A new leader, a set of new operating principles and the first male board member are among significant changes being made at The Fund for Women and Girls.

Established seven years ago, The Fund for Women and Girls has developed an endowment of more than $250,000. The entity is associated with the Jefferson County Community Foundation (JCCF), a philanthropic organization started in 2005.

Julie Gertler takes over as the fund’s chair, following visionary founder Debbi Steele, who is taking a step back.

The Fund for Women and Girls aims to change lives, so women and girls can be safe, secure, equal and empowered.

“We expect to change lives, increase the fund’s visibility, as well as its funding base,” said Gertler, who has been involved with the entity for three years. “We are reaching out to younger women to participate both as supporters and people who understand the needs.”

Steele said the changes, which includes a new steering committee on which she serves, is positive.

“I believe we are going to get better and do more for the community with our new governance format,” Steele said. “We are going to be worth watching in the next few years.”

Gertler hastened to add that she must meet with the fund’s steering committee before any specific changes are determined. She does welcome the chance to work more proactively with grant recipients, as well as to educate the community on women’s issues.

“Before we even solicit grant requests, we might meet with nonprofits to identify what we see as needs, so they can shape their proposals accordingly,” Gertler said. “And while our group does not take political stands, we expect this might be a more challenging political environment for women and girls, so we’d like to be more aggressive in our education.”

As an example, rather than simply offering panel discussions with set lists of speakers, Gertler would welcome programs that actively engage their audiences.

The fund has helped women and children in Jefferson County for the past seven years in a variety of ways, Steele noted. Domestic abuse victims have learned to manage their finances and to cook healthy meals for themselves and their children. Middle school girls studied math and science with the help of women holding jobs in those fields. Adolescents became accepting of their bodies through dance programs. Films, panels and lectures have brought information to the general community about issues facing women and girls.

These efforts have been totally supported by volunteers and by the proceeds of the annual Wearable Art Show. The seventh annual show is set for May 17, 2017 at Fort Worden.

STEERING COMMITTEE

The new steering committee includes seven women and one man.

Julie Gertler has been active in women’s issues for more than 40 years. In 1980, she founded the Women’s Center at Council House in Los Angeles. The center housed 15 nonprofit organizations serving women and children, and became the center of a coalition that worked on behalf of issues and to elect women to offices at all levels. She chaired the Global Women’s Issues Task Force of a national membership organization.

In 1986, Gertler founded Consensus Inc., working on community engagement strategies for government agencies, businesses and nonprofit organizations. Consensus Inc. was named one of the top women-owned businesses in Los Angeles, as well as the top privately held public relations agency, Gertler noted.

Also on the committee is Debbi Steele, who moved to Port Townsend in 2007. Her vision gave birth to The Fund for Women and Girls and its major fund generator, the Port Townsend Wearable Art Show. The fund now has more than $250,000 in its endowment account, and the wearable art show has grown from 125 guests to more than 1,200, earning $40,000 in profit.

A lifelong feminist and former president of the National Organization for Women in Southern California, in the 1980s, Steele started a professional women’s breakfast club that is still growing strong. She received the 2012 American Association of University Women (AAUW) Woman of Excellence Award.

The entity’s secretary is Ruth Baldwin. A work life that included positions as a U.S. Navy air traffic controller and a Seattle law firm human resources manager still left time for Baldwin to volunteer on behalf of the poor and the hungry. Since moving to Port Townsend in 2005, Baldwin has been working toward the development of the Port Townsend Ecovillage. Looking for a different way to celebrate her birthday in 2013, she sponsored a showing of the movie “Girl Rising” at The Rose Theatre, an event that connected her with the JCCF Fund for Women and Girls.

Treasurer is Jan Whyte, a “founding mother” of The Fund for Women and Girls. Her financial experience includes having handled accounting for the San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum and the San Diego Eye Bank. Whyte served as AAUW treasurer for four years and is currently a member of the University Women’s Foundation and its finance committee.

Wearable Art Show committee chair is Marla Althouse. She was an early sponsor of the show, and both she and her 9-year-old daughter had pieces accepted into the 2016 show. Althouse also is the owner of her own business Waterbirth Solutions, and just started her second business, Upright Birth, both selling birthing products.

Althouse said her courage and determination stem from being raised in Alaska. Her parents insisted she know how to change tires and put on chains before they gave her driving lessons on a frozen lake. After she left her last job, she learned that she was replaced by a man at twice the salary. She said she became active in the fund because she has a daughter and son and wants them to have the same opportunities.

Grant committee chair is Judith Chambliss, who brings a background as a professional mediator plus experience in nonprofit administration. She served as executive director of Portland’s Kids on the Block Awareness Program and of the Oregon Mediation Association. Since moving to Port Townsend, Chambliss has made use of her conflict resolution skills by serving as a Jefferson County Court guardian ad litem, sitting on the conflict resolution and education committees in her Cape George community, and volunteering with the YMCA.

The education committee chair is Jane Ludwig, a registered nurse, who was dean of adult and continuing education at a women’s college, where her job was to foster leadership. As director of educational technology in a government agency, she was involved in the design, development and implementation of science and technology camps for middle school girls. With a partner, she founded WellComm Group Inc., delivering health care services to hundreds of thousands via tele-health. The company was acquired by Walgreens.

The marketing committee chair is Rick Schad, the first man on the fund’s board.

“I have always considered myself to be a feminist,” Schad said. “I was raised by my mother who was one of the first women to build the pipeline in Alaska. Our household always supported individual empowerment, regardless of race or gender.” Schad co-owns Bootstrap Commercial Arts, a full-service graphic, Web and photo studio with his wife and business partner, Alice.