15th annual Torch Dinner is Wednesday

   Every year it competes for the distinction of most heavily attended political event of the year in Kansas City.

   With nearly 1,000 reservations, this year's event will be no different.

   It's the 15th annual Torch Dinner of the Greater Kansas City Women's Political Caucus. This year's mistress of ceremonies: former Kansas City, Kan., Mayor Carol Marinovich.

   Others to be honored include Missouri 5th District Congressman Emanuel Cleaver and Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes.

   The caucus seeks to elect candidates who promote equal opportunities for women. For tickets, call Tamara Morris at (816) 531.9595.

Posted by Steve Kraske

Comments

[No Torch, Just a Creepy Mural]

"The caucus seeks to elect candidates who promote equal opportunities for women."

Unfortunately, sometimes they also elect candidates who just promote opportunities for woman (one woman, that is). Guess that's why Kathryn Shields name isn't on the honoree list for the Torch dinner? Shes worn out her welcome. Though Kate will probably say its because of sexism, or racism, or some other "ism". Always somebody else's fault.

[Beth Gottstein]

Thanks for the plug, Steve.

This Wednesday evening, emceed by Mayor Carol Marinovich, with nearly 1,000 in attendance, the Women’s Political Caucus will recognize:

Pillar Award – The Hon. Kay Barnes;
Torch Award – Jill Jolicoeur;
Good Guy Award – The Hon. Emanuel Cleaver, II;
Community Service Award – Jan Marcason;
Guardian of the Flame Award – Marilyn Shapiro.

It takes a special corps and many months of dedicated effort to bring off this event. Billie Allen, Rose Bell, Elizabeth Bland, Kathy Bromfield Emke, Jennifer Dameron, Fran Farah, Jacquee Gafford, Kendra Gagnon, Serena Hein, Susan Hilt, Lisa Honn, Mary Jacobi, Jill Jolicoeur, Jessica Mattingly, Anne McGregor, Marva Miller, Teresa Mills, Mary Ellen Ponder, Sandra Price, Meaghan Schaible, Susan Schmelzer, Alexis Stevens, Carrie Vanderford, Shirley Wagner, Lindsey Walker, Colleen White, and Barbara Womack comprise the very exceptional 2006 Torch Committee.

These women are rockstars; jewels for the WPC and our community. They welcomed each new Torch responsibility, refusing to quit before the job was done, and done well. They happily explored all new endeavors, with humor and grace. And, each woman brought her own unique perspective, skill and voice. I will never be able to adequately thank or recognize them; but perhaps a blog posting is a good start.

There are so many others to thank: our Wednesday night volunteers, our silent and live auction donors, our in-kind contributors, our individual ticket holders and table hosts, and our sponsors, underwriters and our benefactors. Your kindness not only makes this our most successful dinner to date, but enhances how we can prepare women for office, get out the vote, and impact legislation.

I attended the first Torch dinner. Thirty of us gathered in the All Souls Church basement for a potluck. It’s humbling to see the dinner grow in popularity and attendance, reflecting the emergence of the WPC’s voice in our community. Once again, I am deeply grateful to everyone who has stepped up to the plate to support and joins us to celebrate on Wednesday.

Remember, when women work, women win.

Just watch us in November.

Beth Gottstein
2006 Torch Committee Chair