City of Bloomington, IN - Commission on the Status of Women

03/25/2026

03/23/2026

03/14/2026

We love the Girl Scouts! Deana Potterf, CEO of Girl Scouts of Central Indiana, will be joining us on Wednesday, March 25th as the keynote speaker at the 2026 Women's History Month Luncheon. We are so excited to have her with us, and are so thankful for the continued support that Girl Scouts of Central Indiana has shown us over the years!

Get your tickets to the luncheon today, they are on sale until Tuesday, March 17th!
https://app.opendate.io/e/2026-women-s-history-month-luncheon-march-25-2026-650189

Happy ! in 1912, Juliette Gordon Low founded the first Girl Guides troop in America, which later became known as the Girl Scouts.

The first Girl Guides troop in America was founded in Low's hometown of Savannah, Georgia, and consisted of her relatives and girls from other established families in the town. By the summer of 1912, the Savannah Girl Guides troop was divided into smaller units of girls called “patrols.” Each patrol was named after a flower, and they met on different days of the week. The girls learned a wide variety of skills, including map reading, first aid, cooking, knot tying, and played sports such as basketball. Low also adopted the British Girl Guides’ system of awarding badges to girls who became proficient in skills.

In 1913, the Girl Guides name was changed, officially becoming the Girl Scouts. That same year Low created the first national headquarters in Washington, D.C. to promote the Girl Scouts nationwide. To aid in the recruiting process, the first American Girl Scout handbook, How Girls Can Help Their Country, was published in the summer of 1913. A year later, ten Girl Scout troops registered in Washington D.C and eight Girl Scout troops registered in Chicago.

During World War I, Low encouraged the Girl Scouts to participate in the war effort by running soup kitchens, creating care packages for soldiers, and harvesting crops. In partnership with the American Red Cross, the Girl Scouts sold white flags to raise funds for the war relief. The troops that participated in war effort came from Boston, Washington, New York, Chicago, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Savannah, Newark, Cleveland, Richmond, Cincinnati, Saint Louis, Atlanta, Detroit, San Francisco, Saint Paul, and New Orleans, reflecting Low’s impact in spreading the Girl Scouts in America.

Today, the Girl Scouts organization is thriving around the world. As of 2017, there are over three million members, and over fifty million total members since its founding in 1912. The organization is self-sufficient due to its many patrons and yearly cookie sales to raise funds.

03/11/2026

March is Women's History Month, and to celebrate the occasion, we honor the many women of the Bloomington Police Department who help keep our community safe.

Uniformed officers, detectives, supervisors, administrators, dispatchers, records clerks and mental health professionals—public safety is a team effort, and BPD makes it happen with courage and compassion.

We are grateful for their dedication to our community—not just today or this month, but always.

03/10/2026

There is only ONE WEEK left to purchase tickets for the 2026 Women's History Month Luncheon, which will be held on Wednesday, March 25th at the Monroe Convention Center.

The luncheon will include the Women's Achievement Awards presentation, as well as a keynote address from Deana Potterf, CEO of Girl Scouts of Central Indiana.

Join us in celebrating Women's History Month, and reserve your seat today!

https://app.opendate.io/e/2026-women-s-history-month-luncheon-march-25-2026-650189

02/26/2026

The Commission on the Status of Women would like to give a big congratulations to the 2026 Women's Achievement Award winners!
Woman of the Year: Dr. Kirstin Milks
Toby Strout Lifetime Contribution Award: Cindy Chavez
Young Woman of the Year: Ayla Sohrabi-Nia

To learn more about this year's winners, please check out the press release: https://bloomington.in.gov/news/2026/02/26/6462

Join us in celebrating these fantastic women at our 2026 Women's History Month Luncheon on Wednesday, March 25th at the Monroe Convention Center. Doors open at 11:15 a.m. with the program beginning at 12pm. Tickets can be purchased at the link below, or by calling the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre Box Office at 812-323-3020, Ext 1.
http://bton.in/WHM2026

02/02/2026

Tickets are now on sale for the 2026 Women’s History Month Luncheon on Wednesday, March 25 at the Monroe Convention Center (302 S. College Ave.).

This year’s theme is “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future.” This theme honors the women who are reimagining and rebuilding systems to ensure long-term sustainability - environmental, economic, educational, and societal. In the spirit of acknowledging the importance of creating a sustainable future for our children, particularly young women and girls, the Commission on the Status of Women is honored to welcome Deana Potterf as this year’s keynote speaker, a leader whose work centers on preparing the next generation to lead lasting change.

Deana Potterf is the Chief Executive Officer of Girl Scouts of Central Indiana, the nation’s 15th-largest Girl Scout council, supporting more than 15,000 Girl Scouts across 45 counties. With 27 years of nonprofit leadership experience, Potterf has advanced initiatives that expand access, strengthen community partnerships, and ensure girls—especially those from underserved communities—have opportunities to build leadership skills that endure. Her leadership reflects a commitment to collaboration, authenticity, and empowering girls with the courage, confidence, and character to lead.

The luncheon will also recognize the 2026 Women’s Achievement Award recipients across several categories, including Woman of the Year, the Toby Strout Lifetime Contribution Award, Emerging Leader, and Young Woman of the Year. Award recipients will be announced ahead of the event.

Additionally, women-owned businesses and local organizations for women are invited to reserve exhibit space for the luncheon.

Exhibits will be available for viewing by luncheon attendees prior to the start of the program. The exhibit registration form is available at:
https://form.jotform.com/CFRDForms/2026WHMExhibit

Event Details & Registration: Doors at 11:15 a.m., with the program beginning at 12:00 p.m.

Tickets: $45 per person or $425 for a reserved table of eight (preferred seating)
Purchase: Tickets must be reserved in advance at the BCT Box Office (114 E. Kirkwood Ave.) or online at buskirkchumley.org/events/2026-women-s-history-month-luncheon-march-25-2026/
Deadline: March 17, 2026
Scholarships: Financial assistance is available for those needing support to attend

For more information, please contact Marissa Parr-Scott at 812-349-3468 or [email protected].

12/22/2025

Nominations are now open for the 2026 Women's Achievement Awards! These awards include the Woman of the Year, Toby Strout Lifetime Contribution, Emerging Leader, and Young Woman of the Year. Awards will be presented at the annual Women's History Month Luncheon on Wednesday, March 25th, 2026.

Nomination forms are available online at form.jotform.com/CFRDForms/2026WomensAwards

Fore more information, please contact Marissa Parr-Scott at [email protected] or 812-349-3468.

Nomination deadline is January 30, 2026.

https://bloomington.in.gov/news/2025/12/19/6407

11/07/2025

The Bloomington Commission on the Status of Women collectively mourns the loss of Charlotte Zietlow, an influential leader with decades of service to the city and community.

In 1973, as City Council President, Charlotte Zietlow introduced Ordinance 73-81, and in 1974, the ordinance was approved, thus creating the Commission on the Status of Women.

Although the creation of our commission was just one of Charlotte’s many accomplishments, we are forever grateful to her for making our work possible. Today, and every day, we celebrate her life and unwavering commitment to the Bloomington community.

08/07/2025

The City of Bloomington's Commission on the Status of Women is thrilled to announce our vendor line-up for the 3rd Annual Women's Market!
This market will feature 30 booths from local businesses and independent artists. Whether you're into original paintings, handmade soaps, portrait photography or fresh flowers, this market has something for everyone.
You can attend the Women's Market from 9:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. at City Hall (401 N. Morton Street) on Saturday, August 23. Learn more about this and other programs from the City of Bloomington's Commission on the Status of Women by visiting https://bloomington.in.gov/boards/status-of-women .