HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003 - Womens Commission - Annual ReportCommission on the Status of Women
2003 Annual Report
Introduction:
The focus of the Commission on the Status of Women for 2003 was to begin looking at the City
of Fort Collins Policy Agenda to identify areas we could conduct research for the City Council.
In addition, the Commission worked on our two annual events, the Women's History Month
Essay Contest and the Marcile N. Wood Award. Other activities completed during the year are
listed at the end of this report.
Policy Agenda:
The Commission researched the City Council's Policy Agenda to find items that were of interest
to the women of Fort Collins. The Commission then met on May 29, 2003 with its City Council
liaison, Karen Weitkunat, to review these issues. Karen gave us some direction and helped us to
eliminate issues that were not city issues. After our meeting with Karen, we divided the three
main issues, transportation, equality of pay for city employees and women owned businesses,
among the Commission members to research. Unfortunately, due to many resignations and term
expirations, we were unable to complete this project. By September, we no longer had a quorum.
In the upcoming year, we hope to add new members to our Commission so that we can continue
to look at the Policy Agenda and present a report to the City Council.
Annual Commission Activities:
The Commission continued to increase public visibility of women's contributions by sponsoring
the following events:
Women's History Month Essay Contest
Poudre school district junior high school students commemorated National Women's History
Month in March by participating in our annual essay contest. The students were asked to write
about a woman from their own history who has been a positive role model in their lives. The
Commission received approximately 350 essays.
Members used a rubric/scoring sheet that standardized the reading and selection of winners. Each
essay was read by at least two members of the Commission to ensure fair scoring. The scoring
guide was made available to area teachers who participated in the contest so they could have a
clearer notion of the standards required for the essay.
The response from the schools was excellent. The top two winners from each grade level were
presented with certificates and monetary awards in a ceremony at the Harmony Library
Community Room on April 2, 2003, with Mayor Ray Martinez presenting.
The winners by grade were:
7`h Grade: Lisa Moore and Mathew Murray
81h Grade: D.J. Ozzello and Shannon Solomon
9`h Grade: Shelby Lindholm and Marie Shorma
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All of the students received a $50 gift certificate to the Foothills Fashion Mall. The Mall donated
three $50 gift certificates and the Commission purchased the other three.
In December of 2003, the essay guidelines were rewritten for the 2004 contest and submitted to
Cindy Ronan of Poudre School District Support Services. The winning essays will be chosen in
March 2004.
Marcile N. Wood Award:
The Marcile N. Wood Award is presented annually to an outstanding member of the community
who has had a positive impact on the status of women in Fort Collins.
In 2003, the award was presented to Jo Thompson at the 41h Annual Women's Awards Night held
on March 5, 2003 at the Lincoln Center. Alison Johnston, the Chair of the Commission, was on
hand to present the award. This was the first year that the award was presented at the Women's
Awards Night and it was a successful event. In the future, Commission members will serve as
committee members for the Women's Awards Night to ensure the continued success of this
event.
In 2003, the Commission decided to change the date we send out the nomination form for the
Marcile N. Wood Award. The publicity and mailings will be done in January 2004. Once again,
the award will be presented at the Women's Awards Night on March 4, 2004 at the Sunset
Events Center.
Other Activities:
The Commission met with Melissa Selby of the Women's Center to determine how our
organizations could work together to benefit the women of Fort Collins.
Membership Changes:
Election of Officers in 2003:
Chair: Alison Johnston Hade
Co -Chair: Kristin Chatnani
Secretary: Penny Vincent
New Members during 2003:
Penny Vincent
Cecilia Altizer
Lee Varra-Nelson
Molly Smiley
Expired terms or resignations in 2003:
Annemarie Evans —term expired
Cecilia Altizer-term expired
Lee Varra-Nelson-resigned
Molly Smiley -deceased
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