Women of Valor

Ken & Cathi Hatch, Fredda & Steven Goldfarb

Yesterday, I was one of 11 women honored as a "Woman of Valor" by U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell at a large luncheon at the Westin Hotel Seattle.  Senator Cantwell read a brief background about each honoree individually and presented each of us with a crystal award engraved with our names and area of recognition and "Women of Valor Awards 2011".  My award was for excellence in the field of Small Business Development.

Ken and I attended the luncheon and sat at a table with fellow honoree, Fredda Goldfarb and husband, Steven along with Betty Lou Treiger, Patti Savoy, Dana Frank, Debra Doran and Susan Arksey.  Fredda's award was for excellence in the field of Veterans' Advocacy.  Other friends attending the luncheon that I saw were Janet Levinger and Will Poole, Dan Rosen, Pat McDonald, Gary Gayton and Karen Gamoran, who originally called me about the award.



Patti Savoy, Cathi Hatch, Dana Frank

 Other "Women of Valor" honorees included Janis Avery for Children & Youth Advocacy, Martha Choe for Trailblazer, Kathy Fletcher for Environment & Conservation, Patricia Shepherd-Barnes and Dr. Beti Thompson for Health Advocacy, Marilyn J. Smith for Women's Advocacy, and Megan Karch, Alma Franulovic Plancich and Estela Ortega for Public Service & Community Development,

U.S. Senator Patty Murray kicked off the luncheon and talked about the exciting win for Boeing with the tanker decision that had just been announced the previous day.  The luncheon was also a fundraiser for Senator Cantwell's re-election campaign and following the awards, the featured speaker was U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski for Maryland.  She is the longest serving female U.S. Senator.  Senator Mikulski is a 4'11" dynamo that is a riveting speaker and regardless of political leaning was completely entertaining to everyone attending.

Ken Hatch & Debra Doran

When I arrived home following the award luncheon, I had to move my Seattle Dances! mirror ball trophy to the side to make room for my new "Woman of Valor" trophy!  What a nice problem!