Luci Leonard, Kristen Ginhoven, Susan Olshuff and Donna Todd Rivers was sworn in by state Sen. Benjamin Downing.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Four women were sworn into their roles on the Berkshire County Commission on the Status of Women on Friday.

 

Kristen Ginhoven, Luci Leonard, Susan Olshuff and Donna Todd Rivers took the oath for their terms in a ceremony presided over by state Sen. Benjamin B. Downing. The commission is a state group formed to advocate on behalf of women in the county.

 

"We're all special state employees. We are uncompensated volunteers but we do get special state employee status," said Chairwoman Gwendolyn Hampton VanSant said. "We have the power to convene a group of people on behalf of the women of Berkshire County."

 

The four join Mary Berle, Margo Bradley Davis, Roberta McCulloch Dews, and VanSant.

 

Next month, on Feb. 27, they are hosting a legislative breakfast at Shakespeare & Company with the region's state delegation. The group hopes women from the county will attend and share their concerns.

 

"Our job is to really lift those voices and carry them back to the State House to influence any type of legislation that affects women, girls and families," VanSant said.

 

Previously, the organization focused on teen pregnancy and that advocacy ultimately led to local organizations starting support programs. Meanwhile, they continue to review pieces of legislation for issues that could affect women and girls.

 

"We recently wrote letter on welfare reform and minimum wage. Those were the two things we took action on as a commission," VanSant said. "We advocate and get in our delegate's ear about issues that affect women."

 

Human trafficking legislation is expect to be debated in the State House and the commission expects to weigh in on that soon, too. It is mostly focusing on poverty, domestic violence and sexual violence. 

 

It is also holding a drive to collect feminine hygiene products and toilet paper to help supply women with needs that food pantries don't provide.

 

The group meets monthly to hold open forums for women from all parts of the county to talk about issues.

 

"We want to keep it as an open forum," VanSant said.

 

They meet the second Monday of every month at the Berkshire Bank Community Room at 99 North St. Also, on March 25, the commission is holding a meet-and-greet at The Mount in Lenox at 5:30 p.m. as part of the Berkshire Festival of women writers.