Our History

Established March 20, 2003 by Lebanon County Commissioners RoseMarie Swanger, Ed Arnold and William Carpenter, the Lebanon County Commission for Women (LCCW) was created to inform and advise the Commissioners on issues of concern to women in Lebanon County. The Commissioners approved the roster of members for the Commission and their first official meeting was held on July 16, 2003.

The founding members were: Josie Ames, Marianne Bartley, Lori Brandt, Mary Burchik, Carol Checket, Joyce Dissinger, Donna Eberly-Lehman, Harriet Faren, Representative Mauree Gingrich, Cindy Heisey, Bridget Hofman, Barbara Kauffman, Susan Funk Klarsch, Donna Moyer, Jenny Murphy-Shifflet, Karin Right-Nolan, Dawn Shultz, Kathy Snavely, Pam Tricamo, Kathy Verna and Jessica Wright.

The by-laws were adopted on November 12, 2003, establishing (among other things) that the Commission would meet six times annually.

The Nominating Committee was charged with soliciting applications for possible Commission membership, reviewing applications, conducting interviews and recommending applicants for consideration. The criteria for membership that were established were: community awareness, community involvement, active support of women’s issues, and ability to commit time for meetings and projects.

In May 2004, the Commission established committees, based on some of the information that was discovered during a community services assessment. After deciding that housing and transportation needs were beyond the scope of the Commission, committees were established for: advocacy, child care, education, financial literacy, health care and youth. These groups met between regularly scheduled meetings of the Commission.

During the 2004-2006 time-frame (and some continue to present day), the goals of these committees were:

Advocacy – creating a presence on the internet. The Commission started working on a website in partnership with Pipeline Interactive. There was also a discussion about producing a publication for the purpose of communicating issues of vital importance to women throughout the county.
Education: sponsor a student at the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Excellence in Education banquet and promote curricular opportunities in schools which highlight the significant historical events which have impacted women.

Financial Literacy – research financial education materials available for children and youth and promote budget counseling in Lebanon County.

Health Care – distribute health information; compose and distribute a women’s health survey and use the survey results to identify barriers to women’s health care in Lebanon County.

Youth – conduct facilitated meetings with interested adult parties regarding issues surrounding young women; obtain input from youth on issues concerning them, obstacles in their path; identify one to three action items the Commission can consider in assisting young women meet their challenges and make better decisions.

In 2005, the focus was given to two major areas – financial literacy and education/youth. The Commission felt they could be the catalyst to bring key players together who could affect real change. That has become the model for all Commission projects to follow.

In September 2007, the Commission realigned the committees based on what needs/issues were not being adequately addressed in the community. Permanent and Ad Hoc committees were established. Permanent committees were Executive, Finance and Nominating. Ad Hoc committees were Education/Youth, Leadership Development, Public Relations and Hot Topics.

In mid-2008, the Women’s Commission launched its website. It can be accessed through a link on the County’s website: https://webmail.lebcnty.org/owa.

Eventually, an email address was established for the Commission: womenscommission@lebcnty.org. Plus, we have a Facebook page that can be accessed at: Lebanon County Commission for Women.