Who We Are: Network of WiLL Trailblazers
July
2006
Rose
H. Arthur |
Jeannette Bell
| Laura Boyd,
PhD | Pan Godchaux | Hon.
Bettieanne Childers Hart
| Barbara
Hildt
| Val Ogden | Dorothy Rupert
Rose
H. Arthur
rarthur@rivier.edu
State: New
Hampshire
Current profession: Director of Rivier Institute for Senior Education
Education: BA,
MA, Ph.D.
Other professional experience: 25 years in elementary education as teacher and principal,
25 years in higher education as faculty and Dean
Former office: NH
House of Representatives, two years
District description: Urban, middle-class, high-tech, 26,000 population
Committees:
Transportation Committee
Most important issues: Education, Senior needs
Other hobbies: Senior
education/life-long learning, Healthcare
Most important lesson from the legislature: “I
learned how hard one must work to get citizens to
be concerned about issues that affect them, directly.”
Most memorable experience in the legislature: “Presenting
to the whole legislature (400 of us state representatives)
and having some leave.”
Advice to current legislators: “Be
assertive. You are as bright and skilled as the guys
and you are even more persistent!”
Most interested in helping: Encouraging women to run for office and serving as a
resource for women candidates
 |
Jeannette Bell
s241@execpc.com
State:
Wisconsin
Current
profession: Mayor, West Allis
Other
professional experience:
Community Volunteer, Homemaker
|
Former
office: State Assembly 13.5 years, resigned
to take office as Mayor
District
description: Urban, Older industrial but now reinventing
itself through redevelopment
Committees: Environmental, Joint Finance
and Ways and Means.
Most
important issues: Children
and family issues, environmental, taxation and other
financial issues
Most
important lesson from the legislature: “You don’t always get your way, the importance of compromise and respect
for others even if you disagree.”
Most
memorable experience in the legislature: “Passing an acid rain bill, and promoting breast feeding
by legislation that made breast feeding not lewd and
lascivious behavior… too many to list!”
Advice
to current legislators: “Don’t
give up and always take the high road.”
Most
interested in helping: Mentoring
current legislators, encouraging women to run for
office, and serving as a resource for women candidates.
 |
Laura
Boyd, PhD
lboyd5@cox.net
State:
Oklahoma
Current
Profession:
WiLL National Field Director; VP
of Business Development for a set of eight companies
under Bridgeport Holdings, LLC |
Education:
BA, MS, and Ph.D. in Psychology
Other
Professional Experience: High school and higher education teacher (undergraduate
and graduate); clinician/therapist/supervisor; owned
and directed treatment and training clinic; public
speaker
Former
office: OK
House of Representatives, six years
District
description: Suburban, 100,000 population, university town, many commuters
Committees:
Appropriations and Budget, Common Education,
Higher Education, Mental Health, Economic Development,
Criminal Justice, Community and Family Responsibilities,
Children and Families
Most
important issues: Education – reform and funding,
community sentencing, drug courts, alternative sentencing,
women and small business
Most
important lesson in the legislature: “Politics impacts everything”
Most
memorable experience in the legislature: “Leading our state in major reform of
child abuse and domestic violence:
laws, penalties, prevention, agency response
and accountability, judicial training
Advice
for women currently in office: “Women offer
unique perspectives and ‘work ethic.’
We need to bolster, encourage, coach, network
each other. Choose your battles wisely; then never give
up.”
Current
Profession: Political
Consultant
Education:
BA, American Government, American University,
DC, MAT Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
Other
Professional Experience: Peace Corps Volunteer, Print and Broadcast
Journalist, Parent, Community Volunteer, School Board
Member, Elementary School Teacher
Former
office: MI
House of Representatives, six years
District
description: Suburban in large metro area/ highest income district in the state
Committees:
Chair of Education, Judicial and Regulatory
Committees
Most
important issues: Education, Local Government, Non-violence and Peace
Other
hobbies: Kayaking
Most
important lesson from the legislature: “It all works better if we respect each
other and work together, but most legislators do not
respect that concept.”
Most
memorable experience in the legislature: “This
is the kind of thing you do over a drink. There
are too many good stories!”
Advice
to current legislators: “Play the game but work to get done what you believe in.”
Current profession: Deputy District
Attorney, Atlanta Judicial Circuit
Education:
MSW, JD
Other professional experience: Community
Organizing Specialist; private attorney in general
practice; community and consumer advocate
Former
office: GA House of Representatives, 3 1/2
years
District
description: Mixed urban and rural district
in SE Georgia/ notable for farming, small business,
military base, and nuclear power plant
Committees:
Banks and Banking, VP Educational Technology Subcommittee,
Judiciary Committee (Criminal Law Subcommittee Chair)
Most
important issues: Education equity; criminal
justice reform; women's empowerment, child welfare
Most
important lesson learned from the legislature:
"I learned the power of certain special interests
groups and the importance of the budget as well as
the significance of collaborative efforts"
Most
memorable experience in the legislature:
"Women's legislative conference; lobbying on
Capitol Hill; constituent interaction and training
on current issues and future trends."
Most
interested in mentoring by: Sharing with
women legislators the importance of networking with
other elected officials and women business leaders
and sharing methods of impacting policy and effective
communication skills and tools
Current
Profession: Executive
Director of Youth Empowerment Services, Inc., a non-profit
organization
Education:
BA in Art Education, Massachusetts College
of Art
Other
Professional Experience: Art Teacher
Former
office: MA
House of Representatives, 1983-1993
District
description: three
small coastal towns (population: 6,000-17,000) 45 miles east of Boston
Committees:
Education, Human Services, Natural Resources
(Environment), and Ways and Means
Most
important issues: Children Services, Violence Prevention, Health
Most
important lesson from the legislature: “How public policy is made. Effective advocacy”
Most
interested in helping: Women considering a run for office or wanting to effect change.
Val
Ogden
State:
Washington
Current
Profession: Consultant/Trainer
and non-profit manager
Education:
BA in Sociology
Other
Professional Experience: Executive Director for Camp Fire, YWCA Community Education,
and other community activist groups
Former
Office: WA
House of Representatives, 12 years, Speaker Pro Tem
for 4 years
Committees:
Capital Budget, Transportation, Legislative
Review, and Rules
Most
important issues:
Education, women/children/family issues,
health care
Most
important lesson from the legislature: “You have to be sure that what you are
doing is good public policy and you need to work with
all of your colleagues if you want to be successful.”
Most
memorable experience in the legislature: Being sworn in as Speaker Pro Tem, the third
woman in the history of the state to be elected to
this position
Most
interested in helping: Women become effective legislators if they are having problems
and encouraging women to run for office.
Dorothy
Rupert
dorothyrupert@mac.com
State: Colorado
Current profession: University of Colorado Boulder Instructor
Education: MA,
Counseling and Psychology, University of Colorado
Other professional experience: Counselor in Boulder high schools, Director of Counseling
for Colorado
Former Office: CO
House of Representatives, 14 years, CO Senate five
years
District Description: Mostly urban, but also mountains and rural, usually votes more Democratic
and progressive
Committees:
Judiciary, Health, Welfare and Institutions, Education,
Finance, State Affairs committees, and many others
Most Important Issues: Access, children and women, the environment, health care,
prisons
Most
important lesson learned from the legislature: “I learned that we will not have a democracy if we do
not teach young people how to make their voices heard…and
then listen to them.”
Most memorable experience in the legislature: “Having many young interns with me every day, working
for kids, and passing legislation outlawing FGM [Female
Genital Mutilation].”
Advice to current legislators: “Never
give up. Listen to your inner wisdom; act on it.”
Most interested in helping: Start a STAND chapter in Colorado
