Annie Funke Picked for Actors Program

Edmond, Oklahoma native Annie Funke has been participating in the renowned 10-week summer residency program at Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago. Expect involvement in this intensive learning experience to boost this 26 year old graduate of the University of Oklahoma to new professional heights.

Funke holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theater performance. Her regional work experienceincludes Hairspray (Tracy), Charlie Brown (Lucy), Grease (Jan and Cha-Cha!), Godspell (Gilmer) and Once Upon a Mattress (Winnifred). She performed in Hairspray on Broadway.


Source. Rick Rogers. Actor participates in prestigious program. The Oklahoman. 8-21-2011

Jane Jayroe To Lead Monthly Women's Luncheon Series at St Luke's UMC in Oklahoma City

St Luke's United Methodist Church is offering a luncheon series starting next month called "Esther Women." The series is designed to stimulate discussion and fellowship among Christian women. Sessions are from 11:30 to 1 on the first Wednesday of the month through January. Led by former news anchor and former Miss Oklahoma Jane Jayroe, the program will feature fabulous Oklahoma women speakers including Kim Henry, Yvonne Kauger, Lisa Boone, Sherri Coale and others.

“These luncheons are not about networking or promoting a cause,” Jayroe said. “They are meant to encourage and inspire women who already serve their families and communities and will benefit from this time for themselves. It is about the bonds of friendship and the strengthening of faith.”

Enrollment for the full series is $150 of $20 per session. To register, call 405-232-1371 or visit www.estherwomenokc.org.

Rosie's Daughters: The "First Woman To" Generation Tells Its Story

Rosie's Daughters: The "First Woman To" Generation Tells Its Story is a book by Matilda Butler and Kendra Bonnett. It tells how how the women of the WWII era were the role models for the next generation and an important influence on the US women's rights movement of the 60s and 70s. 


Butler believes that growing up as a teenager In Oklahoma in the 1960's helped shaped her interest in this topic. She told The Oklahoman reporter Yvette Walker that it was in Oklahoma that she first felt a sense of freedom as a woman. 


Source. Walker, Yvette. "Matilda Butler: Oklahoma girl grows up to be ‘Rosie’s Daughter," The Oklahoman, 4-24-2011 

Tulsa Community Women's Reentry Project

Created by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections Division of Female Offender Operations in partnership with Resonance Center for Women, Inc., the Tulsa Community Women's Reentry Project has been in operation since April 2011. The project's goal is to help female offenders find jobs within 30 days of prison release. To qualify, one must be a non-violent female offender with children, who will be returning to Tulsa upon release and who has a parole officer.  Project leaders begin meeting with these women 3 to 6 months prior to their release.  Upon release, they receive a reentry basket filled with necessities. They enter work readiness classes, get help finding child care and, if necessary, receive substance abuse  treatment. On graduation after 6 months, the women receive a professional mentor. The project is took 100 women during the first year. This effort is funded by a federal grant with additional funding from the George Kaiser Family Foundation of Tulsa. 

Karen James is New REI Board Chair

Karen James has been elected Chairwoman of Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc. She is the BancFirst regional executive for south-central and southeastern Oklahoma. She is a graduate of east Central University and has a masters degree from Oklahoma City University. Congratulations, Karen!

When REI was founded, I served on the Board of Directors. (Rep Wes Warkins called one day and said, "Jean, I want you to serve on this board. It's an exciting new initiative and it will be e fun!")

He was right. I hardly knew what I was doing though and didn't stay on very long but it was a wonderful honor and a great adventure at the time. It was brand new and inventing itself.

Who knew today it would have a wonderful section that focuses on the needs of women business owners across Oklahoma? You can learn more about REI, Inc at www.ruralenterprises.com and their Women's Business Center at http://www.ruralenterprises.com/womens-business-center/.

Kathy Potts Honored by Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits

The Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits has named Kathy Pottts as "Volunteer of the Year." Potts is a board member of the Center and Chair-Elect. She is a VP and senior member of the health care group at REES Associates, Inc. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Oklahoma and a Bachelor of Arts, Fine Arts & History from Oklahoma State University.

Sara Jane Richter Authors Book on Oklahoma Panhandle

Sara Jane Richter, PhD, is Dean of the School of Liberal Studies and professor of English at Panhandle State University in Goodwell, OK. She is also the author of a recently published book entitled The Oklahoma Panhandle. This book illustrates the region's history through photos and captions. It is filled with outlaws, college students, settlers, ranchers, Native Americans, dust storms, immigrants, dinosaurs and much more. Richter has a BA from Phillips University in Enid and a MA and PhD in English from Oklahoma State University. She gives literary and historical programs on a range of topics including Depression era women, women of the Santa Fe and Oregon trails, and women of the western gold fields. She has researched the WPA, the Dust Bowl and much more. Her book would make a great gift for Oklahomans and others. It is available in bookstores, online and through Arcadia Publishing (888-313-2665). 128 pages, soft cover, $21.99.

Meredith Siegfried Named CEO of Nordam

Meredith Siegfried is the new President and CEO of Nordam, the aerospace manufacturer. Nordam's corporate offices are in Tulsa, OK. They specialize in the manufacture, repair, and overhaul of aircraft bonded-honeycomb and composite components. The Tulsa World reports that:

"Siegfried, the daughter of NORDAM founder Ray Siegfried II, who died in 2005, joined the company in 1999. She has a degree in finance from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Chicago. Siegfried also is chairwoman of the Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust and the Tulsa Airport Authority."

You can read more about Siegfried in a Tulsa World article at http://goo.gl/xLKXk and learn more about Nordam at www.nordam.com.

Women of the South Has Scholarships for Single Moms

Women of the South recently elected officers and board members for the coming year. Their new President is Mary Blankenship Pointer. Treasurer is Penny Hampton and Secretary is Lynda Fjeseth. Women of the South is a non-profit organization comprised of women helping women. Their focus is South Oklahoma City. Among their many programs, they provide "Primary Provider Scholarships" to women who are the sole or primary providers of their household. Recipients of this scholarship receive funding from Women of the South towards obtaining an associate degree from Oklahoma City Community College. Yu can read more about this fine organization at www.womenofthesouth.org.

Jane Haskin Profiled

The August 1, 2011 Journal Record had a super spread on Jane Haskin - the first woman to chair the Oklahoma Bankers Association. She is president and CEO of First Bethany Bank and Trust. A native of Drumright, OK, Haskin is a gradute of University of Central Oklahoma. Sadly, the JR makes you subscribe and then log in to their website - ie, they have a paywall -- to read this fine article. Bummer!

Three Oklahoma Girls Named OCU 2011 Bishop's Scholars

Hannah Frye, Samantha Erickson, and Leigh Smith have been named Oklahoma City University 2011Bishop's Scholars. The award recognizes academically advanced United Methodist youth committed to careers in Christian service. Hannah is a Durant High School graduate; Samantha graduated from Carl Albert High School; and Leigh is a Westmoore High School graduate. Congratulations to these Okie women!

Tulsa Shock's Breast Health Awareness Night

Aug. 5 is the Tulsa Shock's breast health awareness night. All the details are at http://goo.gl/JtmW0.

Plan a Tulsa Shock Team Night Out.

Bring your team to a Tulsa Shock game and enjoy early entry into the BOK Center, a chance to watch player warm-ups from courtside seats, a team photo with a Tulsa Shock player, team name recognition on the scoreboard and discount group seating – tickets as low as $10!

Women Make Up Majority of Teachers

Women comprise nearly three-quarters of the American Federation of Teachers 1.5 million members. I.e., cut back on K-12 education spending and that policy decision falls most heavily on the shoulders of women.

Judith James Honored by OMRF

The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation recently presented Judith James, MD, PhD with their Edward L and Thelma Gaylord Prize for Scientific Achievement. This is OMRF's highest scientific honor. James is a native of Pond Creek, Oklahoma. Her work on hlupus has led to several discoveries on both the causes and how lupus progresses.

Lynn Mitchell Appointed OU Chief Medical Officer

The University of Oklahoma College of Medicine has appointed Lynn V. Mitchell to be the Chief Medical Officer of OU Physicians. She's got a heck of a resume! She was state Medicaid director (2000-2010), Medical Director at the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (1995-2000), faculty at the OU College of Medicine (1989-1995), etc. You can read more about Lynn at http://www.ouhsc.edu/news/templates/?a=411.

Becky Switzer, Amy Regan and Other Outgoing Tourism Commissioners

There are changes afoot in Oklahoma's Tourism and Recreation Department including a new director and several new commissioners. Melvin Moran and Becky Switzer had a nice guest article in The Oklahoman recently listing many recent accomplishments of this state agency. They - plus Tony Benson, Jason Glidewell, Amy Regan and Frank Sims - are stepping off the Tourism Commission. Any statewide appointment involves substantial time and effort. So, for your good efforts on behalf of our dear state, thank you all.

Girls Gone Wine Celebrates 5 Years

Girls  Gone Wine is a winery located near Broken Bow Lake and Beavers Bend State Park in Southeastern Oklahoma. It recently turned 5 years old.

It is owned by three women - Chandra Rickey, Rhonda Reed, and Michelle Finch. The company has a staff of 12 women.

You can sample and purchase their wine at a tasting bar, make your own wine and shop in their gift shop. They now sell 14 wines plus a special wine at Christmas. Their most popular wine is a pomegranate zinfindel named Twisted Sisters.

Visit their website at http://thegirlsgonewine.com/. Happy birthday, ladies!

Breast Impressions and Turn Tulsa Pink

This image is of the wonderful Judy Grove who founded Breast Impressions, a nonprofit in Tulsa.

Breast Impressions makes plaster casts of women's breasts before they undergo mastectomy -- and artists decorated them!

They also do so many other really important things including a fabulous Breast Cancer Awareness Day at the Oklahoma State Capitol each Spring.

Their next big project is Turn Tulsa PINK, October 22 - 29, 2011 (see www.turntulsapink.org).  Turn Tulsa PINK is part of the Pink Heals Tour international -- a countywide effort to honor and support all women and children in our community who have experienced any form of cancer. In this case Pink is for women and kids. Get on the Pink band wagon!

Check out Breast Impression's website and follow them on Facebook.

Two Women Inducted To Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame

Nine Oklahoma journalists - including two women - were inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of fame on May 13, 2011. The two Oklahoma women were:

~ Gloria Brown, Managing Editor of the Perry Daily Journal

~ Joan Henderson, Publisher of Oklahoma Today Magazine

Vashina Butler is First Black Female Captain for OK City Police Department

The Oklahoma City Police Department has promoted the first black female to the rank of captain. Congratulations Captain Vashina Butler! You can read her story at http://newsok.com/oklahoma-city-promotes-first-black-female-police-captain/article/3579860

Betty Shaw Elected President of Oklahoma Mortgage Bankers Assocation

Congratulations to Okie Woman Betty Shaw who has been elected President of the Oklahoma Mortgage Bankers Association. A resident of Chickasha, Shaw is Senior Vice President and Mortgage Operations Manager at Spirit Bank in Oklahoma City. You can read an interview with her at http://newsok.com/oklahoma-mortgage-bankers-associations-new-president-sets-sights-on-growth/article/3576084

Ruthe Blalock Jones Selected "Honored One"

Ruthe Blalock Jones was celebrated this past weekend as the "Honored One" at the 2011 Red Earth Festival in OKC. Blalock is a visual artist who has supported and promoted and taught American Indian art her whole life. She is Director Emeritus and Associate Professor of Art, Bacone College, Muskogee, Oklahoma and her paintings are in permanent collections including at the Heard Museum, Five Civilized Tribes Museum and the Museum of the American Indian. This is a great recognition for a most deserving Oklahoma artist. Congratulations, Ruthe!

You can learn more about Blalock at the following sites:

Red Earth Festival:

http://www.redearth.org/red-earth-festival/festival-honors/

http://www.newsok.com/article/3573297

The May/June 2011 issue of Oklahoma Today Magazine:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=183986458318633&set=a.122445254472754.18138.119354361448510&type=1&theater

View some of her amazing works here:
http://www.facebook.com/RutheBlalockJones
http://RutheBlalockJones.com

Image is from http://www.redearth.org

Rebecca Manzer Honored by Metropolitan Tulsa Chamber of Commerce

Rebecca Manzer and her husband run Certified Carpet Cleaning and Restoration in Skiatook, Oklahoma. Rebecca was recently named "Small Business Person of 2011" by the Metropolitan Tulsa Chamber of Commerce. Her 10-year old business saw sales increase 84% over the past year. Manzer also supports schools and organizations that assist women and children. Congratulations, Rebecca! You can read more about the award ceremony on the Chambers website by clicking here.

Image is from the Metropolitan Tulsa Chamber of Commerce website

Teresa Knox Honored by Tulsa Chamber for Entrepreneurial Success

The Metropolitan Tulsa Chamber of Commerce recently honored Tulsan Teresa Knox for her "Entrepreneurial Success." Knox is founder and CEO of Community Care College, Clary Sage College, and Oklahoma Technical College. These private colleges employ 200 and offer 47 degree programs.
Read a nice interview with Knox in the Tulsa Tribune in 2008 HERE. You can read more about the awards event on the Metropolitan Tulsa Chamber of Commerce website by clicking HERE.

Images is from the Clary Sage College Facebook page.

An Overview of Higher Education in Oklahoma

A while back, I accompanied my husband, Larkin, to Stillwater where he spoke to Leadership Oklahoma Class XXIV. The session topic was Oklahoma education and Larkin's assignment was higher education. It was fun to see friends in this year's class including Deena Fisher, Connie Schlittler, Robin Roberts Krieger, Marnie Taylor, Steve Potts and Greg Wheeler.  If you'd like to see Larkin's handout, go to http://bit.ly/lc5NY8.

Liz Hunt Named 2011 Women in Business Champion by Tulsa Chamber

Liz Hunt is Chief Executive of Hunt Media and Marketing, a 10-year old full-service public relations firm in Tulsa. She developed and executed a project that connects small business owners in all 77 Oklahoma counties -- many of which are women-owned -- and is developing leadership opportunities  for these women. She has been named by The Journal Record one of the "50 Women Making A Difference in Oklahoma" and one of Oklahoma's outstanding "Achievers Under 40."  Last month, the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce named Hunt their 2011 Women in Business Champion. You can read the article on the Tulsa Chamber's website HERE.

Remembering Lawton's Sheila Lee

Thank you, Clytie Bunyan, for your article in the Sunday Oklahoman remembering the extraordinary Sheila Octavia Lee of Lawton, Oklahoma. She was a long-time employee of the Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce - ending up as the CEO last October. She was a graduate of Leadership Oklahoma and active alum. State Representative Don Armes on his blog said this of Sheila:

She served as a board member for the Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce, the United States Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Oklahoma, the Lawton Food Bank, the Oklahoma University Cancer Institute, and the Fort Sill Federal Credit Union. She was a member of Leadership Oklahoma Class XVII, the Lawton Business & Professional Women, the League of Women Voters, the Association of the United States Army and the United States Field Artillery Association. Shelia participated in numerous professional organizations including the American Chamber of Commerce Executives Annual Convention, the Great Plains Association and the Oklahoma Travel Industry Association. Shelia was an instructor for the United States Chamber of Commerce and the Oklahoma Chamber Management Institute. She was also a member of the Artillery Order of Molly Pitcher and was a very active volunteer for many organizations, but she was most proud of her work with Army Community Services and military families who were in need. She worked numerous hours to enhance the "Loan Closet," a program designed to allow military families to borrow common household items while in transition between duty assignments. The program was unfunded and owes its success to Shelia's tireless efforts to ensure the care of soldiers and their families.

Sheila's life was cut short as a victim of a murder-suicide. The Lawton Chamber of Commerce has established a scholarship in Sheila's memory at Cameron University to benefit a female full-time student pursuing a business degree. To contribute to this memorial scholarship, send your contribution to “The Sheila Lee Endowment” c/o Cameron University Foundation Inc. 2800 West Gore Blvd., Lawton, OK 73505

Read Clytie Bunyan's article at http://newsok.com/chamber-exec-colleagues-establish-endowment-at-cameron-university/article/3572172#ixzz1Nlf0jZ7v

Margo Gray-Proctor Named Minority Small Business Champion

The Metropolitan Tulsa Chamber of Commerce recently named Margo Gray-Proctor their 2011 Minority Small Business Champion.

An Osage business woman, Gray-Proctor is President of Horizon Engineering Service Company. She is the only woman to have served as Chair of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development.

You can read about the awards presentation by clicking HERE.

Lori Montag Honored With 2011 Innovator of the Year Award

The Journal Record's Innovator of the Year award recently  went to Broken Arrow based Big Time Brands which is owned by Lori Montag and Jim Howard.

Among their hugely popular products are the zany bandz, the Slap Watch and the Splash Watch. See a Tulsa World article on the watches popularity.

You can read all about Lori and Jim and the awards banquet HERE and view JR photos by clicking HERE.

Beverly Kinzie's New Book "Early Woods County"

I don't ordinarily take guest blogs but I believe in promoting Oklahoma women writers. So here is a piece written by Beverly S. Kinzie. She is the author of a new pictorial history entitled Early Woods County. This book went on sale today, May 30, 2011. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/kpprAd. You can save 20% of the purchase on this book by going to http://bit.ly/kpprAd and typing in WOODSCO at checkout. Enjoy!

The women of Woods County, Oklahoma were from the time of the ‘Run’ of 1893 till the present a sturdy lot.

When reading journals of the early pioneers to gather information for my book, Early Woods County, the women talked about living for months at a time on claims with small children, far from any town while their husbands traveled to find work for cash money, so that they could come back and make improvements on their claim. She was the glue that held the family together.

Many of the original women that came west to settle in the newly opened Cherokee Strip were from back east, and had probably lived for a while in Kansas. They came from established homes, and had attended school and were church orientated.

They moved here to live in sod houses, dug-outs, or half dug-outs. This generally was one large room with a small loft for the children to sleep in. They cooked over an open fireplace and in the summer cooked outside. They felt lucky to have a dug well on their claim, or be close to a spring for water.

The women of Early Woods County were very concerned about education, and after getting a roof over their heads, the next thing they wanted was schools for their children.

This has carried forward until this day. Woods County is fortunate to have good public schools, a Vo-Tech School and Northwestern Oklahoma State University. Women that have the desire for education can obtain it to any degree that she wants.

It was the push of the women that the churches eventually outnumbered the saloons.

There are several entries in journals that stand out in my mind about the early women:

One woman said when she was expecting relatives from back east she was uneasy about them staying in her dugout home, as the relatives had a fine two story home. But, much to her surprise they praised her ingenuity in running the homestead under such primitive conditions.

Another woman thought she was privileged to have a wood floor laid over the dirt.

But when the boards warped and the bugs and snakes came in she ripped it out herself.

Several mothers told how she and the girls would work in the fields at harvest if there were no boys in the family. Today women and girls still work at harvest time driving trucks full of grain to the elevator and plowing with tractors. Of course it is much more comfortable with the cabs and air-conditioning that is now on the tractors and trucks.

My mother-in-law who was born in a dugout in 1894 and lived there for many years always said the greatest invention that came to the homesteader’s was indoor plumbing. When I was a little girl in the 1940s during WWII living on a farm we had an outhouse. It always terrified me to have to go there to take care of business.