Okaloosa County BOCC — March 15, 2016 — 2015 Annual Report — reading text

2015 Annual Report This report includes the activities and accomplishments of the Okaloosa County Commission on the Status of Women (OCCSW) for the year 2015. The OCCSW was established in 1995 by the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners with the purpose of recognizing and honoring women who have made significant contributions to the improvement of women and citizens of Okaloosa County. The Wall of Honor was established by the OCCSW in partnership with the University of West Florida to accept nominations from the public for women deserving recognition for the sacrifices made to help and encourage individuals in our community. In May 2015, a ceremony was held for the Women’s Wall of Honor recipients at the Fort Walton Beach campus of Northwest Florida State College/University of West Florida. The Okaloosa County Women’s Wall of Honor is displayed in a special room on the second floor of the campus library. A plaque displayed on the wall lists all the honorees, and a book with their bios and pictures is also maintained in the Wall of Honor room. The 2015 Wall of Honor inductees were Front row from left to right - Tammy McGaughy, Sherry Marcolongo, Jean Hood, Velma Conyers, and Valerie Bogar. Back row from left to right - Sherry Smith, Margaret Schwartz, Louan Rathke, and Donna Pattison. Dood Wood not pictured. One hundred and seventy-two women have been inducted since 1997. Each year the OCCSW accepts and vets nominations to the Okaloosa County Women’s Hall of Fame, which recognizes distinguished County women who have made an important impact on women and citizens in our community. The nomination process is competitive, and OCCSW members select inductees in accordance with specified standards. A ceremony for all nominees was held at Northwest Florida State College’s Niceville Campus in conjunction with Women’s Equality Day in August. The 2015 Hall of Fame inductees were Michelle Anchors, Kathy Foster, Lisa Jo Spencer and Shawnea Tallman. Since 1995, 92 women have been inducted. Photos of all the Okaloosa County Women’s Hall of Fame inductees are on display outside the County Commission Chambers in the Okaloosa County Water and Sewer Building in Fort Walton Beach, the County Court House in Crestview, and the Niceville City Council Chambers. The Okaloosa County Commission on the Status of Women receives no public funding; it relies instead on support from our community. Financial contributions from local businesses, organizations and individuals enable OCCSW to continue its support of women in Okaloosa County through various events and projects, including the Women’s Wall of Honor and Hall of Fame, and the annual scholarship established in 2013. Additionally, OCCSW members provide food, beverages, and paper products for all OCCSW’s annual events. Commission funds were used in 2015 to purchase honoree plaques, certificates, corsages, picture frames and scrapbooks; to maintain the website; to fund the scholarship; and to renew membership in the National Association of Commissions for Women. The Commission also makes annual contributions to local charities. The 2015 recipients were the Okaloosa Continuum of Care, Family Life Ministries and Shelter House. Awareness of the accomplishments of the women of Okaloosa County has risen significantly as a result of OCCSW efforts, which were recognized by the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce when it became the Commission’s first Gold Sponsor. The Chamber also volunteered to host an annual “networking” luncheon for Hall of Fame members. More details about the honorees, the events and our sponsors can be viewed at our website www.occsw.org. The OCCSW also maintains a roster of members who are available to speak to clubs and/or organizations concerning the status of women and their needs in Okaloosa County, as well as other topics of interest to all county residents. 2015 Highlights  OCCSW celebrated its 21th anniversary.  County Commissioner Kelly Windes installed new officers in January 2015: Amy McBride, chair; Dawn Johnson, vice chair; Mary Florence, Treasurer; Tammy Magee, secretary; and Jeanne Rief, historian.  We began the year with $2606.26 and ended in December with a balance of $  One member represented OCCSW at the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame induction.  In recognition of Women’s History Month, we asked the Board of County Commissioners and each city in the county to sign a Proclamation to proclaim the Month of March as Women’s History Month, and we partnered with NWFSC for its 2015 Women’s History Month program featuring women in the military. The panel discussion of prominent women from all the branches of the military both active duty and retired.  We presented our 2014 Annual Report to the County Commissioners in April 2015.  We presented our second $1,000 scholarship to NWFSC Foundation in July 2015.  Mary Burnette, a member of the OCSW Women’s Hall of Fame, was shortlisted again for the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame. Although not selected for induction for 2015.  The Nominating Committee presented a slate of incoming officers for 2016: Dawn Johnson, chair; Mary Florence, vice chair; Amy McBride, secretary; Esther Hemphill, treasurer; and Jeanne Rief, historian. (They were installed in January 2016.)  The Fiscal Examination Committee examined the OCCSW account records to ensure funds were balanced, and the books were turned over to the incoming treasurer.  The OCCSW membership collectively logged thousands of volunteer hours during 2015. So you see we had a very full and fun year. We are hopeful, with the support of the community and the Board of County Commissioners, that we can further our efforts to recognize the many women who have made – and continue to make – Okaloosa the great County it is today and to assist women to improve their status. Dawn Johnson OCCSW Chair