Seven Women Who Made A Difference!
BY BUDDY NEVINS
Seven women. Seven examples of women who have helped shape Broward. Seven ladies who made difference.
Below are the latest inductees into the Broward Women’s Hall of Fame.
Previous honorees include former Herald columnist Claire Mitchel, Broward pioneer Ivy Cromartie Stranahan, Broward County Commissioner Sue Gunzburger, Property Appraiser Lori Parrish, and former Supervisor of Elections Easter Lily Gates among others. They were all part of Broward’s history and the new list is no different.
Of those picked this year, I was most pleased to see Lottie Albert on the list. Albert has been a fixture in politics here for decades. An activist well into her 90s, she is a role model for all of us. She remained relevant rather than waste away in a rocking chair.
Gretchen Gettemy Thompson is another long-time political figure I’ve known for years. She was a county commission aide who I saw frequently when we both were a lot younger. Later, she was the wife of Commissioner Jerry Thompson. I’m very happy to see her honored.
Ann Zucker is a public school teacher, a woefully overlooked group. But she is also a well-known force in the local Democratic Party.
Here is the list and short bios from the news release:
- Lottie Albert, Sunrise. A 38 year Broward County resident, At 96 years young, Lottie continues to be an inspiration to women in Broward County. She has received numerous accolades for her volunteer work, including from the Ann Stork Center, and was inducted in the Dr. Nan S. Hutchinson Broward Senior Hall of Fame in 1988. In 2005, Broward County named November 12 “Lottie Albert Appreciation Day.”
- Commissioner Margaret Bates, Lauderhill. A current Lauderhill City Commissioner, Margaret has lived in Broward County for more than 40 years, has served on the Lauderhill City Commission for 14 years and was the city’s first African American woman to be elected to the Commission. She has served as President of the Lauderhill Women’s Club, President of the Broward League of Cities, President of the Women in Municipal Government, and was recently honored by the Northwest Federated Women’s Club of Broward County.
- Susan Forman, a resident of Broward County until her passing last year. Wife of the Honorable Howard Forman, Susan served on the Broward County Commission on the Status of Women in the 1970’s working towards the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment, ran political campaigns of many women, and served as the Democratic National Committeewoman from Broward County from 1988 until 1992.
- Annette R. Gardiner, Plantation. A Broward County resident for more than 16 years, Annette is always working to advance women’s empowerment and rights across all racial, cultural, and economic sectors. She currently serves on the Broward Human Trafficking Coalition and as First Vice Chair of the Broward County Commission on the Status of Women. She works at Broward Healthy Start and has been involved with the Family Connections Mentoring Project for pregnant and parenting women and the Teen Empowerment Program and was also involved in the PTA/PTSO throughout her children’s schooling.
- Commissioner Dorothy “Dotty” Ross, Hallandale Beach. A current Hallandale Beach Commissioner, she has lived in Broward County for more than 40 years, and has served as Hallandale’s Mayor and Vice Mayor as well. She was the first female President of the Broward County Crime Commission, one of the first women to graduate from the Broward County Police Auxiliary Academy and the first female Trustee and Administrative Secretary of the Hallandale Beach Police and Fire Pension Fund.
- Gretchen Gettemy Thompson, Fort Lauderdale. A PR professional, Gretchen managed many political campaigns, including that of Virginia Young, still the only woman Mayor of Fort Lauderdale. She was an early Board Member and a life-long supporter of Women in Distress, and was Co-Founder of the Giraffe Awards – awarded to women who “stick their necks out.” Gretchen is still very active in women’s campaigns, and is currently working to set up a memorial for Virginia Young at the Fort Lauderdale Women’s Club.
- Ann Zucker, Weston. A 21 year resident of Broward County, Ann is a teacher at Walter C. Young Middle School and a former advisor to the B’nai B’rith Girls Organization. Ann has helped to elect and continues to support women in political office: among those that consider her a mentor are Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and State Senator Nan Rich.
February 28th, 2012 at 5:25 pm
Thank you for posting, Buddy!
We will be hosting the luncheon and induction ceremony on March 25th at noon in Sunrise. Tickets are just $40 and ads are still available for purchase. For more information, please call 954-372-6290 or email BCWHallofFame@gmail.com.
February 28th, 2012 at 5:25 pm
Dotty Ross?
Really?
The same Dotty Ross that hid in her office while her fellow commissioners through Mike Good out on his arse?
Perhaps you meant Betsy Ross. Easy mistake to make, as they are both roughly the same age.
February 28th, 2012 at 5:43 pm
Good Going Ladies! Congratulations for all your successful quests and contributions to Broward!
February 29th, 2012 at 8:34 am
I just got to know Ann Zucker this year. What a firecracker this woman is! Charismatic, beautiful and just a lovely woman. Wish I lived closer to be more a part of the Weston Democratic Club.
No way will I attend a Tamarac Democratic Club with our current leadership!
Great Article Buddy!
February 29th, 2012 at 8:40 am
Your mistaken Chaz Stevens, GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 29th, 2012 at 8:56 am
Lottie Albert is a lovely lady and a vibrant retiree. But if you let everyone into a Hall of Fame then the standard is lowered. Margaret Bates has not earned such recognition yet. Susan Forman is a borderline pick based on her own accomplishments and is probably on the list because she recently died. Annette Gardiner does not belong on this list yet.
Dotty Ross belongs on the list because she’s been in office for over 20 years. By that standard Margaret Bates still has a few years to go. Gretchen Thompson is a borderline pick, largely because of the influence she must have had on her husband who never gets the credit he deserved for the visionary work he did in Broward. For sure he was that. Ann Zucker does not belong on this list yet.
Either you have standards for a Hall of Fame or you don’t. But don’t just pick new inductees because you want to hold a dinner party. The standard has to be more than just somone involved in democratic politics.
February 29th, 2012 at 1:15 pm
First of all, CONGRATS to all! Thank you for contributing your time and efforts towards public awareness & making history for all women in this county.
Second @ Undisputed Truth; You sound like you got slighted somehow, listen, just stand with your leg out like Angie Jolie at the Oscars and maybe you will get some attention.
and finally @ Chaz: Crawl back under your rock, no one wants to hear your rantings.
February 29th, 2012 at 1:41 pm
>> Dotty Ross belongs on the list because she’s been in office for over 20 years.
Poitier served nearly 40 years. I didn’t realize longevity was the mark for the standard of excellence.
Given such, that makes Poitier twice the politician as Ross.
February 29th, 2012 at 3:11 pm
@Chaz…Poitier is in the Hall of Fame
February 29th, 2012 at 3:14 pm
I have known Commissioner Margaret Bates for over 20 years (as well as her late husband), and served with her for over 14 years. While I cannot measure one of the honorees against another, I can say that I feel Margaret deserves this recognition.
Maybe the general public throughout the county does not know all her accomplishments, but I do in so many ways that the public will never know. She is a soft spoken person who gets the job done, period. Something quite unique for an elected person.
Several years ago she was even awarded Commissioner of the Year in the State of Florida. That is also a tribute to her abilities.
So while the other women have distinguished themselves that the public is aware of, and I congratulate them for it, it should not discount that Commissioner Bates should also receive this honor.
February 29th, 2012 at 4:28 pm
We received many nominations this year, and the nomination form went to almost 500 people. Of the nominations received, a panel met to consider the applications based on established criteria.
There were many nominations not accepted this year. These 7 women will join the 142 women already inducted by following those same criteria.
If you have questions, please email BCWHallofFame@gmail.com instead of bashing these women anonymously.
March 1st, 2012 at 3:00 pm
@Reality…
So when Dotty Ross says there’s enough transparency in Hallandale Beach, do you believe her?
Well, if you said yes, then you might want to rethink your words after you read the draft copy of the forensic report… It blisters those in charge..
AKA Dotty Ross.
So, I guess to make it into the Woman’s Politico Hall of Fame, you just need to have a vagina? If Poitier graces the walls and now Ross, seems to be the bar has been set to the lowest possible setting altogether.
If you want to read that 40 page report, you know what to do.
http://www.myactsofsedition.com/blistering-incompetence/
March 1st, 2012 at 3:24 pm
Thank you Beth. UNBELIEVABLE!!!! These woman have worked very hard and given much of their time and lives dedicated to their cities and Broward County. Their awards are well deserved.
March 2nd, 2012 at 2:43 pm
Chaz you really are a pig and no one wants to read your smut.
March 6th, 2012 at 7:41 am
What’s the matter Chaz. Are you upset that you can”t dress up in your new skirt and earrings and attend the luncheon?