Direct from the Legislative Directors
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Issue 3 March 2006 Caucus of Women Legislators Newsletter 2006 Caucus Co-Chairs: Senator Harriette Chandler and Representative Kathleen Teahan Executive Director: Erica Mattison INSIDE THIS ISSUE GO RED FOR WOMEN Know your health numbers! ● Congratulations!...page 3 Caucus members ● Photos from recent events...page 3 gathered on Feb- ruary 2 to bring Messages from outgoing and incoming ● awareness to the members of the Caucus...page 5 fact that heart ● Events calendar...pages 6 & 7 disease is the #1 killer of women. ● Tips for working with Legislative Directors...page 8 To read more, turn to page 4. # of Women in MA Legislature = 52 The addition of two new Representatives ups the percentage from 25% to 26%. Turn to page 9 to see how this compares to previous years. Direct from the Legislative Directors The Aide Mentoring Program of the where aides had the opportunity to meet Legis- Caucus of Women Legislators seeks to provide lative Directors from agencies that receive a “I was thrilled to partici- information and support to State House Aides high volume of inquiries and requests from leg- pate and share my ex- to help them be effective at their jobs. islative offices - Department of Mental periences at the Aide Mentoring Program On February 24, the Aide Mentoring Health, Department of Housing and Commu- nity Development, Executive Office of Envi- event. I wish there was Program hosted a panel at the State House such a forum to listen ronmental Affairs, and the Governor’s Of- and speak to agency fice. The panel was moderated by Carla Moran, representatives when I Staff Director to Representative Patricia Wal- was starting out. The rath. Caucus of Women Leg- "So often we are emailing and phoning islators should be proud one another but never get to put a face with a of what they have ac- name," said Moran who helped develop the idea complished with this of the panel. "I thought it would be good for successful program.” State House staff and Legislative Directors to meet in person since we work together so - Stephen M. Cidlevich, Director of Constituent much. The Directors shared a lot of helpful Affairs at the Depart- information." ment of Mental Health, From left to right: Michael Coelho, Legislative Director for Over three dozen aides turned out to and former State House Governor Mitt Romney; Katie Stone, Legislative Director for increase their awareness of what Legislative Aide the Department of Housing and Community Development; Directors do and how to work most effectively Bethann Steiner, Legislative Director for the Executive Office with them. of Environmental Affairs (EOEA); Carla Moran, Staff Direc- tor to Representative Patricia Walrath; and Steve Cidlevich, (Continued on page 8) Director of Constituent Affairs for the Department of Mental Health (DMH). Massachusetts ATTENTION LEGISLATIVE AIDES! Caucus of Women Are you new to the State House? Looking for some guidance? Want to meet people? Legislators We welcome new aides to join the program as a way to get acclimated to the building! 2006 Co-Chairs Senator Harriette Chandler Have you been working at the State House for 6 months or longer? Want to help someone learn the ropes? Representative Kathleen Teahan We are seeking experienced staffers to serve as mentors! Executive Director ~Contact the Caucus to sign up for the Aide Mentoring Program~ Erica Mattison Meet colleagues and increase your effectiveness. Members of Senate Shirley Gomes Did you know that the Aide Mentoring Program holds events for all aides to learn and network? Our latest program, “Direct from the Legislative Harriette Chandler Mary Grant Directors,” provided aides the opportunity to meet Legislative Directors Cynthia Creem Patricia Haddad from various state agencies and learn about what they do. Susan Fargo Lida Harkins Patricia Jehlen Rachel Kaprielian Women in Politics and Public Policy Program Accepting Applications Joan Menard Kay Khan The Program for Women in Politics and Public Policy at the University of Massachusetts Therese Murray Barbara L’Italien Boston is currently accepting applications for its two-semester graduate certificate program Pamela Resor Elizabeth Malia designed to prepare women to take on leadership roles in government and non-profit or- ganizations, hold political office, and pursue advanced degrees, most frequently in law and Karen Spilka Shirley Owens-Hicks public policy. Susan Tucker Marie Parente Application Deadline: June 1, 2006 Marian Walsh Anne Paulsen For information on the Program contact Donna Stewartson, Assistant Program Director, 617.287.6785 or [email protected]. Dianne Wilkerson Alice Peisch On the web at: http://www.mccormack.umb.edu/cwppp/edu/index.jsp. Members of House Elizabeth Poirier Cory Atkins Karyn Polito ABOUT THE CAUCUS OF WOMEN LEGISLATORS Ruth Balser Susan Pope The Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators is Deborah Blumer Denise Provost a bipartisan, bicameral group of female legislators, the Jennifer Callahan Kathi-Anne Reinstein mission of which is to enhance the economic status and Christine Canavan Cheryl Rivera equality of women and to encourage and foster women in Gale Candaras Mary Rogeness all levels of government. Virginia Coppola Joyce Spiliotis As of the first week of February, 2006, there are 52 Geraldine Creedon Harriett Stanley women in the 200-person MA Legislature (for a total of Linda Dorcena Forry Marie St. Fleur 26%). This monthly publication produced by the Caucus of Women Legislators aims to inform elected state offi- Jennifer Flanagan Ellen Story cials and the public of the activities of the Caucus. Gloria Fox Kathleen Teahan To learn more, please visit our website at Colleen Garry Patricia Walrath www.masswomen.org. Susan Gifford Marty Walz Anne Gobi Alice Wolf Page 2 Caucus of Women Legislators CONGRATULATIONS! Members share news of their achievements... On Saturday, February 11 at the The Massachusetts Alliance celebration of the 10th anniversary of Portuguese Speakers of the Center for Psychoanalytic Studies, (MAPS) will honor State Representative Ruth Balser (D-Newton) Representative Deborah was presented with the Endowment Lead- Blumer, D-Framingham, as Per- ership Award for the Advancement of son of the Year at the health and Mental Health. The event was sponsored social service agency's 13th An- by the Massachusetts General Hospital nual Community Awards Gala Endowment for the Advancement of Psy- on Saturday, May 6. chotherapy. Senator Susan Fargo (D-Lincoln), lower left, and Representative Anne Paulsen (D-Belmont), lower right, receive Legislative Achievement Awards at the 9th Annual Legislative Reception. The event was hosted by the MA Asso- ciation of Jewish Federations and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston. In the center, members of the Caucus of Women Legislators gather at the reception (from left to right): Representatives Kay Khan, Ruth Balser, Lida Harkins, Anne Paulsen, Alice Wolf, and Ellen Story. 1/31/06 Photos from Recent Caucus Events At right (from left to right): Jennifer In- furna of Rep. Koutou- jian’s Office, Dr. Lemke, Deb Tyler of Rep. Koutoujian’s Office, and Erica Mattison of the Cau- cus of Women Legis- lators. Exploring Social Policy from a At the January Board Meeting of the The Caucus of Women Legislators and Representative Kay Khan European Perspective Caucus of Women Legislators, mem- hosted A Chat with Author Dr. Ruth Nemzoff which focused The Caucus hosted a talk with Dr. Christiane bers were joined by guests from the on her forthcoming book, “Don't Just Bite Your Tongue: Create Lemke, Professor of Political Science at the Univer- UMass Boston Center for Women in lasting relationships with your adult offspring.” The event sity of Hannover, Germany and Distinguished Visit- Politics and Public Policy. Above looked at how to create new and rewarding relationships across ing Professor at Suffolk University. Legislators, (from left to right): Research Direc- generations. Pictured above from left to right: Senator Chandler aides, and interns gathered to explore issues ranging tor Dr. Erika Kates and Director Dr. (Caucus Senate Chair), Representative Khan, Dr. Nemzoff, from work/family balance to human trafficking to Carol Hardy-Fanta. 1/31/06 Representative Balser, and Representative Teahan (Caucus women in government. 2/8/06 House Chair). 2006, Issue 3 Page 3 American Heart Association Encourages You to “Know Your Numbers” “Go Red For Women Day” took place at the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators, Public Health Committee Chair Peter State House on February 2. This event is meant to promote health Koutoujian, Lt. Governor Kerry Healey, and Senate President Robert awareness of the fact that heart disease is the #1 killer of American Travaglini. National “Go Red Day” was held on February 3. women. Heart disease is a condition that affects the heart muscle or the The “Go Red” movement provides women tips and informa- blood vessels of the heart. It is important to look at heart disease and tion on healthy eating, exercise and risk factor reduction, such as smok- many other health issues with a gender lens because women often dem- ing cessation, weight maintenance, blood pressure control, and blood onstrate symptoms and react to treatment differently than men. By cholesterol management. The campaign teaches that knowing and un- acknowledging this fact and conducting additional research, more derstanding your numbers (such as cholesterol) is the first step to heart women’s lives be saved. health. Organized by the American Heart Association, the event