Women To Be Honored At Women's History Month Lunch

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 21, 2008

For More Information: Jillian Kinzie, City of Bloomington Commission on the Status of Women, 856-1430 Glenda Murray, Monroe County History Center, 855-0262 Carolyn VandeWiele, WFHB Community Radio, 320-9920 Sue Owens, Program Specialist, Community & Family Resources Dept., City of Bloomington, 349-3468

Bloomington, IN - Mayor Mark Kruzan announced today that three local women will be honored in March for their outstanding service to our community. Liz Kirkland has been named Bloomington's Woman of the Year, Sue Berg has been named the recipient of the Lifetime Contribution Award, and Jillian Kinzie has been chosen to receive the Emerging Leader Award.

"These women have shown amazing dedication and service to our community," Kruzan said. "It is with the effort of people like these that Bloomington stands apart from other cities as a truly wonderful place to live."

The recipients were selected by members of the Annual Women's History Month Lunch committee, organized by the City of Bloomington's Commission on the Status of Women. The Woman of the Year and Lifetime Contribution Award recipients will be honored at the lunch on Wednesday, March 5, at the Convention Center of Bloomington-Monroe County located at 302 S. College Ave, and the Emerging Leader Award will be presented at a women's leadership workshop March 24 at City Hall.

The lunch serves as an opportunity to recognize individual and collective accomplishments of women in our community. In addition, organizations for women and women-owned businesses will have exhibits at the luncheon. The exhibit reservation form is available at www.bloomington.in.gov/boards/csw.

The program will include keynote speaker Allida Black, Research Professor of History and International Affairs at the George Washington University and Project Director and Editor of the Eleanor Roosevelt Papers, a project designed to preserve, teach and apply Eleanor Roosevelt's writings and discussions of human rights and democratic politics.

Kirkland, Children's Services Coordinator for Middle Way House, Inc., was nominated by Charlotte Zietlow and Sue Berg.

"Liz has worked day in and day out for over twenty years to improve services for children and for women in our community," Zietlow wrote in her nomination of Kirkland. "Her entire adult life has been devoted to improving the quality of life for other women through inspiration, community service and professional accomplishments." Both Zietlow and Berg acknowledged Kirkland for her steadfast devotion to serving children and women in need and for her leadership roles in serving families in the community.

Berg came to Bloomington in 1986 to work as the County Extension Educator overseeing all county homemakers clubs in Monroe County. There are a total of 21 active clubs and several associate clubs with nearly 350 members. Berg's contributions include training new club officers, educating members and coordinating community events.

"Sue is constantly educating the public about everything from soup to safety tips," Karen Johnston wrote when nominating Berg. "She has the recipe for success including: enthusiasm, support, responsibility, dedication, joy, flexibility and happiness. For her 22 years of leadership, through local homemakers, her dedication to Monroe County has been exemplary and commendable significantly advancing the status of women through leadership and service."

The Women's History Month Lunch begins at noon (doors open at 11:15 am) on March 5. The cost is $15.00 per lunch and seats must be purchased in advance. Checks payable to "Women's History Month Lunch," and the name you want to appear on the guest list may be sent to Women's History Month Lunch, Commission on the Status of Women, PO Box 100, Bloomington IN 47402. Seats also can be purchased at the Community & Family Resources Department, Suite 260 at City Hall, 401 N Morton Street. The deadline for purchasing a seat is February 29.

For more information about the lunch or workshop, contact Sue Owens at 349-3468.
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