Milena Govich a Rising Star

Oklahoman Milena Govich is going to replace Dennis Farina on Law & Order this coming season. Previous work has been on the televisions series Rescue Me and Conviction plus stage performances. Click here to read her bio.

Play About Te Ata to Premiere at USAO

A full length play with music based on the life of Te Ata (Mary Thompson, later Mrs. Clyde Fisher) will have its world premiere on August 5 in the Te Ata Memorial Auditorium on the campus of the University of Science and Arts in Chickasha, Oklahoma. In 1987, Te Ata (1895-1995) became the first person ever declared an "Oklahoma Treasure."

To watch a short video and learn more about Te Ata, this exciting new play and how to purchase tickets for performances August 5-13, click here or call 405-574-1213. To read a short biography of Te Ata at the Chickasaw Nation's website, click here or on the Oklahoma Women website, click here.

Fannie Lou, Rosa, Coretta Voting Rights Act Renewed by House

On July 13, the US House of Representatives not only (finally) renewed the Voting Rights Act (H.R. 9) but renamed it “The Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006.” 390 members voted "Aye," 33 voted "Nay" and 9 members did not vote. All 33 who voted "Nay" were Republicans -- mostly from Southern and border states. Blessedly, all 5 Oklahoma Congressmen managed to vote "Aye." For more, click here.

3 Women Make “50 Most Powerful” List

FRIDAY, the newspaper of Nichols Hills, has issued its annual list of the 50 most powerful Oklahomans. A list is sent to 250 statewide leaders (not themselves on the list) who are asked to select the 50 they consider most powerful. Individuals can also be written in. I suspect the vast majority of the voters are men who live in Central Oklahoma and are Republican. Of the 50 selected this year, there may be one or two who can claim some Native American blood but there are no blacks or Hispanics and only 3 women – Christy Everest, Mary Fallin and Kathy Taylor. To view the list of 50, click here.

Status of Women in Oklahoma

Oklahoma ranks near the bottom according to a recent study by the Institute for Women's Policy Research. One in five women in Oklahoma has no health insurance. One third of Oklahoma's single mothers live below the poverty line. Click here to purchase a copy of The Status of Women In Oklahoma.

Emmy Nominations for Mullally & Woodard

Two women actors with Oklahoma ties -- Megan Mullally of “Will and Grace” and Tulsa native Alfre Woodard of “Desperate Housewives” -- have received Emmy nominations this year.

S i l e n c e

a poem by Anasuya Sengupta

Too many women in too many countries
speak the same language of silence.
My grandmother was always silent, always aggrieved
Only her husband had the cosmic right (or so it was said)
to speak and be heard.
They say it is different now.
(After all, I am always vocal and my grandmother
thinks I talk too much)
But sometimes I wonder.
When a woman shares her thoughts, as some women do,
graciously, it is allowed.
When a woman fights for power, as all women would like
to, quietly or loudly, it is questioned.
And yet, there must be freedom — if we are to speak
And yes, there must be power — if we are to be heard.
And when we have both (freedom and power) let us now be understood.
We seek only to give words to those who cannot speak
(too many women in too many countries)
I seek to forget the sorrows of my grandmother's silence.

Jennifer Paustenbaugh Chairs Commission

Dr. Jennifer Paustenbaugh is the new chair of the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women. More>>>

Commission on the Status of Women: New Officers

Officers for the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women for the coming year are:

Chair: Jennifer Paustenbaugh
Vice Chair: Catherine Haynes
Secretary: Lou Kohlman
Nominating Committee: Mary Walker and Anita Norman

The Chair of the Advisory Council will be Jilda Motley.

3 Oklahomans Compete In "Powder Puff Derby"

The 2006 Air Race Classic last week from Mesa, Arizona to Menomee, Maine included three women pilots from Oklahoma amongst the 68 women competing: Margie Richison of Norman, Carolyn Smith of Yukon and Heidi LaPine or Oklahoma City. Next year's race will start in Oklahoma City!

Lisa Pryor Begins 2nd Year As OK Demo Party Chair

Lisa Pryor recently began her second year as Chairman and Executive Director of the Oklahoma Democratic Party. When she first came in, the party had a debt of $524,000 (much of that from Brad Carson's failed run for the US Senate). That's down to $271,000 today. Yikes. Word on the street is she is doing a good job. Congrats, Lisa.
Addendum: Opps. Not "re-elected" ~ Lisa was elected for two years so is just starting the second half of her 2-year term. Click on "Comment" below to read more.

Purple Sash Draws 450 for YWCA

Congratulations to OKC YWCA President and CEO, Jan Peery (above left) and her staff and board for their Purple Sash fundraiser June 22nd which was a huge success. There were fun fashions by Southern Charm of Norman's owner/designer Kayne Gillaspie (above right). He is a competitor on season 3 of the TV hit "Project Runway" which begins airing in mid-June. (One of his models was OCU grad and N.E.W. Leadership alum Carri Perrier. United Way CEO Bob Spinks guided us through the evening beautifully. Lt. Mark Wynn's eloquent remarks on domestic violence reminded us why we were there: to raise funds for the YWCA's women's shelter. Two remarkable Oklahoma City women leaders were recognized ~ educator Joyce Henderson (above center) and civil rights pioneer Clara Luper pictured below with Jean Warner on the left and Nancy Randolph Davis on right. Davis is the first African American admitted to Oklahoma A&M College.

June 23: 34th Anniversary of Title IX Passage

Thank you, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, for your email reminding me that the landmark civil rights law that prohibits education and athletic programs that receive federal funding from discriminating on the basis of gender is 34 years old today. Pelosi said:

"Title IX has empowered hundreds of thousands of young women on the soccer field and in the classroom by ensuring equal opportunity for women and girls in athletics and education. Because of Title IX, young women's participation in athletics has increased 400 percent at the college level and 800 percent in high schools.

“But more importantly, because of Title IX, women and girls know that they can succeed not only on the playing field and in the classroom, but also in the halls of power and corporate boardrooms. Title IX has empowered countless girls and women to be stronger and bolder through a simple message: your education is crucial and your future is limitless."

The Bush Administration has issued a new ‘Clarification’ on Title IX that some fear creates major loopholes and lowers the standard for Title IX compliance. Keep a watchful eye on this issue.

Women's Equality Day

Guess who is responsible for the US Congress designating August 26 as "Women's Equality Day." This holiday celebrates women winning the right to vote. Read all about it at the National Women's History Project website.
PS - The answer is Bella Abzug who I had the priviledge of meeting at a Women's Political Caucus national convention. What a great lady. I've used the Wikipedia bio because you should know what a "wiki" is and be using this great resource.

Anne Roberts, Kaye Rote Honored

HeartLine's Festival of Hope 2006 September 9th will honor 5 Oklahomans making a difference including Anne Roberts (Oklahoma Institute for Child advocacy) and Kaye Rote (Oklahoma Mental Health Consumer Council).

Suzan Harjo - American Indian Activist

The Oklahoman has a nice story today about El Reno native Suzan Shown Harjo who they call a "poet, writer, lecturer, curator and policy advocate." Click on the title above to read the story.

Purple Sash is June 22nd in OKC

You are cordially invited to

Purple Sash
~ A Celebration of Courage ~

An Elegant Evening of Dinner, Fashion and Silent and Live Auctions
Benefiting the YWCA of Oklahoma City

Featured Guest Presenter Lt. Mark Wynn

2006 YWCA Embrace Award Honoree Joyce Henderson

2006 National YWCA Racial Justice Award Honoree Clara Luper

2006 Fashion Show Designer: Jonathan Kayne Gillaspie (Project Runway/Season 3)

Thursday, June 22, 2006 – 7 PM
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

To make reservations, call Sherry Hatherley at 405-943-7177

LuCelia Wise Dies at 92

Okahoma author Lu Celia Wise, passed away June 9, 2006. To read about her and the books she wrote, click here.

Lynn Schusterman to be Inducted

Tulsa philanthropist Lynn Schusterman will be inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame during the Oklahoma Heritage Association's 2006 induction ceremony this October. Tickets go on sale September 1; call 405-235-4458.

Perle Mesta Profiled in The Oklahoman

If you thought Pele Mesta just gave great parties, think again. She was only the third women ever named to a diplomatic post by the US and was such a committed feminist that she changed her name from Pearl to Perle as a political statement. She was the model for the lead character in Irving Berlin's Broadway play and subsequent movie "Call Me Madam."

Here is the newspaper story; too bad the newspaper doesn't post the great photographs associated with the article. Click here to read about Mesta at the Oklahoma Women's Network website (scroll down to her name). Once there, click on her name for other bios on Perle Mesta. Or read her autobiography, Perle: My Story. Buy it at Amazon or check your local library.

Women Pilots Museum in Oklahoma City

Dedicated to preserving the history of women in aviation, the Ninety-Nines Museum of Women Pilots is located at 4300 Amelia Earhart Drive in Oklahoma City.

In addition to displays, the museum offers a research library and archives and is working on offering an aviation educational program. The museum was named for the 99 women pilots who signed the museum’s initial charter. For more, click here.

We Need More Like Anna Korn

Leading up to the Centennial celebration, The Oklahoman is running profiles on noteable Oklahomans. On November 27, 2006, they ran a story about Anna Korn (1869-1965). She founded the Oklahoma Women’s Legislative Council, lobbied for women to get the right to vote and serve on juries plus urged the Legislature to establish a separate ward for women at the state penitentiary. She also founded the Oklahoma Memorial Association – the precursor to the Oklahoma Heritage Association which maintains the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Go Anna!

Oklahoma African-American Women's Stories

The Oklahoma Uncrowned Queens Project is seeking stories of ordinary black women in Oklahoma who impacted their communities. Some women already profiled include Oklahoma City Public Schools Superintendent Betty Mason, Janetta Chapple, Ruth Faine, Mazola McKerson and Clara Luper. The collected stories will by published in a book, Uncrowned Queens: African-American Women Community Builders of Oklahoma, 1907-2007. Peggy Brooks-Bertram and Barbara Seals Nevergold started collecting histories of black women in 1999. Obtain a nomination form and read biographies of Oklahoma women at their website.

Mindy Stitt New OERB Head

On May 4, Mindy Stitt was named Executive Director of the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board. That's the organization that does all the "environmental restoration" you see in their TV ads.

Oklahoma's Territorial Women

Author Glenda Carlile's book Buckskin, Calico, and Lace: Oklahoma's Territorial Women (Oklahoma City: Southern Hills Publishing, 1990) features chapters on many characters and saints of the period.

Women profiled include Mary Alice Hearrell Murray (the wife of AP Murray - Oklahoma's first Governor), famous madam "Big Anne" Wynn, socialite Anna Murphy Overholser, outlaws Cattle Annie, Little Britches and Belle Star, newspaper publisher Elva Shartel Ferguson, Kate Barnard and more. Add it to your Oklahoma women library; a used copy via Amazon can be had for around $5.00.

Oklahoma Women in Politics (1900-1930)

Suzanne H. Schrems, PhD. of Norman has written a fascinating book about the role of women in early Oklahoma politics. She covers the far left, woman's suffrage, conservatives, even the role of women in the Ku Klux Klan.
One chapter is dedicated to the only woman from Oklahoma to serve in the US Congress -- Alice Mary Robertson. (Hint: I doubt many of us would vote for her if she ran for Congress today.) At Amazon.com, look for Across the Political Spectrum: Oklahoma Women in Politics in the Early Twentieth Century, 1900-1930 (Lincoln, NE: Writers Club Press, 2001)

A Report on The Status of Women in Oklahoma

The Institute for Women's Policy Research's study reports on how Oklahoma women rank in five areas: political participation, employment and earnings, social and economic autonomy, reproductive rights and health and well-being.

Trish Long, PhD Associate Professor of Psychology and Director of the Women’s Studies Program at Oklahoma State University serves on their 35 member National Advisory Committee for The Status of Women in the States Project.

It is an excellent work but somewhat discouraging.

Indomitable Oklahoma Women

This book by Opan Hartssell was published in hard cover by the Oklahoma Heritage Association in January of 1994.

It features some wonderful profiles of women - some famous and others just extraordinary!

OCU Law School to Honor Women in the Law

Oklahoma City University will hold The Legal Affair Dinner and Awards Gala on the evening of Thursday, May 18 at the Okahoma City Golf and Country Club. To be honored are Marjorie Downing (Professor of Law 1972-1997) and Nancy I Kenderline (Professor of Law 1977-2005. Also receiving awards are The Honorable Reta M. Strubhar (Marian P. Opala Award for Lifetime Achievement in Law), The Honorable Patricia D. MacGuigan (Distinguished Lawe Alumna), M. Susie Magaw-Viele (Law Alumna Association Award for Community Service), Keri C. Prince (Outstanding Young Alumna) and Scoggins & Cross, PLLC (Law Firm Mark of Distinction). Congratulations to the honorees. Proceeds will help to endow scholarships in the names of Professors Downing and Kenderline.

Jean Warner Update

After three plus years with N.E.W. Leadership which, along with Cindy Simon Rosenthal, she founded and ran at OU, Jean took a hiatus to travel to Kenya twice with United Methodist church sponsored mission teams. She was team leader for the second team that built a library for deaf children. She now does this weblog plus the Oklahoma Women's Network website.
Want to help - offer input - correct mistakes? Leave a comment here or go to her website and click on CONTACT (bottom of page) to contact her.