Women give from the heart ...

Women’s generous hearts were honored Saturday, Feb. 11, at the third annual Women of Pulaski County Celebration. And most of those in the audience have intimately experienced and witnessed the selflessness that comes of giving from the heart.

In what has become one of the most elegant and charming events staged in Pulaski County, nearly 200 (mostly) women attended the celebration held at the Church of the Heartland in Winamac.

The event is organized by a group of ladies who came together three years ago to recognize the numerous and varied contributions of women to the quality of life in their communities. The group calls itself the Women of Pulaski County.

The mission of the organization is to “celebrate women in their roles as ‘givers’ in the past, present and future through their service, leadership and resources, and to build positive relations between our county’s communities.”

The group’s president, Wendy Rose, noted that women are “grounded in the tradition of volunteerism and caring.” But she added that today’s modern women who have more financial resources in their control are “not limited to service, but now also contribute business leadership and philanthropy.”

As always, the event proved to be an inspiration to those in attendance to renew their commitment to serve their communities and families - in keeping with the heritage of the remarkable women who have gone before them.

Guests were treated to a delightful brunch which featured beautifully set tables, soft lighting, cream-filled and chocolate Valentine treats and breath-taking towering floral arrangements.

Each year the Women of Pulaski County Celebration honors women throughout the county whose quiet work has benefited their communities. Shown with the event’s special guests, they are (left to right) Jeanette Podell, Miss Indiana Susan Guilkey, Linda Leasure, Arlene Metzger, Jan Moore, Jeanette Kasten, Elaine Parish, Mary Powers, Josephine Speicher and Miss Indiana State Fair Bailey Hoover.

Twelve women, selected as the 2006 Women of Pulaski County honorees, were featured in a video presentation which chronicled their life stories. The women (some now deceased) represented all of Pulaski County’s townships.

All have been quietly devoted to their families, but their care has also extended to those around them wherever they saw a need. Many have endured their own personal hardships and tragedies, and took from those experiences a knowledge of how to reach out to comfort others.

Cheryl McGovern and West Central Sunshine Girls Vanessa Cavness, Rachel Jany and Lindsey Seats seek autographs from Miss Indiana Susan Guilkey.

The honored women included farm wives and homemakers, teachers and business women who have contributed untold hours and dedication to special projects and community organizations.

Only recently returned from the Miss America Scholarship Pageant in Las Vegas, this year’s keynote talk was given by Miss Indiana Susan Guilkey.

She was visibly touched by the stories of the honored women, and observed they reminded her of her own grandmother who married her childhood sweetheart only to nearly lose him in a serious Model-T car accident six months later. When he emerged from a lengthy coma, he not only had to re-learn physical and speech abilities, his personality was forever altered.

“He was never the same man my grandmother married,” Susan explained. But through the shock and inevitable dismay, her grandmother stood by her marriage, and last year the couple happily celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary.

“My grandmother is a testament to keeping a promise and a vow,” Susan tearfully observed. “Some-times our greatest joy comes from our hardest trials.”
Her platform as Miss Indiana is to encourage and support the education of young girls and women.

“I’m very touched by this program,” she told the audience, “and I’m impressed by your sense of community and commitment ... and celebration.”

And the beat goes on!