a women. 

Sixteen of the 48 Senate members are Democrat. There are 9 Senate Minority Leadership positions. Two are held by women; Judy Eason McIntyre is a Minority Whip and Susan Paddack is the Democratic Caucus Vice Chair.

Women Senate Committee Chairs for 2011-12 (all Republican - 0%):

There are 21 Senate committees, subcommittees and joint committees. Kim David, the sole woman Senator, was not selected to chair a committee this year but does hold the position of Vice Chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.


WOMEN IN OKLAHOMA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (15 of 101 or 15%) 

Of the 101 members in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, 15 are women. They are:
1.) Sue Tibbs (R - District 23) 
2.) Skye McNiel (R - District 29)
3.) Lee Denney (R - District 33)
4.) Marian Cooksey (R - District 39)
5.) Lisa Billy (R - District 42)
6.) Emily Virgin (D - 44)
7.) Leslie Osborn (R - District 47)
8.) Ann Coody (R - District 64)
9.) Jadine Nollan (R - 66)
10.) Pam Peterson (R - District 67)
11.) Jeannie McDaniel (D - District 78) 
12.) Sally Kern (R - District 84) 
13.) Rebecca Hamilton (D - District 89)
14.) Anastasia Pittman (D - District 99)
15.) Elise Hall (R - 100)

Women in House Leadership Positions for 2011-2012 (Republicans 21%, Democrats 7%)

Of the 101 members of the House of Representatives, 70 are Republican. There are 24 House Majority Leadership positions of which five positions are held by four Republican women. They are: 
Lisa Billy is an Assistant Majority Floor Leader. 
Leslie Osborn is an Assistant Majority Floor Leader. 
Skye McNiel is the Majority Whip. 
Marian Cooksey is an Assistant Majority Whip. 
Marian Cooksey is also Secretary of the Majority Caucus.

There are 31 Democrats in the House and 14 House Minority Leadership positions. One is held by a woman; Rep. Jeannie McDaniel is an Assistant Minority Floor Leader.

Women House Committee Chairs for 2011-2012 (all Republicans - 23%)

There are 26 House committees. Six chairmanships went to women:
Pam Peterson (Human Services)
Sue Tibbs (Public Safety)
Ann Coody (Common Education)
Sally Kern (Long-Term Care and Senior Services)
Lee Denney (Appropriations Subcommittee on Education)
Lisa Billy (Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety)

However, two vice-chairmanships went to women; they are Marian Cooksey (Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Health and Social Services) and Leslie Osborn (Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural Resources and Regulatory Services).