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Testimonials from Mountain Women:
In Their Own Words Winnie Vautrin  As
the daughter of one of the founding mothers of In Praise of Mountain
Women, my experience with the organization has been unique. I
have been privileged to have been in a position to watch In Praise go
from a spark to a vision to a reality to an ongoing success.I attended the first gathering in 1991 with my mother, Teri Vautrin. I watched her help women, many of whom had never ventured more than a couple of miles from their homes before, find not only common ties and connections, but also find the strength and voices within themselves to share their stories. I witnessed a sense of peace and understanding come over these women as each one realized that she was not alone in her struggles. Later, I became more involved with In Praise myself, becoming a member of both the Round Table and C-Team. I was excited to play a role in bringing together first step women as well as seasoned veterans to the gatherings. My role over the years has gone from wide-eyed participant to co-facilitator, and I have marveled many times at the process that is involved in each gathering. Mother passed away in November 2007, but I still feel her presence at every meeting. I hear her voice in my ear, reminding me why we're here, why we're doing what we're doing. And she tells me that we're doing good. Marian Colette  I am an
Appalachian mountain woman by choice not by birth, moving to Kentucky
from the Chicago area about 30 years ago.Mountain women inspired me to come. After seeing the spirit and long term dedication of community women like Bobbie Jean McKiddy, Pearl Perkins, Georgia Hambrick, Glenna Angel, and Joyce Ward, I decided I would like to live and work near them. In our 30 years in Whitley County, my husband and I raised our 2 children. I am here to stay. I was inspired by Marie Cirillo's story of the beginnings of Rural American Women, which led to the formation of the Mountain Women's Exchange. I was its first director and often brought my daughter, Sarah, with me. She has continued in these footsteps and has bonded with the women in Campbell County and their sisters in St. Louis. Sarah and her husband, Bob Lawson from Mud Creek, hope someday to raise their own family here in the mountains of Whitley County, KY. Barbara Greene, the second director of the Mountain Women's Exchange and founder of Appalachian Women Empowered, now works here in Whitley County with parents of children who have behavioral or learning difficulties. Barb's three daughters carry on her tradition. In June, I hope many first step mothers and daughters will join us who are now among the elder mothers and grown-up children as we pass on our traditions and skills in Praise of Mountain Women at Lincoln Memorial University. Jean King  In 2001, I had the
opportunity to fly to New York City and be at the United Nations to
meet and spend a lot of time with the National Congress of Neighborhood
Women and Grass Roots Women. There I met women from all over the
world. We all came together in unity and love. I had a
great time and it was an experience I will never forget.I guess that was the experience that gave me the ability to accept a position on the board of Clearfork Community Institute. Now we are part of In Praise and have the special task of organizing all the work connected with being the host to all who come to the June gathering. It will be a lot of work, but I hope for many it will be their first step and I want to make it as meaningful to them as was my first step out. Visitors since July 2008:
Last updated 3/09.
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