Happy August!  It’s hard to believe that there’s only about a month before summer starts to come to a close.  I always have to remind myself that summer, if you look at the calendar, is just as long as our other three seasons but it’s too short and oh-so-sweet here in Madison.  I hope you are able to take some time this month to be with those you love whether it be on a family picnic, reunion, or travels. I’ll be taking part in the latter two while trying to stay as safe as possible during this pandemic.

Speaking of our new normal, when was the last time you were in a museum?  As I asked myself this same question, I came up with December 2019.  Considering I used to make it to museums at least every few months, this has been a sad dry spell.  I miss museums and am ready to get back to surrounding myself with beautiful and meaningful works of art.   COVID-19 has certainly presented challenges to all of us as individuals, businesses, organizations, governments and industries.  One industry that has really had more than its fair share of challenges is nonprofit organizations, particularly community arts organizations.  This month, we’ll get the chance to learn about the challenges one of our local arts organizations faced during the pandemic and how they met those challenges and stayed true to their mission of providing a space to engage in conversations about our world.  I hope you’ll be able to join me for our August luncheon, when Christina Brungardt, Director of the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art talks to us about her experiences dealing with those challenges while charting a course for their future in our community. 

TEMPO Madison is also charting our course for the future. We have a plan in place to transition to hybrid programming in September 2021. We are all eager to get back to connecting with one another. The past year-and-a-half has shown us all how meaningful and important our TEMPO Madison relationships are. 

A couple weeks ago, we lost too soon, one very dear TEMPO Madison Member and Past President (2008/09), Sue Ann Kaestner.  Sue Ann was beloved by many fellow TEMPO Madison members.  I remember her for her willingness to jump in and help with anything when I was part of the TEMPO Madison Foundation.  The bonds of our TEMPO Madison sisterhood were evident when I arrived at her visitation last week.  The room was full of caring and grieving TEMPO Madison sisters. Many past Presidents and a founding member were present.  It felt so good to come together to celebrate Sue Ann’s life.  I think she would have loved that we had a chance to commune together in her honor. Sue Ann asked that any memorial donations in her name be made to our TEMPO Madison Foundation.  For that we are honored.

As we embark on our group’s 40^th year of existence I’m consistently reminded of why we have come together.  It’s all about the sisterhood we’ve developed.  We support and step up for one another, through the good times and in times of sorrow.  It’s through those experiences that we really do embrace our mission of leading, connecting and engaging with women of our community.    If you are new to our group, welcome!  We cannot wait to get to know you. 

Finally, I’ll close with I hope you have seen some of our recent social media teasers about the speakers for our 40^th kickoff event on October 27^th at the Edgewater Hotel.  The photos will make you smile.  The full “reveal” Is set for August 4^th.  Stay tuned!

With gratitude,

Elaine Rich

TEMPO Madison President 

TEMPO Madison is hosting a kick-off event on October 27, 2021, as we mark 40 years of connecting Madison-area women in executive and professional leadership roles. This event will set the stage for a year-long celebration of our organization and the women leaders we support.  All proceeds will benefit the TEMPO of Madison Foundation, a 501(c)(3)  nonprofit organization  that provides needs-based scholarships to promising Madison-area high school seniors.   

We would be excited to have your support of our mission to lead, engage, and connect influential women of diverse backgrounds and experience to help them succeed at the highest professional levels in our community. 

We would be honored if you would consider being a sponsor for our 40^th anniversary kick-off event, which will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on October 27, 2021, at the Edgewater Hotel in Madison, Wisconsin. 

A range of opportunities are available. Detailed sponsorship information can be found on our sponsorship form. 

We ask that all sponsorship forms be returned by October 1^st. 

Over the last 5 years, this one-of-a-kind event has raised over $27,000 for the TEMPO Madison Foundation, which provides educational support to TEMPO Madison members and area high school seniors, and $6,500 for “No Strings Attached”, our member-led micro-giving program that supports women in need. Your contributions magnify TEMPO Madison's ability to make an impact in the lives of women throughout our community.  The TEMPOShares committee is planning to make this year’s event better! Mark Your Calendars! TEMPOShares will be held Tuesday, October 12, 2021 from 5:00 – 7:30 pm at the Madison Club! Register here to join us for a casual evening of meeting new members, catching up with old friends, enjoying great food, and an amazing raffle! How You Can Help! This year we are hosting a raffle of amazing donations from TEMPO Madison members and the community! Our goal is to have 9 – 14 raffle items and baskets with a minimum value of $200. You can donate a pre-made basket of items like last year's popular fall drinks kit. Or you can donate an item or service that may be combined with other donated items to create a unique experience.  Be creative, share something of yourself! We will also continue to highlight TEMPO Madison member experiences! You can donate your time by offering to host an event for members, where multiple people may purchase the experience for a certain price. Past popular examples include: Pinot on the Prairie*, Pickleball for 4, Golf and Drinks on the Deck. Each member may bring one guest to join us for the evening! Know what you would like to donate today? Complete your submission form.

Raffle / Event Donation Form

Vendor Members (or any Interested Members) Last year, we had a blast with our virtual demonstration rooms and would love to replicate the experience this year! Would you like to showcase your products or talents: Make a Drink  Cook a Recipe / Taste something great Demonstrate a hobby (scarves, art project)  Contact Megan Purtell for more information or questions.

Fatou Ceesay, Owner, Cairasu Home Care

Fatou Ceesay's business Cairasu Home Care won a 2021 Dane County Small Business Award. The award will be presented on July 14 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Madison Marriott West.

Betty Harris Custer, Owner, Custer Financial Services

Betty Harris Custer's business Custer Financial Services won a 2021 Dane County Small Business Award. The award will be presented on July 14 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Madison Marriott West.

Barbara Hughes, Retired

Barbara Hughes was awarded the 2021 Powley Elder Law Award by the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). This award is presented annually to a NAELA member who is recognized in his or her community as a leader in promoting a greater understanding of the rights and needs of the elderly and people with special needs, and of how elder law attorneys advocate for those rights. You can watch Barbara's acceptance speech here.

Marilyn Ruffin, VP Family & Community Initiatives, One City Schools

Marilyn Ruffin was interviewed in an hour-long podcast about her experiences as a Black Substitute Teacher in Madison and Sun Prairie, former School Board Member and work at One City Schools. Listen here.

Elizabeth Zeidler Schreiter, PsyD, Chief Behavioral Health Officer, Access Community Health Centers

Dr. Elizabeth Zeidler Schreiter is the co-chair for the 2021 Collaborative Family Healthcare Association (CFHA) annual conference to be held in Madison, WI and virtually in October 2021. CFHA is the premier national conference to advance the integration of behavioral health into overall healthcare.

This year the conference focus is Justice, Health Equity, and Reducing the Digital Divide. In the wake of a global pandemic and increased national awareness of systemic racism, the time is now for sustainable action to address health and social inequities. This year’s conference will focus on acknowledging and addressing the systemic racial and socioeconomic inequities in healthcare and will examine a path forward together. We will emphasize, not only research and ideas, but actionable steps to help bring equitable health care to all. We will take a close look at the rapid growth of telehealth as a sustainable part of healthcare and examine ways to leverage virtual care to reduce disparities and enhance access to needed care. Additionally, we will address the need for health care leaders to impress and practice self-care, resiliency, and cultural humility to make this journey one that lasts.

Tanya Lettman-Shue, President and CEO of Journey Mental Health Center

Tanya Lettman-Shue has been named President and CEO of Journey Mental Health Center. Tanya succeeds Lynn Brady who announced her retirement this spring. Tanya is uniquely qualified for her new position, having held leadership positions at Journey for ten years, the past six as a member of the executive leadership group. Tanya most recently served as Journey’s Chief Clinical Officer, and has been instrumental in moving Journey forward through challenging economic times as well as the Covid- 19 pandemic.

by Christine Lidbury, Executive Director, Wisconsin Women's Council

July 2021 marks the 100th Anniversary of women in Wisconsin gaining the right to hold public office. The provision came fifth in a list of “rights and privileges” extended to women in the landmark 1921 Wisconsin Equal Rights Act, with the preamble, “[t]o remove discriminations against women and give them equal rights before the law.” The first state to ratify the 19th Amendment, a year later, Wisconsin was again recognized nationally for passing the first equal rights bill in any U.S. state.

In 1923, a UW-Extension survey of Wisconsin cities and villages identified Wisconsin’s first “Lady Mayor” (Crandon), county board supervisor (Brown County), alderwomen (Clintonville, Janesville, Marshfield, Mellon, Phillips, Platteville, Waukesha, Wausau), more than a dozen village trustees and nearly three dozen municipal clerks and treasurers. In 1924, the first women were elected to the Wisconsin State Legislature as “Assemblymen.” It wasn’t until 1975 that a woman was elected to the State Senate.

That was then, where are we a century later? Women’s representation in public office still lags. Often significantly. The influx of women into elected office began in numbers in the late 1970s, making slow progress to the current day. Today, women in elected office in state and local government still account for less than a 25% of office holders and only about 12% of leadership positions.

Marking this Centennial, women sworn into the 2021 State Legislature exceed 30% of all Legislators for the first time and passed the previous record of 29% set more than three decades ago, in 1989, and again in 1993 and 2003. In fact, the share of women in the State Legislature had hovered around 25% for more than 30 years. “First” for women holding office in Wisconsin state and federal elected offices gained momentum starting in the 1970s and continue today – with some yet to come.
See a timeline here. 

In a new report from the Wisconsin Women’s Council, more than 3,000 women serve in elected office across state and local governments in Wisconsin. Today, women’s representation in elected office includes, 25 mayors (14%), 41 state legislators (31%), and about 250 county board, 400 city council and 650 village board members. Women represent most of the state’s elected and appointed local government clerks  and treasurers.

The 1921 Equal Rights Act did not live up to the hopes of reformers, having included loopholes that quickly undermined reforms. Nonetheless, on the heels of suffrage, it presaged a modern era for American women and set Wisconsin women on a new path as government leaders.

Women’s place in public office in this next century starts today. What happens with that is up to us.

Hello TEMPO Madison Sisters,

It is with great honor that I step in this month to serve as your 2021-2022 TEMPO Madison President. As I write this, my inaugural message, on June 27th 2021, I am reflecting on this past year with the hardships and tragedies we have endured, from the pandemic to social injustice. However, I feel that there is a sense of hope and an opening for healing emerging. While we are just days from celebrating another year of our country’s independence on the Fourth of July, I am proud of the fact that our nation has finally recognized Juneteenth as a national holiday. It may seem like a small step toward facing our nation’s toll of slavery and a too long legacy of systemic racism and social injustice, it is thus, a step forward. This is a moment where we can recommit ourselves to working toward diversity, equity and inclusion.

To that charge, our newly formed TEMPO Madison DEI Committee will soon be meeting to develop a vision, goals and objectives and to hold our organization accountable to meet the commitments we created in our Diversity Equity and Inclusion Statement.

I am so excited for and hope you can join us on July 13th when we will feature a moderated panel on the four sororities that are members of the Divine Nine Black Greek Letter Organizations (BGLOs). We’ll learn more about the rich history and impact of these strong, female-led organizations. It’s going to be yet another opportunity for TEMPO Madison Members to learn from leading women and to connect and engage.

One final note, we will be kicking off our 40th Anniversary year-long celebration this fall with a not-to-be missed event on October 27th at the Edgewater Hotel. Look for more updates on this and all of our exciting 40th Anniversary plans soon!

Warmest Regards,

Elaine Rich

President, TEMPO Madison

At the 2021 TEMPO Madison Annual Meeting, the membership took action to modify the bylaws to incorporate our new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement and to make minor changes to the terminology used within the bylaws. 

The TEMPO Madison Board discovered that the correct version of the proposed revisions was included in the Annual Meeting booklet, while an incorrect version was displayed on your screens. 

We apologize for the error.  For purposes of your files, the following revisions to the bylaws will be recorded as adopted during the 2021 TEMPO Madison Annual Meeting:

Corrected Version

Patti Coan, Yoga Instructor and Coach, Samapatti Yoga

The world is reopening, and it's time for us to blossom! After 30 years of informal coaching, Patti Coan took the leap during lockdown to earn a Brain-based Coaching Certificate from the Neuroleadership Institute. The next step is to earn the International Coaching Federation (ICF) Credential. One hundred hours of high-impact coaching are required to achieve this gold standard in coaching.

Join Patti during her ICF credentialing period for either virtual or in-person coaching at an introductory rate for a robust 12 session program over 12 weeks. Coaching conversations offer a safe space to explore challenges and opportunities, experiment with fresh approaches, and build sustainable, new habits. Possibilities include: Yoga; Career; Work/Life Balance. Partner with Patti to go beneath the surface to increase self-awareness, translate knowledge into action and achieve lasting change. Please reach out to Patti @ 608-345-3311 or samapattiyoga@gmail.com to schedule a 30 min. overview call to discuss your vision. The Life of Your Dreams awaits!

Sharyl Kato, Director and Child and Family Therapist, The Rainbow Project

The Rainbow Project recently finished up its month-long recognition of April, which is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. They held their Annual Stakeholder Forum and - for the first time - a Learning Series with guest speakers to bring attention to child abuse and prevention. All of the April events are now available for anyone to view on the Rainbow Project website!

The Rainbow Project is also currently planning their 17th Annual Rhumba 4 Rainbow! This year, they will be holding a live in-person and virtually-streamable Rhumba at Union South on Friday, September 17th. Tickets will go on sale soon, and the Rainbow Project will be adhering to public safety measures, including attendee numbers. Please put this date on your calendars and think about attending - whether virtually or in-person!

Darcy Luoma, CEO, Darcy Luoma Coaching & Consulting

Darcy Luoma's book, Thoughtfully Fit: Your Training Plan for Life & Business Success hit #1 New Release in Work Life Balance in Business. It is being published on June 1 by Harper Horizon. Learn more.

Renee More, President and CEO, United Way of Dane County

United Way of Dane County announced its intention to reduce racial health disparities across the community in partnership with nonprofits, healthcare and philanthropy.

After a year of research, engagement and prioritization by the Health Community Solutions Team (CST), United Way's Board approved the plan in late April. Donors can give to any 501c3 through the United Way Community Campaign; with unrestricted donations, United Way CST volunteers can target resources toward the greatest need, highest impact strategies to move the needle on community-level priorities. Community-level plans include goals and metrics and exist for all greatest need focus areas: Education, Income, Health and 2Gen (working with children and caregivers in the same family at the same time). United Way's mission is to unite the community to create measurable results and change lives. Read Story

Marilyn Ruffin, VP Family & Community Initiatives, One City Schools

Marilyn Ruffin was interviewed by the Wisconsin State Journal about the Black Excellence Achievement Makers (BEAM) Awards, which she founded when she was serving on the Sun Prairie School Board.

“We often hear about negative behaviors or attitudes being assigned to our Black scholars in Sun Prairie, so the effort of this event is to challenge the narrative by ‘shining a beaming light’ on the positive examples of Black excellence and achievement in our community,” Ruffin said. She was the first Black person elected to any office in Sun Prairie when she joined the school board in 2015; she served until last month. Read the article here.

Sheryl Spitzer-Resnick, MD/owner, A New Way Forward. Womens Health and Integrative Healing

Sheryl Spitzer-Resnick was one of a few physicians interviewed in an article by Harvard Medicine on the need for research on peri menopause and menopause and the impact on women personally and professionally. Read the article here.

Tracy L. Williams, Senior Director of External Relations, University of Wisconsin-Madison

As a lifetime learner, Tracy L. Williams has completed requirements of The Wisconsin School of Business Center for Professional & Executive Development’s Transition to Executive Management certificate program. The program is for senior managers, directors, and functional area leaders who have high potential to transition to executive management. It’s also valuable for senior leaders or entrepreneurs of companies with growth potential.

In the past year, issues of racism and social injustice are finally receiving the kind of focus and attention necessary to move the collective conversation toward actionable solutions. We are noticing a greater spotlight on educating about and advocating for justice. There is stronger representation in public and government sectors serving as allies than ever before, and more intentional efforts incorporating social responsibility to the core organizational missions. For many, this has been a year of tragedies and challenges that impacted us in one form or another. We have learned that we are stronger when we work together to be that catalyst of change.

I am proud of the TEMPO Madison Board of Directors’ commitment to strengthening diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the organization. Progress to date include educating on DEI through monthly luncheons and the leadership series. In addition, our February networking event to see Forward Theatre’s THE NICETIES, included a post-show discussion, which offered a safe space for members to share their personal experiences and perspectives on racial discrimination. The NICETIES play, showcasing a debate between a Black college student and a white professor on the topics of race, history, and power in America, served as a catalyst for critical conversations, which are continuing among our members.

Looking forward, TEMPO Madison has developed the following DEI statement to reflect our commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive experience for everyone.

TEMPO Madison DEI Statement

TEMPO Madison is committed to embodying diversity, equity, and inclusion as an organization representing members from different backgrounds, businesses, industries, and professions. We live these values by embracing and celebrating individuals and ideas that represent and reflect all dimensions of diversity including race, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, sexual orientation, gender non-conforming traits, religion, military membership, veteran status, and ability. We respect and value diverse experiences and will strive to ensure that all voices are heard and given equal value. In addition to committing to these values within TEMPO Madison, we promote them outside the organization into the broader Madison community.

TEMPO Madison Board of Directors will exemplify and provide leadership on diversity, equity, and inclusion by committing to the following:

· Examine and address inequities within our policies, programs, and services and ensure transparency by communicating to appropriate constituents.

· Expand and commit to greater diversity within the Board of Directors, membership, as well as our partners and vendors.

· Develop and offer DEI professional development opportunities for the Board of Directors, especially those newly appointed in board leadership roles, members, and guests.

· Identify and advocate resources and programs for underrepresented members to ensure an equitable, inclusive, and rewarding experience.

Our DEI efforts do not stop with a statement. The next step is forming a DEI Committee with members that represent our growing diverse membership and who have expressed interest in strengthening the organizational efforts in diversity, equity, and inclusion of TEMPO Madison. The DEI Committee will work closely with the Board of Directors to develop a vision, goals, and objectives, and to hold our organization accountable to meet the commitments set forth in the DEI Statement in all aspects (e.g., membership, speakers, events, vendors, partners, etc.). If you are interested in joining the DEI Committee, please email Erin Fabrizius at tempomadison@tempomadison.org by May 31, 2021.

As we proudly embrace our differences, it is our hope you will join us during the month of May in celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. To discover more about this amazing journey, check out: https://www.etonline.com/asian-american-and-pacific-islander-heritage-month-how-it-started-and-how-to-celebrate-164426

Respectfully,

Leslie M. Petty

President, TEMPO Madison