Commission For Women

HCC to christen Duncan Hall Mary Ellen Duncan, the third president of Howard Community College, will have a building on the college campus named in her honor. She retired in May. The building, the English, Languages and Business (ELB) building, will be renamed Mary Ellen Duncan Hall. A dedication ceremony is scheduled at 5:15 p.m. Oct. 24 in the lobby. A reception is planned for 4:30 p.m. The building was the first of three constructed under Duncan's leadership to complete the landscaped center of the campus known as the Quad.

BREAKFAST WASN'T the only thing served at the 13th annual Women's Hall of Fame Ceremony at Martin's West. The accomplishments of five city women were offered up by the Baltimore City Commission for Women, for all to savor.They were the commission's 1998 Women's Hall of Fame honorees -- Bertha L. Albornoz, a prominent teacher in Baltimore's Latino community and co-founder Friends of the Colombian Child, an organization dedicated to helping needy children in Colombia; Sister Helen Amos, CEO of Mercy Hospital, who has worked steadfastly for 40 years to help women and children in our community; Doris Brightful, a registered nurse who retired in 1996 after 30 years as a Baltimore City community health nurse, and who has been president of a nurses' union since 1990; Flossie McClain Dedmond, dean emeritus of arts and sciences at Coppin State College; and Mary Carter Smith, a professional griot, writer, educator and poet.

THE BALTIMORE CITY Commission for Women today will induct five new members into its Women's Hall of Fame.They are:Bertha "Betty" Albornoz, the co-founder of Friends of the Colombian Child, an organization that aids children's institutions her native Colombia.Sister Helen Amos, chief executive officer of Mercy Medical Center.Doris Brightful, a retired community health nurse active incommunity and religious organizations.Dr. Flossie McClain Dedmon, for 32 years a teacher, administrator and dean at Coppin State College.

When Ossie G. Clay went to China for the World Conference on Women in 1995, she brought back more than souvenirs and photos. She brought back a bright idea.In Beijing, surrounded by women's leaders from around the world, the resident of Columbia's Wilde Lake village realized Howard County is home to some amazing women, and she vowed to spread the word about them.Thus was born the Howard County Women's Hall of Fame, which will begin by giving out its first honors next week to five women whose work and ideas have changed the county.

Women make up 25 percent of Maryland's 250 sitting judges, compared with 5 percent of 204 judgeships in 1981, recent court figures show.Women advocacy groups give credit for the increase to Gov. Parris N. Glendening, who campaigned on a promise of a more diverse judiciary."

ANNAPOLIS -- A committee of the General Assembly's Women's Caucus will meet today to discuss whether to support a bill that would create a Carroll County Commission for Women.Del. Lawrence A. LaMotte, a Democrat who represents Carroll and Baltimore counties, said Friday he has asked each female House member to support the bill.Mr. LaMotte submitted House Bill 1423 after the Carroll delegation voted earlier this month not to file the measure.It was requested by the county commissioners.Mr.

Yes, County Needs A Commission For WomenOn Jan. 22, I attended a meeting at the Carroll County Office Building with the intention of hearing well-meaning persons debate the concerns on the Carroll County Commission on Women.I listened as I stood against the wall in the back of this crowded room. After listening to those persons "for" the commission speak, I felt they had hit upon an area which desperately needs attention here in the county. . . .Then I listened, with gritted teeth, to the opposition.

Reconsider Panel On Status Of WomenWhen I went to the County Office Building on Jan. 22 to listen to constituents' opinions about possible new legislation, I took with me my conservative's bias against the proposed county Commission for Women. I'm sick and tired of constantly expanding tax demands and the very title of this group (which reportedly sought county authority and, possibly, county funding) rubbed me the wrong way.Two hours later, I left that building sort of ashamed that I'd prejudged the proponents of this idea.

Carroll County's delegation to the General Assembly got an earful last Saturday when it held a hearing on the nine county bills to be submitted this legislative session. Most of the discussion focused on a proposal to create a county commission for women's issues. After sitting through two hours of debate, however, the delegation may have been left with a mistaken impression of this bill because a number of speakers digressed from the real issues involved with creating such a panel and focused instead on irrelevancies.

Attempts by local women's advocates to establish a Carroll County women's commission ended Friday when a House of Delegates committee killed a bill to set up the group.Del. Lawrence A. LaMotte, the only member of the county's legislative delegation to support the bill, said the defeat in the House Commerce and Governmental Matters Committee did not surprise him."The committee was put in an uncomfortable position because of the protocol issue, and that's the reason [for the bill's defeat]," said Mr. LaMotte, a Democrat who represents Carroll and Baltimore counties.

Used cell phones to benefit Relay for Life in the county The Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks is collecting used cell phones in a program to raise money to benefit Howard County's Relay for Life. www.howardcountymd.gov/RAP/RAP_HomePage.htm. Or call 410-313-1675. Women's Hall of Fame The Howard County Commission for Women is accepting nominations of outstanding women to be admitted into the 2009 Women's Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame will induct up to five contemporary women and one woman from the past who have achieved distinction in their work, made lasting contributions to the community and improved the quality of life for others.

More recycling allowed Howard County Executive Ken Ulman has announced that the county's new wheeled recycling carts and bins can be filled with additional plastic, aluminum and waxed cardboard products, including yogurt tubs, lawn furniture, flower pots, aluminum foil, pie plates, milk and juice cartons, and other items. Residents can also recycle bags filled with plastic bags as long as the bag is tied shut. A postcard describing the new recycling options will be mailed to every Howard County residence that receives recycling collection service.

Nominations sought for Women's Hall of Fame The Howard County Commission for Women is accepting nominations of outstanding women to be admitted into the 2009 Women's Hall of Fame. The 13th annual Hall of Fame will induct up to five contemporary women and one woman from the past who have achieved distinction in their work, made lasting contributions to the community and improved the quality of life for others. Nominees must be natives of Howard County or residents for at least 10 consecutive years.

Carolyn W. Evans, a principal at Sengstacke & Evans LLC, a Bel Air law firm, has been named one of Maryland's Top 100 Women by The Daily Record. She has more than 15 years of experience as an attorney specializing in personal injury, wills and estates, real estate, corporate, civil litigation and employment. Evans is on the boards of directors for Harford Bank, Home Partnership Inc. and the Bel Air Rotary Club. She was commissioner and chairwoman of the Harford County Commission for Women and is active in professional organizations and government agencies.

As chairwoman of the Harford County Commission for Women, Lisa Tittle is brimming with ideas on how to improve the lives of women. Why not start a halfway house with training programs for women leaving prison, she asked. How about opening a school for young mothers, who want to return to class but cannot overcome hurdles like child care and transportation? Maybe the commission should lend its support to the Homecoming Project, an association that helps women recovering from substance abuse.

Howard County's Commission for Women is sponsoring an essay contest in honor of women's History Month in March. The national theme for this year's celebration is "Women's Art, Women's Vision." The contest is open to Howard County students in grades 6-12. The essays should describe a contemporary or historical American woman who has excelled in the arts and could be considered visionary because of her contributions. First-place winners in each grade category (grades 6-8 and 9-12) will receive a $200 U.S. Savings Bond and be invited to read their essays at the Women's Hall of Fame induction ceremony, to be held at 7:30 p.m. March 13 in the Banneker Room of the George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City.

`Roots of Howard County' on Feb. 10 The villages of Columbia, the Columbia Association, the African Art Museum of Maryland and the Howard County Center of African-American Culture will present "Roots of Howard County: In Celebration of African-American History" from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 10 at Historic Oakland, 5430 Vantage Point Road, Columbia. The Ambassadors of Jazz, an accomplished youth jazz group, will perform. Images of Freedom poster contest entries will be on display, and light refreshments will be served.

HCC to christen Duncan Hall Mary Ellen Duncan, the third president of Howard Community College, will have a building on the college campus named in her honor. She retired in May. The building, the English, Languages and Business (ELB) building, will be renamed Mary Ellen Duncan Hall. A dedication ceremony is scheduled at 5:15 p.m. Oct. 24 in the lobby. A reception is planned for 4:30 p.m. The building was the first of three constructed under Duncan's leadership to complete the landscaped center of the campus known as the Quad.

The Howard County Commission for Women and Howard Community College will co-sponsor a workshop, "Getting the Pay You Deserve: Women Negotiating Better Salaries," on Oct. 27 at the college. Evelyn Murphy, founder and president of the Wage Project and author of Getting Even: Why Women Don't Get Paid Like Men and What To Do About It, will speak. Breakfast will be served from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Two workshops - "Start Smart" for women in college and "Get What You're Worth, Get What You Want" for women in or returning to the workplace - will be held from 10:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Registration is required.

It may be hard to find a better place for women than Howard County, but a new study of their economic status shows wide earning gaps remain between the genders. Sponsored by the county's Commission for Women, the study, which follows a broader examination of women's status done five years ago, concludes that "women in Howard County enjoy an almost unmatched status in the United States, with a high percentage of women-owned firms ... good wages, low poverty levels and many professionals.