Here is an excellent opportunity to step up to the leadership plate.  Boise School Board has a vacancy. Remember those steps Governor Roberts took?  This was one of those steps.  Now is your chance!

Story by The Idaho Statesman – The filing period is April 15 to May 15. and the Boise School District is seeking to fill the seat of Janet Orndorff, a trustee who died on March 28.

The board of trustees will appoint Orndorff’s replacement. That person will serve until the next board election in September 2014 when the trustee can run for a full six-year term.

Applicants must be 18 year old and a resident of the Boise School District. They cannot have interest — direct or indirect — in district contracts.

Applications must be returned in person to the clerk of the board by 4:30 p.m. May 15. The clerk’s office is at 8169 W. Victory Road.

Applicants will be given an opportunity to make a statement and stand for questions from the board at the trustees meeting at 6 p.m. June 10. The new member could be picked at that meeting.

Click here for full application.  Click here to the original posting of this vacancy announcement by The Idaho Statesman.

Photo & Story by Betsy Russell

More than 100 women gathered at Boise State University over the weekend for the third annual “Go Lead Idaho” conference, aimed at getting more women involved in leadership and civic participation in Idaho. “It’s amazing how easy it is to get elected,” longtime state Rep. Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, told the group to laughter. “I just knew that I was tired of working for someone that said he wasn’t going to work.” Bell advised the women, “Don’t say something you don’t mean. Plan on working.” And, she added, “Honor can always be with you.”

Reps. Kelley Packer, R-McCammon, and Holli High Woodings, D-Boise, joined Bell on that panel; other speakers included female corporate CEOs and law firm partners, a women’s leadership expert, and keynote speaker former Oregon Gov. Barbara Roberts, who pointed to the conference’s slogan, “You can’t be what you can’t see.” Growing up in a rural Oregon town, she said, she saw no examples of women leaders around her; no women held elective office in her community, none were on the news, none held influential jobs. It was as a Girl Scout working on a merit badge in women’s history that she went to her local library and read about women like Susan B. Anthony and Eleanor Roosevelt. “This knowledge can literally change our self-expectations,” Roberts said.

She shared the story of how she went from low-income, divorced mother of two, including an autistic son, to governor of the state – she started by advocating for education for her son at a time when there were no educational rights for children with disabilities like autism. Roberts bemoaned the fact that 14 states – including Idaho – still have all-male congressional delegations, and noted that while Idaho this year jumped up to 27 percent women in its state House, there are only five women serving in its state Senate and none in statewide office. “Keep doing what you did in the last legislative session in the House – you’re on your way,” she told the crowd.

Go Lead Idaho is a nonpartisan, volunteer organization working to “heighten the role of women in leadership and policy-making roles in public office, boards and commissions, private industry and non-profits;” there’s more info here. According to research by BSU’s College of Social Sciences and Public Affairs, women are particularly underrepresented on private boards in Idaho.

To view the original post by Betsy, on the Spokesman Review, click here.

BOISE, Idaho – (March 5, 2013) – Focused on supporting Idaho women in finding, developing and sharing their voice through leadership, Go Lead Idaho has opened registration for its third annual conference on Saturday, April 13.

With a theme of You Can’t Be What You Can’t See, the daylong conference will feature local and national speakers and panels to help attendees find their public engagement voice, discover their policy passions and be inspired to lead – whether through elected, appointed, volunteer or business opportunities.

“We passionately believe that adding women to leadership and policy-making roles in public office, boards and commissions, private industry and non-profits will enhance the long-term health and wealth of the State of Idaho and our communities,” said Go Lead Idaho Board President Karianne Fallow.

In conjunction with Boise State University’s (BSU) College of Social Sciences and Public Affairs and lead sponsor Perkins Coie, Go Lead Idaho is privileged to bring two nationally renowned speakers to Boise for the April 13 conference.

Former Governor Barbara Roberts of Oregon will share her journey from citizen advocate to the Statehouse as one of the first 10 female governors in the nation in her keynote, Up the Capitol Steps. During her four-year term (1991 to 1995), Governor Roberts was recognized as a strong advocate for environmental management, human rights and civil rights, and creative workforce development. Prior to being elected governor, Barbara Roberts was elected Oregon Secretary of State (1985-1991), was a member of the Oregon House of Representatives (1981-1985) and served as Majority Leader in 1983 and 1984. Roberts also served as a county commissioner, elected school board member for 10 years and a community college board member for a four-year term. She began public service as a citizen advocate for disabled children as she fought for the educational rights of her autistic son before the Oregon Legislature in 1971.

Plenary Speaker Tabby Biddle is a woman’s leadership expert, writer and writing coach dedicated to helping women changemakers develop their leadership platform to get their message out to the world.  As an advocate for the feminine voice, Biddle works with women leaders and emerging leaders to help them articulate their message, increase their visibility and grow their influence. Biddle’s work has been featured by the Huffington Post, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, UN Dispatch, NPR among other national and international media. In her 20 years in the personal growth and media industries, Biddle has traveled extensively both on an internal and global journey.

Currently seeking 501c3 status, Go Lead Idaho is a three-year old Boise-based organization committed to engaging women in leadership and civic participation through active involvement in the private, public and non-profit sectors. Through a partnership with Boise State University’s College of Social Sciences and Public Affairs, Go Lead Idaho organizes monthly networking events, sponsors featured speakers and screenings, raises awareness of women’s leadership events and opportunities, and develops regular leadership trainings and the annual conference.

Event Details
What: You Can’t Be What You Can’t See Annual Leadership Conference
When: Saturday, April 13 2013
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (check in begins at 8:00 a.m.)
Where: Boise State University Micron College of Business and Economics
Skaggs Lecture Hall
Cost: $75 general registration | $35 student registration
(Includes Governor Roberts’ book ‘Up The Capitol Steps’ and lunch)

Special thanks to our event sponsors: Perkins Coie, Boise State College of Social Science and Public Affairs, Blue Cross of Idaho, Shift Public Affairs, Carrington College, Red Sky Public Relations, ICON Credit Union, Hotel 43, Gjording Fouser, Ide Law & Strategy, and RosieMade.

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Wonder Women! The Untold Story of American Superheroines traces the fascinating evolution and legacy of Wonder Woman. From the birth of the comic book superheroine in the 1940s to the blockbusters of today, Wonder Women! looks at how popular representations of powerful women often reflect society’s anxieties about women’s liberation.

When: Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 5:30 PM
Where: Boise State University Student Union, Hatch CD, 1910 University Dr. Boise, Idaho 83725

Where: Red Headed Finn Pub (Formerly The Falcon) 705 W. Bannock St. Boise, ID
When: Tuesday, February 12th. 5:00 – 6:30

Title IX 40th Anniversary Celebration
December 7, 2012
Hosted by the American Association of University Women

12|12|12 Women on Boards Boise
December 12, 2012 from 12-1:15pm
Berryhill Restaurant.  Click here to register!
Questions: kelli@idelawstrategy.com

Girls in Tech Social Hour
3rd Wednesday of Every Month – Dec 19th

You are cordially invited to a no-host cocktail reception to discuss election results, network and share your insights about the future of Idaho’s political landscape.  Newly-elected and re-elected women officials have also been invited to attend.  Come meet these women and congratulate them on their wins!  Join us at The Brickyard in Downtown Boise (601 W. Main Street) from 5:00-6:30 on November 13th.