Member of Oklahoma BPW/USA

Waynoka BPW Chartering Ceremony
April 29, 2004

Special Guests included National President Carolyn Grady 
State President Pat Singleton 
and Past State Presidents Becky McCray, Jean Petermann, and Jean Stoner

Our officers are:

  • President Karen Payne, Cimarron Wine and Spirits
  • Vice President Sharon Sims, City of Waynoka
  • Secretary Jodell Durkee, Waynoka Nursing Center
  • Treasurer Jeanne Cole, Oklahoma Small Business Development Center

Charter members include the officers listed and Vivian Nutter, Susan Bradford, Carolyn Baird, Lisa Weiszbrod, Tracy Criswell, Barbara Summerall, Debra Mavity and Laurie Reyes.

2004 Women Mean Business Awards

By Jeanne Cole

The Second Annual Women Mean Business Awards Banquet was held Tuesday, June 15, in Waynoka’s chamber building. Honored nominees and guests were seated at tables decorates with a red, white and blue floral theme. Chamber President Brandon Cook led the group in the pledge of allegiance to the flag to start the evening and then gave a warm welcome to guests and thanked our sponsoring merchants. Chamber officers were introduced and Karen Payne, Waynoka’s BPW Chapter President also made introductions that included two past state BPW Presidents, Jean Petermann and Jean Stoner, both from Woodward. Becky McCray, also a Past State President, served as emcee for the event.

After the guests were served, McCray introduced Laura Girty, who lives in Cherokee. Girty, a Department of Commerce employee, wife and mother, spoke to the group about work/life balance issues that women face.

During dessert McCray began the awards presentations. Several honorees from the 2003 banquet were in attendance to present this year’s honorees with certificates. McCray quoted from nominations for each honoree as they were announced.

In the Civic & Municipal category, Jodell Durkee presented finalist certificates to Karen Payne, Sharon Barnes, Connie Moore, Jane Adair, Kori Allison and Jeanne Cole. The 2004 honoree is Jane Adair. 

For the Humanitarian category, Sandra Olson presented finalist certificates to Carol King, Charlotte Burson, Jodell Durkee, Marge Cohlmia, Maxine Cell, Karen Payne and Sandra Olson. The honoree for 2004 is Maxine Cell. 

In the Education & Child care category, Susan Litzenberger, the honoree for 2003 was not able to be with us, so Sharon Sims, Vice President of the Waynoka BPW Chapter, presented finalist certificates to Becky Gaisford, Dana Hope, Murletta Crissup and Joann Bellmon. The honoree for 2004 is Dana Hope. In a touching moment, Dana’s husband, Wes, was asked to join her as his nominating quote was read.

2003 Business Woman, Linda Hutchison was not able to be with us, so Sims made finalist presentations in this category to Jodell Durkee, Charlene Bixler, Connie Moore, Nadine Hayes, Pam Hart and Michele Blackwill. The 2004 Honoree is Michele Blackwill. 

Working Woman honoree for 2003, Shelly Eslick was also not with us so Sims again presented finalist certificates to Jennifer Blankenship, Pat Wray, Betty Jean Shelton, Sally Miller, Lois Nutter and Sam Dannar. The 2004 honoree is Sam Dannar. 

There were two finalists for boss of the year and the 2003 honoree, Donna Schmidt presented certificates to Lisa Weiszbrod and John Fiscus. The honoree for 2004 is Lisa Weiszbrod.

An addition to the awards for 2004, Waynoka’s BPW Woman of the Year, chosen by the chapter membership, was recognized. In a presentation filled with laughter and tears, BPW President, Karen Payne, announced their first Woman of the Year, Doris Hufford. Recognizing her long history as a business woman in Waynoka and her many contributions to the community as a volunteer, Payne presented a surprised Hufford with the honor.

In a final surprise of the evening, the BPW/USA Waynoka Chapter presented Becky McCray with a plaque declaring her an honorary lifetime member of their chapter in appreciation for her dedication, inspiration and support during the charter process.

In addition to the framed certificate, each honoree received a gift bag complied from items donated by sponsoring merchants, including Duckwall, Hairloom, Lamb’s Hardware, Woods County Enterprise, Waynoka Police Dept., Waynoka Lumber, Hutch’s Country Market, the Oasis, Millers Café and Little Sahara Tours & Rental. Door prizes were won by Betty Jean Shelton, Charlene Bixler and Pat Wray.

The Waynoka Chamber and the Waynoka BPW are grateful for the support from the community for this great event honoring our women. Thank you to everyone who helped to make this event a success.

 

Chamber President Brandon Cook, Becky McCray, and
Keynote Speaker Laura Girty

2004 Education and Child Care Honoree
Dana Hope and her husband Wes

BPW Woman of the Year
Doris Hufford

Becky McCray receives her plaque
from Karen Payne

 

 

 

Projects of Continuing Interest

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