HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 03-06-1996 - V-B 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Action Agenda
Item No. y$
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: March 6 , 1996
SUBJECT: Proclamation of Women' s History Month
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DEPARTMENT: Human Rights & PUBLIC HEARING: Yes x No
Relations
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ATTACHMENT(S) : INFORMATION CONTACT:
Proclamation Lucy Lewis, ext 2251
TELEPHONE NUMBER:
Hillsborough - 732-8181
Chapel Hill - 968-4501
Durham - 688-7331
Mebane - 227-2031
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PURPOSE: To officially recognize March, 1996 , as Women' s History
Month in Orange County.
BACKGROUND: The celebration of this event is one of the
Commission' s objectives for 1995/1996. This is a fitting
opportunity to acknowledge the contributions women have made to
our community, state and nation, and in doing so, to continue to
promote the status of women in Orange County. March 1996 also
marks the 20th anniversary of the Orange County Commission for
Women. The Commission for Women has researched and honored women
who were first to break gender and/or racial barriers in Orange
County for the past three years. This year the Commission has
recognized Women' s History Month by developing and providing an
after-school curriculum to both school systems about women' s
lives and achievements. Recent studies have shown that most
textbooks now used in history classes devote only 2-3% of their
contents to women. Learning about women' s accomplishments:
- will help girls to become empowered to broaden their ideas
about what they can accomplish in their own lives,
- help boys and girls develop respect for women and their
abilities, and
- help boys and girls, men and women, gain insight into the
importance of women' s contributions historically and in
contemporary life.
The Commission will also provide Women' s History month displays
at the Orange County and Chapel Hill public libraries.
RECOMMENDATION(S) : The Manager recommends that the Board of
Commissioners proclaim March, 1996, as Women' s History Month.
2
THE ORANGE COUNTY COMMISSION FOR WOMEN SUBMITS THE FOLLOWING
PROCLAMATION TO THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS:
WHEREAS American women of every race, class, and ethnic
background have made historic contributions to the growth
and strength of our Nation;
WHEREAS American women have stepped into the public arena to
address social and political issues that affected the
quality of life for both their families and the larger
community;
WHEREAS, these contributions have been historically
overlooked and undervalued in the literature, teaching and
study of American history; and
WHEREAS, women in Orange County have made and continue
to make significant historical contributions to our
community, state, and nation,
NOW, THEREFORE, do we, the Commissioners of Orange County,
proclaim the month of March, 1996 , as
WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
and commend this observance to Orange County citizens.
Moses Carey, Jr. , Chairman