Commissioner Thelma V. Crump and FCSW staff member Michele Manning represented the Florida Commission on the Status of Women (FCSW) at the National Association of Commissions for Women (NACW) during its 38th Annual Convention held July 11-14, 2007 at the historic Camberly Brown Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky. Hosted by the Kentucky Commission for Women and the Kentucky Commission for Women Foundation, Inc., the convention theme was “Major Issues, Special Exhibits, Exceptional Women.”

Several sessions to conduct the business of the association were combined with informative workshops on commission operations to provide valuable skill-building for those working on women’s commissions. Keynote speakers included Shinae Chun, Director of the U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau; the Honorable Betty Ireland, Secretary of State for West Virginia; and Patricia J. Cooksey, former race horse jockey and Deputy Executive Director, Kentucky Horse Racing Authority. A presentation on NACW’s national project, Healthy Bones, was given with speakers Toby Keith and Dr. Kim Templeton of the U.S. Bone and Joint Decade.

The FCSW participated in the NACW’s premier project, “Healthy Bones,” an education toolkit on osteoporosis. Throughout the year, the FCSW promoted the project through various activities, including free screenings on osteoporosis at the Capitol. During the NACW conference, the Commission received a platinum award for its efforts. Through the efforts of commissions across the country, 43,000 women were screened and received vital information on osteoporosis.

According to the organization, the NACW is the only professional organization for those working with commissions for Women. NACW is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) membership organization composed of regional, state, county and local commissions created by government to improve the status of women, as well as individual and affiliate members who believe in the work of women’s commissions across the country. NACW is committed to equality and justice for women by increasing the effectiveness of member commissions and serving as their national voice. For more information about the NACW, visit their web site at www.nacw.org.

At the end of the convention, FCSW Commissioner Crump said, “The annual NACW convention is an ideal opportunity to gather with colleagues and peers across the country who are working on the issues that impact women. We’re able to establish and strengthen our coalitions, expand knowledge on commission operations, network with other professionals who accomplish the same work we do.”