Sunday, June 3, 2000 - At the ninth annual "A League of Their Own" event, organized by Bay Area Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey  to honor women who have made important contributions to education, Bay Area ANC representatives were present to extend ANC's appreciation for the their efforts.

Freshman Congresswoman Susan Davis from San Diego, who serves on the Education and the Workforce Committee, is a co-sponsor  of the New Democratic Coalition's education bill to increase funding for the nation's poorest schools.  Prior to being elected to Congress, she served in the California State Assembly, where she chaired the bipartisan Women's Caucus and the Consumer Protection, Governmental Efficiency, and Economic Development Committee.

Attending the fundraising event were Bay Area ANC members Roxanne Makasdjian and Ara Makasdjian, in addition to Marin County constituents and supporters Dr. Berge and Rose Roubinian, who introduced Rep. Davis to the goals of the Armenian National Committee and familiarized her with the growing, active Armenian-American community in the San Diego area. Rep. Davis expressed interest in learning more about the issues and working with her constituent Armenian-Americans.

Newly-elected Congresswoman Hilda Solis, who began her career as a member of the Rio Hondo Community College Board of Trustees, is now a member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee.  She was recognized at the gathering for her commitment to education, and for the many barriers she has broken - having been the first Latina elected to the State Senate, the first woman to chair the State Senate's powerful Industrial Relations Committee, and the first woman to receive the prestigious "John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award."  As a State Senator, she passed key environmental justice legislation to help low-income, minority communities.

ANC members greeted and congratulated Rep. Solis, also thanking her for her continued support of Armenian-American issues.  Rep. Solis expressed her gratitude to the Armenian-American community for having been one of her first major supporters in her Congressional election campaign.  She joined the Congressional Armenian Issues Caucus shortly after election and said she was looking forward to working with the other members.

The "A League of Their Own" event also honored Mary Jane Burke, Marin County Superintendent of Schools.  Prior to taking her current position, Burke was a successful teacher and school principal, focusing on special education.  In 1993, she was awarded "Outstanding County Support Administrator of the Year" by the Marin County School Administrators' Association.

ANC members briefly told Superintendent Burke about ANC's Genocide Curriculum Project, and Burke was interested in meeting further to discuss the possibility of administering the curriculum and lesson plans within the Marin Country school district.

Representative Lynn Woolsey, a long-time member of the Armenian Issues Caucus,  warmly greeted ANC members and constituents, who reiterated their support for her work in Congress, and thanked her for an impressive speech on the House Floor on April 24th, in commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.  They also urged her to communicate with neighboring Congressional representatives, to encourage them to support issues important to the Armenian-American community.