Womentum offers events and educational opportunities for the general public to increase knowledge and awareness of today’s women’s issues.
On Thursday, November 10 2011, Womentum a project of The Equipoise Fund attracted nearly 140 men and women to the Rendezvous Bistro for lunch and a panel of women in political leadership. The five panelists, Rep. Ruth Ann Petroff, Rep. Sue Wallis, Faith Winter, Leslie Petersen and Liz Brimmer shared their experience and perspective in hopes they might inspire more women to enter the political pipeline.
“Women in Wyoming have a better than average winning percentage when they run,” said Rep. Ruth Ann Petroff of Jackson, who pointed out that many women don’t decide to run until someone asks them to. Panelist Faith Winter, Westminster Colorado City Councilwoman and former National Field Director for The White House Project, shared how a female Senator asked her to run when she was just 24 years old. Three years later, Winter was the youngest woman ever elected in the state of Colorado, and she has since used her elected position to change the system.
Rep. Sue Wallis of Recluse encouraged attendees to look for the opportunity and “do what you can where you are.” Wallis also spoke of growing up with a father who served for 18 years in the Wyoming Legislature, and her advocacy for wild horses in the West that was an offshoot of her elected position. Wilson resident Leslie Petersen spoke of advocating for various issues as a citizen lobbyist and of working in state government before she decided she could be more effective on the decision making side of the table. Petersen’s first campaign was for Wyoming Secretary of State in 1982, she has served as Teton County Commissioner and chair of the Wyoming Democratic party, and her most recent campaign was for Governor in 2010.
The only panelist not in an elected position, Liz Brimmer was former U.S. Senator Craig Thomas’ chief of staff in the 1990’s and currently offers perception management and outcome strategies through her statewide firm Brimmer Communications. Brimmer encouraged attendees to express themselves, whether by running for office, applying for a state or local appointed board or forming a political action committee. “You are already involved,” she said, “by being in this room, and by hopefully voting in every election.”
In closing, Cowboy Poet Rod McQueary, husband to Rep. Sue Wallis, performed the 1915 Robert Frost poem “The Road Not Taken;”
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Womentum would like to thank our generous 2011 Women in Leadership Luncheon sponsors: First Interstate Bank, Brimmer Communications, The Equipoise Fund, The Wort Hotel, Town Square Inns, Wells Fargo Bank, Blue Spruce Cleaners, High Country Linen, J. Singleton Financial, Jackson Hole Title & Escrow and Jackson Whole Grocer.
Past Events
During Women’s History Month 2005 and 2006, Womentum hosted Lunafest in downtown Jackson, a film festival by, for and about women. In March 2007, Womentum hosted a sell-out Women in Leadership Luncheon luncheon and panel discussion in Jackson, featuring Marie C. Wilson, who has been a leading advocate for women’s issues for the past 30 years. Womentum partnered with The Nature Conservancy in May 2008 to host the inaugural Women’s Conference on Sustainability, which began a dialog among women who are working toward environmental sustainability through the arts, science, conservation, faith, communications and politics. Womentum’s 2009 Women in Leadership Luncheon featured Jennifer Lowe-Anker, a world traveler, author, artist, mother and president of the Alex Lowe Charitable Foundation. Cindy McLaughlin, CEO of Style for Hire, spoke to a sold-out crowd about her experience as an entrepreneur in 2010.