As many subscribers to this list may know, in 2010 the Virginia General Assembly created a commission to honor the contributions of Virginia women by planning and erecting a monument in Capitol Square. As part of the planning process, the commission is holding several community conversations this month across the state to seek input and ideas from the public. The schedule of these meetings is included in the press release (below) issued by the Governor's Office. Please consider attending one of these meetings and participating in the conversations. If you are not able to participate in person, the commission has also provided alternate ways for you to share your thoughts about how best to recognize women's contributions to Virginia history: Email: [log in to unmask] <blocked::mailto:[log in to unmask]> Mail: Virginia Women's Commission; Post Office Box 396; Richmond, VA 23218 Phone: (804) 786-1201 All thoughts, ideas, and suggestions are most welcome. ____________________ Sandra Gioia Treadway Librarian of Virginia/State Archivist Library of Virginia 800 East Broad Street Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000 (804) 692-3535 [log in to unmask] Commission to Honor Contributions of the Women of Virginia Announces Public Forum Schedule ~9 "Community Conversations" to be held throughout Virginia~ RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell, chairman of the Commemorative Commission to Honor the Contributions of the Women of Virginia <http://dela.state.va.us/Dela/ComOpsStudy.nsf/f7d0d3fefc1bdfde85256c3300 57350e/04a17fe568a800f08525784e00591138?OpenDocument> , along with other commission members and legislative leaders House Speaker William J. Howell and State Senator Mary Margaret Whipple, today announced that the Commission would hold a series of nine forums or "community conversations" across the Commonwealth during the month of October to gather ideas and broad public input on an appropriate monument in Virginia's Capitol Square in Richmond to commemorate the contributions of the women of Virginia. These public forums are an outgrowth from Senate Joint Resolution 11 <http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?ses=101&typ=bil&val=sj11> , which the Virginia General Assembly unanimously passed in 2010. Speaking about the monument, Governor McDonnell remarked, "The uplifting and powerful stories of the women of Virginia are overdue for telling and underappreciated to this day. This monument will ensure that visitors to our State Capitol will have the opportunity to learn about and celebrate great Virginia women. It will also further enhance the beauty and charm of historic Capitol Square. I encourage all Virginians to be a part of telling this pivotal part of our shared history." "Virginia's history is storied and includes many significant accomplishments and contributions by women, which have strengthened our communities and improved our Commonwealth's terrific quality of life," said Speaker Howell. "How best to appropriately recognize these achievements is an important conversation to have and I hope and encourage all Virginians to participate in the forums." "The ideals, vision and spirit of sacrifice of Virginia women can and do serve as an inspiration to all Virginians," added Senator Whipple. "It is therefore more than fitting to recognize and honor the contributions of Virginia's women with the placement of a permanent monument on the grounds of Capitol Square. We welcome the public's input in making the best decision possible." The schedule of the nine "community conversations" to which everyone is invited follows: October 12 - Southside Virginia 7:00 PM at Danville Community College - Regional Center for Advanced Technology & Training Auditorium 121 Slayton Avenue, Danville, Virginia 24540 October 17 - Hampton Roads 2:00 PM at Christopher Newport University Freeman Center, Room 202, University Place, Newport News, Virginia 23606 October 17 - Hampton Roads 7:00 PM at Norfolk City Hall 810 Union Street Norfolk, Virginia 23510 October 19 - Southwest Virginia 7:00 PM at Radford University Heth Hall 801 East Main Street, Radford, Virginia 24142 October 20 - Central Virginia2:00 PM at University of Richmond Tyler Haynes Commons, Room 305 28 Westhampton Way, Richmond, Virginia 23173 October 20 - Central Virginia 7:00 PM at Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Lecture Hall 200 North Boulevard, Richmond, Virginia 23229 October 24 - Valley / Western Virginia 7:00 PM at James Madison University Festival Board Room 1301 Carrier Drive, Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807 October 26 - Northern Virginia 2:00 PM at Fairfax County Government Center Conference Rooms 9 or 10 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, Virginia 22035 7:00 PM at Fairfax County Government Center Conference Rooms 9 or 10 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, Virginia 22035 "Before moving forward with plans to honor and commemorate the diversity and remarkable achievements of Virginia women with a monument on Capitol Square, the Commission recognized the value of gathering the ideas and recommendations of all Virginians," said Governor McDonnell's Secretary of Administration Lisa Hicks-Thomas. "This special project will serve as an enduring monument to the contributions of all women throughout our Commonwealth's 400 year history, and we want to ensure that the views of all Virginians are heard and reflected in the final design." The Commemorative Commission to Honor the Contributions of the Women of Virginia is charged with erecting a monument on the grounds of Capitol Square in Richmond. In addition to Governor McDonnell, Speaker Howell and Senator Whipple, other Commission members are Delegate James P. Massie, III; Senator Jill Holtzman Vogel, eight non-legislative citizen members - Em Bowles Locker Alsop, Mary Abel-Smith, Kitty Claiborne, Carol Price, Mary Blanton Easterly, Jacqueline Cook Hedblom and Rita D. McClenny; Secretary of Administration, Lisa M. Hicks-Thomas; Librarian of Virginia, Sandra G. Treadway; Executive Director of the Capitol Square Preservation Council, James E. Wotton; Executive Director of the Virginia Capitol Foundation, Alice Lynch, Clerk of the Senate of Virginia, Susan Schaar; and G. Paul Nardo, Clerk of the Virginia House of Delegates. The Commission's work is privately funded. Information about how to participate in the "community conversations" follows: The ideas and opinions of the citizens of the Commonwealth are important. Respecting everyone's schedules, the time allotted for these forums will be no more than two and one-half hours. These constraints could limit the time that each speaker is granted, in order to enable as many speakers as possible to speak. The person facilitating the conversations will determine what time limits, if any, are necessary and will announce any guidelines at the beginning of the forum. * Notice of the nine "community conversations" also is listed on the Internet website of the Virginia General Assembly. To access the meeting schedule, please click on "meetings" at http://leg1.state.va.us <http://leg1.state.va.us/> * Special Assistance: For interpreter services or other accommodations telephone (804) 698-7450 or (804) 698-1540, TDD number 1-866-267-1474 or (804) 786-2369. Written requests may be made to Lori Roper or Angi Murphy, 910 Capitol Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219. Requests for interpreters should be received seven days prior to the meeting. * Contact Information These additional means of allowing public participation will accommodate those who cannot attend one of the public forums or who prefer another method of sharing their thoughts: Email: [log in to unmask] Mail: Virginia Women's Commission; Post Office Box 396; Richmond, VA 23218 Phone: (804) 786-1201 ______________________________________ To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html