Susan Walton Appointed to The Women's Alliance Board

Susan Walton, Executive Director of Oklahoma City's Suited for Success, has joined the board of directors of The Women's Alliance.

The Women's Alliance is a national organization of independent, community based members who provide professional attire and career skills training to low income women and their families seeking self sufficiency.

Suited For Success provides professional clothing and career development services to low-income women who have completed a job training or job readiness program and are actively seeking employment. We feel that our services empower our clients to successfully obtain and maintain employment thus ensuring their economic independence. Our services are available to our clients at no charge.

Journal Record Names "50 Women Making A Difference" in Oklahoma

Each year The Journal Record honors fifty women making a difference in Oklahoma. They announced their picks for 2010 a while back and I am pleased to note that nearly a quarter are members of the Oklahoma Women's Coalition. Indeed, 4 of the 50 are current or past board members of the Coalition (Alison Anthony,  Andrea Chancellor, Cathy Stackpole, and me). You can watch a video of several of the women who were early winners of the Woman of the Year award here.  

On Friday, October 8, we will gather at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum to hear from Jessie Rasmussen, Vice President, Buffett Early Childhood Fund. The Journal Record will present several scholarships, honor some programs benefiting women in Oklahoma and announce the 2010 Woman of the Year.

You are invited to attend this statewide celebration of women. Tickets are $150 and can be purchased by calling The Journal Record (405-278-2820).

Oklahoma's Brenda Edwards is New Chair of Caddo Nation

M. Scott Carter in The Journal Record July 30, 2010 had a nice profile on Brenda Edwards, the Caddo Nation’s new chairwoman. I'd love to share it here but The Journal Record uses a firewall to keep the masses out. Anyway, it was a lovely article and congratulations and best of luck to Chair Edwards!

Cara Cowan Watts Honored

From Indian Country Today

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers has named Cara Cowan Watts, of Claremore, Okla., winner of the 2010 Robert E. Stewart Engineering – Humanities Award. The award, which honors outstanding contributions of agricultural engineering students to the advancement of the interaction of the profession and the humanities, was presented June 23, at the ASABE 2010 Annual International Meeting, held in Pittsburgh, Penn.

A member of the Cherokee National Tribal Council, Watts was selected for the award in recognition of her outstanding efforts toward the integration of Cherokee culture with engineering research and outreach.

Read full article by clicking here. 

Check Out This Video on Joan Korenblit, YWCA-OKC's 2010 Embrace Award Winner

Take a look at this great video about Oklahoman Joan Korenblit, the 2010 "Embrace Award" winner. It was shown June 19th at the YWCA of Oklahoma's Purple Sash event. Joan is Executive Director of Respect Diversity Foundation, a non-profit, tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) non-partisan educational foundation that teaches tolerance for all people.

Sydna Yellowfish Named Oklahoma Native American Woman of the Year

Sydna Yellowfish is the American Indian education coordinator for the Edmond School District. She was recently named Oklahoma Native American Woman of the Year by the Changing Winds Cultural Society earlier this year.

You can read an article about Ms. Yellowfish and watch a short video of her at http://newsok.com/article/3465566 and also read about her in this Edmond Sun article.

Fletcher School District's Kathy Turner Named Oklahoma's "Superintendent of the Year"

Fletcher School District Superintendent Kathryn Turner has been named Oklahoma's 2010 "Superintendent of the Year." She was honored June 10 during the Oklahoma Association of School Administrators Annual Conference hosted by the Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration in Oklahoma City. Turner has 24 years of experience in education and has served as superintendent at Fletcher for the past six years. She was recognized for numerous accomplishments including adding a new library, additions to the agricultural building and renovations to the high school gym. She also started an after-school program for enrichment and remediation and a free summer academy for children in the school idstrict. Read more here.

Lake Park Elementary School Teacher Katherine Bishop Receives National Teaching Honor

Congratulations to Lake Park Elementary School special education teacher Katherine Bishop. She was recently named one of four teachers in the nation to receive the National Education Association Foundation's 2010 Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence. According to the NEA Foundation's website:

Katherine Bishop - Special Education Teacher
Lake Park Elementary School
Bethany, Oklahoma

Katherine Bishop believes that everyone has barriers to learning, but she realizes it often takes time to pinpoint exactly what they are and how to help. Bishop has created a classroom rich in technology to celebrate her students’ abilities while honoring their differences.

Thanks to an amplification system funded by a grant Bishop co-authored, her instruction can be understood by the student who is unable to block out certain noises and another who struggles to distinguish between similar sounds. In her classroom, students may simultaneously preview an assigned book as hard copy, using e-text readers, or with headsets for an audio version.

Bishop received her B.S. from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1991 and National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification in 2000. She co-chairs the NBPTS Exceptional Needs Standards Committee and serves on the NEA IDEA Resource Cadre.

You can watch a videa about Katherine at https://www.neafoundation.org/pages/educators/awards/teaching-excellence-awards/2010-finalists/

99's Museum of Women Pilots

The 99's Museum of Women Pilots held a dedication to celebrate the Grand Re-opening on June 26, 2010.

The museum is located near Will Rogers World Airport and was closed for seven months of refurbishing. The museum added and expanded several exhibits, such as a "Dreamflyer” flight trainer, an array of female aviators around the world and a display of women's vintage aviation fashions that includes go-go boots and outfits that cleverly convert from skirts to pants and tops.

The re-opening featured NASA Astronaut Randy Bresnik, grandson of Alfred Bresnik who was the personal photographer of Amelia Earhart. He returned a scarf belonging to Earhart which he took with him into space. You can read more of The Oklahoman article HERE and about women pilots HERE.

Jeannette Smith is New Bricktown Association Exec Dir

Welcome Jeannette Smith, the new Executive Director of Bricktown Association. She's been director of marketing for Penn Square Mall for 17 years. You can read more here.

Gerry Bonds :eves OETA

Last night was the last OETA "Oklahoma News Report" episode featuring Gerry Bonds, George Tomek and Ross Dixon. Yup - they've been let go. SORRY!!! I am going to miss them and the other programs they did as well. OETA officials said it was a cost cutting measure but really, do you believe that?! I think they just used budget constraints as an excuse to drop the old folks. As a proud and happy member of the dreaded "older generation," I am offended but not surprised.

Read About Oklahoma's Wonderful Hannah Atkins (1923-2010)

Here are a few more places that you can go to  read about Oklahoman Hannah Atkins who died June 17, 2010. She was such a smart, gracious woman and brave, honest public servant. I have only the warmest memories of working with her. I am so sad that she is gone. My thanks to  Diane Blank with the League of Women Voters of Norman, OK who provided the links below:

BlackPast.org: Remembered & Reclaimed

Remembering Hannah Atkins, 1923-2010, United Nations Association of Greater Oklahoma City

Hannah Atkins Obituary, The Oklahoman

Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History & Culture

Laurie Penix Invents Zomm

I love my ZOMM. It was a little pricey but NOTHING compared to replacing a lost iPhone. And with my ZOMM, I never get more than 30 feet away from it without it letting me know. Now The New York Times has given it a nice review and you can read the review here. This product was invented by Laurie Penix and her husband - who live in Tulsa; you can follow Laurie on Twitter (@theZOMM).

2010 Oklahoma Women's Coalition Annual Meeting & Issue Forum

Yesterday was the Oklahoma Women's Coalition Annual Meeting and Issues Forum. We met at Francis Tuttle Technology Center in Oklahoma City (Building 7) which was beautiful; I highly recommend this facility for events. Ned's catered and the food was perfect. We had a great turnout of extraordinary Oklahoma women leaders from across Oklahoma.  We began with a quick business meeting - elected new officers and board for 2010-2011. (I've stepping down as Chair but will stay on the board and chair the Leadership Development Committee,) We did special recognitions for Faye Henson's service as Treasurer, Quin Tran Dykstra's wonderful leadership as chair of the Communications Committee. And had a lovely award for Representative Kris Steele for his leadership sponsoring House Bill 2998 which creates a program that diverts non violence, low risk women offenders away from prison into an alternative facility where they can receive drug  treatment, job raining, etc.

And then we had three excellent panels during which you could hear a pin drop (so I think people were interested)! The first panel was "Legislative Update: What Happened This Session (That Impacts Oklahoma Women and Girls)?" Oklahoma State Senator Susan Paddack (pictured here with CEO of YWCA OKC Jan Peery (left) and Executive Director of Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma Karen Morgan (right) talked about the 2010 Oklahoma legislative session and offered tips on advocating, etc. while Jan Gilmore Loftis (left in second image), the Oklahoma Women's Coalition Administrator, talked about bills impacting women in the session just ended. Our Advocacy Committee (chaired by Jan Peery) and board of directors elected to be conservative this year and only officially support two bills and one budget initiative - all of which passed.

The second panel was entitled "Connecting the Dots Between Education, Poverty and Incarceration." I moderated and opened with statistics on women and poverty in Oklahoma. Erin Taylor, Academic Project Coordinator at the Oklahoma State Regents for higher Education described Project SMART (Single Mothers Academic Resource Team) which she directs. Debbie Boyer with the Division of Female Offender Operations, Oklahoma Department of Corrections gave a great talk on characteristics of incarcerated women in Oklahoma.

Our final panel was on "The State of Domestic Violence in Oklahoma." Jan Peery moderated and made opening remarks that set the tone. Jackie Steyn, LPC, Chief Programs and Compliance Officer at the YWCA of OKC and Andrea Hamor Edmondson, Administrative Program Officer with the Injury Prevention Service, Oklahoma State Department of Health (and the Coordinator of Rape Prevention Education Program) spoke. All three presentations were riveting.

Donna Lawrence (right in final image), incoming Coalition Chair, closed the program by sharing ways Oklahomans can get involved in the Coalition. I received the Coalition's first Pioneer Woman Award (see picture) - pretty sweet, huh?!?

Why are you not a member of this organization yet?!? $25; $10 for students. We'd love to have you as a member -- men,too! You can join the Oklahoma Women's Coalition online by clicking HERE.

Prudence Little Remembered

Prudence Little died on the 22nd day of May, 2010 at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. I had the great honor of participating in a few activities with this remarkable woman and am deeply saddened at her passing. Pru attended Wellesley College and graduated with honors in economics in 1965. She then attended the University of Oklahoma College of Llw and graduated first in the class of 1968. She had a stellar legal career and contributed greatly to numerous Oklahoma programs and I urge you to honor her contributions by taking a moment to read her obituary (Click here to view Prudence Little's Obituary in The Oklahoman). Equally noteworthy is that she did it all with grace and kindness and patience and wisdom. Add to that the fact that she spent the past 35 "dealing with" cancer -- advanced melanoma (diagnosed in 1975), advanced breast cancer diagnosed in (1998), ovarian cancer (diagnosed in 2004), and advanced melanoma cancer again (diagnosed 6 months ago). I can't even begin to comprehend how to cope with that burden yet Pru dealt with it extraordinary grace and courage. I wish I'd known her better; I envy those who did; and I grieve her passing. I am making a donation to the Oklahoma Women's Coalition today in her memory. Who do you know who deserves to be remembered for the way they touched your life or the lives of Oklahomans? Take a moment to honor their life.

Hannah Atkins Remembered

Hannah Atkins was the first black woman elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives. She was a truly remarkable woman and public official - filled with grace and poise and smart as a whip! Oklahoma State Representative Anastasia Pittman is quoted in today's Oklahoman article about Hannah that "She set the standard for how to represent one's constituents, how to lead. She also had poise and grace and was overall a very classy and remarkable woman and leader.” Atkins served in the Oklahoma Legislature 12 years. She later served as assistant director for aging services at the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. Under Gov. Henry Bellmon, she served as state Secretary of Social Services, Secretary of Human Resources, and Secretary of State. She was appointed by President Jimmy Carter as a delegate to the 35th General Assembly of the United Nations and went on to serve as Commissioner to the U.N. Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization from 1979 to 1982. Below are just a few of the many sights that sing praises to this remarkable woman:

~ June 19, 2010 article: http://stage.newsok.com/first-black-woman-elected-to-oklahoma-house-dies/article/3469633?

~ Hannah Atkins archival collection, Oklahoma State University: http://www.library.okstate.edu/scua/collect/atkins/index.htm

~ Wikipedia page on Hannah Atkins: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannah_Atkins

! Oklahoma Historical Society's page: http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/A/AT002.html

Terry Neese Oklahoma Selected for Prestigious National Award

WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 8, 2010 – Oklahoma City businesswoman, Terry Neese, will be honored at the 2010 National Association of Women Business Owners’ conference on June 10 in Washington, DC, with the Gillian Rudd Business Leadership Award.

Historically, the award recognizes a woman business owner who has made a significant contribution to the status and visibility of women-owned firms and to the empowerment of women entrepreneurs both nationally and internationally.

NAWBO leaders describe Neese as the perfect fit for the award for her blended entrepreneurial zeal and a sense of stepping up to do what is right for the greater good.

“Terry is the epitome of a business leader who has dedicated her professional career on the bedrock belief that when women are able to participate equally and fully in business, greater economic stability and peace ensues,” states the NAWBO Web site.

Neese, a serial entrepreneur, has been in business for more than 30 years, and most recently founded the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women, a 501c3 that aims to empower women worldwide economically, socially and politically. With its PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS program, the Institute provides long-term business and leadership training to women entrepreneurs from Afghanistan and Rwanda.

Neese, past national president of NAWBO, considers this award to be an ultimate honor, since Rudd personally inspired her to go beyond business and get involved in public policy.

“Gillian Rudd was my mentor,” Neese said. “Her work on the HR5050 legislation is what first broke the glass ceiling for women in business in the ’80s. Without her work, I truly can’t say I’d be where I am today.”

###

About The Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women:
The Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women is a 501(c)3 nonprofit empowering women to grow their businesses, pursue greater entrepreneurial ventures and become more active public policy advocates. The Institute accomplishes this mission by focusing on education, mentorship and coaching women in the United States and abroad who are seeking to acquire entrepreneurial skills to help start and grow a business.

Three Oklahoma Women Inducted Into Oklahoma African-American Hall of Fame

The Ntu Art Association of Oklahoma recently inducted six into the Oklahoma African-American Hall of Fame including Nancy Randolph-Davis, Lilliantyne Williams-Fields and (posthumously) Emma Lee Jones-Freeman. Randolph-Davis was the first black enrollee at Oklahoma State University. Williams-Fields has served more than 23 years as a biological sciences educator, serving on two national committees for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  The late Jones-Freeman was a veteran educator who won a lawsuit against the Oklahoma City School Board, which resulted in equal pay for black teachers in Oklahoma.

Source.  http://newsok.com/art-association-lauds-african-american-hall-of-fame-honorees/article/3467254

Emoly West is Miss Oklahoma 2010

University of Central Oklahoma senior Emoly West was crowned Miss Oklahoma Saturday. A major in dance performance, her talent was ballet. She beat out Miss Northwest Passage (really). Read about it at http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20100613_11_0_Persis97415&archive=yes.

Women Lawyers: OK Bar Assoc hosting Women Helping Women (Lawyers) events

The Oklahoma Bar Association’s Lawyers Helping Lawyers Assistance Program Committee (LHL) is hosting a series of monthly meetings entitled “Women Helping Women” for all female attorneys in the OKC Metro and beyond, at whatever stage of life or practice.

These free meetings will be led by women on the LHL Committee and are intended to provide an intimate setting for the group leaders and participants to ask questions, provide support, and share information with fellow women of the Bar.  Meeting dates and topics are June 24 (The Loneliness of law), July 22 (Keeping Depression and Anxiety Away), August 26 (Finding Your Balance), and September 23 (The Best Plan for Me). All meetings are 5:30pm - 7pm. Details and registration information is available at the Women Helping Women page.

Questions? Contact Donita Bourns Douglas, Director of Educational Programs, Oklahoma Bar Association
1901 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73152

Phone: 405.416.7028
Fax: 405.416.7092
Email: donitad at okbar.org
Twitter: http://twitter.com/obacle

Kay Stout on Blog Talk Radio Tues June 8th @ 8 PM

Oklahoma City businesswoman Kay Stout will be on Blog Talk Radio tomorrow, Tuesday June 8, at 8:00pm Central Time on the "Behind The Mike Show" -- www.behindthemike.info.

The topic of discussion is “Get in the right frame of mind to move ahead, find a job, and get on with your life. Kay and Mike call it “Ideas for a Challenging Economy.” You can call in to the show Toll free from the USA and Canada @ 866-417-4359; Internationally: 646-716-8609. There’s also a live chat room. Mark your calendar and join them.

Debby Kaspari Tells Her Tornado Story

Here is Norman artist Debby Kaspari's tornado story. Now I want "a sturdy steel box installed in the garage floor," too!

1.) http://ccfinorman.blogspot.com/

and

2.) http://drawingthemotmot.wordpress.com/2010/05/18/a-most-unearthly-sound/

Movie "Footloose" Inspired by Elmore, Oklahoma Prom

"Footloose" has always been one of my favorite teen movies. All that happy dancing at the end with Kevin Bacon leading the way! Well, imagine my surprise to learn that the movie was inspired by a real incident that took place in Elmore, Oklahoma! Yup. Check out this April 16, 2010 Oklahoman article entitled "Elmore City re-creates prom that inspired 'Footloose' film: Okies say they weren’t as fancy free as ‘footloose’ characters." The city celebrated the 30th anniversary of the first prom on April 17. At the url above you can also watch a video featuring (to quote the NewsOK website) "Mary Ann Temple-Lee and Leonard Coffee (who) were high school sweethearts and junior class officers who campaigned for Elmore City High School’s first prom in 1980. They inspired the principal characters of the 1984 hit movie "Footloose.” They will be the guests of honor and parade marshals Saturday at an event celebrating the 30th anniversary of the first prom."

Norman artist Debby Kaspari's home destroyed by tornado tonight

Tonight Oklahoma got hit by tornadoes.  Many homes were destroyed, buildings were torn apart, cars got tossed about.  Sadly three were killed in Tecumseh and another two died in Choctaw. Tens of thousands are without power.

Debby and Mike Kaspari are just one story among many, many today in Oklahoma. Their home was destroyed by a tornado this afternoon but, thank God, they came out of the experience safe and sound.

Debby's art is amazing and it makes me sick to realize that much of it may now be scattered across Central Oklahoma. You can see some of her wonderful work on her blog Drawing the Motmot. Debby is @DAMotmot on Twitter and is also on Facebook.

Please keep the Kasparis and the many other Oklahomans touched by the tornadoes tonight in your prayers.

Premiere Screening of Movie "Pearl" in Moore, Oklahoma

Last night I got to attend the screening of the movie "Pearl" -- the true story of the youngest licensed pilot in American history. Filmed in Oklahoma, produced by the Chickasaw Nation and media 13 it is a movie for all ages. Here are a few pics from the event. The women are (left to right) Oklahoma State Representative Lisa Billy, Oklahoma attorney Lindsay Archer and Oklahoma State Representative Lee Denney.

Kudos to OK Ethics, Shannon Warren and Tom Hill

The Oklahoman ran an op-ed recently by Shannon Warren, founder of the Oklahoma Business Ethics Consortium (aka OK Ethics)) entitled Honoring Ethical Businesses in State. This new organization has over 700 members and recently honored 3 businesses Express Employment Professionals, Kimray, Inc and Retirement Investment Advisors. They also honored  Kimray Chairman Tom Hill who also founded the Character First Institute for his strong ethical leadership in the Oklahoma business community. Well done all.

May 2010 Issue of Oklahoma Magazine Celebrates OK Women

The May issue of Oklahoma Magazine is out and Trisha Yearwood is on the cover. The May issue is always dedicated to notable Oklahoma women. This year honorees include Jo Rowan, Paula Marshall, Dr. Lam Le, Nancy Randolph Davis, Sandy Garrett, Ruth Addison, Allison Price, and The Shock (Tulsa's wonderful WNBA team)!  Also some businesswomen, some women's stores and Wine, Women and Shoes!   Check it all out at
http://www.okmag.com/currentissue/index.cfm?

Florence Mubichi and Designated Lactation Rooms for New Moms

Portia Wu, Vice President of the National Partnership for Women and Families, sent me an email recently that began:

Can you believe it? Some employers think they can tell new moms who need to express milk to just use the bathroom!

We think not. And fortunately it’s a scenario that tens of thousands of new moms won’t have to face any longer.

The new health reform law includes an important provision that requires employers to provide covered workers reasonable break time to express milk for up to one year after a child’s birth. They must also provide "a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from co-workers and the public."

It’s about time. Studies show that breast-feeding can help lead to healthy outcomes for women and children, and save billions in health costs. But until now, many women have had to stop breast-feeding — or never even start — because they couldn’t pump milk in their workplaces.

We have Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) for getting this provision into federal law. It is already the law in Oklahoma (although I don't know the degree to which Oklahoma companies comply).

As a matter of fact, I learned today that the University of Oklahoma College of Nursing is going to relocate their designated area for new mothers to a new room which will be decorated with artwork from Kenya and dedicate it to my dear friend, Florence Mubichi, who recently lost her battle with ovarian cancer. Here is their memorial to Florence who was on the OU College of Nursing faculty while she was working on her PhD.

Do You Know the Role Oklahoma Played in Winning Women's Right to Vote?

The National Women's History Project has announced the kick-off to a 10-year plan for the Woman Suffrage Centennial in 2020.

They will be working with The National Collaborative for Women's History Sites (NCWHS) to create a national clearinghouse for information on state-by-state Woman Suffrage celebrations leading up to the 100th Anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution on August 26, 2020. Their goal is the creation of a nationwide Woman Suffrage Trail highlighting the role of each state in the 72-year national campaign that won the right to vote for women.

The National Women's History Project has achieved great progress in their first 30 years of Writing Women Back into History.  Now it is time for Oklahomans and others to start thinking about how we want to celebrate the Woman Suffrage Centennial in 2020! If you have any thoughts, leave a comment please!

Remembering Wilma Mankiller

Former Cherokee Chief Wilma Mankiller died yesterday at the age of 64. She was a strong advocate for women's rights and Indian rights. Here are a couple of links that help tell the story of this remarkable woman.
Former Cherokee Chief Wilma Mankiller dies, Tulsa World, 4/6/10

Transcript of A Conversation with Wilma Mankiller, OETA. The video of this program will air Friday, April 9 at 9:00 pm on OETAs second channel OKLA.

Interview with Wilma Mankiller on Writing Out Loud.
Books by Wilma Mankiller.

(Thank you, Debbie Blank, League of Women Voters of Norman, for sharing this.)