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Adopt a resolution designating March as Women's History Month under this year's theme of "Women's Education - Women's Empowerment;" and Ratify resolutions honoring Mayrene Bates and Nancy Rossi as Solano County's Women of the Year for 2012 (Supervisor Spering)
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No __X_
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No __X_
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
Supervisor Jim Spering requests that the Board ratify a resolution designating March as Women's History Month under this year's theme of "Women's Education - Women's Empowerment" and ratify resolutions honoring Mayrene Bates and Nancy Rossi as Solano County's Women of the Year for 2012.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
As recently as the 1970's, women's history was virtually an unknown topic in the K-12 curriculum or in the general public's awareness. To address this situation, the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County (California) Commission on the Status of Women initiated a "Women's History Week" celebration for 1978. From this effort grew the first Congressional resolution declaring a "National Women's History Week" in 1981.
In 1987, the National Women's History Project petitioned Congress to expand the national celebration to the entire month of March. Since then, the National Women's History Month Resolution has been approved with bipartisan support in both the House and Senate. Each year, programs and activities in schools, workplaces, and communities have become more extensive as information and program ideas have been developed and shared.
This year, Solano County celebrates "Women's History Month" with the fifth annual luncheon. Funds raised during that luncheon will benefit the Solano County Library Foundation and go towards the purchase of materials related to Women's History studies.
The Women's History Month committee selected Mayrene Bates and Nancy Rossi as the "Women of the Year for 2012" and Dee Alarcón as the Honorary Chair in recognition of their decades of passionate championship of education and local Youth programs.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impact to the County General Fund.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may choose not to adopt the resolution. This is not recommended as adopting this resolution is an opportunity to recognize the role women play in history and to honor two outstanding women in Solano County's community.