equipoise news volume 16
| equipoise news volume 16 |
winter 2010 |
Wyoming has its share of seasons–and we’re not talking road construction! When snow hits the ground, you know it’s time to curl up with the pup or your skis . . . or both! The clear, blue summer, the remarkable and colorful fall, the silence and grace of winter, truly, to everything, there is a season. We are blessed with the presence of nature and her changes. In nature we find equipoise.
As the days grow shorter, time to reflect grows longer, and Equipoise Fund has much to reflect upon. We’ve met challenges and discovered new ones. We’ve strengthened our partnerships and discovered where new partnerships will be made. We’ve applauded the advancement of our peers and our message: Wyoming succeeds when it recognizes the value and contributions of its women and girls.
Much of the political leadership of our state has fresh, new energy. We look forward to the beginning of a new legislative session and to greeting our newly elected and re-elected legislators, and especially our new governor, Matt Mead and his wife Carol. We say thank you and “well done!” to our current governor, Dave Freudenthal and his wife, Justice Nancy Freudenthal. We eagerly anticipate the beginning of a new legislative session and greeting our new legislators.
Thank you, each and all, for being a part of our year. We wish you a year of grace and wonder, and, of course, finding your own personal equipoise. |
| Equipoise Programs
Womentum’s Momentum We’ve had a busy this fall with the September launch of our fifth Womentoring program, involving 22 amazing women, and our announcement of a Womentoring pilot program beginning in Dubois in January 2011. As if that weren’t a full enough plate, our Women in Leadership Luncheon on November 11 featured Cindy McLaughlin, co-founder and CEO of Style for Hire.
125 Jackson Hole women attended the Women in Leadership lunch to hear Ms. McLaughlin talk about her experience as an entrepreneur and woman in corporate leadership. “I’ll tell you that it wasn’t always easy, and if I knew then how long it would actually take to get the business off the ground, I certainly would have stopped before I had even given it a chance,” said Ms. McLaughlin. “But because I so firmly believed in the business model and the vision for what it could be, and was so sure that others would see it and that it was on the verge of being funded, I was never willing to let anyone talk me out of it. ” Ms. McLaughlin closed by challenging attendees to advance their own personal, professional and civic leadership.
The launch of our Dubois-based Womentoring pilot program come January blossomed from conversations with friends in Fremont County last spring. The Dubois steering committee, headed by Carolyn Gillette, is currently in the process of fundraising and recruiting mentors and mentees who are adventurous enough to give Womentoring a try. Please contact Womentum coordinator Melissa Turley (), for more information. |
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Women’s Caucus Changing the Future
 Wyoming women are invited to join the Wyoming Women’s Legislative Caucus in Cheyenne, February 3 – 4, 2011, for empowering workshops and speakers focused on how women can change the future.
CONGRATULATIONS! The Wyoming Women’s Legislative Caucus would like to applaud all the Wyoming women elected to office on November 2, 2010. We are particularly proud of the graduates of Leap into Leadership and women legislators. Hats off to these Leap into Leadership grads: Cynthia Cloud, State Auditor; Ruth Ann Petroff, House District 16; Carlen Carney, Teton County School District #1; Melissa Turley, Jackson Town Council.
We’d also like to celebrate four women in House leadership positions this year: Rep. Rosie Berger, Chair of the House Appropriations Committee; Rep. Elaine Harvey, Chair of the House Labor Committee; Rep. Lorraine Quarberg, Chair of the House Transportation Committee; and Rep. Mary Throne, Minority Whip. |
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Equipoise Partners
 WYWF Launches New Web Site The Wyoming Women’s Foundation announced the launch of its new Web site, Women to Watch. The new site is meant to connect women experts in Wyoming with communities around the state. If you’re looking for a speaker, a board member or an expert in a particular field, visit Women to Watch to find women-based information for addressing issues ranging from human resources to graphic design. If you know someone who should be a member of this list, please go to “Nominate Someone,” a page where you can make a nomination to add her as a resource for the site. The more women involved, the greater the value of this site. Please visit their Web site.
You can visit them at: www.wyowomentowatch.org
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New Publication Aims to
Link Wyoming Women
It’s a big state filled with small towns and connected by many roads. In an effort to bring together the women who live here, who manage homes, businesses and families in the Cowboy State, The Wyoming Woman Magazine, is spreading across Wyoming.
Nettie Francis, editor of the new magazine, conceived of the idea after moving to Wyoming from Las Vegas, Nevada. “I immediately fell in love with prairie living, but wanted a way to connect with other women, get advice and find a voice in this spacious state,” she said. “The idea for The Wyoming Woman Magazine came as a flash of inspiration.”
Francis brought in Beth Worthen, nonprofit consultant, Alicia Blevins, artist, and Amanda Helm, Development Director at the Nicolaysen Art Museum, to help develop the publication. The team produces the magazine with Francis as editor, Worthen coordinating advertising and sales, Blevins as graphic designer, and Helm as marketing support.
The Fall 2010 Inaugural Issue features Wyoming’s first lady Nancy Freudenthal. It also includes articles on recent state midwife legislation, Wyoming’s first female physician, a day in the life of a Wyoming rancher, and even a quiz to discover if one is a “typical” Wyoming woman. Recipes and motherhood tips round out the content. And a valuable resource, the Women at Work Directory, offers women with businesses of any size the space to list their contact information.
The magazine is available by subscription or through various retail locations. Initially introduced in Casper on September 11th, additional launch events have been held in Pinedale, Evanston, Cheyenne and Dubois and are scheduled in other cities as well.
“Our purpose is to allow Wyoming women everywhere to be a part of this magazine,” commented Francis. “We want to gather stories and ideas, and discuss concerns and issues that women are interested in.”
More information can be found at Wyoming Woman, or by calling 307.315.2327.
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Shining Stars
We would especially like to draw attention to three women who have proved to be great friends, effective leaders and outstanding women.
Wyoming Supreme Court Justice Marilyn Kite is the first woman to be elected to that position. She will serve as the 36th chief justice, having been appointed to the state’s Supreme Court in 2000. Her four-year term will find her in charge of the administrative responsibilities for the court system as well as serving as chairwoman of the Board of Judicial Policy of Administration and Judicial Nominating Commission. “I am excited,” says Chief Justice Kite, “about the opportunity to work with the men and women of Wyoming’s judiciary to provide fair and efficient justice in this time when all of our institutions are facing economic and social challenges.”
Melissa Turley was reelected on November 2, 2010 to the Jackson Town Council. “Turley for Town,” her rallying cry, was turned into “Town for Turley” when all the counting was over. The girl certainly knows how to get things done. She serves on the board of Womentum, the Wyoming Women’s Legislative Caucus and is a full-time mother and wife. We wish Melissa another successful term in her capacity as Town Councilperson.
The Wyoming Council for Women’s Issues recently honored Linda Fleming of Baggs, Wyoming with their Woman of Distinction award at their annual celebration in October. Fleming was the first woman to be appointed and then elected Carbon County Commissioner and is one of only six women appointed by the Governor to the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission. Additionally, she serves on boards for the Wyoming Humanities Council and Rural Health Care. But it is her unstinting determination to empower women in the work force that earns her this honor. Encouraging young women to participate in science, spearheading the launch of a preschool, and later, a day care center, and helping to found the Little Snake River Women’s Empowerment Group to promote social and economic opportunities for women in the community are just some of her accomplishments. Our hats are off to you, Linda!
And in the realm of “great minds think alike,” some of you will remember that Linda was one of our Atta Girl honorees in 2008. You can read about her in our archives. |
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Mindfulness
We are so very aware of the many families in need this year. May our fellow funders continue to reach out-with compassion, with kindness, and most importantly, with hope.
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