Annual luncheon to honor women

Wednesday, the 19th Annual Bloomington Women's History Month Luncheon will be held at the Bloomington Convention Center to commemorate national Women's History Month. The theme for this year's luncheon is "Women-Inspiring Hope and Possibilities," and will feature speeches by Mayor Mark Kruzan and Indiana State Budget Director Marilyn Schultx, The luncheon will start at 12 p.m.\n"Each year, Bloomington holds a luncheon to commemorate and honor women who have made significant contributions to women's rights in the community," said Craig Brenner, City of Bloomington Community and Family Resources Department staff member. Brenner also noted the entire month of March is set aside to honor women's history. \n"In 1980, President Carter encouraged the nation to celebrate women's historic accomplishments by National Women's History Week. It was held during the week of March 8th -- International Women's Day. In 1987 the National Women's History Month Project petitioned the Congress to expand the celebrations to the entire month of March," said Lee Bowlen, special projects program assistant for the City's Community and Family Resources Department.\nThree awards will be recognized at the event. \n"In 1988, the Commission began recognizing local women for their contributions to the advancement of women with the Bloomington Woman of the Year Award, presented at the annual luncheon," Bowlen said. \nThis year, the 2004 Bloomington Woman of the Year, Indiana senator Vi Simpson, D-Martinsville, will be recognized and honored for her work as the executive director of the non-profit organization, Heritage Education Foundation, Inc. The foundation develops and distributes education materials to teachers and schools. Simpson has also been recognized as an excellent role model because of her legislative work.\nThe second award to be given out is the Lifetime Contribution Award which will be given to Helen Gibbons for her previous occupation as a professor at both IU and IU-Fort Wayne and for her support and volunteer work for Habitat for Humanity, Girls Inc. and Wonderlab. The final award will be given to Girl Scouts of Monroe County. The organization will be receiving the Emerging Leader Award for its public service to the community, and for its developing talents and leadership skills. \nJillian Kinzie, the chairperson of the Bloomington Commission on the status of women, is impressed with the expansion of the celebration of Women's History Month \n"The celebration of Women's History Month started out as a small gathering and has now grown into what it is today," Kinzie said. "Now, the luncheon is for women who want to work toward advancing their status even more."\nBrenner said the luncheon began 20 years ago to celebrate the holiday and ensure women's equal opportunities in Bloomington.\nKinzie said, the awards are given out based on a solicited call for nominations. They were selected by members of the City of Bloomington's Commission on the Status of Women. Representatives from these 13 groups sponsoring the luncheon represented the selection committee. These groups include Network of Career Women, League of Women Voters of Bloomington-Monroe County, IU Office of Women's Affairs, Mujeres en Conexion, Girl Scouts of Tulip Trace Council, Indiana NOW, Bloomington Human Rights Commission, Monroe County History Center, Baha'i Faith of Bloomington, Girls Incorporated of Monroe County, Bloomington Hospital & Health Care System and the City of Bloomington Community and Family Resources Department. \nAfter the luncheon, organizations and businesses that pertain to serving the needs of women will set up exhibit tables. \n"This is a relatively new addition to the event, and allows both for-profit and non-profit groups which serve women to network and share information with community members," said Bowlen.\n-- Contact staff writer Katie Killebrew at kpkilleb@indiana.edu.