I am a retired librarian, who spent most of my career in the corporate world. I've had the good fortune to travel quite a bit in the developing world--in Africa, Asia, and South America. In 2007, I went with a Rotary group for polio immunization in Ethiopia. I have always been interested in gender equity, and travel has enabled me to see some of the issues first hand. As co-coordinator of a charitable giving program in my Unitarian Church, I have spent considerable time trying to understand the key factors in causes such as poverty, illiteracy, environmental degradation, human rights abuses, and more in the developing world. It became apparent to me that the status of women was a major factor in every one. I started with a sermon to my church on gender inequity in the developing world, and how this is a root cause of so many other problems in the world. I have since given the (continually updated) talk to many Rotary clubs and some other organizations. I am a good speaker, so that is what I can bring to the cause. Of course World Pulse is on my handout!

I am also working for women through Dining for Women. I write the monthly Food for Thought document (most months). The Program FactSheet each month describes the program in detail. Food for Thought is a document that describes a larger context or issue that the program addresses. It gives me another way to communicate and educate.