A Little Something You Can Do

The former Lt. Governor of Massachusetts is flying in to show her support. If you're in Columbia tomorrow, maybe you can amble on over to Main Street and show yours, too.  There's a free reception honoring women running for office, open to the public. It's another way you can help get more women involved in state government (without having to run yourself).

If the last one was any indication (photo above is from that event), this year's Pathways to Power reception will be bipartisan, lively and fun, with women who've been elected, women who are running--and men and women who are eager to see more women elected to office in the state.  If the idea that women need a boost somehow bugs you, please know: no one is suggesting these women deserve your vote just because they're women. What's being suggested is this: if women don't run, then we're missing out on a lot of talent in this state.

Pathways to Power is just one way the Southeastern Institute for Women in Politics is encouraging women to step up. The other is SC GAP, a program to encourage more women to come forward for appointments to state boards and commissions.  SC GAP is creating a database of qualified women to present to our newly elected governor.  Boards and commissions cover a wide range of issues and call for people with a variety of backgrounds--people with expertise in the arts, agriculture, science, sports, social work and real estate, to name a few.  There's a list of boards and commissions here. If you or someone you know has an interest, consider submitting a resume through scelectswomen.com.

Dr. Kerry Healey (photo above), the former Lt. Governor from Massachusetts, joined Governor Mitt Romney to make a GAP program successful in their state.  On Tuesday, she'll be talking a bit about that.  An attorney, Healey has been, among other things, training women lawyers in Afghanistan since she left office.  She sounds like a woman worth hearing from.

The Pathways to Power reception is from 6-7:30pm at the First Citizens Plaza downtown. It is free. It is open to the public. They do ask that you RSVP online to help them plan. You can do that here.