‘N.E.W.’ Day

If Edmonds experiences a power surge the first Sunday in October, look no further than the Edmonds Conference Center, where more than 100 of the most influential women in the Edmonds area will gather for an unprecedented meeting of the minds.

Dubbed “A N.E.W. Day” (the acronym standing for “Network of Edmonds Women”), it is the brainchild of Edmonds City Councilwoman Mauri Moore who hatched, organized and is paying for the catered, women-only forum. If it’s a hit, more may follow.

Initially, the 170-person guest list contained only “women who I knew and were nice to me,” quipped Moore, who also sits on the board of Edmonds Community College. It grew to include others with influence in politics, community service, education, business, health care and the arts from Edmonds, Woodway, Lynnwood, Shoreline and Mountlake Terrace.

Response to her mailed invitations has been tremendous, she said, adding that so few have declined that “I can just about tell you everyone who is not coming.” Guests range in age from their 20’s to their 70’s and include students, business owners, elected officials and volunteers.

Moore said her idea sprung from seeing Gov. Christine Gregoire and U.S. Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell together on the same stage. “What a neat idea it would be to get them and other smart women in the same room,” Moore recalled thinking.

Although she expects to welcome state Sens. Rosemary McAuliffe and Darlene Fairley; and state Reps. Ruth Kagi, Maralyn Chase and Mary Helen Roberts; she said she’s yet to figure out how to entice Murray, Cantwell or one of her staff members likely will show up, she hopes. Moore decided against inviting the state’s chief executive because “when you invite the governor you invite the state troopers.”

During the 90-minute forum the women will meet and listen to others, share ideas, give and receive recognition and share visions of the future, Moore said. “What are the possibilities? What can we do?” she said she will ask of her guests.

Talking points will include community aesthetics, diversity, spending priorities, public safety and economic development, Moore figures. She plans to seat guests at round tables with at least one elected official present. Table talk will mean exchanging ideas to be shared with the entire room.

Although the format is still being tinkered with, Moore said she plans to have fellow Daybreaker Rotarian Carol Schillios serve as facilitator.

“This will be a good listening post for elected women,” Moore noted. “I like to farm them (other women) for ideas and I think others would, too.”

At the end of the forum it will be up to the guests “to figure out what we are going to do about the ideas,” said Moore. “One of the main goals is to get the ‘electeds’ to hear the ideas and know what women are thinking.”

Why no men? “Women run their communities, they really do,” replied Moore. “I like women. I think they have ‘uncommon sense’. They are articulate and they give so much of their time. They aren’t recognized as much as they should be.”

Why this ambitious undertaking? “I always have ideas running through my head but I never do anything with them,” she retorted. “This one has been percolating for a while. I just decided, ‘why not?’”