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

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.

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.

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)

Florence Mubichi Memorial Room at OU

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).

Celebrating the Oklahoma Women's Coalition

At the January 2011 board meeting of the Oklahoma Women's Coalition, we took time to review all the things we have accomplished since our founding in the fall of 2008. Ergo - a celebration cake!

Sylvia Mahaffey of Putman City Schools Honored

Oklahoma's Sylvia Mahaffey, who teaches eighth-grade math at Capps Middle School (Putman City School District), is one of  only five teachers nationwide named as a 2010 Symetra Top Teacher. That's something to crow about, Oklahoma!

Census Bureau Reports Women-Owned Firms Numbered 7.8 Million in 2007, Generated Receipts of $1.2 Trillion

A December 7, 2010 U.S. Census Bureau press release notes that:

"In 2007, women owned 7.8 million businesses and accounted for 28.7 percent of all businesses nationwide, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's Survey of Business Owners. These firms generated $1.2 trillion in receipts, about 3.9 percent of all business receipts nationwide. (See Table 1 [Excel].)
Businesses owned equally by men and women numbered 4.6 million firms (17.0 percent of all businesses) and generated $1.3 trillion in receipts (4.2 percent of all receipts)."

See also: Women-Owned Businesses (U.S. Census blog)

Eight To Be Inducted into Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame on April 7

The Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women will induct eight women into the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame during ceremonies at 3 p.m. on April 7 in the Oklahoma History Center.

2011 inductees are Dr. Laura Boyd, Norman; Chloe L. Brown, Tulsa; Joy D. Culbreath, Durant; Marcia J. Mitchell and Kathryn L. Taylor, both of Tulsa; Ardina J. Moore of Miami; Dr. Cynthia S. Ross, Lawton; and Helen Harrod Thompson of Ardmore. Ninety-six women have been previously inducted into the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame. A complete list of previous inductees can be found at: http://women.library.okstate.edu/hof.

14 Women Honored As Oklahoma's Most-admired CEOs

The Journal Record will host their second annual "Oklahoma’s Most-admired CEOs" event on February 17, 2011 at National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Thirty-three business and nonprofit leaders from across Oklahoma will be honored and an overall winner will be announced in each of eight categories. The honorees will also be profiled in The Journal Record's "Oklahoma’s Most-admired CEOs" magazine that is published on Feb. 18.

Among the 33 business and nonprofit leaders selected by an industry panel from dozens of nominations are the following fourteen remarkable Oklahoma women:

* Cathryn Hibbs, Deaconess Hospital
* Lynn Flinn, The Rowland Group
* Shirley Hammer, Hammer Construction Inc
* Karen Black, A Karen Black Company
* Teresa Moisant, Moisant Promotional Products
* Bliss Morris, First Financial Network
* Nancy Anthony, Oklahoma City Community Foundation
* Anne Masters, Pioneer Library System
* Robyn Sunday-Allen, Oklahoma City Indian Clinic
* Dianna Bonfiglio, Prevent Blindness Oklahoma
* Sharla Hall Owens, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma
* Julie Knutson, Oklahoma Academy
* Jan Peery, YWCA Oklahoma City
* Valerie Thompson, Urban League of Greater Oklahoma City Inc.

Reservations for the banquet can be made by contacting Lesley Martin at(405) 278-2820 or lesley.martin@journalrecord.com. Individual tickets are $100 and tables for 10 are $1,000.

Source: The Journal Record/Dolan Media - http://www.dolanmedia.com/view.cfm?recID=659640

The Oklahoman's "Extraordinary Women of 2010"

The Oklahoman had a lovely article Sunday on  "The Oklahoman's Extraordinary Women" of 2010. They honored 6 Oklahoma women - all of them pretty remarkable judging by their bios. You can read the article on each of them by clicking on their name.The honorees for 2010 are Governor-Elect Mary Fallin, Dr. Georgianne Snowden, Shouna Olson, Doris Row, Terri Smith, and Shirley Harris.

Rose Pearson Starts Up Switchblade Skate Company in OKC

Rose Pearson, aka "Switchblade Rosie" with the Oklahoma City Roller Derby team, has started a store that targets roller derby participants. Oklahoma City has three roller derby teams. Oklahoma has 10 teams. And there are many more all across Oklahoma. At the Switchblade Skate Company (2132 SW 74th Street in Oklahoma City) you can buy quad (4-wheeled) skates, elbow pads, helmets, etc.... for women and men. You can follow the store on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/eS9QvD. Watch for a website which is coming soon! Read more at http://bit.ly/gu8ExC.

Noma Gurich Is Oklahoma's Next Supreme Court Justice

Hurray.

Governor Brad Henry has named Judge Noma Gurich to serve on the Oklahoma State Supreme Court.

Gurich will succeed Justice Marion Opala who died in late 2010. She is only the THIRD woman ever appointed to the state supreme court!

You can read more about the appointment by clicking here. 

Reinhardt-Keever New Executive Service Corps CEO

Donna Reinhardt-Keeve, former CEO of Allied Arts of Oklahoma City, is becoming CEO of the Executive Service Corps of Central Oklahoma  (ESCCO). This organization of about 60 professionals (many of them retired), volunteer their talents to nonprofits, governments and schools. Bless her and all who work with ESCCO!

Betty Boyd Remembered

Tulsa native Betty Boyd, one of Oklahoma's pioneer TV personalities and former a state legislator, died today at the age of 86. Boyd served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1990 to 2000 (Democrat - District 23/east Tulsa County). Boyd co-authored the bill creating the Oklahoma State University-Tulsa campus, advocated reading programs in early grades and expanded school teacher and administrator training. As a breast cancer survivor, her legislative agenda also included health issues. According to the Tulsa World, "While serving in the House, Betty Boyd was the oldest member, the only great-grandmother and one of only a few women to chair more than one committee." You can read the full Tulsa World article about Betty Boyd by clicking here.

Oklahoma Women We Lost in 2010

Some really remarkable Oklahoma women died in 2010. First to come to mind are Hannah Atkins and Wilma Mankiller - both amazing women - one African American and the other Native American. We also lost actress Rue McClanahan. Who else can you think of? Leave a comment and let us know!

Marion Paden Elected to Lead OKC Downtown Rotary

Congratulations to Marion Paden on being elected the 2011 Vice President of the third largest Rotary club in the world (the OKC Downtown Rotary Club). This means that, in 2012, she will become only the second woman to serve as president of this prestigious organization. (Meg Salyer was the first female president of this 540 member club in 2003.) Dr. Paden is Executive Vice President of Oklahoma City Community College.

Deborah Reheard Heads Oklahoma Bar Association

It is a first for the Oklahoma Bar Association! The OBA's top three newly-elected officers are WOMEN. Who are these extraordinary women? Deborah Reheard of Eufaula will serve as the 2011 President of the Oklahoma Bar Association. She earned her JD from Tulsa College of Law in 1987. She has served the OBA in numerous leadership roles including as chair of the Women in Law Committee (2002, 2003 and 2009) and was the first woman elected to Oklahoma's Judicial Nominating Commission.
Meanwhile Cathy Christiansen of Oklahoma City has been elected to serve as 2011 President Elect and Judge Reta Strubhar of Piedmont will serve as 2011 Vice President. Their swearing-in ceremony is January 14, 2011 at the Oklahoma Supreme Court in Oklahoma City. Congratulations to all three!
For more information see okbar.org story here.

Dana Murphy to Chair Oklahoma Corporation Commission in 2011

Dana Murphy will serve as Chair of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission in 2011. The commission regulates utilities, telephone companies, oil and gas drilling and more. Dana is a geologist, an oil and gas attorney and a very smart gal. She'll be terrific. Oklahoma is in good hands.

Women-Owned Businesses: Census Bureau Update

Forbes has an article by Caroline Howard entitled "Women-Owned Businesses: Numbers Climb, Revenue Lacking" which is very interesting. It summarizes a recently released report entitled Survey of Business Owners: Women-Owned Businesses: 2007.

 Here are a few highlights but click on the title above and read the whole thing for yourself.

There are more women-owned businesses in the U.S. than businesses owned by men but the women's are generating less revenue.  States with the largest pool of women-owned companies were California, Texas and New York. Maryland was top as the state with the highest percentage of businesses with a female owner.   Oklahoma falls in the 24.8% to 28.7% of all businesses are women-owned. The national Average is 28.7% Women control the majority (52%) of all businesses in the health care and social assistance sector.

Here is the Census Bureau's Dec 7, 2010 press release on their recent survey.

Rita Aragon at the OK State Capitol Art Museum

Soon to be our Secretary of Veterans Affairs and a wonderful one she will be, too.

Jean Shepard Inducted into Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame

Congratulations to Jean Shepard for being inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame last month. Shepard was born on Nov 21, 1933 in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. She first made it on the charts with her "A Dear John Letter" in 1953 - a duet with Ferlin Husky. Her following success led her to be invited to join the Grand Ole Opry in 1955. Her greatest success came in the 1960s and 1970s, including the songs "If Teardrops Were Silver" and "Slippin' Away." Shepard is the longest-living female member of the Opry. She is ranked 74th on the "Top 100 Country Music Artists of All Time."  Read NewsOK article here.

Got any ideas on another Oklahoma musician who should be inducted into this hall of fame?

Pearl Carter Scott Story in Film and Book

A while back I got to attend the premier of the movie "Pearl: The Story of Pearl Carter Scott". It is the true story of a young Oklahoma woman who remains to this day "the youngest licensed pilot in America." Pearl was Chickasaw and the Chickasaw Nation was instrumental in getting this charming movie produced.

On Monday, December 20 at 6:30 p.m. the producer of the film, along with the author of the book "Never Give Up! The Life of Pearl Scott Carter" , and several cast members from the film "Pearl: The Story of Pearl Scott Carter" will be at Full Circle Bookstore in 50 Penn Place, Oklahoma City. The DVD and the book will be on sale. Y'all come!

Rep Anastasia Pittman Honored at Asia Society Banquet

State Rep. Anastasia Pittman was honored at the Asia Society of Oklahoma’s Annual Award for Excellence Banquet as the Outstanding Civic Leader.

The banquet also honored Jacqueline Sit as Outstanding Asian American, the Japan America Society of Oklahoma as Outstanding Member Association, and Melencio R. Linga as Outstanding Individual Member.

“It is an honor to be recognized alongside Ms. Sit, Mr. Linga, and the Japan American Society of Oklahoma,” Pittman, D-Oklahoma City, said. “The banquet celebrated the 25 years during which the Asia Society of Oklahoma has developed a sense of community among Asian Americans and the people of Oklahoma through an exchange of ideas, information, culture, and experience.”

Xuan “Spring” Kim Nguyen, a former president of the Asia Society of Oklahoma and Senate staffer, said she nominated Pittman because of her active interest in the Asian communities of Oklahoma.
“We have always chosen a good leader who is involved in the Asian community,” Nguyen said. “Some leaders, you never see their face. Anastasia Pittman has always been present at events in our community. She shows that she cares.”

Nguyen served as president of the Asia Society of Oklahoma in 2003 and from 2008 to 2009. She said past Outstanding Civic Leaders have included Governor-elect Mary Fallin, Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins, and Department of Human Services Director Howard Hendricks.

The Asia Society of Oklahoma is comprised of member organizations representing nine Asian countries – China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. The Asia Society organizes three events annually – the Asian Festival in May, a Taste of Asia in August, and the awards banquet in November. This year’s banquet was held Nov. 6, 2010 at the Sheraton Hotel.

Pittman was appointed by former House Speaker Chris Benge (R-Tulsa) to the House International Development and Tourism Committee in 2008 after being nominated for it by former state Rep. Shane Jett (R-Tecumseh), chairman of the committee.

Source. Oklahoma House of Representatives, Media Division, December 7, 2010

Oklahoma Women's Coalition Board Hard at Work

Sorting through old photos. Thought I'd share the October 2010 OWC board meeting.

Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Dana Murphy

There was a very nice article about Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Dana Murphy in the Dec 3, 2010 issue of The Journal Record. Before her election to the Commission, Murphy had served 8 years as an administrative law judge at the Commission so she was intimately familiar with how things worked at the agency. She has a geology degree from Oklahoma State University and worked as a geologist for 10 years before earning a law degree from Oklahoma City University.  In all, she's worked in the petroleum industry over 20 years. She is a perfect fit for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and I am delighted she is there now for the next 6 year.

Marnie Taylor Named New President/CEO of OK Center for Nonprofits

Congratulations to Marnie Taylor who will soon become president and CEO of the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits.  She will be taking the position currently held by Debby Hampton who is resigning to become president and CEO of United way of Central Oklahoma on January 1. Debby will replace Bob Spinks who will retire from United Way April 1 after 10 years as CEO. Taylor is an uber-volunteers with tons of nonprofit board experience and will be terrific. (Both Bob and Marnie current serve on the Center's Board of Directors.)  Good luck to all three of these great Oklahomans in their new adventures.