SKIN IN THE GAME – GOVERNOR WALKER, Women Council of Wisconsin - Call for Women of Color

From L-R; Mary Jo Baas and Gov Scott Walker
Top/down: Nicole Bowman-Farrell, Michelle Mellner, JoAnna Richard, Arlene Siss,
Senator Jennifer Shilling, Sarah Briganti, Senator Dave Hansen, Heidi Green, Rep. Sandy Pasch, Rep. Kelda Helen Roys and Heather Smith

Women Council of Wisconsin - 15 appointees
On June 13, 2012, Mary Glass, Chair/CEO, Milwaukee Professionals Association called for “Skin-in-the-Game” by Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin.  His disrespectful comment was captured in an article by Bill Glauber of the Journal Sentinel, All Politics Blog, dated June 1, 2012. 

His comment, “We don't want Wisconsin to become like Milwaukee," he said, adding that he wanted Wisconsin to help troubled cities in the state.

                                       Glass’s article took issue with Governor Walker’s breach of etiquette by “DISSING” the city of Milwaukee and Dissing Milwaukee while touring in a Sussex company with an out-of-state guest, Governor Nikki Haley, South Carolina.  Click

Put up

Since the incendiary statement spoken by Governor Walker lacked leadership while the county executive of Milwaukee county and his time in office as governor of Wisconsin, we are calling for the governor to put "skin-in-the-game".    

To take his foot out of his mouth – to show that Wisconsin is “Open for Business” for ALL, especially those by-design left out - African American, other People of Color and the Work Challenged  (un-, under-employed; un-, under-degreed and certificated; un-, under-financed neighborhood-level business; disabled; and re-entry - especially those returning from WAR, INCARCERATION, BOOMERANG EMPLOYMENT, BOOMERANG RETIREMENT and DEGREED students without employment).

For Governor Walker to apologize to the City of Milwaukee by "putting up".
For Governor Walker to produce clear actions that are INFRASTRUCTURAL, systemic for value-added growth and devoid of divisiveness and partisan politics.

Today’s Call is for the Governor’s administration appointment, Women Council of Wisconsin provide "Due Process" for the People.

The first Wisconsin organization cited was:  the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents  and their failure to honor State Statute 36, public information law and discriminatory practices. 

In Milwaukee Professionals Association identification of government ran and/or funded groups that Governor Walker has governance, they are cited if they appear to be one or more of the following:

      ·         contrary to group’s Mission.

      ·        fail state statute and/or other laws.

·         group is dysfunctional to Mission.

·         group fail the INCLUSIVE test.

·         group appear ologopolic/monopoly and discriminate by infrastructure.

       ·          conflict of interest.

·         Lobby/advise government officials and/or the public.

      ·         Infrastructurally sterile of African American, other People of Color, Islamic and Asian Indian.

It is paramount that ALL women are represented at the table as members of committees, boards, task forces and decision making bodies so that the dialog/discussion and decision making is inclusive of the total population and is not skewed.    

For example, on the Women Council of Wisconsin website they cite the recent fair wage of women’s pay being $.77 to every dollar of men.  This is the rate for Caucasian women and men only.  This is clearly a misrepresentation and disrespect to all the other non-Caucasian women.    

Put up w/Specificity

African American and Latino women receive approximately $.61 and $.52, respectfully, to every dollar of Caucasian men – while further disparity falls between African American and Latino women for their male counterpart.  This is missing data from the equation of discussion and therefore is not addressed in planning and advising the governor’s office and the public.

Since Education and Technology Attainment is a paramount public issue for growth in per capital income and growth in our economy as a competitive player city-wide to global; this group has a huge opportunity with statutory obligation and presence to have all women at the table and engaged in "innovative" ideas at the neighborhood level.

It is paramount that Governor Walker "Put Up".

When we say WOMEN COUNCIL OF WISCONSIN, it should be a real representation of women -- multi-diversity that is inclusive of the broadness of needs of Wisconsin women who are single versus Wisconsin women who are single- and two-parent heads of household. 

It sends the message of discrimination when the gender – female/woman is identified by ONLY Caucasian women.   When this happens, we create a subliminal picture of exclusion, invisible and unimportant.  We miss so much in BUY-IN and maximizing problem solving on many fronts that could lead to better understanding. 

Glass said, "As an African American woman, I am highly offended that my state has a women’s group for the state and it is devoid of decision makers that are African American – the largest racial group of Color in the state.  When galvanizing our large urban population can lead to so many growth opportunity for our state.  Opportunities that could link networks in both the rural and urban setting."

"Additionally, it is insulting as an African American woman of the state of Wisconsin to go to the Women Council website and see African American females in the photos but no real substance of infrastructural involvement - member of the council.  The photos are considered by me to be exploitive and disingenuous.  We can and must do better than this."

In the urban cities of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Madison, Racine, Beloit and Green Bay, where significant populations of women have hidden talent and vetted business connections, we subscribe to lessening the “economic stress test” by replacing it with INNOVATIVE ideas and business development.  In these cities, we could get higher growth in education and technology attainment if there is ongoing information sharing that trains and inform of opportunities.

Business engines and wholistic development by women with hidden talent in urban Wisconsin in incubator centers can offer an extra incentive for/in research that will go a long way in closing the gaps at the neighborhood level.

There are three positions opened.  Governor Walker has two and Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald has an appointment – Put up.

Put up Governor Walker and remind Assembly Speaker Fitzgerald, Republican, to make his appointment – we recommend an African American woman from the Milwaukee area.   

By the Women Council of Wisconsin being devoid of African American, Latino and Asian women (Nicole Bowman-Farrell - Native American), it makes the group BOGUS in representation of women, especially URBAN women.  It allows the focus to be overly narrow and not representative of women.  In fact, we feel that too many positions are held by Caucasians and no elected official is of Color.

Call for Change

We Call for Inclusiveness of African American and other Women of Color on the Women Council of Wisconsin.  Likewise we call for turnover of members on the council.  They include the members that have been on the council since 1992, 2004, 2005 and 2007.  Who is the misterious person that is Vice Chair since 2004?  Click

The Chair, Mary Jo Baas has been a member for 20 years running. 

We THANK her for her services that have specifically met the statutory Mission. 

We call for her to be replaced as soon as possible .  Her 2-decade rein disallows the million of women across the state of Wisconsin to get involved.

The appearance of Conflict of Interest and an ologopoly/monopoly turnkey is a concern.
Especially since  Ms. Baas's past employment (Director of Government Affairs - Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce) is her husband's present employment (Director of Government Affairs - Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce).

We need to give others a chance here to contribute to making our state for women a better place for ALL women. 

Put-up.