NOTE: The Council of Lafayette Women evolved from an original group called Women in Leadership at Lafayette which was founded in 1999. That group sponsored a symposium in 2000 and 2001. Since that time the group has been redefined and reintroduced as Council of Lafayette Women. The new organization will continue to hold symposiums.

U.S. Treasurer addresses first women's symposium


Amy Ahart '97 (L-R), Robin Wiessman '75 and daughter Karle Wiessman Jarin, Barbara Rothkopf, U.S. Treasurer Mary Ellen Withrow, and Cara Beth Mohlmann '98.

More than 100 women attended the millennium symposium hosted by Women in Leadership at Lafayette in April 2000. Topics ranged from leadership to finances, covering a wide variety of issues facing women and modern society.

Treasurer Mary Ellen Withrow spoke on leadership and emphasized the importance of following your dreams. She also discussed the new Sacajawea dollar coin and two new bills-$5 and $10-which will be the last currency changes in this generation.

Other keynote speakers included Neale Godfrey, author of several best-selling books on family and children's finances and owner of Children's Financial Network, and Frances Hesselbein, chairman of the board of governors of the Peter F. Drucker Foundation for Nonprofit Management and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award for her leadership as CEO of Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. from 1976-90.

"This was an early idea of WLL members, and to have us all come together is wonderful," says Virginia Rockafellow '81, a WLL board member. "Everyone has an opportunity to mingle with women from different classes and women who are doing different things."

"Neale Godfrey was excellent. As a woman, you need to be aware and in control of your finances, something that was traditionally a male role," says Kristine Demareski '89. "The symposium is an opportunity to network, it's a chance to find a role model and to celebrate leadership."

Fourteen alumnae led panels and workshops during the event.

The new A. P. Kirby Sports Center and athletics also fueled the ideals of these women. "This is a great chance to see women doing all sorts of things," says Leslie George '77, "and I wish my daughter could see the women involved in athletics here at Lafayette, like the woman who led our session [Jodie Frey, director of recreation services]."

 

More than 100 attend women's symposium


President Arthur J. Rothkopf '55 (L-R), Barbara Rothkopf, Academy Award winner Ann Roth and Robin Wiessmann '75.

The second annual Women in Leadership at Lafayette Symposium "Life Choices: We Applaud Them All," was attended by more than 100 alumnae, students, parents, and friends in April 2001. Academy Award winner Ann Roth (center), who gave a keynote address on her life as a costume designer, was presented with a crystal bowl. She is congratulated by President Arthur J. Rothkopf '55 (L-R), Barbara Rothkopf, and Robin Wiessmann '75, WLL chair.

Roth won the Academy Award for best costume design for The English Patient. The workshop also featured an address by Bernice Kanner, marketing expert and correspondent for Bloomberg L.P., and panel discussions on women and volunteering, business, medicine, arts and entertainment.



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