Summary

Recognizing and honoring women for their countless contributions to community, government and nation

Story

With a nod to the theme for this year’s celebration, the Metropolitan King County Council today declared the month of March Women’s History Month in King County and encouraged county residents to participate in events and learn more about the significant role women have played throughout our history.

The theme for the 2014 celebration, “Celebrating Women of Character, Courage, and Commitment” honors the extraordinary and often unrecognized determination and tenacity of women, recognizes the challenges women have overcome, honors their historic achievements, and encourages the celebration of women as role models for everyone.

“King County has been fortunate enough to cultivate many homegrown woman leaders,” said Council Vice Chair Jane Hague, co-sponsor. “Women’s History Month gives us an opportunity to recognize these leaders and explore how women have played a role in shaping our society.”

“I was proud to join Councilmember Jane Hague, in sponsoring this recognition,” said Councilmember Rod Dembowski, co-sponsor. “Women’s History Month reminds us of the decades long struggle for women’s equality in the workplace, and provides the perfect opportunity to address the continued inequity women face.  I am proud to provide some focus on these issues at tomorrow’s Transportation, Economy and Environment Committee meeting, where King County’s Executive Services staff will present the preliminary findings of a gender pay equity study they have conducted.”

“Women have made extraordinary contributions in shaping the rich history of King County,” said Council Chair Larry Phillips. “From Councilmember Bernice Stern as the first woman on the King County Council in 1969 to the many, many women in all sectors who came before and after, we recognize them and the lasting impacts they’ve made on our community.”

“In the last two decades, women’s roles have expanded with many more opportunities,” said Councilmember Kathy Lambert. “I was able to serve in the Washington State Legislature when it had more women serving than any other state in the country. Many changes and successful negotiations happened as the result of the collaborative decision making process our female legislators encouraged. On the King County Council, I am only the 11th woman to serve since 1970 when the current council was created. I’m proud to celebrate Women’s History Month and the many contributions made by women in all facets of King County.”

“Women’s History Month calls attention to the many contributions women have made in King County,” said Councilmember Reagan Dunn. “It is a privilege to honor the many accomplishments of women in our county and across this nation.”

Congress recognized “Women’s History Week” in 1981 to celebrate the significant role of women in American history and contemporary society. In 1987, Congress expanded “Women’s History Week” to “Women History Month.”

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, women of every race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic background continue to make historic contributions to the growth and strength of King County, Washington State, our nation, and the global community; and

WHEREAS, beginning with Councilmember Bernice Stern in 1969, the people of King County have wisely elected women to continuously represent them from the inception of the County Council, forty-five years ago; and

WHEREAS, women constitute a substantial and integral portion of the labor force, and make countless contributions to our entire community across every facet of life; and

WHEREAS, these contributions have been critical to the growth and development of our economy, our cultural and artistic achievements, our social advancement, and many other areas of accomplishment; and

WHEREAS, these contributions made by women continue to benefit everyone in our society; and

WHEREAS, 2014 marks the 166th anniversary of the historic 1848 Women's Rights Convention at Seneca Falls, N.Y., which helped ignite the woman’s suffrage movement and later efforts to obtain equal rights for all; and

WHEREAS, despite the innumerable contributions women have made and continue to make, there is much more that we can learn about the enormous impact women have had on our national history; and

WHEREAS, each year since 1987, March has been designated Women's History Month in our nation, and the President of the United States has proclaimed March to be National Women's History Month; and

WHEREAS, King County has observed March as Women’s History Month since 1998 and recognizes the many contributions women have made to the workforce, government, and community;

NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Metropolitan King County Council, proclaim March 2014 to be

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

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