FCSW Connections
Message from the Chair, Yvonne Fry
War m greet ings from the members of the Florida Commission on the Status of Women! We have been busy with many initiatives to recognize and empower women in our state and  are pleased to bring you our quarterly newsletter to share updates on our work and how you may get involved.

The Florida Commission on the Status of Women congratulates the winners of our recent Florida Achievement Awards which celebrates the generosity of the gift of time and talent around our state. The impact of service in our communities transforms lives and culture and we know you will enjoy the profiles of this year's winners and the volunteer work they do. Thanks to Commissioner Genean Hawkins MacKinnon who chaired this memorable event at the Alfond Inn in Winter Park and connected us to many civic and government leaders from that area to share in our recognition of these deserving women. Of special note is that there is an under 25 category which you will really enjoy learning about how young women are stepping up to change the world!

Meanwhile, the list of the ten finalists has been sent to the Governor for selection of the 2016 inductees into the prestigious Florida Women's Hall of Fame. We will receive the list of three winners soon and invite you to join us for this event at its new location on the 22 nd floor of the Capitol on Wednesday, January 27 th, 2015 at 5:30 PM. A reception with lawmakers and the cabinet will immediately follow.

Commissions for Women Statewide Conference Call
Join Commissions from Across Florida on October 20, 2015 
by Commissioner Chloe Gentry
  
Please mark your calendar and plan to join us on our next Statewide Commission Conference Call on Tuesday, October 20, at 10:30 AM. This is a great opportunity for sharing the best practices of Commissions from across the state as well as to seek solutions to challenges.

The Public Outreach Committee is proud to offer this networking opportunity for Commissions across Florida.

Learn More
2016 Florida Women's Day at the Capitol
2016 Event to be Held at Florida Capitol
 by Commissioner Deborah Cox-Roush
Early registration is now open for the 3rd Annual Florida Women's Day at the Capitol. Join the Florida Commission on the Status of Women and our partners from across Florida for a day dedicated to informing and motivating women to engage in the legislative process. Attendees will gain a better understanding of the process and the tools needed to be leaders on policy changes impacting women.
Women's Day offers legislative insight, meetings with lawmakers, and expert training on the legislative process. January 28, 2016, will be a day filled with networking and learning about issues and policies that enhance and enrich the lives of women and families.

Learn More Here

Florida Women's Hall of Fame Introduces Essay Contest
 
Induction Ceremony to be held Wednesday, January 27, 2016 at 5:30 PM
by Commissioner Elena Guardiola Spottswood
 
 
   
 The Florida Women's Hall of Fame is a central part of our mission to recognize women's accomplishments in Florida. Each year we induct up to three women as part of this memorable event, created by Florida Statute to honor women who, through their lives and efforts, have made significant contributions to the improvement of life for women and for all citizens of Florida. These names are permanently displayed in the state Capitol. In 2015, he had the honor of inducting Mary Lee Nunnally Farrior of Tampa, Evelyn C. Keiser of Ft. Lauderdale, and Charlotte E. Maguire, M.D., formerly of Tallahassee.  
 
The Women's Hall of Fame Committee worked very hard during the summer, and is happy to have already selected our top ten finalists:
  • Mary Lou Baker formerly of Clearwater
  • Carol Jenkins Barnett of Lakeland
  • Dr. Judith Ann Bense of Pensacola
  • Jeanne Bochette of Ft. Myers
  • Lauren Book, M.S. Ed, of Aventura
  • Helen Aguirre Ferré of Miami Shores
  • Clara Floyd Gehan formerly of Gainesville
  • Pam Iorio of Tampa
  • Elmira Leto of Key West
  • Frances "Dolly" MacIntyre of Coral Gables. 
Women's Leadership Spotlight
 
Dr. Deborah E. Lippi, Ph.D., Certified Life Coach
by Commissioner Elena Guardiola Spottswood
The Florida Commission on the Status of Women is dedicated to empowering women and recognizing women's accomplishments. In keeping with this mission, the Commission is pleased to recognize Florida's women leaders through our spotlight articles.

In each newsletter, we will highlight women who impact our state. We will ask them a variety of questions about their backgrounds and experiences that will help inspire women throughout Florida to seek leadership roles. In this issue, we present Dr. Deborah E. Lippi, Ph.D. 


Deborah is a creative designer and social entrepreneur. She has a BA in Education from
Rowan University, an MSW in Social Work from Rutgers University and a Ph.D. in Psychology from Temple University.

Focus on Women's Health
Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Vital for Women
by Commissioner Wenda A. Lewis

One of the primary goals of The Florida Commission on the Status of Women is to raise awareness of women's health issues. State statistics show that Florida men and women share four of the top five causes of death: Coronary heart disease, lung disease, lung cancer, and stroke. The one exception for women, at number five, is Alzheimer's , which is not even in the top ten of men's cause of death.
 
In spite of Florida's older population, Alzheimer's is also the number five cause of death for women at the national level. Eventually, 17% of all women will acquire Alzheimer's; meaning one in six women in America will eventually die of Alzheimer's or complications arising from Alzheimer's. This is a troubling statistic considering Alzheimer's is considered an incurable disease. Comparatively, breast cancer, an increasingly survivable disease, affects about half as many women, or about one in eleven.
 
Hillsborough County Seeks Community Solutions
We hope you have enjoyed this edition of FCSW Connections, the e-newsletter of the Florida Commission on the Status of Women. We sincerely hope that you find this publication a useful and informative resource. Please share with us your thoughts and suggestions by e-mailing us at  [email protected] .

Sincerely,

Florida Commission on the Status of Women
  
Florida Commission on the
Status of Women
850-414-3300
 
http://www.fcsw.net