Cape May County Women’s Commission Highlights Goals for 2019

COURT HOUSE – On Dec. 11, 1984, by a unanimous vote of the Cape May County Board of Chosen Freeholders through Resolution 786-84 the Advisory Commission on the Status of Women of Cape May County was established.
According to a release, it’s probably no secret that the commission has evolved since its creation.
Many have contributed to the commission’s 35-year history but most recently the commission has revitalized. “Organizations have cycles and although past chair Susan Adelizzi Schmidt stepped down to manage other commitments, she led us over a threshold that now has the Commission on solid ground and in good hands”, stated Freeholder liaison E. Marie Hayes.
The Commission Chairwoman is Maria Kellett, Vice Chair Violet Rixey, Secretary Donna Douglass Groome, along with other members; Dottie Pearson, Melanie Collette, Jackie Simonson, Beverly Fedorko-Ott, Pat Taylor, Christine Cote, Jacqueline Fulginiti Fiore and legal liaison, Lauren Fogarty.
“We have a strong group of women who come from different walks of life, education and work history all lending itself to encompass a wide scope of contacts and resources”, Hayes added.
“Many of commission’s year goals for 2019 are well underway. We have revised our bylaws to better reflect more of our present-day identity and have committed to the need to increase our outreach.
“Since June we have begun meeting with the Atlantic County Advisory Commission on Women to exchange vital information on the needs and issues involving today’s woman. The focus of this collaboration has been to emphasize the grave concern shared by both commissions regarding human trafficking who have been researching the issues involved,” Hayes continued. 
During the month of January, the Cape May County Women’s Commission thanked and addressed the freeholder board for highlighting January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month.
Moving forward the commission is committed to widening the network of awareness and have been preparing an agenda to combat these grievous civil rights injustices through a multi-level community approach.
Other more recent commission work has been hosting the Women of Wonder event which ties the business and educational communities together in support of community women who have achieved milestone contributions in their field. 
This event supports scholarships for young women attending Atlantic Cape Community College usually spotlighting the aspiring endeavors they themselves are already making.
The commission is comprised of 14 members approved by the body and appointed by a majority vote of the freeholder board. In addition, an ex-officio member of the freeholder board serves as a non-voting liaison.
Applications are available on the website along with other information and history on the Women’s Commission throughout the years.
Become more familiar with the Cape May County Women’s Commission at www.capemaycountynj.gov listed under government boards and commissions.
The CMCWC meets every first Thursday of the month at the Atlantic Cape Community College campus on Court House -South Dennis Road, CMCH at 5:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted on the webpage and welcomes all wishing to bring attention to topics of interest and or concern to the county’s female residents of all ages, economics and diversities and their families.