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FCSW Connections
NEWSLETTER of the Florida Commission on the Status of Women 
 
February 2013
In This Issue
Hall of Fame
Message from the Chair
Achievement Awards
Veteran Film Festival
Justice Administrative Commission
Women's Health Conference
Coloring Book
NACW Update
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Featured Article
WHOF 
Governor Rick Scott will soon select the 2012/2013 inductees into the Florida Women's Hall of Fame  from the list of ten finalists chosen by the Florida Commission on the Status of Women. The Governor will select up to three women for induction into the Hall of Fame, which recognizes and honors women who, through their works and lives, have made significant contributions to the improvement of life for women and for all citizens of the state of Florida. 
Greetings!

Welcome to the 2013 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
FCSW 2012-2013 Chair, Laurie Pizzo

The New Year is here and we are looking forward to a very exciting and busy 2013. The Florida Commission on the Status of Women held its fourth quarterly meeting on Thursday, November 15, 2012 in Tallahassee, Fl. Meeting quarterly as a full Commission, this highly talented group of individuals come together as volunteers to research, analyze and address issues facing women and families throughout the state of Florida.

 

In addition to conducting quarterly business, the Commission was addressed by Ms. Lydia Mount, Former Executive Director of the Governor's Commission on the Status of Women under Florida Governor Bob Graham. The Governor's Commission preceded the Florida Commission on the Status of Women. It was wonderful to hear some of the history of the Commission from someone who experienced it firsthand. It also reminds us how far women have come, although there is still much to do.

 

The Commission also enjoyed a presentation from F7 Group, an organization dedicated to serving Veterans and Military Families. The Commission's 2011 Annual Report focused on the challenges and needs of Florida Women's Veterans, and we are looking forward to working with F7 on future events to assist our state's true heroines.

 

Please be sure to visit our website, www.fcsw.net for the latest Commission news and information on upcoming events. 

FCSW Florida Achievement Award 

FCSW Achievement Award Winners The FCSW Florida Achievement Awards were presented to eight outstanding women from throughout the state of Florida during a special awards ceremony and luncheon on Thursday, November 15, 2012. The eight honorees included Dr. Josephine Beoku-Betts of Delray Beach, Erin DiMeglio of Plantation, Doby Flowers of Tallahassee, Katherine Koch of Ft. Lauderdale, Shawna Machado of Sarasota, Deirdre Macnab of Winter Park, Linda Nottingham of Ponte Vedra Beach, and Tina Tharpe of Bristol.

 

The Florida Commission on the Status of Women recognizes meritorious women who have improved the lives of Florida women and families and/or who serve as positive role models for women and girls in the state of Florida with a FCSW Florida Achievement Award.

 

The FCSW Florida Achievement Award is presented to up to two recipients from each of the five defined regions of the state, for a total of no more than 10 adults (25 and over) statewide annually.In addition, up to two youth awards (24 and younger) may be awarded to two recipients from each of the five defined regions of the state, for a total of no more than 10 youths (24 and younger) statewide annually.

 

The nomination period for the 2013 Florida Achievement Awards will be May 1, 2013 - June 28, 2013
Student Veteran Film Festival at Florida State University: Sexual Violence Against Women
 
 The Florida Commission on the Status of Women was pleased to participate in Florida State University's Student Veteran Film Festival on November 12, 2012. The Florida State Collegiate Veterans Association along with the Interfraternity Council and College of Motion Picture Arts hosted their second annual Student Veteran Film Festival in Tallahassee, Fl to raise awareness of veteran's issues and help start discussions to address concerns important to student-veterans as well as active-duty service members. This year the topic at hand was sexual violence against women.
  
Justice Administrative Commission Pays Tribute to Florida Women


 Located on the 2nd floor of the City Centre, across from LeRoy Collins Public Library, lined up on walls in the lobby of the Justice Administrative Commission office, you will find framed biographies of Florida Women inducted into the Florida Commission on the Status of Women's Hall of Fame. Among the various female pioneers in their fields, accomplishing goals that previously had never been attained by a female, are three outstanding women who have recently been inducted into the 2011/2012 Florida Women's Hall of Fame; Dr. Ruth Alexander of Gainesville, Elizabeth 'Budd' Bell formerly of Tallahassee and Vicki Bryant Burke of Jacksonville.  

Speaking of Women's Health Conference


 The 10th Annual Speaking of Women's Health Conference was held at Manatee Convention Center on Saturday, November 10, 2012. FCSW Commissioner, Dr. Mona Jain, M.D., Ph.D., and FCSW Assistant Director, Michele Manning represented the Florida Commission on the Status of Women. The conference benefits the Manatee Memorial Foundation Inc. and provided entertaining, empowering and educational health and wellness opportunities for women. The FCSW provided our annual report on Women's Health as well as a letter of support that was included in the program.

  
Florida Women's Hall of Fame Coloring Book Soon to be Published

The Florida Commission on the Status of Women (FCSW) will soon be publishing the first Florida Women's Hall of Fame Coloring Book. The book will highlight the accomplishments and achieviements of the women of the Hall of Fame who have shaped Florida's history.

  

The coloring book will be available in 2013 as part of the Viva Florida 500 Celebration. This will be an invaluable resource tool for educators, students and the public, and will bring a historical perspective to the role of women in the development of our State and Nation. We hope that it that will inspire and motivate future generations of Floridians.
Time to Renew Your 2013 NACW Membership! Not a member? Here's your opportunity to join!

 The National Association of Commissions for Women (NACW) serves as the ONLY voice at the national level for Commissions for Women all across the country. Our membership association provides a vehicle for women's commissions to communicate with each other, to provide advice and support, to share ideas and strategies, and to advocate both for commissions for women and for women themselves.  


http://www.nacw.org/membership/index.php?page=main

The NACW's Board of Directors are working on numerous projects. The NACW Committees: 2013 Conference, Fundraising, Membership, Strategic Planning and more, are involved in various activities to ensure the NACW 43rd Annual Conference that will be held July 24-27, 2013 in beautiful San Jose, California is a huge success!