A “Rose Award Recipient” is a woman who gives or has given her time, service and gifts to provide opportunities for women to discover the power of who they are. Service can be in relationship to aspects of the WWTW, serving on local boards, or in general service to the larger community. Each year, WWI invites the local regions to nominate one local woman to be honored as a recipient of the Rose Award, along with the nominees selected by the Board of Directors of WWI from the larger community.

Two women from the greater Chicago/Wisconsin area, Ro Getto and Mary Walilko, are among this year’s WWI Rose Award recipients.

Mary Walilko, of Park Ridge, IL, attended her WWTW in December of 1996 in Delevan WI. Mary was nominated by WWI for her work as editor of the “Heartbeat”. She designed the newsletter, created the web site architecture for the articles and archives, and publishes the newsletter at her own expense. Through the “Heartbeat”, Mary encourages women to use their voices and speak their truth. Graduates of the WWTW world-wide, as well as men and some women who have not done the WWTW, are subscribers. Mary received her Rose Award at the September 21 Celebration of the Midwest area training weekend.

Rosemarie Getto, of Franklin, WI, attended her WWTW in October of 1986 in Wisconsin. She was nominated by WWI as a retiring president of Woman Within International. Ro attended the very first WW weekend and was an active community member and staffer in the pioneer days of the organization. She was one of the original contributors to program content, much of which remains the same today. From 2003 until 2008 Ro served WWI as Director, Treasurer and as President. During those years she was involved in bringing the WWTW to South Africa and Australia, the renegotiation of License Agreements with the regions, the updating of many sections of the WWI Policy Manual, and work on the Business Manual. Ro also served as co-chair of the WWI/MKP joint conference in Milwaukee. Ro received her Rose Award at the Wisdom Gathering in July.

Other women who received the 2008 Rose Award include the following: (brief information here, more details is listed on the WWI website at http://www.womenwithin.org/about/rose_award.htm#2007/2008.

Mary Beth Minick, of Indianapolis, nominated by her region and WWI as a retiring president of Woman to Woman Midwest. She served two terms as Treasurer and one term as President of WTWMW.

Stephanie Chapuis, of Lausanne, Switzerland, nominated by Transitions Europe for the Sacree Femme community. Stephanie was instrumental in setting up the WWTW in France, she translated the Empowerment Circle, ODST and WWL2 manuals, many of the readings for the WWTW and portions of the Facilitation Track protocols into French.

Karen Coren, of St Albans, Herts, UK, nominated by WWI and Transitions Europe. Karen served Transitions Europe as Treasurer, Vice-President and then President. She was instrumental in guiding women to set up the Sacree Femme Council to make the first French-speaking weekend a reality in 2006.

June Fisher, of Bethlehem, PA, nominated by East Coast Sage Circle. June served as the ECSC director of empowerment circles and the director of training. She was the key resource for the out-reach weekends in New England and southern states that are part of ECSC.

Roxy Grimshaw, of Marlow, Bucks, UK, nominated by Transitions Europe. Roxy has provided leadership through numerous roles on the WWTW and other trainings. She is the E-Circle and Staff Coordinator for the UK. Council members turn to Roxy for mentoring on all aspects of Community life in the UK.

Martha Preble, of Oakland, CA, nominated by Women Worldwide-West Coast as the WW-WC Registrar. Martha has held up to 3 E-Circles at one time in her home; she supports and staffs many trainings and workshops.

Page Rossiter, of Victoria, British Columbia, nominated by Women Worldwide – West Coast. Besides staffing many of our trainings, Page works with youth diversity camps. She is co-creating an organization called Community Construction, whose mission is to build a new world reality that respects and values diversity.

Congratulations to all of these women for their dedication to and their continued support of the mission of WWI, as well as their local communities.

Note: This year the Rose Award given to each woman is as unique and individual as the woman herself . . . no two awards are the same. Each award is a piece of lovely jewelry designed by Marg Renaud, created around a silver or gold rose bead purchased in South Africa and donated by Char Tosi.