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Contests honor women in nontraditional careers
By JANE RIDER of the Missoulian

March is Women's History Month and it is also when Gearing Up, a project of WORD - Women's Opportunity & Resource Development Inc. - has its award contests in celebration of women workers.

The general public and high school students are invited to participate.

Montanans are known for their pioneering spirit, said Carol Bellin, contest organizer and a WORD employee.

Contest organizers want to receive stories about foremothers who performed work that was nontraditional for women or women in the community currently doing nontraditional work.

Entries will be displayed in a "Women's Wall of Fame" exhibit at the Missoula Public Library, the WORD offices and at local high schools.

Entries may be photographs, short stories or oral histories honoring the skills and courage of a woman in a family or the community, past or present, who has worked in a nontraditional career - one in which 25 percent or less of that work force is female.

Deadline for entries is March 15. Best entry by a high school student will receive a $100 gift certificate. Best entry from the general public receives a $100 gift certificate. A $50 gift certificate will also be awarded through a drawing from a pool of all entrants.

Gearing Up is also sponsoring an essay contest open to high school girls from Missoula County public schools. Girls interested in exploring nontraditional careers in building trades or technology are encouraged to write a brief letter explaining their nontraditional career aspirations and any past experience with it.

Letters should be three pages or less and sent to WORD, 127 N. Higgins Ave., Missoula, MT 59802

The winner of the essay contest will join the Gearing Up project director in attending the second annual convention of "Tradeswomen Now and Tomorrow" in Washington, D.C., on May 7-11.

Convention activities will include opportunities to meet and interview tradeswomen from many occupations, learn about the history of tradeswomen in America, meet U.S. congressional representatives and attend a showcase on Capitol Hill of successful programs that promote equality in career training.

Deadline for high school girls submitting an essay to win a trip to Washington, D.C., is March 25. For more information, contact Bellin at 543-3550, Ext. 52.
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