Amazing Women profiled during Women's History Month

"Island members of the American Association of University Women gather for a dress rehearsal to portray women from Washington state's history to area school children. The women and their characters are, above, (left to right, back row) Rom Cassida (Sally Ride), Nancy Hodges (Dixy Lee Ray), Linda McNamara (Lizzie Ordway), Helen Chatfield-Weeks (Maud C. Lillie Bolin), Gena DiLabio (Rachel Carson), and Milli Stanton (Emma Lazarus); and (seated left to right) Celia Lamson (Narcissa Prentiss Whitman), and Judy Yeakel (Kick-Is-Om-Lo). Women's history month celebratedKCTS/9 will broadcast the film by Melissa Young and Mark Dworkin, How Can I Keep on Singing? on March 22 at 8 p.m. in honor of Women's History Month. The film conveys stories of everyday life told through the voices of laundresses, cooks, farmers and berrypickers, and includes vivid photography of eastern Washington and British Columbia. Several Whidbey Island women are actors in the film.They laugh easily and talk seriously. Educated, articulate, and friendly, this group of women gathers regularly. This past week they met to practice their roles as prominent women in history so they can present the women and their lives to island school children.I think it's important for the school-age kids... [to] realize that women have made such a valuable contribution to this country, said Linda McNamara.McNamara portrayed Lizzie Ordway, a Washington woman from 1828-1897 known as a Mercer Girl. McNamara and the other women of the group are with the American Association of University Women.Their presentations were a series of one-woman monologues, in full costume, given before elementary students from Oak Harbor to South Whidbey in public and private classrooms. They portrayed women from the L.E. Bragg book, More than Petticoats, Remarkable Washington Women, including Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, two Native American women (one an aviator), and Dixy Lee Ray, the first woman governor of Washington State.Women are really under-represented in the study of history, noted Gena DiLabio, who portrays an early 20th century writer of environmental issues, Rachel Carson.Then the group's discussion turned to the dearth of coverage on National Women's History Month, celebrated this month, on national television programs. Helen Chatfield-Weeks said she did see a program on it at 12:30 in the morning.So there's something at 12:30 at night and all women are in bed because they are so tired from raising their children! said Sally Dillon, the group's program director. The women all laughed heartily.Seattle's KCTS/9 is also showing the film How Can I Keep on Singing? on March 22 at 8 p.m., telling the stories of everyday women in Washington.How women balance raising children, careers and other accomplishments is always up for discussion. But, several members added, they want today's girls to know that they should not allow their perceptions of these challenges to limit them or their goals. I think this is such an exciting time for women to be living, said Milli Stanton, who portrays Emma Lazarus, a poet whose work welcomes immigrants at the Statue of Liberty. And Stanton wants today's women to understand that great things have been accomplished by women through the centuries when the opportunities were not as great, nor the times as accommodating. These women, against odds, still were contributing, Stanton said. There were a lot of efforts made by outstanding women that brought us to the situation we are in today of having so many opportunities.The American Association of University Women has several goals for women and girls in mind, including quality education that is gender equitable, protection of individual rights, including protection from domestic violence, and economic self-sufficiency for women.The Whidbey Island chapter of the association, with about 70 members, participates in the national program, as well as hosting events on the island towards achieving those goals. Their latest project was to present the stories of successful women of history to school children islandwide. In the past they have hosted such events as Sister to Sister, a summit bringing in counselors and high school girls to mentor younger girls and give them an opportunity to discuss the challenges they face.Locally, the members annually raise funds through a May event called Arts and Appetizers, funding scholarships. This year they are launching a new program to recognize high school girls' achievements in math, science and technology.For more information, call Jane Selene at 360-675-5217. "

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