Friends Connect Summary continued.....                            SEE SUMMIT PHOTOS

Ms. Leman has spoken around the globe about “The Power of Anyone.” She has spoken at such diverse events and locations as the L.I.V.E. World Summit in New York, the European Union Committee of the Regions in Brussels, Belgium, and the International Youth Forum in Extremadura, Spain. Her awards are numerous, and include the UNICEF National Youth Ambassador, the Presidential Award, the World of Children’s Founder’s Youth Award “Nobel Prize for Children” and the International Youth Talent Award, European Union. She has been on the Today Show, CNN American Morning and Fox National news.

Participants at the conference got a sneak peak at Ms. Leman’s new web site, scheduled to launch in July of this year. It is an incredible way to link kids worldwide, and to encourage and educate them in their pursuit of helping others. Ms. Leman’s philosophy as to why she does what she does is summed up in one simple sentence she learned from her grandfather – “Because I can.” Although it may be a cliché, she truly is inspirational.

The next day was no less inspiring. First Lady Mari Culver opened the session, introducing the keynote speaker, Marie Wilson. Ms. Wilson also has impeccable credentials and a great message. Her bio states, “An advocate of women’s issues for more than 30 years, Marie C. Wilson is founder and President of The White House Project, co-creator of Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work ® Day and author of Closing the Leadership Gap: Why Women Can and Must Help Run the World (Viking 2004).” She is the former President of the Ms. Foundation for Women, and created The Marie C. Wilson Leadership Fund. 

Ms. Wilson noted that this time in history is uniquely favorable to women, and urged participants to not “waste” it. To this end, Vote, Run, Lead ™ was created. Vote, Run, Lead™ is a dynamic program of The White House Project designed to engage women in the political process as voters, activists and candidates through trainings, inspiration and networking.

Various break-out sessions occurred both during the morning and afternoon sessions. The morning sessions included Regenia Bailey (It's All About Relationships: Increasing Your Organization's Effectiveness in Advocacy & Public Policy Work), Aldine Bell (Why Diversity, Why Now?), and Lauren Burt & Lisa-Marie Wright (New and Future Gender Roles: How to Train Women as the Next Generation of Community Leaders). In the afternoon, Claire Celsi presented on Social Media/Networking, the Whyld Girls conducted a panel discussion on issues impacting girls today, and Jackie Feddersen Matt and Leslie Garman talked about how why women give, and opportunities non-profits have to take advantage of women’s increased financial power and acumen.

The lunchtime speaker was Mary Stier, CEO of The Brilliance Group, and former publisher  of the Des Moines Register. She addressed a variety of issues surrounding building an effective board. This began with identifying, cultivating and recruiting great board members, orientating, educating, involving those board members once they are elected, and evaluating, rotating and celebrating board members. She closed by paying tribute to Maddie Levitt, and her philosophy of board-building; find people who are passionate, can provide leadership and write big checks! Her theory, adopted by Ms. Stier, is to give not until it hurts, but until it feels good. 

The final speaker was Liza Pierce, Consultant for Council Partnerships, Girl Scouts of the USA. The Girls Scouts (“GSA”), after seeing downward trends in its leadership, has gone through a tremendous amount of soul-searching and working to reverse this trend. This has involved re-branding (to be announced in July), reorganizing and re-thinking how they need to change to meet the needs of today’s girls. They asked the question, “How can we become necessary in the services we deliver?” They also brought a laser focus to the process, and are branding themselves as the premier leadership experience for girls. Their three-C’s went from camping, cookies and crafts to courage, confidence and character. 

Informational tables included American Association for University Women, Family Planning Council, United Health Care and the Whyld Girls sold their beautiful jewelry to help support their programming for middle-school-aged girls, as well as high school girls. The Whyld Girls program inspires and enables girls to think and speak for themselves. 

Whew! When I left on Friday, I was invigorated, and motivated to go forward. But it wasn’t just the speakers (although phenomenal) or the breakout groups that created this energy. It was also connecting to other women, hearing about the great things they were doing, and reminding each other how valuable we all are to the discussion and mission of helping women and girls succeed.

If you are ready to meet the challenge issued by Marie Wilson and others, to get more involved in the leadership of organizations that promote women and girls (as well as the organizations that need to get more involved!), the Friends would love to hear from you. The Friends of the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women supports the work of the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women (“ICSW”) in its mission to provide increased opportunities for women through a number of special programs. The ICSW was established by the Iowa Legislature in 1972; for 38 years, it has served as an advocate and a voice for equality and opportunity for Iowa women and girls. Come work with us to fulfill this mission! 

Submitted by Jean Baker
Friends Board Member

The Iowa Commission on the Status of Women (ICSW) and the Friends of the Iowa Commission of the Status of Women (Friends) will help to grow collaboration amongst women’s and girls’ organizations who share our broad vision of “growing Iowa’s opportunities so that every women and girl can reach her full potential.”