CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE, NJ -- On December 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. It’s probably no secret that the Commission has evolved since its creation.  Many have contributed to the Commission’s thirty-five 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 DonnaDouglass Groome, along with other members; Dottie Pearson, Melanie
Collette, Jackie Simonson, Beverly Fedorko-Ott, Pat Taylor, ChristineCote, 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.  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 networkof awareness and have been preparing an agenda to combat these grievous civil
rights injustices through a multi-level community approach.  Other morerecent Commission work has been hosting the Women of Wonder event which ties
the business and educational communities together in support of community womenwho have achieved milestone contributions in their field.  This event
supports scholarships for young women attending Atlantic Cape Community Collegeusually 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, anex-officio member of the Freeholder Board serves as a non-voting liaison.
Applications are available on the website along with other information andhistory 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 CMCWCmeets every first Thursday of the month at the Atlantic Cape Community College
campus located on Court House South Dennis Road, CMCH at 5:30 p.m. unlessotherwise noted on the webpage and welcome all wishing to bring attention to
topics of interest and or concern to our female residents of all ages,economics and diversities and their families. 

In honor of
Women’s History Month, we salute all women in their respective roles whosupport, uplift and encourage each other in making a difference for ourselves
and generations that will come after us.  We hope to provide a path tosuccess and a voice for our future.