Rob:  This Friday, Oklahoma’s state capitol will be the site of the Governor’s annual Women’s Summit.  Earlier, I sat down with Bernice Mitchell and Fern Bowling, two organizers of the event.  So, ladies, in terms of women’s issues, how are we doing here in Oklahoma?
Bernice Mitchell:  Well, in Oklahoma, we’re not doing very well.  If we had to put a letter grade to it, it would be D-minus; and that’s in just about every area except leadership.  For instance in health, it’s D-minus; and we’re number one in the incarceration of women, which we would kind of like to reverse that trend.  
Rob:  Absolutely, well, let’s talk about leadership a little bit more.  Fern, how are we doing there?
Fern Bowling:  Well, we’re doing wonderful.  We have a congresswoman in Mary Fallin, who’s in Washington representing us, as well as Lieutenant Governor Jeri Askins.  We have agency heads and a secretary of state, and all these women promote all Oklahomans in the state.  And the other area that we are rising up to be the best is also in education.
Rob:  How will the Women’s Summit, how will that play into helping the women’s role here in our state?
Mitchell:  Well, this is a time when everyone who can, can come together and participate in an, oh, fun-filled in a sense, but an informational field day where they can learn about these issues, not just what’s the bad side, but also what to do to help us rise to the top, or to help us to get that A in letter grade in some of these areas that are so, so important.
Rob:  And it sounds like also a good time for people to network, and maybe see what the other person’s doing, and how people can help each other.
Bowling:  Exactly; and we hope to do that at the luncheon that day.  We will have tables designated with topics, and the commissioners and the advisory committee members will be there to kind of host that table.  And we want feedback from Oklahomans that day to tell us what their concerns are so that we can pass this on to our elected officials.  
Rob:  And while this is called the Women’s Summit, it’s a summit that’s certainly open to men as well.
Mitchell:  Oh yes, yes.  It’s open to everyone; and students.
Rob:  And give us the details, if you will.  It starts when, and goes until when?
Mitchell:  It’s on Friday, April 25th, from 8:00 until 4:00.  It’s at the state capitol building, up on the fourth floor, and all of the sessions, main sessions anyway, will be in the House Chamber.
Rob:  And if someone wants to register for this, Fern?
Bowling:  They contact the Women’s Commission or the web site for OPM.