| Join Our List |
 |
|
|
Greetings!
Welcome to the Fall 2012 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. |
| Message from the Chair | | |
Laurie Pizzo
 | |
2012 - 2013
FCSW Chair |
It is hard to believe that 2012 is quickly coming close. The Commission held its third quarterly meeting on Saturday, September 15, 2012 in Port St. Lucie at Keiser University College of Golf. Meeting quarterly as a full Commission, this highly talented group of individuals comes together to research, analyze and address issues facing women and families throughout the state of Florida. In addition to conducting business, the Commission was addressed by Mrs. Evelyn Keiser, Chairman Emeritus and Co-Founder of Keiser University, Dr. Eric Wilson, Executive Director Golf Operations at Keiser University College of Golf and Master PGA Professional and Ms. Alma Lee Loy a member of the first Governor's Commission on the Status of Women 1964-1965.
The Commission selected the ten nominees to send to the Governor for consideration for induction into the 2012/2013 Florida Women's Hall of Fame. We chose from a field of 75 very worthy candidates, which was a daunting task. We are pleased to forward the following names for the Governor's consideration: Susan Benton of Lorida, Clara C. Frye formerly of Tampa, Pam Iorio of Tampa, Dr. Madelyn M. Lockhart of Gainesville, Aleene Kidd Mackenzie of Miami, Dottie Berger Mckinnon of Tampa, Anne Briardy Mergen formerly of Miami, Dr. Patricia Tennant Sokol of Morriston, Lillie Pierce Voss formerly of Delray Beach, and Brownie Wise formerly of Orlando.
The Governor will select up to three nominees to be inducted into the Women's Hall of Fame. It is also customary for the Governor to preside over the induction ceremony, which will be held on Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. in the Capitol Courtyard. Please make plans to join us at this prestigious event.
Please be sure to visit our website, www.fcsw.net for the latest Commission news and information We are looking forward to closing out 2012 with the FCSW Florida Achivement Awards Ceremony and meeting in Tallahassee on November 15, 2012. |
|
Commission Celebrates Women's Equality Day | |
 | |
Michele Manning, Veronica Vasquez, and Dr. Monda Jain at the Celebration. |
August 26, 2012
August 26 is Women's Equality Day - the anniversary of the day that, 92 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, along with the Manatee and Sarasota Leagues of Women Voters' Annual Women's Equity Luncheon on Saturday, August 25, 2012 at the Polo Grill Lakewood Ranch. Nearly 500 women were in attendance at the celebration. Opening remarks, Commissioner Mona Jain highlighted the impact of Women in Sports and gave statistics on the effect that women had in this year's Olympics, which caused the audience to admire the strength of women in the 2012 Olympics. Keynote Speaker at the event was Blair Bloomston, Associate Director, Game on Nation "Building leadership with Women's Sports". Additional information on the event is available from its web site at https://sites.google.com/site/cswsarasota/events. |
|
Commission Releases Veteran's Report | | |
Florida has become one of the leading states with women veterans-home to at least 140,871 female vets according to the latest report from the Florida Commission on the Status of Women. Florida's Women Veterans: Challenges and Needs of Those Who Served is a comprehensive and collective analysis of Florida Women Veterans. The report focuses on the challenges and needs that women veterans face and offers solutions to resolve these issues.
Florida County Service Officers were able to help us in spotlighting different women veterans that were continuing to make a difference in their communities and their thoughts on the work these women have done, which are included within the report.
The report is available on the Commission website, or by calling 850-414-3300. |
| All Grown Up and Nowhere to Go | | |
Commission Hosts Panel Discussion
 The Florida Commission on the Status of Women hosted "All Grown Up and Nowhere to Go," a panel discussion focusing on the issue of girls aging out of Florida Foster Care and hosted by the Florida Commission on the Status of Women. The event took place on September 15, 2012 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. at Keiser University College of Golf, Tom Watson Classroom, Port St. Lucie, Florida. Representatives of child advocacy organizations, academia, and government, shared with participants their perspectives and experiences in dealing with the challenges of girls who age out of the foster care system in Florida.
The event was moderated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Lucie, Indian River & Okeechobee Counties CEO Judi Miller, and includes the following panelists: Ashley Rhodes-Courter, New York Times Bestselling Author and Florida Senate Candidate; Sabrina Barnes, Director of Program Operations, Children's Home Society of Florida, Treasure Coast; Pam Hindman, 12th Circuit Director, Guardian ad Litem Program; Josie Kirchner, MA, Road to Success Supervisor, United for Families; Leo F. Armbrust, Founder and Chairman, Vita Nova; Former Florida Senator Ken Pruitt; and Florida Representative Gayle Harrell.
"By supporting the growth and empowerment of women and girls, we raise the quality of life for everyone. When women lead, they not only lead businesses, they lead in their community, they fight for their families, and they impact issues important to the future of our state," said Laurie Pizzo, Chair of the Florida Commission on the Status of Women. "Unfortunately, too many girls are aging out of the foster care system in Florida without sufficient guidance and resources to face the challenges of building a successful life. This is a problem that affects our entire state."
|
|
Florida Children and Youth Cabinet Human Trafficking Summit | | |
Modern Day Slavery
The Florida Commission on the Status  of Women was pleased to participate in the Human Trafficking Summit on September 24, 2012. The Florida Children and Youth Cabinet along with the Florida State University Center for the Advancement of Human rights hosted their first joint Human Trafficking Summit at the Turnbull Conference Center in Tallahassee, Fl.
Opening remarks were given by Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, Terry Coonan, Executive Director of FSU Center for the Advancement of Human Rights, David Wilkins, Chair of the Florida Children & Youth Cabinet, Wansley Walters, Chair of Florida Children & Youth Cabinet Human Trafficking Workgroup and Tina Frundt, Executive Director of Courtney's House. The summit provided valuable information about commercial sexual exploitation of children in Florida and sparked ongoing conversation about this growing issue throughout the state of Florida.
The goal of the summit was to 'start a statewide conversation among community leaders, child advocates, students and professionals about the status of human trafficking in our communities and find way that communities can come together to stop it'. The Florida Commission on the Status of Women will do its part by targeting this issue in our 2013 Annual Report by focusing on the correlation between girls aging out of foster care and human trafficking. Additional information on the event is at http://www.flgov.com/humantraffickingsummit/. |
|
|
