As we started back in April if we do not accomplish anything else be friendly and helpful to one another. We have all been in situation where we fill uncomfortable meeting new people, going to new areas. By reaching out to one another and making each person fill welcomed and comfortable we are making a difference in their lives and our own.

 

     I would like to thank everyone for coming and participating in April. It was awesome. We are hoping the word gets out and we have many more attending and getting involved. Three weeks before the Steward School, I was asked to head up the 2007 Ladies Hospitality by Reneé Taylor. (Secretary at 798) My first reaction was “No, and I am going to kill my husband when he gets home.” Then it occurred to me that it was an opportunity to do something I have felt in my heart for 30 years. My first question was “Can we do something different?” “Can we be more than what we are?” Reneé's response was “Yes, but it may be hard to break new ground.”

    

    With that in mind, I called Nicole Barnett and asked for her help to get this off the ground. We decided at the UA Pipeline Conference to hold a meeting with the BA's wives, Organizers wives, PIBF and the Training wives. At this time, we were 3 days before leaving and we were both frantic to get something going. Nicole made flyers asking the ladies to come to our meeting with hope's they would all attend. 

 

     At this meeting, we had eleven ladies: Heidi Ryan, Margaret Atkins, Janie Wallace, Tuffy Schroeder, Jenee Moss, Kathy Stephenson, Kim Carrierie, Nicole Barnett, Denise Taylor, Mary Hollabaugh (via phone) and myself, Norma Hendrix. We had the pleasure of meeting and visiting with Dena Holloway before she had to leave the conference. At this meeting, we told what our vision was and asked everyone's input. WOW, it was so awesome. These ladies are wonderful, energetic and ready for a change.

 

    The one thing that came out of the meeting was to be friendly. If we do not do another thing, I wanted anyone and everyone to be a part and feel welcomed at the ladies meeting. They all agreed and were most anxious to meet new and old, to find out who may be working in their area or might live in their area. They were so excited about change, they called two more meetings to discuss more ideas! (Ladies, I encourage each and everyone of you to attend a ladies meeting and meet these wonderful women). I am so blessed to be able to get to know them and work with them. They have inspired me.

 

     We talked about reaching out to communities in our towns, on the jobs and in Tulsa. By forming an auxiliary, so to speak, showing we are proud of what our husbands/partners do and show them we are willing to be a part, just in a different way. Each woman there donated money to help bring this all together in two weeks. One of the things that I thought was the beginning of defining us was they called a meeting and asked if they could purchase jewelry from a young girl who has breast cancer to help her out with her treatments instead of just buying things to give away. At that moment, I knew we were all on the same page. Everyone put in money and bought three pieces and that was part of our hospitality gifts. From there, we decided to go with that theme at the Ladies meeting. (Special thanks to St. Francis Hospital, Terry Miller and Julie Sluss for the hanging shower exam
and booklets). Monica Lucas, which met Amiee (the young lady with breast cancer) on a pipeline job when they were kids, came and set up a booth of jewelry so the women could browse around. Thank you Monica for giving up your Friday night to be a part of our ladies meeting. Margaret spoke on breast cancer issues and did a wonderful job. Tuffy brought breast cancer survivor cookbooks from Texas that went like hot cakes (especially since I sold them $5.00 cheaper than what they were suppose to be). Sorry Tuffy! We had 100 women in attendance at this year's Ladies meeting. If you are wondering why we keep saying the Ladies of 798, we had a vote. It was so exciting to see everyone getting involved, they were shouting out names for our group, clapping, cheering, etc. On that night, these women voted in “Women of Steel” to be our name. Unfortunately when Nicole got home and googled Women in Steel, that name was already taken by the Steel Worker's Women and Ladies, they are huge. They do marches in Washington DC, etc. Nicole and I talked about putting 798 in front, but this was all about defining us. We could just rename the group ourselves, but that's not where we wanted to go. This is your group, you should have the voice. We began calling those that turned in their info sheets for another vote. There are three names that were tied throughout the process: 798 Arc Angels, Ladies of 798 and 798 Spirit. Ladies, this was like leap frog, they were so close! When all was said and done, we are the Ladies of 798 by a nose. Thank you for your help, enthusiasm and votes.

 

     At the April Ladies meeting, we talked about helping each other, being sisters, forming cell groups on the line, touching communities where you are working. From the ladies meeting, a group of women that were there went on a job and did just that. I am so proud of these ladies. They put together a ladies luncheon, had a mee ting and took up donations. The men on the line supported these women's efforts by donating money and canned goods for the food pantry. I had the pleasure of attending this meeting. It was so wonderful to see these ladies take pride in themselves and doing something wonderful for someone else. The thing that touched me the most was after the meeting, everyone who was in attendance went to deliver the donations, which consisted of three grocery carts; metal chairs; money, and they still had sacks in their hands. Mrs. Wauson, of the Saint Thomas Ministry-Food Pantry, had a pen and paper and asked each one of us to write down our name and address so they could send each one of us a thank you. (My cup ran over when one of the ladies spoke up and said “We are the Ladies of 798 and our address is P.O. Box 125, Bixby, Oklahoma 74008). All the worries left me at that moment. It was the beginning of Ladies of 798!!

     Ladies go out and make a difference. If you need help, call any of us. We are here for you. If you are organizing a project, call Nicole or myself, your BA's wife, your Organize's wife, Margaret Atkins, wife of Tommy Atkins at PIBF. We all want to be a part, and definitely want to hear what is going on with you and the job you are on. Thank you from the bottom of my heart,
                            Norma Kay Hendrix