By Joan Crigger
February 12, 2007

Kansas City (MO) Mayor Kay Barnes, chair of the Women Mayors, opened the Women Mayors’ meeting during the 75th Annual Winter Meeting of the Conference of Mayors by stressing the important of the role of women mayors in the leadership and encouraged all women mayors to participate as much as possible. Redmond (WA) Mayor Rosemary Ives indicated that the best way to participate is to be active on the various standing committees and task forces of the Conference.

Addressing the Women Mayors was Conference of Mayors President Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer. Palmer stressed the importance of the Mayors’ 10-Point Plan. He indicated that he was extremely pleased that he and other mayors recently met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to discuss the 10-Point Plan and stated that Pelosi would address all the mayors during the opening plenary session of the Winter Meeting.

Following Palmer’s remarks, Conference of Mayors Executive Director Tom Cochran gave brief highlights of the winter meeting agenda and the newly proposed Energy Block Grant. He then encouraged all the women mayors to attend the Winter Meeting Gala.

Barnes then announced that she would be leaving office in May and that the Women Mayors’ Caucus would need to hold elections in June. She indicated that she would appoint a Nominating Committee and ask immediate past chair Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin to chair the Committee. She asked that any women mayors interested in serving on the Nominating Committee to contact her.

A discussion followed about the focus of the Women Mayors’ Caucus during the 75th Annual Meeting of the Conference of Mayors in June and included issues from leadership to sustainability of communities.

The meeting adjourned with Barnes asking those present to give any ideas to staff.