Well, they're not as common as they used to be, thank goodness. This month's WCW is a classic case of the “first woman to...” and we haven't had one of those in a long time. Mary Dougherty-Slapp is the first female ever to run the Gulf Coast Builder's Exchange. Visit their web site, peruse the membership and the board of directors, and yep, she's the only female in this very traditionally male field.
While breaking that barrier may not be the daunting task it used to be, running an organization in the construction field in this economy certainly is. Find out how she gets her job done in this month's WCW.
The images of Mary, by the way, were shot at the new Riverview High School.
► MCC to SCF
It might take a while — well, maybe not — to get around the new acronym for the school that was once MCC. MCC is now State College of Florida and the name change goes hand in hand with the College's ambitious plans for its future including four-year degrees. SCF isn't the only area school growing and changing. Check out the Education News column as well as the many ads and advertorials in this issue, and you'll see we have a community with dynamic education opportunities for students of all ages and interest levels.
► Last call for tickets
The Sarasota and Manatee Commissions on the Status of Women and the Sarasota and Manatee Leagues of Women Voters had scored quite a coup by getting candidate for governor and current Florida CFO Alex Sink to speak at their August 22 luncheon. Only problem is that Sink has had to cancel. The new speaker will be Doris Weatherford, author, historian and Vice President of the National Women's History Museum. She is also the author of A Writer's Journey through Women's History.
The luncheon celebrates the 89th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution granting women the right to vote. It will be on Saturday, August 22 at the Sarasota Hyatt.
Doors open at 11 and you can enjoy some exhibits before the event begins at noon. Tickets are $30 and info can be found here.
We'll have our Women's Health Expo again in October at Doctors Hospital. More details will follow next month. If you want to attend, sign up for our e-newsletter. That will give you advance registration before everyone else. Send us an email at wcwnewspaper@aol.com or visit our site, westcoastwoman.com, and sign up there.
► This month check this out...
Local business TechHouse is having its second annual Food Drive: Summer Harvest 2009. With the prolonged economic downturn, agencies are in need of food, more now than ever. The ripple effect of this financial distress has resulted in foreclosures and, an increased amount of surrendered pets. With that in mind, TechHouse has extended its Summer Harvest drive to include pet food for area rescue groups.
The food drive runs to August 31. Drop off boxes will be located throughout the Sarasota and Bradenton area with all donations benefiting The Food Bank of Manatee, Our Daily Bread and Sarasota All Faith's Food Bank. The rescue groups include SPCA's Honor Sanctuary, Greyhound Rescue, Manatee and Sarasota Humane Society. Last year the drive generated over 2,500 lbs of food for local food banks.
Due to difficult economic times, more and more families in the Manatee/Sarasota area are suffering from hunger:
Statistically, of children under six in female-headed families, 58% are poor.
38% of the people food banks serve are children. Hungry children do not do as well in school as those that are well fed.
16% of the people food banks serve are the elderly, often having to choose between buying medicine or food.
If your business would like to get involved, TechHouse will add your offices as a drop off location and pick up donations for delivery to the food bank every Friday.
TechHouse is offering software that can be used if companies would like to have their own incentive programs. If interested in participating, contact Anne Marie at TechHouse at 941-224-5740.
Donations accepted: nonperishable food items, dog and cat food along with cat litter, money ($100 can feed up to 173 people), and nonperishable toiletry items.
