THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 23, 1995 TAG: 9506210168
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JENNIFER C. O'DONNELL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
Jane Maher wants to make the world a better place for working women.
As the new president of the Virginia Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Maher encourages regional chapters of the state organization to fight for equal pay for equal work and to help women re-enter the work force.
Maher, a district manager with American General Finance, was elected president of the non-profit group last month when the 1,600 chapters from Virginia met in Hampton for their state convention. Maher has held numerous positions both with the Chesapeake Bay regional club and the state federation and will lead the Virginia organization during the next year.
According to Maher, the National Federation of Business and Professional Women is the oldest non-profit women's group in the country and has an interesting history. The organization was founded in 1919 by a grant from the government and the YWCA. At the time, many women were beckoned to the workforce to replace men who had gone off to fight in the first World War.
``Once the war was over, the women were asked to return to their domestic lives,'' said Maher. ``But many said no. The organization just grew from there.''
Today the national, state and local chapters of the federation fight for the rights of working women and encourage younger women to get the necessary education they'll need to see them through life.
``If you had to classify us, I'd say we are a moderate organization,'' said Maher. ``We're really just here to help women better themselves.
``Oftentimes you'll find a woman who was out of the work force for many years, then suddenly she finds herself divorced and with no marketable skills. We just want to help her get the skills she'll need so she can earn more than minimum wage and support herself and her family,'' said Maher.
Maher said the best way to help such women is to promote change through education and advocacy. In addition to education, Maher plans to encourage legislation that helps working parents with day care and elder care.
Although Maher believes women have a long way to go before they're treated equally in the workplace, she believes that positive changes have taken place over the past few decades.
``The overall attitude of some employers has improved,'' she said, adding that work may not be the right choice for every woman.
``It's the responsibility of each woman to make those decisions. She must evaluate what she is able to do based on her circumstances. Some can take more risks than others.''
Maher's enthusiasm for her cause comes partly from firsthand experience.
``My mother raised three kids, and was a single parent,'' she said. ``She worked very hard to make sure we were OK and she made sure we had a strong work ethic.''
And Maher intends to pass along that work ethic to her own daughter, 10-year-old Christen Falcone.
``I take her to a lot of our meetings, and I stress that it is absolutely important for her to get an education. You can't make it without an education.''
But above all, Maher is teaching her daughter that one voice can make a difference.
``Each of us can make an impact, even if it's small.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
Jane Maher is the new president of the Virginia Federation of
Business and Professional Women's Clubs.
by CNB