# Presentation: 182530

## Federal Women’s Program

- Carol Lagodich
- Federal Women's Program Manager
- West Virginia Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

- We ask justice, we ask equality, we ask that all the civil and political rights that belong to citizens of the United States, be guaranteed to us and our daughters forever.
-  —Susan B. Anthony, Declaration of Rights for Women, July 1876

## Federal Women's Program History

- In 1961, President John F. Kennedy introduced the concept of affirmative action and reaffirmed Executive Order 9980−non-discrimination policy in the federal government−that was signed in 1948. He also established the Commission on the Status of Women (Commission), chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt, to look into problems women encountered in employment in the Federal government.

- Happiness is not a goal, it’s a by-product.
- —Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady 1884-1962

## History

- Based on recommendations of the Commission, the Federal Women's Program was established in 1963 as a vehicle to provide opportunities for
- recruitment,
- selection,
- training,
- and advancement of women in the federal government.

- I personally measure success in terms of the contributions an individual makes to her or his fellow human beings.

## Purpose

- The primary purpose of the Federal Women's Program is to improve the status of women in the federal government through
- Education
- Counseling, and
- providing management officials with information on workforce trends.

- You must first visualize yourself as a success in order to be successful.
- —Rosa Diaz, Business executive

## FWP Manager

- The Federal Women's Program Manager (FWPM) position was established to ensure that agencies meet the requirements of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Guidelines.
- The FWPM advises management of their FWP responsibilities, the status and progress of the program and the concerns of women in their organization.
- The FWPM is responsible for ALL women within their organization, regardless of grade level.

- Achievement is not about what you’ve done, but what you’ve gained from your experience.
- —Lynn Hill, rock climber

## Calendar

- February: Go Red for Women
- March: Women’s History Awareness Month
- May: Women's Health Week, May 13-19, 2007
- August: Women’s Equality Day (8/26)
- October: Breast Cancer Awareness Month

- It is never too early to start taking care of yourself
- —Jane Brody, nutrition expert

## Go Red for Women

- West Virginia has the nation’s highest levels of heart disease.
- Heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 3 of killers both men and women over age 25 in WV.
- Heart disease largely can be prevented.
- Spreading the *Go Red For Women* message *Love Your Heart *raises awareness of heart disease and empowers women to reduce their risk.

- February

- I take care of myself, because I learned early on that I am the only person in life who’s responsible for me
- —Halle Berry, actor

## Women’s History Awareness Month

- Women's History Month highlights contributions of women to events in history. The annual event traces its beginnings to the first International Women's Day in 1911. In 1981, responding to the growing popularity of the event, Congress passed a resolution making Women's History Week a national designation. Congress legally expanded the focus to the whole month of March in 1987.
- The 2007 theme is*Generations of Women Moving History Forward*

- Women’s place is in the House—and in the Senate
- —Gloria Schafer, political activist

## Women's Health Week

- National Women's Health Week (May 13-19, 2007) is a national effort encourages women of all ages to take steps to improve their health and promotes awareness of diseases that disproportionately affect women.

- Stroke Signs

- WV has the nation’s highest levels of heart disease.
-  WV has the second highest diabetes rate in the United States
- WV Ranks 3rd in Nation for Obesity

**Notes:**
Colorectal Cancer Screening - Sigmoidoscopy and Colo  noscopyColorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the US. Regular screening, beginning at age 50, is key to preventing colorectal cancer. Current recommendations are that all adults receive regular screening, including colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy, starting at age 50. In 2004, only 46 percent of US West Virginia women over age 50 reported ever having a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy.

·         Breast Cancer Screening – MammogramsA mammogram, or x-ray of the breast is the most effective way to detect breast cancer early. Current recommendations are for women over age 40 to have screening mammograms every one to two years; women at higher risk may need to start getting mammograms earlier and might need them more often. Data from 2004 indicate that 72 percent of WV women over age 40 have had a mammogram within the past 2 years.

·         Cervical Cancer Screening - Pap SmearThe Pap test, also called a Pap smear, checks for changes in the cells of the cervix, which may indicate infection, abnormal (unhealthy) cervical cells, or cervical cancer. It is recommended that all women age 21 get regular pap smears. In 2004, 82% of WV women over age 18 reported having had a pap smear in the past three years.

Female Obesity in the USAn unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, both associated with obesity, can increase the risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, breathing problems, arthritis, gallbladder disease, and osteoarthritis. In 2005, approximately 31 percent of WV women over age 20 were obese; this reflects a year-by-year increase over the past 4 years.

Fruit and Vegetable Consumption
Eating more fruits and vegetables as part of a healthy diet is associated with a reduced risk of stroke as well as a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and certain cancers. Fruit and vegetable consumption can also provide a feeling of fullness, to help with weight control and overall health. In 2005, just 22 percent of West Virginia women reported eating 5 or more servings of fruit and vegetables a day, and over the past 3 years, this rate has dropped. 

Smoking
If you are a smoker, the single most important thing you can do to stay healthy is stop smoking. Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer of American women. Smokers not only increase their risk of lung disease, including lung cancer, but they also increase their risk of other illnesses, including heart disease, emphysema, stroke, and oral cancer. Twenty eight percent of WV adult women are smokers.

- Health is not simply the absence of sickness
- —Hannah Gree, writer

## Women’s Equality Day

- August 26 of each year is designated in the United States as Women's Equality Day.
- Instituted by Rep. Bella Abzug and first established in 1971, the date commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, the Woman Suffrage Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which gave U.S. women full voting rights in 1920.

- Nobody has a better vision of who you are than yourself
- —Sheryl Crow singer-songwriter, breast cancer survivor

## Breast Cancer Awareness Month

- We don't know how to prevent breast cancer but it's clear that early detection is crucial in saving lives.
- According to the CDC website, West Virginia has the lowest rate of breast cancer incidence of any state but many of these women die.

- Happiness is an attitude. We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong. The amount of work is the same.
- —Francesca Reigler, artist

## WV FWP Lending Library

- Books are located in the NRCS State Office, on the bookshelf to your right as you enter the main office. Please feel free to check out a book (a blue notebook is on the shelf for your signature), or request a book from Carol Lagodich.
- See the CRAC FWP website for a list of titles.

- http://www.wv.nrcs.usda.gov/about/civilRights/fwp/06fwp_library.pdf

- Success doesn’t come to you. You go to it.
- —Marva Collins, teacher

## WV NRCS Employees

- There are 60 female and 126 male employees.

- 32% of West Virginia employees are female compared to 34% nationwide.
- 30 females (one half)  and 73 males are in professional series

- You will find yourself refreshed by the presence of cheerful people. Why not make earnest effort to confer that pleasure on others?  Half the battle is gained if you never allow yourself to say anything gloomy.

## In FY 2006

|  | Women | Men |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cash Awards | 38 | 57 |
| Retired | 1 | 6 |
| Promoted (may include transfers)  | 11 | 13 |
| Resigned  | 5 | 2 |

## Questions & Answers