JASPER, IN – The Rotary Club of Jasper, hosting its eight annual ATHENA International Leadership Award® presentation in Dubois County, has announced this year’s six finalists. They are Jane Balsmeyer, Jenny Fowler, Judy Jochem-Nino, Tracy Lorey, Nancy Otte, and Jill Wigand. Go to www.jasperrotary.com for more finalist information. The event will be held at the Huntingburg Event Center on Thursday, August 22, 2019, beginning at 6:00 p.m. with Sue Ellsperman, a Ferdinand native, former Lieutenant Governor of Indiana, former Indiana House Representative, and current President of Ivy Tech Community College, as the keynote speaker. The dinner will begin at 6:30 pm.
Founded in 1982 by Martha Mayhood Mertz, ATHENA® International is a non-profit organization that seeks to support, develop and honor women leaders. The program inspires women to reach their full potential and strives to create balance in leadership worldwide. Supporting, honoring, and developing women leaders are the foundations of the ATHENA Leadership Model®, developed through a grant from the W.K. Kellogg
Foundation. The model identifies eight distinct attributes that are reflective of women’s
contributions to leadership: Authentic Self, Relationships, Giving Back, Collaboration,
Courageous Acts, Learning, Fierce Advocacy, and Celebration & Joy. These
personal traits combined with the strongest aspects of traditional leadership—taking
risks, assertiveness, and hard work—prepare women to be successful leaders in the 21st
Century. These seven women are recognized for demonstrating these characteristics in their lives.
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What Mertz conceived more than a quarter-century ago is now a global movement. Since the program’s inception, more than 7,000 awards have been presented in over 500 communities in eight countries. In a recent ATHENA International Leadership Conference, Martha noted: “Think about Rosa Parks, who from the authenticity of her core, refused once again, to go to the back of the bus. Consider Mother Theresa who expressed her leadership by the touch of her hand, by the healing of her voice, by the power of her presence—always giving hope. These are but two examples, albeit great examples, of women’s ways of leading that have changed the world.” The Rotary Club of Jasper decided that honoring a local woman leader would be a perfect fit with the ATHENA® Mission of “…supporting, developing and honoring women leaders while inspiring women to achieve their full potential while creating balance in leadership worldwide!”
German American, Kimball Electronics, MasterBrand Cabinets, and Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center are platinum sponsors of this event. Circle “A” Food Mart and SVB&T are gold sponsors. Sponsorships are still available by calling Dan Collignon at 812-631-2869. The Rotary Club of Jasper is coordinating the entire event.
Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all locations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. In more than 162 countries worldwide,
approximately 1.2 million Rotarians belong to more than 35,000 rotary clubs. These
groups meet weekly and are nonpolitical, nonreligious, and open to all cultures, races, and creeds. The main objective of Rotary is service – in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world.
