International Women’s Day - Seattle, presents,

MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 28th, 2003 Contact: Conyne Brewer
 Pager: 253.222.5359

‘Girls Got Game’ Art/Essay Contest

Seattle, WA   ‘Girls Got Game’ is the name of a brand-new first-time contest open to girls and boys in the Seattle area this year. Beginning today through March 1st, young people are encouraged to design original works that pay tribute to female athletes and the positive impact of women in sports. ‘Girls Got Game’ rejects the stereotype that girls are not as interested or talented in sports. In this contest, boys and girls can display their creative talents and express the valuable influence of sports in their lives. The contest is sponsored by International Women’s Day- Seattle. Contest guidelines and entry form available at: www.iwd-seattle.org.

Details of the Contest: Girls and boys, grades K- 12, are encouraged to submit original works in any of three categories: art, literature & video. Contest deadline is March 5th, 2003. All entries will be displayed to the public at the International Women’s Day celebration from noon to 5 pm on Sunday, March 9, 2003 at the Seattle Center. Winners will be announced  and prizes  awarded at that time.

Background Information: National Girls and Women in Sports Day is on February 5, 2003, two days after the President's Commission on Opportunity in Athletics will vote on far reaching changes to Title IX's regulations. Title IX rules ensure equity in federally funded education and athletic programs. Since their inception involvement by girls in high school sports has increased by over 800 percent. Women and girls stand to lose between 148,000 and 1.4 million opportunities to participate in sports and between $75 and $188 million in scholarship dollars.

International Women’s Day-Seattle is an annual series of events presented by a collaboration of local organizations and volunteers to celebrate female accomplishments around the world. For more information about the contest, contact: Conyne: 253-222-5359 or Conyne@msn.com.

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To co-sponsor or donate prizes for winners, please contact:
Susan Friedrich, 206.675.0514
Email, susanfried@earthlink.net
Lika Smith, 206.679.6108
Email, heylika@ix.netcom.com

 Categories & Guidelines:

• Visual Arts & Photography: Drawing, painting, photography, collage, or comic strip. At least 8x10 inches w/ mat, not more than 24x36 inches including mat. Shrink-wrapping is recommended
• Literature: Fiction or nonfiction, essay, poetry, or drama with or without illustrations. 1000 word limit. Send photo copies as literature entries will not be returned.
• Film:  Original video composition, no longer than 10 minutes, filmed and edited by student. With or without sound; documentary, narrative, music video, animation or one act play. Please submit entries in VHS format.

G e t  C r e a t i v e !   E x p r e s s Y o u r s e l f !
 Contest deadline is March 5, 2003.

A completed entry form must be firmly secured to the back of your submission. Attach a 3x5 display card with your first name, last initial name, age and grade and title of your entry. Incomplete forms will disqualify your entry.

IWD is not responsible for lost or damaged works. Literature and video entries will not be returned, but may be collected from the display area at the Center House on 3-9-03 from 4:30pm to 5pm only.

Winners from all three categories will be named in the following age groups:
 
Bobcats: Kindergarten - Grade 2
Lynx:    Grades 3-5
Tigers:  Grades 6-8
Lions:   Grades 9-12
 
All submissions will be displayed at International Women’s Day celebration on Sunday, March 9, 2003 at Seattle Center from Noon - 5 PM, at which time, the awards presentation will take place.

Mail Submissions to:
 409 Maynard Ave. S., Ste P-4
 Seattle, WA 98104-2959
 Please have entries postmarked by March 5th, 2003

 
 Click here to download and print out entry form. (In adobe acrobat pdf format)

 Visit the Women’s Sports Foundation
to learn more about Title IX and its history.

 
 League of Women Voters letter on Title IX
 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                       Contact: Kelly L. Ceballos
 January 30, 2003                                                  (202) 263-1331
 www.lwv.org                                             kceballos@lwv.org


 LEAGUE WARNS OF CHILLING EFFECT ON GENDER EQUITY
Statement by Kay J. Maxwell, President of the League of Women Voters of the United States

WASHINGTON, DC - "The League of Women Voters is deeply concerned about the assault on equal opportunity for women that has been launched by the opponents of Title IX. Equal opportunity in education and in school athletics can't be compromised. We call on President Bush and Secretary of Education Paige to reject attempts to return women and women's athletics to second-class status. The League of Women Voters will continue to closely monitor any action taken by the U.S. Department of Education related to Title IX.  We remain deeply concerned that any changes to Title IX will risk reversing much of this law's progress over the past 30 years."

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The League of Women Voters of the United States is a nonpartisan, community-based political organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy.