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Political pundit and veteran Democratic strategist Donna Brazile exhorted a full house at the Wisconsin Women in Government (WWIG) banquet to begin to plot a new course in this wonderful young century to provide leadership, not just in the state but across the country as well.
The banquet, held Thursday evening, served the dual purpose of honoring Military Women of Distinction and awarding scholarships to six young women determined to gain the education needed to make their own mark in the world.
As she reminisced about witnessing history the day Barack Obama was sworn in as President of the United States, Ms. Brazile said, I can tell you that the only thing that was going through my mind was that I was that I would live long enough one day to see a woman as well being sworn in as President of the United States. She called 2008 a remarkable political year, saying that in 2008 we broke the mold of what leadership looks like in this country. And she spoke of the tug of war between being urged many to openly support a woman for candidate and by others to support an African-American, finally declaring that she would not be pushed into choosing between her race and her gender. Instead she chose to trust in the American public to make the best choice.
Ms. Brazile called on women in leadership positions to be role models and inspiration for girls who are struggling with their identities and with finding their voice in order to give them their own sense of a future and to let them know that they too can make a difference in the lives of others. She credited the women in her own life her mother, aunts, sisters, and grandmother with giving her, by example, the strength and the courage to not fear the toughest assignments in her political life. She called on women to put aside any pettiness and stop thinking small, and to not get caught up in whether they are on the liberal side or the conservative side. Were on the same team, we just wear different jerseys. Because were Americans and we love our country.
She concluded by say that she hoped her audience would leave "stirred up, ready to get in the way of anybody who somehow or other wants to keep you stuck, ready to break open wide the doors of freedom, ready to remove the artificial glass ceiling. And bring someone with you for the journey. Because I promise you it is worth it to fight for justice, to believe in oneself, and to love this great country of ours.
WWIG Military Women of Distinction
The military women who were honored have been designated as trailblazers for women in the military, according to WWIG President Eileen Pierce. Nominations were solicited from state military leaders and included Wisconsin women on active duty, in the reserves, and those retired from military service. The awards given at Thursdays banquet went to:
Brigadier General Marcia Anderson Army Reserve
Colonel Ellen Healy Marines, Retired
Colonel Nancy Kaczor Air Force, Retired
Commander Lisa Kromanaker Navy Reserve
Lieutenant Colonel Joane Mathews Army National Guard
Captain Gay Leigh Mundy Army, Retired
Lieutenant Colonel Michelle Seavers Air National Guard
Commander Tracy Wannamaker Coast Guard
WWIG scholarship awards and special tributes
The scholarships for undergraduate study went to: Reagan Dexter, Stephanie Kirk, Sherry Ann Kontz, Patricia Lara, Julie Maloney, and Kathryn Schaefer. These young women all plan to attend universities or colleges in Wisconsin.
WWIG also paid special tribute to the late Midge Miller and the late Rebecca Young, both of whom were activists and members of the Wisconsin State Assembly and were considered to be pioneers for women in government.
Keynote speaker Donna Brazile is the popular face the Democratic point of view on CNN. She served as Vice President Al Gores campaign manager when he ran for president in 2000. Her autobiography cooking with Grease: Stirring the Pots in American Politics describes her thirty years in politics.
The WWIG annual event is a bipartisan affair, and was attended by more than 1,000 state and local elected officials, business leaders, public servants, and political enthusiast. The group has worked since 1987 to raise money to support and encourage women to choose careers in government service via their various scholarship programs. WWIG, a non-profit organization, also sponsors a Graduate Seminar to help women managers advance their careers and funds an annual legislative internship. Past keynote speakers have included Jenna Bush, Elizabeth Edwards, Hilary Clinton, and Lynne Cheney.
For more info: Wisconsin Women in Government
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