April 9th, 2014 | State House Reception Celebrating VCW's 50th Anniversary

Event Materials

• View our event program thanking those who have worked to improve the lives of Vermont women and girls as part of the Commission
• Read House of Representatives resolution H.C.R. 293 commemorating our 50th anniversary
• Read our editorial about the wage gap and our work
• Listen to the Vermont Public Radio commentary
• Watch the event video (ORCA Media, 34 minutes) with featured speakers (in order of appearance): VCW Commissioner Marion Milne, VCW Chair Marcia Merrill, Ally Richards of Governor Shumlin’s Office, Governor Madeline Kunin, Diane Derby of Sen. Leahy’s office, VCW Commissioner and Sen. Sanders’ Office, Tricia Coats for Congressman Welch, and Cary Brown, VCW Executive Director.

Congressional Delegation Statements and Letters

Senator Leahy's Congressional Record statement:

Congressman Welch's letter:

Senator Sanders' letter:

Event Photographs

Event keynote speaker Governor Kunin, also a former VCW commissioner

Diane Derby reads from Sen. Leahy's congressional record statement honoring VCW's anniversary

Commissioners Danielle Martel (holding Sen. Leahy's Congressional Record statement) and commissioner Gretchen Bailey

Center Sen. Leahy's Congressional Record statement, Right Sen. Sanders' statement, left Congressman Welch's statement
(Center) Senator Leahy's Congressional Record statement, (right) Senator Sanders' statement, (left) Congressman Welch's statement

Patricia Coates reads Congressman Welch's statement of support and celebration

VCW commissioner Gretchen Bailey reads Senator Sanders' letter celebrating VCW's 50th

VCW Executive Director Cary Brown and Gov. Kunin with the anniversary cake

Commissioner Marion Milne opened the event with a speech addressing her experience
An excerpt from Marion's speech: "...My time on the Commission, through three governors, has been an enriching and enlightening experience. I have felt the strength of sisterhood, and I have discovered over and over that what we dream can come true, as long as we can stay focused. Change is hard. Tradition is often an excuse for not changing. Yet we must be patient and we must be smart. And we will prevail..."

Former Commissioners Allan Mackey (served in 1970's) holding his appointment letter, signed by then Governor Kunin, who also served on the Commission in 1960's

Celebratory cake

Rep. Joanna Cole (former Advisor to Commission) with VCW Chair Marcia Merrill, moderator of the event

VCW staffer Claire Greene (center), commissioner Ariel Wengroff (right) and friends

Former commissioner Wendy Morgan, Chief of Public Protection at VT Attorney General's office and commissioner Gretchen Bailey

Mother-daughter commissioners Cathy Frey (left) and Marion Milne (right) with former commissioner Sandy Dooley (center) record holder for longest serving Commissioner at 19 years

Event attendees numbered over 320

Former VCW Executive Director Judith Sutphen, Laura Lind-Blum VCW Advisor and Director of the Vermont Women's Business Center and former VCW commissioner Barbara Morrow, Director of the Community Justice Center in Newport

The State House card room display featured a presentation of VCW's history in photos

Rickey Gard Diamond, editor of Vermont Woman newspaper with commissioner journalist and lawyer Charlotte Dennett

Rep. Barbara Rachelson, Executive Director of Lund and Tiffany Blumele VCW Advisor and Executive Director of Vermont Works for Women

VCW staff with Commissioner Nancy LaVarnway

Aly Richards, Gov. Shumlin's Director of Special Projects and Intergovernmental Affairs spoke of the Governor's support for the Commission

Cary Brown, VCW's Executive Director and former VCW staffer Susan Sussman of Sen. Leahy's office

Secretary of State Jim Condos ad Sheila Reed of Voices for Vermont's Children

Commissioner Carol Buchdahl and author/scholar of women's history Dr. Lyn Blackwell

Vermont Law School professor of constitutional law, Cheryl Hanna, daughter Samira Henninge, and Dawn Ellis

Cary Brown, VCW's Executive Director presents her address: The Unfinished Agenda