2 Bloomington women receive city's recognition

They came tip-toeing in high-heeled pumps through overflowing street puddles. They walked into the Bloomington Convention Center, shaking umbrellas that hadn't prevented their overcoats from getting waterlogged. Pulling the necessary tools from their overstuffed purses, they performed the quick once-overs to dispel any impression that it might be hard to look presentable after coming in from soaking sheets of rain.\nBefore the luncheon, these women were simply going about their daily routine, but on this day they were celebrated for it.\nThe City of Bloomington Commission on the Status of Women celebrated International Women's Day and Women's History Month at its 21st annual luncheon Wednesday.\nThe luncheon recognizes contributions made by exceptional women in the Bloomington community. It is also used as a showcase for women's businesses and resources. \n"And it's just nice to hang out with a mass of wonderful women," said Jillian Kinzie, chair of the Commission on the Status of Women.\nThis year, the commission honored two women with awards. LaVerta Terry, a former teacher and IU recruiter, was awarded the Lifetime Contribution Award. Cindy Kvale, a science teacher at Bloomington High School South, was named the 2006 Woman of the Year.\n"For some reason I am being honored for doing the same things that teachers have been doing for years," Kvale said.\nMore than 400 women attended, including representatives of the League of Women Voters, Mujeres en Conexion and the Girls Scouts of Tulip Trace Council.\n"Women's history is our community's history," Mayor Mark Kruzan said in his speech Wednesday.\nThe luncheon was brimming at the plate with women of amazing firsts. And this year's Lifetime Contribution Award Recipient and Woman of the Year were two of them.\nTerry was the first black teacher ever hired by Bloomington schools. She served as one of the first directors of a program that recruited ethnic and racial minority students from all over the state. While participating in the local chapter of the Young Women's Christian Association, Terry and others created the first Black Women's Conference. The conference was so progressive in the black women's community that the Black Panthers boycotted it because the black women were speaking without black men around.\nKvale leads several of the high school's science programs that have been recognized both nationally and internationally. She also started the high school's Solar Racing Team, which has competed at the United States annual competition every year since 1997 and has competed in -- and won -- the World Solar Bicycle Race in Japan.\nThe commission also selected three women as Emerging Leaders in community, professional and student categories. Julie Thomas, Debra Vance and Stacy Jones will be recognized for achievements in their respective categories March 23 at Women on Board, a leadership workshop for women.