Women honored at Washington County banquet

 NWA Democrat-Gazette/J.T. WAMPLER Kathy Grisham (from left), Allyn Lord and Margarita Solorzano, along with Rita Miller (not pictured), were honored Monday at the 17th Annual Women’s History Month Banquet held in Fayetteville.
NWA Democrat-Gazette/J.T. WAMPLER Kathy Grisham (from left), Allyn Lord and Margarita Solorzano, along with Rita Miller (not pictured), were honored Monday at the 17th Annual Women’s History Month Banquet held in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Four local women were honored Monday evening for their contributions to Washington County.

More than 100 people gathered at The Chancellor Hotel in Fayetteville for the annual Women's History Month Banquet. The event is organized by members of seven local women-focused organizations, including Altrusa International of Fayetteville and Delta Kappa Gamma Society Iota Chapter.

Event sponsors

Each organization has one or two people who are on the planning committee for the event.

• Washington County Democratic Women

• League of Women Voters of Washington County

• Altrusa International of Fayetteville

• Delta Kappa Gamma Society Iota Chapter

• Fayetteville Business and Professional Women

• Northwest Arkansas Women Veterans

• American Association of University Women Fayetteville Branch

Source: Margaret Clark, committee member representing Delta Kappa Gamma Society Iota Chapter

The event began in 1999 as a way to recognize more women for their contributions to the local community, said Margaret Clark, planning committee member representing Delta Kappa Gamma Society Iota Chapter. The society is an organization for women educators. The honorees are women who make the area a better place to live.

Kathy Grisham, executive director of Community Clinic in Springdale; Allyn Lord, director of Shiloh Museum of Ozark History in Springdale; Rita Miller, co-founder of Northwest Arkansas Women Veterans and a military officer and nurse from World War II; and Margarita Solorzano, executive director of the Hispanic Women's Organization of Arkansas were honored at the event. Laura Kellams, Northwest Arkansas director for Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, introduced the women.

People sat around tables finishing plates of salad, potatoes, cheesecake and other foods while listening to the honorees speaking on a small stage at the front of the room. Tables in one corner displayed photos, awards and mementos from the honorees lives.

Grisham spoke to the audience about her work at Community Clinic, which helps increase access to affordable health care. She said before the presentation that she gives most of the credit to her staff.

"It's really the staff that stands behind me that's on the front lines," she said.

Lord spoke to the audience by telling the story of her life in the form of a "Once Upon a Time" story. She explained her childhood, referred to Arkansas as a kingdom and spoke of her move to Northwest Arkansas.

When Lord moved to the region, she thought she would only live in the area for a couple years, she said before the award presentation. She fell in love with Northwest Arkansas and decided to stay.

"I don't plan on going any place," she said.

Miller spoke of her time during the war in the Aleutian Islands and her time after the war in Germany and Japan. She said it was a great experience for her because she loves to travel.

"I would do it all over again," she said before the presentation.

Solorzano spoke to the audience about being an immigrant and new to the U.S. in 1990. She said she didn't know at the time how to speak English or drive.

"As you may have noticed, I still have a very strong accent, but who cares," she said.

She now works with the Hispanic Women's Organization of Arkansas to offer advance education opportunities for Hispanic women and their families, Solorzano said. She also helps them increase their civic participation.

Solorzano said she has something to contribute to the community. She said she sees her position as an honoree as a commitment to continue her work.

"It is rewarding to help students achieve their dreams," she said.

NW News on 03/31/2015

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