Meeting Jane Goodall

I guess actually shaking Jane Goodall's hand was a high point of the evening at NMWA, but it was a lovely event from beginning to end. Ms Goodall spoke last and talked about everything from her early upbringing by/in a houseful of women, how crucial her mother was to her success, and the work of her present organization (http://www.janegoodall.org/). But the evening was also marked by a very moving thank you from Josie Ashton, Executive Director of the Safespace Foundation, which offers financial assistance, information, referrals and advocacy to survivors of domestic violence. Barbara Boxer sent her speech via video so that was a bit of a disappointment.

But, the food was GREAT! (To see the menu, go to this address and click on "menu": http://www.now.org/organization/gala/2005/.) And the central court at NMWA looked lovely. I'ld always wanted to see how it "dressed up" for an event. I got to reconnect with Kim Gandy and Eleanor Smeal and met some very interesting new people from AFT (http://www.aft.org/), at whose table Sue and I sat. I'ld say that, on the whole, as far as experiences go, it was practically perfect. Lucky, lucky me.