2012 Women of the Year Selected

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 16, 2012

For More Information:
Cathi Crabtree, City of Bloomington Commission on the Status of Women, 272-1600
Debra Vance, City of Bloomington Commission on the Status of Women, 330-6111
Sue Owens, Program Specialist, Community & Family Resources Dept., City of Bloomington,
349-3468.

2012 Women of the Year Selected

Bloomington, IN - Mayor Mark Kruzan announced today that three local women will be honored during March for their outstanding service to our community. Laurie Burns McRobbie has been named Bloomington's Woman of the Year, Gladys DeVane has been named the recipient of the Lifetime Contribution Award and Kyla Cox has been chosen to receive the Emerging Leader Award.

The recipients were selected by members of the Woman of the Year Subcommittee of 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, which will be held on Tuesday, March 6, at the Convention Center of Bloomington-Monroe County located at 302 S. College Ave.

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 exhibit at the luncheon. The exhibit reservation form is available at www.bloomington.in.gov/csw.

The theme of this year's event is "Women's Education - Women's Empowerment." Audrey McCluskey will be the keynote speaker at the luncheon.

Laurie Burns McRobbie, Indiana University's First Lady, has been named Woman of the Year. McRobbie is actively involved in higher education and community projects working on the behalf of the less advantaged. She is on faculty at IU's School of Informatics and Computing, where she initiated the ServeIT Clinic to assist in IT capacity-building of local nonprofits. McRobbie is also the founder of the IU Foundation's Women's Philanthropy Council and serves on the Board of Directors for Middle Way House, where she led the New Wings Committee in fundraising for Middle Way's new facility. In addition, she serves on the board of numerous other community organizations, such as WonderLab, Society of Friends of Music, Bloomington Hospital Foundation's Hospice Campaign Committee, IU's Colloquium for Women and Bloomington New Tech High School. McRobbie is a passionate advocate for social justice and philanthropy, who continues to inspire and lead in all her important roles in the community.

Lifetime Contribution Award winner Gladys DeVane has creatively channeled her artistic talents in advancing women's rights and social justice. She is involved as a writer, producer, director and actor for various theatrical productions and is a member of the Bloomington Playwrights Project's Board of Directors. Her creative energy is focused not only on theater arts, but also individuals with developmental disabilities. DeVane and her husband Gene helped found Options for Better Living. She continues to lead as a volunteer at Stone Belt to empower and support those with disabilities. In addition, DeVane had a distinguished career as a clinical associate professor at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business, where she positively impacted the lives of many students. DeVane is an instrumental force in increasing diversity and advancing a vision for a better society.

The Women's History Month Lunch begins at 12:15 p.m. on March 6. Doors open at 11:15 a.m. for viewing of women's exhibits. The cost is $20.00 per lunch; seats must be purchased in advance. Checks payable to "City of Bloomington - Women's History Month Lunch" along with the name to appear on 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 Friday, March 2. Scholarships are available for individuals who need assistance purchasing a seat to attend the lunch.

The Emerging Leader Award will be presented at the annual Women's Leadership Development Workshop, on Thursday, March 29 at City Hall from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

For more information about the lunch or workshop, contact Sue Owens at 349-3468 or owenss@bloomington.in.gov.

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