Women are able to
ward change come naturally
to women. These include the
effect a difference in
locAl leAders
ability to manage resources,
how events unfold
resolve conflicts, work col-
experiences and ideas
when they comprise
laboratively, ask questions,
about women as leaders
listen and learn from the
30 percent of any experience of others, and “A true leader is one who knows that the only way to
organization—that’s
act with compassion for
lead is by example. Leaders are change agents who
the benefit of all, including
deal with people and strive to make a difference in
the tipping point.
their community. Women leaders recognize that in
generations to come.
order to secure peace, we need a collective vision
In the eyes of Linda Tarr- and leaders willing to work together to navigate the
Whelan, author of Women Lead the Way: Your Guide to Step-
future.” diana christen, executive director family
ping Up to Leadership and Changing the World, women like
life center, domestic/sexual violence center and
shelter, Bunnell. 386-437-7610, flcsafeHouse.org.
those in Mothers Acting Up, who organize on the grassroots
level in their communities and beyond, are change agents for
a better future. She points to research conducted by Rutgers
Women make effective leaders in the public sector
where there are many competing interests and diver-
University’s Center for American Women and Politics, which
gent opinions on both what should be accomplished
demonstrates the benefits of empowering women in leader-
and how it should be done. A determined woman can
ship capacities.
find a peaceable solution to the most controversial and
divisive of issues. Listening, teamwork and a willing-
“Women make a decided difference when they come
ness and ability to address the sticky details that
to constitute 30 percent of a board of directors, executive threaten accomplishment are characteristics women
management, political body or any organization,” notes Tarr-
possess in great abundance. dale Arrington, Assistant
Whelan, a former ambassador and U.S. representative to the
city manager, deland. 386-626-7024.
United Nations’ Commission on the Status of Women during
the Clinton administration. “Only then
As past president of the Port Orange South Daytona
does the dialogue change; only then do
Chamber my platform for the year was “Get Involved,
Make a difference”. A leader takes the initiative and
women’s voices get heard and their ideas
sees what could be, surrounds themselves with posi-
acted upon. Until we reach this tipping tive people, grows from experiences and tries to make
point, all of us have good reason to be
a difference everyday. robin lasky, riverside Bank
concerned about the missing priorities,
Branch manager, Port orange.
robin.lasky@riversidenb.com, 386-527-4668.
qualities, talents and experience that
Linda Tarr-Whelan
women can contribute.”
Accomplishments Despite Uneven Odds
47th in the world to 71st, behind Iraq (33rd), the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea (57th) and Sudan (65th). Rwanda
Examples abound of what women’s representation in elected
recently made global history when it became the first nation
office can achieve. In the United States, women-friendly
electing more women than men to parliament.
policies have been written into national legislation ever since
The staff and board of directors of Green America
they began winning congressional seats, tackling such issues
(formerly Co-Op America), a nonprofit organization deploy-
as violence against women, child support, welfare, equal
ing the power of the marketplace to solve social and envi-
wages and unemployment benefits.
ronmental problems, is now beyond the 30 percent tipping
Yet, today, women account for only 17 percent of Con- point. Women comprise 70 percent of its board of directors.
gress’ 535 seats. During the last decade, our country has lost Executive Director Alisa Gravitz has been nurturing her
ground in women’s political representation, plummeting from activism and leadership talents since collaborating with her
May 2009 21
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