The Annual Power Tea 2010 attracted a standing room only crowd. It brought together women and men of influence from all over Montgomery County. It was an opportunity to acknowledge outstanding women in Montgomery County with our Rising Star award and the more recently launched Shining Star award. This was an afternoon not to be missed. 

The organizers  of the Sixth Annual Power Tea March 2010 were the wonderful co-chairs Bev Denbo and Donna Barron.

Marilyn Balcombe will chair the 2011 Power Tea.

 See photos from the 2010 Power Tea.

See the 5th Annual Power Tea program and photos from the March 2009 event

ABOUT THE AWARD

The Phyllis Campbell Newsome “Rising Star” Award honors the life of a visionary community activist and a founding member of Montgomery Women.  As a director of community advocacy for the Washington Council of Agencies, Phyllis Campbell Newsome bettered the life of countless Washington Area individuals and families. 

She convinced nonprofit organizations, elected officials and front line social service agencies to put aside differences and consolidate resources.  Under her guidance, coalitions formed with the resources and clout to make promises realities.  Then, in 2002, Phyllis Campbell Newsome died, and a brilliant future was lost.  Now, we honor Phyllis Campbell Newsome’s memory by recognizing a new Rising Star each year.

 For 2010, Rising Star, Theresa Testoni, was  honored at the Power Tea

It is with pleasure that Montgomery Women recognizes Theresa Testoni as the recipient of the 2010 Rising Star award.  She has been a leader in the field of volunteerism and community relations, currently serving on the Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism.   She participates on the MCPS Superintendent’s Advisory Board on Student Service Learning and has worked with many aspects of volunteer activities from developing corporate programs to working with the Special Olympics, Impact Silver Spring and Shepherd’s Table.

AWARDEES

2010   Theresa Testoni

2009 Dr. Yvette Butler

2008  Kathy Lally

2007  Amy Pressley

2006  Denise L. Young

2005  Pilar Torres

About the Award 

The Shining Star Award honors two beloved founding members of Montgomery Women, Delegate Jane Lawton and County Council Member Marilyn Praisner. Both gave unsparingly of their talent, time, intellect and spirit of sisterhood. With their energy, expertise and persistence, they were “shining stars” of public service. They modeled and championed women’s full participation in public life. Jane and Marilyn passed away within three months of one another in late 2007 and early 2008.  Montgomery Women has created the “Shining Star” Award in their memory.  Each year, Montgomery Women will present the Shining Star Award to an outstanding woman leader who continues Jane and Marilyn’s legacy.

Former Court of Appeals Judge Irma S. Raker will receive the Montgomery Women Shining Star Award.  After a long and distinguished career on the bench, Judge Raker retired in April of 2008.  She is now Chair of the Maryland Access to Justice Commission.  She is the founder of the Women Judges and Legislators’ Association, which has worked to provide a number of opportunities and programs for women in prison or recently released from prison, including the creation a college degree program at the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women.  A former member of the Family Violence Council and President of the Maryland Chapter of the National Association of Women Judges, Judge Raker is a shining star of public service.

Awardees 

2009 Carol Trawick