             ATHENA Kelly Mittiga – co-chair Nancee Scott-co-chair Mary Boatfield Phil Beckley Cathy Chabrier Rob Gladden Lucile Mallard-Past Recipient lmallard@courts.state.ny.us Jane McCaffrey Jessica McGuigan Jackie Olsen Chris Shultz Margaret Wyant |
     ATHENA Geneva
2008 ATHENA Geneva Award Nominations are currently being accepted for the fourth annual ATHENA Award. A dinner to recognize nominees and present the award recipient is being planned for September 11, 2008 at Club 86. The Chamber is proud to have Mike Barnard Auto Group as the founding sponsor of our very successful ATHENA Geneva, supporting the program since 2005. Past Recipients of the Athena Geneva Award include:
Established in 1982, the prestigious ATHENA award is given annually to women in communities around the United States to recognize leaders who demonstrate excellence, creativity, and initiative in their business or profession, while also assisting women to reach their full leadership potential. Nominations will be accepted until June 2. Residents of Eastern Ontario, Seneca and Yates counties are eligible. The Chamber will help people through the nomination process by offering samples of nomination forms and answering questions about the process. Nominators are advised to include copies of the nominee’s resume and to have the nominee help fill out the application to ensure accuracy and complete information.
2007 ATHENA Award Recipient, Lucile Mallard. Pictured with Senator Nozzolio, Assemblyman Brian Kolb, Honorable Fred Reed, Honorable Craig Doran and Honorable Stephen D. Aronson. The following information is from the ATHENA International website: MISSION Supporting, developing and honoring women leaders ATHENA’S UNIQUE POSITION IS BASED ON... The ATHENA Leadership Model is unique in that it focuses on personal traits of strong, successful leaders. It captures the spirit and collaborative leadership style often exemplified in women leaders, while also recognizing the importance of traits such as courageous acts and fierce advocacy in the pursuit of excellence. The ATHENA Leadership Model tenets include Authentic Self, Celebration and Joy, Collaboration, Courageous Acts, Fierce Advocacy, Giving Back, Learning and Relationships, and provide a model for 21st Century leadership. The ATHENA Award is represented by an original bronze and marble sculpture inspired by the goddess of Greek mythology known for her strength, courage, wisdom and enlightenment—qualities embodied in the ATHENA leadership model. The Award is unique in both scope---local, national and international---and the ATHENA mission upon which it is based. The ATHENA Award is presented to a woman ---or man--- who is honored for professional excellence, community service and for actively assisting women in their attainment of professional excellence and leadership skills. THE ATHENA AWARD is presented annually by chambers of commerce, women’s organizations and universities. The award is established through local host organizations in partnership with ATHENA International’s national underwriters, local businesses and individual sponsors. Nominations are solicited and an ATHENA sculpture is awarded to an individual in the community who meets specific criteria listed below. Since the program’s inception in 1982 more than 5000 awards have been presented in over 500 communities in the United States, Canada, China, Russia, the United Arab Emirates and most recently the United Kingdom. By honoring exceptional leaders, the ATHENA Award® Program seeks to inspire others to achieve excellence in their professional and personal lives. THE CRITERIA ATHENA Award Recipients are individuals who
THE BENEFITS Involvement with the ATHENA Award® Program benefits your organization and your community
HISTORY “When the world is ready for a new vision, a new reality, a deeper kind of knowing, the voice will rise to articulate that. And others will embrace it. Sometimes the message comes in the form of a statement that captures the essence of an idea and ignites the imagination of a group, a nation, the world— Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free We hold these truths to be self evident that all women are created equal I have a dream Martha’s initial action, based on a concept seeking to achieve a balance in the faces and voices of leadership, gave rise to ATHENA International. Think about Rosa Parks, who from the authenticity of her core, refused once again, to go to the back of the bus. Consider Mother Theresa who expressed her leadership by the touch of her hand, by the healing of her voice, by the power of her presence—always giving hope. These are but two examples, albeit great examples, of women’s ways of leading that have changed the world.” (Excerpt from Martha’s opening remarks at the 2005 International ATHENA Leadership Conference in Chicago.) Martha’s small, seemingly insignificant action was based upon a concept seeking to achieve a balance in the faces and voices of leadership, which gave rise to ATHENA International. What is honored in a country will be cultivated there This concept led to the idea of acknowledging and honoring those quiet leaders, mostly women, whose efforts were adding immensely to the fabric of their communities while they remained unacknowledged and not visible as leaders. The ATHENA Award® was created to raise up one outstanding role model each year in a community to put a familiar face and voice to the idea of leader. After 2½ decades of fierce advocacy on behalf of women leaders, ATHENA celebrates a global reach as this message resonates around the world.
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Back in the early 80’s, ATHENA International’s founder, Martha Mertz was asked to serve on the Board of Directors of the Lansing Michigan Regional Chamber of Commerce. After finding herself to be the only business woman serving on the Board and discovering that her Chamber had only once honored a woman, Martha quickly recognized that the Chamber’s boardroom did not reflect the reality of the community. Martha worked with her Chamber to recognize the leadership of outstanding professional and business women in the community and advocated to provide opportunities for them to move into leadership positions. The first ATHENA Award was presented in 1982—and the ATHENA spirit was born.