FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 26, 2005

For more information contact:
Michelle Aldrich, WCWI Chairperson
307.760.6213

Women’s Council Summit Award nominations extended

CHEYENNE - The Wyoming Council for Women’s Issues (WCWI) is extending nominations for the Wyoming Summit Award until July 31.

Sponsored by the WCWI, the Wyoming Business Alliance, the Wyoming Department of Family Services, the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services and the Wyoming Business Council, the award will recognize businesses that have successfully instituted programs or policies that broaden, strengthen and support their workforce.

“We believe that there are many businesses in Wyoming that are currently using creative and innovative ways to improve their workplace for employees and employees’ families,” said Michelle Aldrich, WCWI chairperson. “Our intent is to recognize those who have made employment conditions better in one or more of these areas.”

The award will recognize those who have made employment conditions better. Nominees should be businesses that strive toward broadening the workforce by implementing programs and policies to enable progress toward an equitable and diverse workforce from under-represented populations. The business should also work to strengthen the workforce by promoting wages that compare to regional or national averages for similar jobs and the wage disparity between men’s and women’s wages should be nonexistent.

Finally, the nominated business should support the workforce by demonstrating efforts to satisfy employees (single individuals or otherwise) and their families’ needs for flexible schedules, day care for children or elders, and any other service that would minimize the stresses of balancing the demands of work and family obligations and increase employees’ productivity.

To download a nomination form and specific guidelines, visit the Web site at www.wyomingwomenscouncil.org. Honorees will be recognized at a special ceremony.

The WCWI is a 13-member council with representation from each of the nine Judicial Districts in addition to four at-large members and one ex-officio member of the Wyoming Business Council. The WCWI is a Governor appointed council.

###