Today, I’d like to dedicate my blog to the Miami Beach Women’s Conference.  We’ve been working really hard to make this event special, so please read, and hopefully, you can make it to the event on March 16, 2012:

MIAMI BEACH — Celebrate National Women’s History Month with Mayor Matti Herrera Bower at Miami Beach City Hall during the 4th Annual Miami Beach Women’s  Conference on Friday, March 16, 2012.  The annual March “Women’s History Month” Celebration is Free and Open to the Public.

As the 1^ST Woman Mayor of the City of Miami Beach; Bower spearheaded the Women’s Conference  to empower more women and young girls into roles of leadership. The event  is produced by Women’s Exhibit, Inc. (WE), a Miami Beach non-profit organization founded by SoBe Pioneers Dona Zemo & Wendy Doherty, with a mission to exhibit the achievements of women. The organization’s motto is:  “Empowering Ourselves! Empowering Others!”

Mayor’s Panel

The first conference in 2009 drew over 700 women from around the country. The Mayor’s Panel was the highlight of the day as other female elected officials joined Mayor Bower on the dais in the City Commission Chambers to discuss women’s issues.  The 1^st two years featured tri-county women mayors, while last year’s panel “Women Leading Globally” was devoted to issues facing women worldwide with panelists such as the Consuls General of Germany and Spain – and was moderated by Emmy Award Winning TV journalist Michele Gillen.

“You’re Elected! Now What?” The panel discusses the unique challenges & opportunities that face female elected officials. Panelists include Mayor Bower, Hon. Elaine Bloom, FL State Senator Gwen Margolis and Commissioner Katy Sorenson – now President & CEO of “Good Government Initiative” at The University of Miami.

A “Power Break” allows attendees to stretch and network between the two 1-hour sessions.

“Protection for Women” features a panel discussion on physical, legal and identity protection issues with Miami-Dade County State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, LGBT rights expert Beth Littrell, Esq., of Lambda Legal and Miami-Dade Commissioner Sally Heyman, a crime & loss prevention specialist.

The Miami Beach Women’s Conference Events are Free from 8:30 AM – 12:00 Noon.  The Mayor’s Panels are sponsored by FL Representative Luis Garcia, Jr. for Congress, South Beach Boutique Realty, Women’s Exhibit and The City of Miami Beach.

“Lunch in the Garden”

Immediately following the Mayor’s Panel from 12:30 – 4:00 Mayor Bower & Women’s Exhibit co-host the annual fundraiser “Lunch in the Garden” exhibiting the culinary arts of top women chefs at the newly renovated Miami Beach Botanical Garden located adjacent to City Hall at 2000 Convention Center Drive. The 2012 Luncheon’s Honored Guest will be US Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL).

The luncheon, sponsored annually by Boucher Brothers Management and the Miami Beach Botanical Garden, allows some of S Florida’s most dynamic women to network in beautiful surroundings where they can Shop, Dine & Feel Divine! A Silent Auction of great local deals ends at 2:30 and winners are announced promptly at 3 PM.  Luncheon tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door.  Proceeds benefit women’s programs and organizations. There is limited seating but advance tickets can be purchased on the web site.  www.WomensExhibit.com

 2012 Woman in History Honoree

Each year the Women’s Conference highlights the achievements of an outstanding “Woman In History”.

The 2012 Honoree is Marjory Stoneman Douglas, who came to Miami as a young writer for the Miami Herald authoring articles on civil rights, suffrage and women in leadership, but is best known for her staunch defense of the Everglades.  Douglas was a Charter Member of the 1st ACLU Chapter in the South and a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient who lent her support to the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), speaking to the Florida legislature in Tallahassee and urging them to ratify it.

Past honorees were Julia Tuttle, Barbara Baer Capitman and Mary Brickell.

 Randie Hofer Scholarship Fund

Randie Hofer was a founding member of the Executive Committee for the Miami Beach Women’s Conference, a community activist and a teacher at Miami Beach Senior High School until her untimely death in 2011.  The Randie Hofer Scholarship Fund was created in her memory to allow Randie to continue to empower women and students.  Miami Beach Senior High School (MBSHS) students are competing on an Essay Contest for Women’s History Month.  To qualify, MBSHS juniors & seniors must turn their Essays in by February 27^th. The Winner will receive a Scholarship Award to pay for electronic educational tools and school expenses.  The Award will be presented in the TV Studio at MBSHS Friday, March 9, 2012 at 8 AM.   Randie Hofer is also receiving a posthumous “Woman Worth Knowing” Award from the Miami Beach Commission for Women Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at Dream Hotel 6-8 PM.

Women’s Exhibit, Inc. and their Executive Committee of volunteers produce the Miami Beach Women’s Conference with Mayor Bower, The City of Miami Beach, The Miami Beach Convention Center and Miami Beach Botanical Garden  to honor National Women’s History Month.  For more information contact Wendy Doherty at 954-270-5590, email: WomensExhibit@aol.com www.WomensExhibit.com