Below includes special announcements of events and activities of interest to women and girls, as well as important women’s issues.

Women Leaders Recognized

Women leaders from Western Maryland were celebrated in a recent women’s history month observance, “Women Leaders: Past and Present,” that featured five female elected officials who shared their public service experiences and a professional actress who portrayed two female historical figures. This second annual Women’s History Celebration and Networking Event, sponsored by the Maryland National Organization for Women in collaboration with the Business and Professional Women of Maryland and the American Association of University Women, was hosted by Allegany College of Maryland. The women and gentleman honored are: Elizabeth West, President, AAUW, Frostburg chapter; Julie Hartman, women’s studies coordinator, Frostburg State University; Cherie Snyder, Human Services Director, ACM; Linda Mahoney, Maryland NOW President; and Robin Summerfield, representative for U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, Susan Horst, BPW/Maryland; Kate Campbell Stevenson, historical actress; Theresa Foster, BPW/MD.; Peggy Jamison, Oakland mayor; Albert Feldstein, Historian; Brenda Smith, Greater Cumberland Committee Executive Director; Janet Wilson, Superintendent of Garrett County Public Schools; and Sara-Beth James and Laurie Marchini, Allegany County Board of Education members. The event recognized elected and appointed women for their contributions to the public good.

Bernice Resnick Sandler, to be inducted in the National Women's Hall of Fame, Seneca Falls, NY, October 12, 2013

For more than forty years, Bernice Resnick Sandler has been a tireless advocate of educational equity for women and girls. In 1970, Sandler filed the first charges of sex discrimination against 250 educational institutions.  It was this strategy that led to the first federal investigations of campus sex discrimination at a time when no laws existed to prohibit discrimination based on sex in education.  Subsequently, Sandler was instrumental in the development, passage and implementation of Title IX, the legislation that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally funded education program or activity.  An expert in strategies and policies to prevent and respond to sex discrimination in higher education, Sandler has given more than 2,500 presentations.  She currently serves as a Senior Scholar in Residence at the Women’s Research and Education Institute in Washington, DC.    

Carmen Delgado Votaw
Member of the Maryland Women's Heritage Center's Board of Directors

Because Carmen Delgado Votaw's achievements are of such historical significance to Montgomery County, the Montgomery County Commission for Women has selected Carmen's biography to be included in the Montgomery County Women's History Archive.  A reception and ceremony honoring Carmen and other honorees will be held Wednesday, July 11, 2012.  Congratulations Carmen from all of us at the Maryland Women's Heritage Center!

Baltimore City Senior Citizen Poetry Contest 2012

Maryland Women's Heritage Center is proud to support and help solicit submission of poems for this contest. The contest is honoring the memory of Ruth Garbis (nee Rochkind - 1920-2011), mother of Harriet Lynn, MWHC Advisor and Program Committee member. This 2012 poetry contest celebrates and encourages the talents of Baltimore City Senior adult poets. Click here for contest information: Senior_Poetry_Contest_pressrelease.doc   

In Appreciation, Vera Foster Rollo (1925-2010)

The Maryland Women's Heritage Center is the recent proud recipient of copies of several books written by the late Vera Foster Rollo and donated to the Center by her daughter Sally and son Michael. Vera lived in Seabrook, Maryland for 50 years and was a pioneer in aviation and the author of many books related to Maryland and American History.

Earning her pilot's license in 1943, Vera was one of the women who made up only 6% of all licensed aviators worldwide, and went on to log more than 4000 hours flying.  She taught many other aspiring pilots and served as a Captain in the Maryland Civil Air Patrol through the 1990's.

While Vera's son Michael was in elementary school he came home from school one day and told her that students didn't have a Maryland history book. Vera was inspired to become an author and to write the first local state history text, Your Maryland. This launched her writing and publishing career, and she founded a company called the Maryland Historical Press.  She went on to write and publish many Maryland history books, such as Maryland Today and Everyday Life in Colonial Maryland. With her love of flying and of American history, Vera also wrote books on aviation and on American culture, such as Presidents and Their Pets.

The Maryland Women's Heritage Center thanks Wilhelmina Burres, a volunteer at the Center for working with Vera's daughter and son, Sally and Michael Foster, to share Vera's wonderful legacy through her books. Visitors to the Heritage Center can see the books on display and may also borrow them. For more information, contact Ellie Elgin at: eelgin@dhr.state.md.us
                                      
                                                  

Celebrating young women who are making a difference. In September 2007, Woman Talk Live launched the very first Girls Gone Great Scholarship Essay Contest. Why? Because we believe there are a lot more girls going great than girls going wild. The problem is we usually don’t get to hear about all of wonderful things young women are doing. So, we want to continue to recognize young women making a difference in their world right now and who have a big vision for the future.

You have a voice, you have great ideas, you contribute, you have hopes and dreams…and, Woman Talk Live wants to hear all about it!

Our 2012 Girl Gone Great will receive:

A $1,000 Continuing Education Scholarship generously donated by Talk radio 680 WCBM Baltimore. A guest appearance on Woman Talk Live Radio on Saturday, March 31, 2012. An engraved award, Dinner with Ann Quasman, Host of Woman Talk Live, Recognition, her photo and essay on the Maryland Women’s Heritage Center website www.mdwomensheritagecenter.org and in the museum's center in Baltimore City. Recognition in other local media venues.

Who is eligible to submit an essay for the 2012 contest?

All young women living in Maryland who are in their junior or senior years of high school in the Fall of 2011.

Download the 2012 Girl Gone Great flyer
Download the 2012 Girl Gone Great Submission Guidelines

The 2012 Girl Gone Great will be announced on the Woman Talk Live radio show airing Saturday, March 3, 2012.
Thanks for your interest in our 2012 Girl Gone Great Scholarship Essay Contest. We look forward to learning all about you!

The Myra Sadker Foundation is excited to announce that applications for their 2012 funding awards are now available.

The Foundation sponsors 3 funding programs to promote gender equity.

        doctoral dissertation awards
        teacher grants for classroom projects
        grants for student projects

Descriptions of each award as well as application requirements can be found at http://www.sadker.org/awards.html. Deadline for applications is December 1, 2011.

Three Young Women Crowned Winners of Google Science Fair

On July 12, 2011, Google announced the winners in its first Science Fair – and this year was all about girl power. This year’s winners are three young women who could someday cure cancer, build flying cars or become the CEO of a giant tech corporation.

In all, 15 science-fair finalists put their projects on display in Google headquarters for more than 1,000 onlookers as well as an esteemed panel of judges including a Nobel Laureate, National Geographic Explorers, and some of Google’s own.

The tech giant searched through more than 7,500 entries from more than 10,000 students in 91 countries. In the end, the judges picked just three winners – all of whom were girls.

Google’s top three winners by age category are:

• Lauren Hodge in the 13-14 age group. Lauren studied the effect of different marinades on the level of potentially harmful carcinogens in grilled chicken.

• Naomi Shah in the 15-16 age group. Naomi endeavored to prove that making changes to indoor environments that improve indoor air quality can reduce people’s reliance on asthma medications.

• Shree Bose in the 17-18 age group. Shree discovered a way to improve ovarian cancer treatment for patients when they have built up a resistance to certain chemotherapy drugs.

Read more about the Google Science Fair here.

Help Make September 22nd National Day of the Girl!

The Day of the Girl campaign is working to achieve a day of recognition and understanding for girls everywhere. Inspired by ongoing efforts at the United Nations to establish an International Day of the Girl, the campaign urges President Barack Obama to declare September 22, 2011 as the National Day of the Girl.

The Day of the Girl is about highlighting, celebrating, discussing, and advancing girls lives and opportunities across the globe. When girls come together to talk about things that really matter to us, we can teach other people–grownups, boys, girls all across the world–a new way of thinking about issues like gender stereotypes, discrimination, and opportunity.

This campaign is a project of School Girls Unite, an organization of students and young women leaders in the United States and in Mali working to advance the U.N. Millennium Development Goals related to gender equality and universal basic education, as well as child marriage prevention and other human rights issues.

Sign the petition to make September 22nd National Day of the Girl! To learn more about the Day of the Girl campaign, visit http://dayofthegirl.org.

Women Who Received Honorary Degrees in 2011 From the Nation’s Highest-Ranked Universities

WIAReport (Women In Academia Report) has compiled a list of women who have received honorary degrees from a group of the nation’s highest-ranked universities during the recent spring commencement season. All told, these universities presented 38 honorary degrees to women. Judith Jamison and Lisa Randell each were awarded two honorary degrees from this group of top research institutions.

Brown University and the University of Notre led all the top research universities by awarding four honorary degrees each to women. Dartmouth, Harvard, and the University of Pennsylvania all awarded honorary degrees to three women.

Click here to see the full list of this year’s honorees.

First Female General From Baltimore

Credit:  Fox 45, Baltimore

For the first time in its 96-year history, a female general and native of Baltimore is taking charge at the Famed Marine Corps Training Depot in Parris Island.

Brigadier General Loretta Reynolds is the first female marine to hold a command position in a battle zone. As a one
star general, Reynolds is also the third female general officer in the more than 200,000 member Marine Corps.

Reynolds graduated from the Naval Academy in 1986 and has been in the Marine Corps for 25 years.

Reynolds takes charge Friday at the installation south of Beaufort.

The service also has two two-star female generals, one in active duty ranks and another in the Marine Corps Reserve.

Call for Volunteers and Docents

We need docents to staff the Maryland Women's Heritage Center during regular operating hours, Wednesday through Saturday from 10 am - 4 pm. We are looking for docents who will be able to staff the Center at least one day per month. We’re also always looking for volunteers to join our committees, help with our programs and events, and other tasks. Please contact Ellie Elgin at 410-767-3045 if you would like to donate your time.

Women in STEM: University of Maryland students set aeronautic records

The National Aeronautic Association has certified that on May 12, 2011, the human-powered helicopter Gamera, designed and built by graduate and undergraduate students of the University of Maryland's A. James Clark School of Engineering and piloted by biology student Judy Wexler, achieved lift-off and hovered for 4.2 seconds, thereby establishing the U.S. national records for the duration of a human-powered helicopter flight and the duration of a human-powered helicopter flight by a female pilot.

The NAA has submitted information to the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale to permit evaluation of the flight for world records in the same categories. The NAA states that this process may take two to three months.

The Gamera team is presently working toward a second flight in the summer of 2011 to achieve a 60-second hover, and plans a third flight in the fall of 2011 to try for the Sikorsky Prize.

To view the May 12th flight, click here.

MWHC Board Member Carolyn Stegman Receives Community Leadership Award

Maryland Women’s Heritage Center Board Member Dr. Carolyn Stegman was recently named a recipient of Salisbury University’s 2011 President’s Distinguished Community Leadership Award.

Carolyn has been called a “champion of diversity, women’s rights [and] the aging.” She also is a “thought-provoking catalyst” for global understanding and social change. She has taught communication, education and psychology to students at Salisbury University, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Wor-Wic Community College for two decades. A cultural events supporter, Carolyn helped bring singer/songwriter Holly Near, Nobel laureate Toni Morrison and feminist leader Gloria Steinem to SU. She also has opened her home to international visitors, from Tibetan Monks to exchange students.

A longtime volunteer, consultant and past board chair for MAC Inc., Carolyn is currently developing its 50+ Network for Creative Engagement to empower older adults to achieve the greatest creative potential within themselves, their relationships and their community. She recently wrote a successful $1.5 million grant for the new Salisbury-Wicomico Senior Services Center, and obtained funding to build its therapy garden for dementia and Alzheimer’s clients. She hosts MAC’s PAC-14 show, covering issues facing older adults, and writes and edits its newsletter. She is a member of the Wicomico Commission on Aging and has served on Life Crisis Center and American Cancer Society boards.

In the 1990s, Carolyn authored a weekly column for The Daily Times, exploring diversity, gender issues and other topics. In 2002, she authored Women of Achievement in Maryland History highlighting 300 state heroines. The book has been placed in libraries, public schools, and universities throughout the state. Five years in the making, this non-profit project utilized hundreds of volunteers to uncover the missing puzzle pieces and capture the spirit of Maryland’s heroines, often unsung, who have made a difference in our communities, state, and nation. Carolyn has also lectured extensively throughout the United States, Europe, Japan, and Africa.

Call for 2011 Woman of the Year

Since 1981, the NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners) Baltimore Regional Chapter has honored women and corporations for their dedication to business growth, employee development, owner and personal accomplishments, community involvement and advocacy for women in business.

Business Woman of the Year: will be selected based on their dedication to business growth, employee development, owner and personal accomplishments, community involvement and advocacy for women in business. Nominees must own at least a 50% share of her business and have been in business at least 5 years and have made significant accomplishments in each of the areas outlined in the application. (candidates are nominated or self-nominated)

Corporate Partner of the Year Award: An organization whose vision provides opportunities for women; demonstrates a willingness to devote time, energy and financial resources to programs benefiting women and women in business. (candidates are nominated)

Mentor: understands the value and responsibility of helping others achieve success. Invests the time and energy in encouraging, advising, and giving others a helping hand up. (candidates are nominated)

Rising Star: recognizes emerging entrepreneurial women business owners who have been in business less than two (2) years. Although "new," the business is already demonstrating strong growth and is expected to sustain long term success through sound business practices and a commitment to excellence in all endeavors. (candidates are nominated or self-nominated)

NOMINEE CRITERIA

• Active voting member of NAWBO-BRC chapter (except for Corporate Partner of the Year)
• A business owner who is a sole proprietor, a partner in a partnership, shareholder in a corporation, or a member in a limited liability company, who exercises the power to make policy decisions, and is actively involved in the day-to-day management of the firm (except Corporate Partner of the Year and Unsung Hero)
• Demonstrates the highest levels of professionalism and effective leadership
• Inspires others
• Active in the community
• An advocate for women in business

Nominations may be emailed to info@nawbobrc.org by May 13, 2011 or mailed to NAWBO-BRC, 2400 Boston Street, Suite 102, Baltimore MD 21224, but must be postmarked no later than May 13, 2011. Click here for Nomination Form. Interested in sponsoring the event? Click here for Sponsorship Information.

Women Who Left Their “Stamps” on History

A new exhibit is now on display at the Maryland Women’s Heritage Center, made possible by a private donation from a MWHC board member. The Women’s History Postage Stamp exhibit highlights women have made a significant contribution to society and as a result, they (or works of art created by them) have been pictured on U.S. postage stamps. The exhibit also features a hands-on scavenger hunt activity where visitors can read clues about historical women and search through a large collection of U.S. postage stamps to match the woman with her commemorative stamp.

Presidential Proclamation – April 12 is National Equal Pay Day

Almost 50 years after enactment of the Equal Pay Act, equal pay for equal work remains elusive for millions of working women, according to Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. In fact, over the past 10 years, the pay gap has remained virtually unchanged. Today in America, women are paid an average of 80 cents for every dollar paid to men. The pay gap is even larger for women of color, with black women earning about 70 cents, and Latinas about 60 cents, of every dollar paid to all men.

President Barack Obama recently proclaimed April 12, 2011, as National Equal Pay Day, to encourage all Americans to recognize the full value of women's skills and their significant contributions to the labor force, acknowledge the injustice of wage discrimination, and join efforts to achieve equal pay.

Click here to read the Presidential Proclamation of National Equal Pay Day.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released a report in April 2011 that compared women’s earnings in the Mid-Atlantic region with their male counterparts. Highlights of the report include:

• Earnings gaps between women and men were widest for Whites and for Asians. White women earned 79% as much as their male counterparts in 2009, while Asian women earned 82% as much.
• Among both women and men aged 25 and older, the weekly earnings of those without a high school diploma were less than half of those with a college degree in 2009.
• In the age groupings of those 35 years and older, women had earnings that were roughly three‐fourths as much as their male counterparts. Among younger workers, the earnings differences were not as great.
• Median weekly earnings for married women and men were higher than those for their unmarried counterparts.
• Women who had never married had the highest women’s‐to‐men’s earnings ratio at 94.9.

Click here to read the full report.

Baltimore Symphony Showcases Revolutionary Women During 2011-12 Season

Music Director Marin Alsop and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) announce the Orchestra's 2011-2012 season, the fifth full season under the direction of Maestra Alsop. The upcoming season is a year-long celebration of revolutionary women, featuring works by female composers and music that honors or depicts women in various roles throughout history-from religious martyr to humanitarian activist.

January 2012 marks the 600th anniversary of the birth of French heroine, legend and martyr Joan of Arc. The BSO commemorates her life with two seminal works: the 1935 masterpiece by Swiss composer Arthur Honegger Jeanne d'Arc au Bûcher, a piece that the BSO will also perform at Carnegie Hall, and Richard Einhorn's Voices of Light, composed to accompany the landmark 1928 silent film The Passion of Joan of Arc.

Click here to view the BSO's 2011-2012 season at a glance.

Olympian Dominique Dawes To Be Third Woman Inducted Into D.C. Sports Hall of Fame

The Washington Nationals is reviving its Washington Hall of Stars, with a new name — the D.C. Sports Hall of Fame — and inducting six new athletes. In a pregame ceremony before the team’s March 31st opener against Atlanta, these D.C. sports figures will be added: CBS “NFL Today” host James Brown, Olympic gold medal gymnast Dominique Dawes, former Washington Redskins running back Brian Mitchell, former Anacostia High head football coach Willie Stewart, former Post columnist Michael Wilbon and former DeMatha High head basketball coach Morgan Wootten.

Dominique Dawes, a Silver Spring native, competed in three Olympics and is the third woman to be inducted into the D.C. hall of fame. She is now co-chairman of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition.

Read the Washington Post story here.

Congratulations to the 2011 Howard County Women Hall of Fame Inductees

From left to right: Diana Ulman; Katherine Rensin; Ric Ryder (accepting for his mother, Ann Ryder); Arlene Sheff; Sister Catherine Phelps.

The Howard County Commission for Women inducted five new members into the 2011 Women's Hall of Fame Inductees. The Women’s Hall of Fame honors women who have made significant contributions to Howard County, the State of Maryland or the nation through their profession and/or community service and who are visible models of achievement for tomorrow's female leaders. This year’s inductees include Diana Ulman, Katherine Rensin, Ann Ryder, Arlene Sheff and Sister Catherine Phelps, SND. Read more about these women here.

Entrepreneurship for Immigrant Women, Now in Montgomery County

Empowered Women International is recruiting 12-15 immigrant, refugee and low-income women artists, artisans and social entrepreneurs for its mentoring and business start-up training: Entrepreneur Training for Success (ETS). ETS is an award-winning program of Empowered Women International, and it’s offered for the first time in Montgomery County, MD.

The program runs for three months April 11-July 23, 2011, every Monday from 6pm-9pm at Pyramid Atlantic located at 8230 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Interested applicants can contact Shannon at shannon@ewint.org or call EWI at 571-366-7724.

Training tuition: $250/student. Application deadline: March 31st.

Interested in the program?

• Read more about what it entails, who qualifies, what the graduation requirements are, and how you’ll benefit
• Have a look at the Spring 2011 Course Schedule
• Learn about the program’s history and its impact
• Meet last semester’s students
• Apply now

Empowered Women International (EWI) is an award-winning nonprofit that channels the creative talents of low-income, immigrant, and refugee women into artistic small businesses. Their programming helps artists, artisans and social entrepreneurs increase their income, achieve upward economic mobility, integrate into American society, and participate in and give back to their communities.

Baltimore County Names Recipients of Woman of the Year and Young Woman of the Year Awards

On March 3, 2011, The Baltimore County Commission for Women named the recipients of the 29th Annual "Woman of the Year" program. Phyllis Coley, school counselor and founder of Pure Potential Enterprises/Clear Vision, has been named the 2011 "Woman of the Year." Rachael Martinez has been named the 2011 "Young Woman of the Year." These awards are given to female residents of Baltimore County who have enhanced the lives of County citizens and have made significant contributions in the community, workplace or school to further the interests of women and children. The award presentations will be held in March, in recognition of Women's History Month.

Coley, of Randallstown, founded Pure Potential Enterprises/Clear Vision, a foundation to assist parents and students with the complex process of applying for college. Martinez, a senior at Chesapeake High School, ranks second in her class of 236 students, has taken nine Advanced Placements classes and is a member of GEM (Girls Empowerment Program) at Chesapeake High School.

The Commission will also present the "Women Making a Difference" award to Lillian Tomecek, of Middle River, for her years of service to the community and St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church, where Tomecek helps individuals experiencing hardship.

The White House Has Released the First Comprehensive Federal Report on the Status of American Women in Almost 50 Years
Released March 1, 2011

WASHINGTON – Today, the White House released a new report entitled Women in America: Indicators of Social and Economic Well-Being, a statistical portrait showing how women are faring in the United States today and how their lives have changed over time. This is the first comprehensive federal report on women since 1963, when the Commission on the Status of Women, established by President Kennedy and chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt, produced a report on the conditions of women. View Women in America HERE.

Women in America focuses on five critical areas: people, families and income; education; employment; health; and crime and violence. The Administration will be honoring Women’s History Month throughout March, and will highlight a different section of the report every week.

Women's History Month 2011 Proclamations

President Barack Obama issued a proclamation in honor of Women’s History Month 2011 (February 28, 2011).

MWHC Board Member Sue Ward named 2011 Influential Marylander

Maryland Women’s Heritage Center board member Sue Ward was chosen for The Daily Record’s Influential Marylanders award in the Civic Leadership category for 2011. Created in 2006, the Influential Marylanders award honors people who have made significant impacts in their field and continue to be leaders in Maryland. Winners are selected in the following categories: Civic leadership, communications, education, finance, freestyle, health care, law, philanthropy, real estate, technology and sponsor profile.

Ward is the former Secretary of Aging in Prince George’s County. She served as the Director for the Department of Aging in Prince George’s County for nearly 10 years, as well as the Director of the Department of Family Services within Prince George’s County.

Her compassion and desire to better the quality of life for others has led her to become actively involved in many organizations and councils throughout the State of Maryland. Her commitments include the Governor's Executive Council, Domiciliary Care Facilities Board, Task Force on Personal Care, Interagency Committee on Aging Services, Task Force on Quality of Care in Nursing Facilities, Subcabinet for Children, Youth, and Families, Oversight Committee on Quality of Care in Nursing Homes, Innovations in Aging Services Advisory Council and the Governor's Interagency Council on Homelessness.

To view the full list of Influential Marylanders award winners, click here.

Are You Ready for National Women's History Month?

March is celebrated as National Women’s History Month in thousands of schools, communities and workplaces across the nation as well as on military bases throughout the world. This celebration, designated by Joint Resolutions of the House and Senate and Proclamations by six American Presidents, is an opportunity to honor women's historic achievements, which the Maryland Women’s Heritage Center strives to do each and every day.

Each year National Women’s History Month employs a unifying theme and honors women around the country whose work and lives testify to that theme. For 2011, the theme is Our History is Our Strength.

If you’d like to learn more about National Women’s History Month, or would like to educate others about this special celebration, consider using these excellent resources provided by the National Women’s History Project:

Women's History Press Kit
(Includes a press release, FAQs, sample proclamation, and historical background)

Women's History Month Brochure
(Includes general information, great for hand-outs at events)

Women's History 2011 Gazette
(Features a variety of women's history essays, historic sites, organizations, and information related to recognizing and celebrating women's historic achievements)

Theme and Celebration Items
(Purchase bookmarks, posters, balloons, stickers and pencils in the online store)

The National Women's History Project, founded in 1980, is an educational nonprofit organization that shares a similar mission with the Maryland Women’s Heritage Center: recognize and celebrate the diverse and historic accomplishments of women by providing information and educational materials and programs. For more information about the organization, or to download more of their Women’s History Month educational materials, visit www.nwhp.org.

Support Making Maryland Women's History Day Official

House Bill 157 will be introduced by Delegate Barbara Robinson in the Maryland House of Delegates on Wednesday, February 9, in Annapolis. This bill requires the Governor to annually proclaim March 8 as Maryland Women's History Day in our state! We need your support to make this happen!

March 8, 2011, also marks the 100th Anniversary of International Women's Day , started in 1911 in memory of the early campaigns of women workers in the U.S. who led the movement for decent working conditions. It is because of International Women's Day that March was chosen as Women's History Month.

*** We encourage you to attend the hearing in Annapolis this Wednesday, February 9, at 1 p.m. in the Lowe House Office Building, Room 240, at 6 Bladen Street (Health Government Operations Committee).
Let's Pack the Room!

*** If you are unable to attend on Wednesday, please consider providing a letter of support for this legislation. All letters are due by the end-of-the-day on Tuesday, February 8. Please fax your letter to 410-841-3199 or e-mail it to Delegate Barbara Robinson and cc the Maryland Women's Heritage Center

Sponsors of House Bill 157 include:
Delegate Barbara Robinson
Delegate Tiffany T. Alston
Delegate Aisha N. Braveboy
Delegate Rudolph C. Cane
Delegate Jill P. Carter
Delegate Frank M. Conaway, Jr.
Delegate Kathleen M. Dumais
Delegate Adelaide C. Eckardt
Delegate Barbara Frush
Delegate Tawanna P. Gaines
Delegate Cheryl D. Glenn
Delegate Melony G. Griffith
Delegate Ana Sol Gutierrez
Delegate Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio
Delegate Keith E. Haynes
Delegate Anne Healey
Delegate Sheila E. Hixson
Delegate Marvin E. Holmes, Jr.
Delegate Carolyn J. B. Howard
Delegate Adrienne A. Jones
Delegate Anne R. Kaiser
Delegate Susan C. Lee
Delegate Maggie McIntosh
Delegate Herb McMillan
Delegate Aruna Miller
Delegate Keiffer J. Mitchell, Jr.
Delegate Heather R. Mizeur
Delegate Shirley Nathan-Pulliam
Delegate Nathaniel T. Oaks
Delegate Joseline A. Pena-Melnyk
Delegate Theodore Sophocleus
Delegate Nancy R. Stocksdale
Delegate Melvin L. Stukes
Delegate Shawn Z. Tarrant
Delegate Veronica Turner
Delegate Mary L. Washington

Delegate Susan C. Lee introduces bill to place a statue of American Hero Harriet Tubman in National Statuary Hall

Delegate Susan Lee, the current chair of the Women Legislators of the Maryland General Assembly, is introducing a bill to have a statue of Harriet Tubman become one of the two Maryland statues in the U.S. Capitol's Statuary Hall. This bill will be introduced at a press conference on February 8, 2011,  in Annapolis (PDF). The Maryland Women's Heritage Center has signed on as a supporter of the bill.

Born a slave in Dorchester County, Harriet Tubman risked her life many times to lead countless slaves to freedom as a Conductor of the Underground Railroad, and during the Civil War served as a Union spy and army nurse and led military raiding parties. After the war, she fought for women’s suffrage, orphans, and the needy and established freedmen’s schools.

If the efforts are successful, Harriet Tubman would be the first statue of an African American woman and enslaved person and make her one of 10 women represented in the 100 of our nation’s capitol’s statue collection.

Lee stated, “This commemoration of Harriet Tubman will not only highlight the important contributions made by Maryland’s women and minorities to the history, development and progress of our state and nation, but also stand as a beacon of inspiration for the millions of Americans and visitors to our U.S. Capitol each year.”

Call for Women Artists Over 50+ for "Women's Art: Women's Vision"

“Women's Art: Women's Vision” an exhibit showcasing artwork by Maryland women artists over the age of 50, is looking for additional exhibitors! Sponsored by the Maryland Women's Heritage Center and AARP, the exhibit will be displayed at the Baltimore World Trade Center from March 7, 2011 - April 1, 2011. The exhibit is open to women artists over 50 living in our state to submit up to three works of art for this exhibit. All art should be for sale and artists must agree to donate at least 10% of all sales to the Maryland Women's Heritage Center. This is a non-juried event and art accepted on a first come, first served basis. Hanging artwork height limit is set at 36". Sculptors are required to bring their own display stands. Registration Form

The Maryland Women’s Heritage Center congratulates the following Girl Scouts of Central Maryland 2011 Distinguished Women Honorees:

Geraldine E. Diggs, Founder and President, We Care Private Duty Services
Lois Elkin, Executive Vice President and Owner, Advanced Business Systems
Laura Thul Penza, AIA, LEED AP, Principal, Penza Bailey Architects
Barbara Portnoy, IIDA, LEED AP, Principal, PLDA, Inc.
Karen M. Singer, Esquire, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Corporate Office Properties Trust (COPT)

Learn more by visiting www.gscm.org.

Heritage Center Advisory Board Member Honored

Congratulations to Ginny Gong, Maryland Women's Heritage Center Advisory Board member, who was honored at the Maryland State Educators Association (MSEA) Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Breakfast & Minority Recognition Awards Program on Saturday, January 15, 2011. She was presented with the Maryland State Educators Association Minority Recognition Award for Leadership. It was noted that Ginny Gong's national leadership and involvement with multicultural issues and awareness is respected internationally. She is the past president of the National Organization of Chinese Americans, one of the founders of the Asian Pacific American Women's Leadership Institute and host of her own weekly TV show, Ginny's..Where East Meets West. She is an accomplished educator, a sought after speaker/facilitator, an experienced human resources administrator, a successful businesswoman, and a highly respected community leader. Ginny’s published autobiography, From Ironing Board to Corporate Board: My Chinese Laundry Experience in America, is available for purchase at the Maryland Women’s Heritage Center.

Explorations and Discoveries: Maryland Women in STEM

The Maryland Women's Heritage Center has assembled a group of volunteers and scientists to work on the next exhibit to be displayed at the Center in Summer 2011.

This exhibit, Explorations and Discoveries: Maryland Women in STEM, is focused on Maryland women involved in science, technology, engineering, and math.

If you have any artifacts, photos, names of resources, or information that you would like to share for this exhibit, please contact Linda Shevitz.

MLAW Agenda 2011

The Maryland Women’s Heritage Center strongly supports the Maryland Legislative Agenda for Women (MLAW) and the issues that they have selected to comprise the MLAW Legislative Agenda 2011.

These include:

• Sex Crimes – Definitions
• Family Responsibilities Discrimination
• Human Trafficking Victims Support Act
• Equity in the Juvenile Justice System
• Lorraine Sheehan Health and Community Services Act
• Limiting Employer Use of Credit Reports
• Harriet Tubman in Statuary Hall
• First Degree Assault – Strangulation
• Permanency Hearings for Children

Click here to download a synopsis of these Legislative Initiatives.

For more information about MLAW, go to www.mdlegagenda4women.org.

MWHC Welcomes Fulbright Teachers

The Distinguished Fulbright Teachers, a program with the University of Maryland, College Park, Center for International Education, visited the Maryland Women's Heritage Center on Monday, November 22, 2010. The teachers were from six countries, including India, South Africa, Argentine, Singapore, Finland and Mexico.

MWHC in the Community

Various groups have visited and/or held events and programs at the Maryland Women's Heritage Center.

These groups have included teachers from Carroll County, as well as preschool teachers, AAUW Rockville, The Education That Is Multicultural and Achievement Network, the Maryland Multicultural Coalition, and Mishkan Torah Synagogue Sisterhood. We've also had the pleasure to attend and speak at various events.

Some upcoming groups that will be visiting the Center are the Maryland Coalition Opposed to Violence and Extremism, Takoma Park Senior Citizens, and Maryland NOW. Board member Susan Shaffer will also be speaking at a meeting of the Bethesda chapter of Hadassah.

If you are interested in bringing a group to visit the Maryland Women's Heritage Center or would like to have someone from the Maryland Women's Heritage Center speak to your group, please contact us.

"Vote! The Life and Work of Sadie Jacobs Crockin 1879-1965" is now on display through Friday, January 28, on loan from the Jewish Museum of Maryland.

From the Jewish Museum of Maryland: "As a woman, an American, and a Jew, Sadie Jacobs Crockin championed many causes. Throughout her life, she brought women together in organizations that empowered diverse Americans to participate fully in ...civic life. Crockin exemplified the college-educated, progressive 'New Woman' of her day who joined women's club for self-improvement and to effect social change. Under her leadership, the Baltimore chapter of the League of Women Voters helped women exercise their newly won right to vote. She was the founding president of the Baltimore chapter of Hadassah, the first Zionist women's organization. Once she had firmly established these and other organizations locally, Crockin achieved statewide prominence as an advocate for social justice and women's rights."

"Vote! The Life and Work of Sadie Jacobs Crockin 1870-1965” has been curated by the Jewish Museum of Maryland. The exhibition is made possible with generous support from: League of Women Voters of Baltimore City; Sadie Crockin Memorial Fund; Mayer Crockin Leibman, MD, and David B.Leibman, DPA; Arthur Crockin and Sally T. Grant.

Honorary MWHC Board Member Barbara Mikulski to be Longest-Serving U.S. Female Senator

Maryland Sen. Barbara Mikulski will become the longest serving woman in the history of the U.S. Senate when she is sworn in for her fifth term next week. Mikulski, a 74-year-old Democrat, is an honorary Board Member of the Maryland Women’s Heritage Center. She first won her Senate seat in 1986. On Wednesday, January 5, 2011 Mikulski will break the record of the late Republican Sen. Margaret Chase Smith, who represented Maine in the Senate for 24 years.

Welcome New Board Members

The Maryland Women's Heritage Center has welcomed two new members to the board.

Lynne Brick, co-founder and owner of Brick Bodies and Lynne Brick's Health Clubs, one of the largest women-owned businesses in Maryland. She is considered an internationally acclaimed fitness expert and has received many awards and honors.

Rhonda J. Tomlinson, CPA, has over 25 years of experience in corporate accounting operations of government contractors and is currently the president/CEO of RJ Tomlinson & Associates, LLC. She was the first African-American chair of the Baltimore/Washington Corridor Chamber's (BWCC) board of directors and is the founder and co-chair of the BWCC Women in Business Group.

We are impressed once again with the commitment and diverse expertise among our Board members, and are extremely grateful to have their support of the Maryland Women's Heritage Center!

Daily Record names Fischer-Huettner as first woman publisher

From the Baltimore Business Journal (December 3, 2010):

Suzanne Fischer-Huettner was named publisher of the Daily Record, marking the first woman publisher in the 122-year-old newspaper's history.

Fischer-Huettner replaces Christopher Eddings, the Maryland legal and business publication's publisher since 1997. Earlier this week, Eddings was promoted to director of publishing operations at the Dolan Co. (NYSE: DM), owner of the Daily Record. He will continue his role as president of the Daily Record.

Fischer-Huettner began her career at the Daily Record in 1996 as a classified salesperson. She was most recently associate publisher and vice president charged with day-to-day oversight of the newspaper's advertising department, circulation department and planning.

Fischer-Huettner "will take on all aspects of leadership, from our print and online publications to our staff to setting and meeting our strategic plans for achieving our overall goals," Eddings said in a statement.

Fischer-Huettner is a graduate of Washington College and is working toward an MBA at the University of Baltimore Merrick School of Business.

Maryland Women’s Heritage Center Named to List of Top-Rated Nonprofit Organizations

Maryland Women’s Heritage Center has recently been named a top-rated nonprofit by GreatNonprofits, the leading provider of user reviews for nonprofit organizations. The Maryland Women’s Heritage Center was noted for its contributions to the community as an educational nonprofit, receiving an average rating of 5 out of 5 stars with more than 20 reviews from stakeholders, such as volunteers, donors, etc. The reviews were posted as part of the Power of Education Campaign 2010 conducted by GreatNonprofits, in partnership with Guidestar and a coalition of nonprofit organizations.

Click here to read all of the reviews about the Maryland Women’s Heritage Center, and to write your own review!

Harriet Tubman Statuary Hall

The Maryland Women's Heritage Center recently learned of the Harriet Tubman Statuary Hall project to highlight Maryland's Harriet Tubman in National Statuary Hall in the United States Capitol. She would be the first African-American woman in the Hall.

Since each statue in National Statuary Hall is the gift of a state, the Maryland State Legislature must pass a resolution expressing its intention to place a statue of Harriet Tubman in the Hall. Maryland's two existing statues are of Charles Carroll, the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence, and John Hanson, a Maryland merchant and delegate to the Continental Congress.

There are 100 statues in the U.S. Capitol Building's Statuary Hall, representing great Americans from all 50 states. Only 9 of the statues are of women. None are of African-Americans, therefore, Maryland has the opportunity to become the first state to honor an African-American in National Statuary Hall!

Click here for information on how you can help with this effort!

Thanks to Linda Mahoney, president of Maryland NOW, for alerting us to this important project!

PEERLESS ROCKVILLE
www.peerlessrockville.org

"Women Who Dared: A Guide to the Places in Rockville Where Women Dared to Challenge Expectations Both in Society and Themselves" written by Executive Director Mary A. van Balgooy. This booklet highlights the lives and achievements of six remarkable Rockville women and Rockville sites associated with them.

Maryland Women's Hall of Fame Nominations 

The Maryland Commission for Women and the Women Legislators of Maryland are seeking recommendations of outstanding Maryland women for induction into the Maryland Women's Hall of Fame.

Historical and contemporary women are inducted each year. Among those honored are past legislators, political and social activists, scientists, educators, writers and spiritual and community leaders. They represent the women who have helped shape Maryland, the United States and the world. Their induction into the Maryland Women's Hall of Fame enhances the visibility of their contributions to their work, communities, and the status of women. Maryland continues to flourish because of its strong women

The Maryland Women's Hall of Fame at last has a home at the Maryland Women's Heritage Center.

View the criteria - nomination form (PDF)

View the general rules (PDF)

The deadline for submissions is Friday, October 22, 2010. Contact the Maryland Commission for Women at 410-767-3049 if you have any questions.

Women’s Equality Day

Women's Equality Day is August 26! First instituted in 1971, Women's Equality Day commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which grants women the right to vote. It is also a day to celebrate women's continuing efforts toward full equality. Although women did not fully gain the right to vote until 1920, Margaret Brent of St. Mary's City, MD, was the first colonial woman to ask for the right to vote in 1648.

UPDATE: Senator Mikulski issued a letter to the Maryland Women's Heritage Center in conjunction with Women's Equality Day

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Support the Maryland Women's Heritage Center

The Maryland Women's Heritage Center has joined GoodSearch.com and GoodShop.com and we hope that you will help to support our cause online!

You can use GoodSearch.com to search the internet just like you normally would (just like other search engines, such as Yahoo or Google). Make sure that you specify that your charity is the Maryland Women's Heritage Center, so that any proceeds that you generate from your searches benefits us. 50% of the revenue generated from the sponsored search advertisers is shared with the nonprofit organization of your choosing.

GoodShop.com works in a similar way. Every time you click over to one of the partner merchants from the GoodShop.com website and make a purchase, your specified charity, the Maryland Women's Heritage Center, earns money. Stores include 1-800-Flowers, Amazon.com, Best Buy, eBay, Kohl's, Macy's, Oriental Trading, Staples, Target, and more!

Volunteers and Docents Needed!

We are in need of volunteers to serve in a variety of roles with the Maryland Women's Heritage Center, including as docents to staff the Maryland Women's Heritage Center during our operating hours, Wednesday - Saturday from 10 am - 4 pm. We are looking for docents to be able to at least staff the Center one day a month.

One day training sessions will take place Thursdays and Fridays from 10:30 a.m. - noon, beginning July 29. Docent manuals will be provided.

Contact us if you are interested in donating your time!

Dominique Dawes named to the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutritition

Congratulations to Maryland Women's Heritage Center Honorary Board Member Dominique Dawes for being appointed the co-chair of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition!

Dominique Dawes is an Olympic gymnast who competed in three Olympic Games and has a permanent place in the U.S. Olympic Committee Hall of Fame. She was a member of the gold-medal-winning team at the 1996 Atlanta Games, where she also won a bronze medal in the floor exercise, becoming the first female African-American gymnast to win an individual medal. Now retired after dedicating 18 years to the sport, she commits her time to motivational speaking, hosting gymnastics clinics, and serving as a spokesperson for several organizations that support the physical and emotional health of youth and women. She is an accomplished motivational speaker, speaking to audiences on topics focusing on leadership, teamwork, physical and emotional health, fitness and overcoming obstacles.

Your Support is Needed

Please consider becoming involved in the creation of the Maryland Women's Heritage Center in some way. The Maryland Women's Heritage Center is for everyone in Maryland --- and for those who visit our marvelous
state. We can use your support in a number of ways from monetary and in-kind donations to volunteering.

• Donate Funds NOW - If you send $1, $5, or $1,000, each dollar will make a difference.  Since State funds are so scarce this year, we particularly need the financial help of every Marylander.
• Volunteer to Help - We need people now to get the Center ready for opening. When we open our doors this spring, we will need people in a variety of roles.  A special training session will be conducted for those who would like to serve as docents or in other volunteer positions. E-mail us if you want to be notified about the training. We also need IT people, archivists, artists and researchers, handywomen or men, and you!
• Add Your Organization to the List of Supporting Organizations - No financial obligation is required, just the group's support for the importance of creating the Maryland Women's Heritage Center as a national model for inclusion, diversity, history and action.  We want to document the tremendous support for creating this "herstoric" Center! E-mail us if your company or organization would like to be involved.
• Tell Us About The Unsung Heroines in Your Life -  We want to hear the stories of your mothers, grandmothers, spouses, partners, daughters, sisters, teachers, nurses, crossing guards, or other girls and women who have played significant roles in your lives, your communities, or your workplaces.  She may be living or deceased, but her story is important and we want to preserve it for posterity.  Please share these women and girls with us along with a photo, video, etc., if you have one.

Rita R. Colwell, a renowned scientist and educator, as well as Maryland Women's Heritage Center Board Member, has been named the "2010 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate." Dr. Colwell’s pioneering research on the prevention of waterborne infectious diseases has helped protect the health and lives of millions.

Dr. Colwell is a distinguished Professor at the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health. She is widely recognized as one of this century’s most influential voices in science, technology, and policy associated with water and health.

She has made exceptional contributions to control the spread of cholera, a waterborne pathogen that infects 3 to 5 million people and leads to an estimated 120,000 deaths each year. Through her groundbreaking research, innovations and decades of scientific leadership, she has defined our current understanding of the ecology of infectious diseases and developed the use of advanced technologies to halt their spread. Her work has established the basis for environmental and infectious disease risk assessment used around the world.

About the Stockholm Water Prize:

H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, who is the patron of the Prize, will formally present Dr Colwell with the 2010 Stockholm Water Prize at a Royal Award Ceremony in Stockholm City Hall on September 9 during the 2010 World Water Week in Stockholm. The Stockholm Water Prize is a global award founded in 1990 and presented annually by the Stockholm International Water Institute to an individual, organisation or institution for outstanding water-related activities. The Stockholm Water Prize Laureate receives USD 150,000 and a crystal sculpture specially designed and created by Orrefors. 2010 marks the 20th anniversary of the Stockholm Water Prize and the World Water Week in Stockholm.

Founders of the Stockholm Water Prize are Swedish and international companies in cooperation with the City of Stockholm. They are: Bacardi, Borealis & Borouge, DuPont, Europeiska Insurance, Fujitsu, General Motors, Grundfos Management, Hewlett Packard, ITT Water & Wastewater, Kemira Water, KPMG Sweden, Läckeby Water, P&G, Ragn-Sells, Scandic, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), Siemens AG, SJ (Swedish Railways), Snecma, Uponor, Water Environment Federation and Ålandsbanken Sverige.

"Maryland Women Making History"

In honor of Women's History Month, The Baltimore Sun has posted a photo gallery of renowned Maryland women from the Maryland Women's Hall of Fame. Information and photos were supplied by the Maryland Women's Heritage Center.

Wage Disparities: Men vs. Women

The Baltimore Sun:  Though wage data show women slowly catching up to the median weekly wages their male counterparts receive in the same job, the women's-to-men's earning ratio peaked at 81 percent in 2005 and 2006, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Overall, women earned about 80 cents per dollar men took home in 2008. The earliest comparable earnings data, from 1979, showed women that year earned about 62 percent as much as men.

The information in these slides comes from a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report of wage data released last year.

In Memory:  Lucille Clifton, Maryland Poet Laureate and Heritage Center Honorary Board Member

The Maryland Women's Heritage Center is sad to announce the passing of former Maryland Poet Laureate and Member of our Heritage Center Honorary Board, Lucille Clifton.

An accomplished and nationally-recognized poet and author, Lucille was recently honored along with two of her daughters at the Maryland Women's Heritage Center's "We Are Our Mothers' Daughters" luncheon with Cokie Roberts on April 29, 2009.
 
Lucille Clifton has been an inspiration to us, through her magnificent writings and her meaningful life. She has been a strong advocate for human rights and justice. We use this passage from one of her poems as a guiding motto as we create the Maryland Women's Heritage Center:

I need to know their names
                 those women I would have walked with...
                   all those women who could have known me.
          Where in the world are their names?

The Maryland Women's Heritage Center will work to assure that the name of Lucille Clifton, and the rich legacy that she leaves, is preserved and transmitted to current and future generations.

Her daughter has given permission for us to establish a fund in her memory at the Maryland Women's Heritage Center. The Lucille Clifton Fund will honor Women in the Arts, with particular emphasis on girls and women of color and those working for social justice. If you would like to donate to this fund in her honor, please click here or send your donation to:

Maryland Women's Heritage Center
Attn:  The Lucille Clifton Fund
P.O. Box 719
Brooklandville, MD 21022-0719

We would also welcome your notes, photos and memories about Lucille Clifton to post and preserve as part of our honoring her and the legacy that she has left to inspire all of us. Please e-mail these to Jill Moss Greenberg or send to the Maryland Women's Heritage Center at the above address.   
 
Sympathy cards and letters may be sent directly to the Clifton family at:

7441 Swan Point Way
Columbia, MD 21045

Jean Cryor: 1938-2009  

The Maryland Women's Heritage Center is sad to announce the passing of former Maryland State Delegate and Commissioner of the Montgomery County Planning Board, Jean Cryor. Jean was a wonderful public servant, as well as a Board Member of the Maryland Women's Heritage Center. She was also a commissioner on the Maryland Commission for Women.
 
Condolences can be sent to:

11700 Ambleside Drive
Potomac, MD 20854

 Pauline Menes Memorial Fund

The Maryland Women's Heritage Center is sad to announce the passing of former Maryland State Delegate, Pauline Menes. A pioneer in the role of women's politics, she served in the Maryland legislature for 40 years making her the longest continuously serving delegate in Maryland. She was also one of the 15 founding members of the Women Legislators of Maryland, the first state women's legislative caucus in the United States, and was inducted into the Maryland Women's Hall of Fame in 2008. Her daughters, Sandra, Robin, and Bambi, in conjunction with many of her colleagues in the legislature, have begun a fund in Pauline's name in order to develop a program in her name at the Maryland Women's Heritage Center. The Menes family is asking that donations in Pauline Menes' name be made to this fund. Donate online or mail check to: 

The Pauline Menes Fund
Maryland Women's Heritage Center
P.O. Box 719
Brooklandville, MD 21022

Three members of the Maryland Women's Heritage Center have recently released new books.

Susan Shaffer, an Executive Board Member of the Maryland Women's Heritage Center, has co-authored, Too Close for Comfort: Questioning the Intimacy of Today's Mother Daughter Relationships, with psychologist Linda Perlman Gordon. The book explores how it can be unhealthy for mothers and daughters to act as best friends and shows mothers and daughters how to develop rewarding, rather than agonizing relationships.

Ginny Gong, a member of the Advisory Board of the Maryland Women's Heritage Center, has published, From Ironing Board to Corporate Board: My Chinese Laundry Experience in America, which chronicles her life as a Chinese immigrant growing up in America since age six.

Maryland Women's Heritage Center Board Member Juanita Tamayo Lott has written Filipinos in Washington, D.C., with Rita M. Cacas. This book tells the stories of the founders of the Filipino communities in Washington, D.C.