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FCSW on Facebook!
The FCSW is now on Facebook. Stay up-to-date on the news and information by clicking below. Be sure to share with all of your friends, too!
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Just released!
Political Pearls: A Comprehensive Analysis on Florida Women in Public Office.
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Greetings!
Welcome to the Spring / Summer 2011 edition of FCSW Connections, the e-newsletter of the Florida Commission on the Status of Women. We sincerely hope that you will find this publication a useful and informative resource. Please share with us your thoughts and suggestions by e-mailing us at info@fcsw.net. |
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Greetings from Commission Chair Nancy C. Acevedo |
 | Nancy C. Acevedo,
FCSW Chair |
I am thrilled to serve as the 2011 - 2012 Chair of the Florida Commission on the Status of Women. We are in the midst of a very exciting and busy year.
The selection process for the 2011 - 2012 Hall of Fame has begun and we look forward to announcing the names of the ten finalists later in September. The Commission held a spectacular Florida Women's Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony honoring Mary Brennan Karl and Anna I. Rodriguez on March 22, 2011 in the Capitol Courtyard in Tallahassee. More than two hundred people gathered to celebrate the lives and work of these outstanding women, including Governor Rick Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and CFO Jeff Atwater. The 2012 Induction Ceremony for the Florida Women's Hall of Fame will take place on Tuesday, March 6, 2012 in the Capital Courtyard.
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Commission Honors Outstanding Women for Volunteer Work in Their Communities |
The Florida Commission on the Status of Women will honor Dr. Kamala Anandam of Weston, the Honorable Brenda Carey of Longwood, Eunice Nuekie Cofie of Tallahassee, Amanda C. Evora of Bradenton, Betty Gissendanner of Port Charlotte, Donna Parker of Winter Park, Patricia A. Snow of West Palm Beach, Judy Wiseman of Niceville, Jennifer L. Berrian of Tallahassee, Dominque Gelin of Oviedo and Erica Lindegren of Sarasota with a FCSW Florida Achievement Award for their work in improving the lives of women and families in their communities. They will receive recognition at a special luncheon ceremony during the Third Quarterly meeting of the Commission on Saturday, September 10, 2011, 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m., at W Hotel in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. In addition to the Achievement Award from the Commission, each will receive a congratulatory letter from Governor Rick Scott.
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FCSW Recognized at National Conference |
 | | Commission Chair, Nancy Acevedo, accepts NACW Award. |
Commission Chair Nancy C. Acevedo and FCSW Assistant Director Michele Manning represented the Florida Commission on the Status of Women (FCSW) at the National Association of Commissions for Women (NACW) during its 41st Annual Conference held July 20-23, 2011 at the Wyndham Phoenix in Phoenix Arizona. Hosted by the Phoenix Women's Commission, the conference theme was "Renewable Growth, Sustained Purpose Women Challenging the Future."
Click here to read more! |
The Public Policy Committee of the Florida Commission on the Status of Women has released the 2011 Summary of Florida Laws Affecting Women and Families, an annual publication designed to encourage women from across the state to become educated about the legislative process and new laws that affect Florida's families.
The 2011 session of the Florida Legislature was the state's 113th, and the budget was again one of the top issues facing lawmakers who worked to close a $3.8 billion dollar gap during the 60 days they convened. The state education budget was cut by $545 per student and the state's Medicaid program was completely overhauled. Changes were made to state worker's benefits and many layoffs were announced.
Click here to read more! |
 | | FCSW Commissioner Dr. Mona Jain addresses the audience. |
August 26 is Women's Equality Day - the anniversary of the day that, 91 years ago in 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, granting women the right to vote. The Florida Commission on the Status of Women was pleased to participate in the Sarasota and Manatee Commissions on the Status of Women's Annual Women's Equity Luncheon on Saturday, August 20, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota. Nearly 500 women were in attendance at the celebration. Speaking at the event was the Honorable Rochelle Taylor Curley, Twelfth Circuit Judge and Anna I. Rodriguez, Founder of the Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking and recent inductee into the Florida Women's Hall of Fame.
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Commission Releases Public Officials Report,
Leads 2012 Project in Florida |
 O ver the past several years, women running for office around the country have made headlines, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Alaska governor Sarah Palin, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, and Governors Nikki Haley in South Carolina and Susana Martinez in New Mexico, to name a few. But these high-profile women obscure a sad truth: The percentage of American women holding public office remains dismally low. Today, women hold 24 percent of state legislative offices; 21 percent of the statewide offices; 17 percent of US Senate seats; 17 percent of the seats in the US House of Representatives and 12 percent of governorships. Only 6 women serve in Florida's congressional delegation, and only 24.4 percent of our state legislative seats are held by women.
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Commission Chair is Keynote Speaker at Model UN |
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Commission Chair Nancy C. Acevedo served as the Keynote Speaker at the Opening Night Banquet of the 30th Model UN program at Bethune-Cookman University. The theme of the Program was "The Elimination of Social Barriers Against Women." During the conference held on February 17-18, student participants discussed topics such as improving access to health services for women in conflict and post-conflict situations, making the justice system more accessible to women, and HIV/AIDS and women. The group similated the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.
Commissioner Acevedo addressed the more than 100 participants in attendance regarding the work of the Commission, as well as women's history in Florida. She highlighted the achievements of many of Florida's great women, including Florida Women's Hall of Fame member Mary McLeod Bethune, the founder of the University. |
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FCSW Welcomes New Commissioners |
The Florida Commission on the Status of Women is pleased to welcome two newly appointed members to the Commission, Natasha Simon of Tallahassee and Genean Hawkins McKinnon of Winter Park.
 | | Natasha Simon |
Commissioner Natasha Simon of Tallahassee was appointed in March 2011 to the FCSW by House Speaker Dean Cannon. She is originally from Wildwood, Florida. Natasha graduated from Florida State University with a BS in Psychology and a minor in Special Education. Upon graduating from FSU, she taught Middle School Special Education in both Osceola and Leon counties.  | | Genean Hawkins McKinnon |
Commissioner Genean Hawkins McKinnon of Winter Park received her first appointment in April of 2011 to the Commission by Speaker of the House Dean Cannon. Genean Hawkins McKinnon is President of McKinnon Associates, Inc., a strategic consulting firm specializing in governmental arenas. Founded in 1983 the company has successfully represented clients at the federal, state and local levels. |
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