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Health & Fitness

Montgomery County Commission for Women Legislative Briefing 2014 last Sunday

The Montgomery County Commission for Women's Legislative Briefing 2014 was held Sunday January 26th in The Universities at Shady Grove Rockville.

Led by new Commission President Chandra Walker Holloway and set into motion by Planning Committee Chair, Debra Bight Harris, the program began with its Networking Session early for leaders of the co-sponsoring organizations. Keynote speaker and author, Joanne Bamberger, led an enlightening discussion about blogging and blogs she had published in her latest book, Mothers of Intention.  President Holloway gave testimony to the influence Bamberger's work had had on her and Commission's Book Club read, especially on the sections about Sarah Palin, her experiences in family and political life. It was refreshing to hear young professional women shaking off the traditional media mantra of late. In the hallways cosponsoring organizations manned tables, the usual you would expect, Montgomery County political parties, but also a surprisingly large representation of alum sororities and chapters.
The main general assembly was made up of a group of about 500 women, a handful of men. On stage with President Holloway and Chair Harris was a woman representing Kaiser (a gold sponsor), a man representing AARP (a silver Sponsor), Jolene Ivey who is running for Lt. Governor with Doug Gansler (but on stage representing PGCounty Executive Rushern Baker), only one female legislator, Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD4), and a stream of male legislators including Montgomery County Executive Isaiah Leggett (D), Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD8), Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD3), Rep. John Delaney (D-MD6) and US Sen.
Ben Cardin (D-MD), notably all Democrats. Executive Leggett brought and introduced his wife and daughter, Sen. Cardin, as he explained, was very excited to be in this energetic group, Rep. Van Hollen promoted Obamacare, Rep. Delaney spoke of the importance of this Commission as he has 4 daughters and then drummed up a cheer by saying "we need a female president and we know who that is" (first thought: Sarah Palin, probably was not his). Rep. Sarbanes was glad to be there and Rep. Edwards smiled, laughed, then spoke a bit, as did the sponsors.
Montgomery County has a good future with these young professional women in charge of, and active in, the Commission.  And maybe next year the co-sponsoring organizations will draw from a wider, less political tilt, the speakers from all quarters of the political spectrum and level. These "low" level commissions have a heavy responsibility keeping our elected officials up to date and as well as providing constituencies another avenue to voice input.

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