Luncheon celebrates women

Close to 400 women attended the 18th annual luncheon to celebrate Women's History Month Wednesday at the Bloomington Convention Center. Women from all over Monroe County came to have lunch, discuss women's issues and honor Bloomington's 2003 Woman of the Year, Carrie Newcomer. Newcomer, who was not present at the time, is an active philanthropist and successful singer and songwriter. \nLiving by the motto of "Let Your Life Speak," she is most well known for her musical talent and has released nine recordings on Rounder Records, performing worldwide. In addition, she has played an instrumental role in supporting many health, hunger, literacy, domestic violence and environmental causes. \nThe Women's History Month Project Committee has been recognizing outstanding women in the Bloomington community since 1988. It was not until 1987 that Congress declared Women's History Month an official month recognizing the work and accomplishments of women around the country. \nAlso highlighting the event was the keynote speaker, Wendy Sanford. Sanford is co-author of the best-selling women's health book, "Our Bodies, Ourselves." \nSanford outlined the origins and emergence of Women's History Month and discussed the impact of her book on women's health in the past, present and future. "Our Bodies, Ourselves" was released in 1970 and was the most informative and progressive book on women's health at the time. It has sold over 4 million copies in the past 3 decades and has been translated into many different languages across the world.\nIn her speech, Sanford said the book was not just about ovaries and fallopian tubes. She said it informs and encourages women to get to know their bodies and focuses on sexuality education and the confinements of sexual politics. She said if women were made to feel inferior and inadequate in their everyday lives, than why would women expect those feelings to go away between the sheets? \nSanford also questioned why in the past women were not informed on issues pertaining to their physical and mental health. She was leery of drug companies and pharmaceutical companies' desires to solve women's problems with the swallow of a pill. \nCarol McCord, assistant dean of Women's Affairs, said Sanford's book was a monumental step for women that covered issues and problems that were never acknowledged in the past.\n"It was the first book of its kind. Prior to that, women's health care was in the hands of men," McCord said.\nMcCord said Women's History month has meant many things to different communities. It started off as a working women's movement, catering to professional and work-related activism. Now it is also a way to celebrate the role women have played in history.\nThe event in Bloomington was especially important for McCord, who said it was an opportunity to celebrate women who are currently doing a lot for the community.\nRose Thomas, the local Bloomington author of "And So It Was As I Recall," said she was surprised by the large turnout and was enjoying meeting and speaking with everyone in attendance. Thomas's book made the number one best-seller list at Barnes and Noble for non-fiction books. \nThomas was glad to be a part of the luncheon on Wednesday and was also using the opportunity to speak about her book. \n"Women's History Movement helps women realize all they can do, have done and will do," Thomas said. "It gives us more satisfaction and courage with what we have done."\nMary Remley, also in attendance, has been a Bloomington resident for 27 years. Remley used to teach Kinesiology classes at IU at the School of HPER. She said she was delighted to be a part of the event. \n"It brings women to the forefront in our community," Remley said. "A lot of people do a lot of wonderful things we don't hear about"