Marjory Hopper, Vice President of the California Federation of Business and Professional Women, will be “Celebrating Women of Character, Courage and Commitment” at the dinner meeting of the East Los Angeles-Montebello Business and Professional Women on Wednesday, March 26, 2014 at the DoubleTree Hotel Restaurant, 888 Montebello Blvd., Rosemead (Networking starts at 4:30 P.M. with dinner to be selected from the menu to start before 5:00 P.M. Price depends on what the person orders from the menu). The program and dinner is open to all interested people. Call or E-mail Linda Wilson (626) 307-5650 or lindalwilson@juno.com to make a reservation or for questions.

In 1911 the first International Women’s Day was designated as March 8th, but it was not until 1978 that the Sonoma School District participated in a Women’s History Week, which included March 8th. In 1979 there was a three-day conference at Sarah Lawrence College on women’s history.

The attendees learned about the success of the Women’s History Week from the Sonoma School District. That conference provided the seed to start Women’s History Weeks around the country. In February 1980 President Jimmy Carter designated the first National Women’s History Week to include March 8th. In 1987 the National Women’s History Project petitioned Congress to designate March as Women’s History Month. Since 1995 U.S. Presidents have issued annual proclamations designating the month of March as Women’s History Month. Each year the National Women’s History Project selects a theme for the month. This year it is “Celebrating Women of Character, Courage and Commitment.”

Marjory Hopper will be speaking on this year’s theme for Women’s History Month. Hopper is a graduate of Whittier College and received her Master’s in Library and Information Science from the University of Southern California. She was a librarian for the City of Los Angeles – most recently at the John C. Fremont Branch Library. Her specialty is working with children as a storyteller, puppeteer and book talker. She has received the City of Los Angeles Community Service Award, the Children’s Service’s (LAPL) Award for outstanding Children’s Librarian, the Hollywood Coordinating Council Outstanding Community Service Award and the Woman’s Club of Hollywood’s award for Excellence to the Community. Hopper has presented programs previously on women’s history for the Business and Professional Women. She also did much of the research for the “For Bloomers to Boardroom” program which she has helped present to area colleges and schools.