Dusty, Jean and I just got back from a month-long vacation in Oregon.  As I returned to work on her biography today I discovered that Makers featured Dusty on Facebook as one of their “Bold and Untold” women who changed history. This has invigorated me to continue looking for the right literary agent to represent me. I’m looking for someone who understands that her accomplishments are relevant and inspiring to today’s women looking for a shining example of how to fight for their workplace rights and why unions can be supportive and  helpful to do so. Her story clearly isn’t “untold” but needs repeating. Whenever and wherever I travel to talk about her, I am always greeted, especially by younger women, with comments like “why haven’t we heard about this before?” That’s because someone out there needs to help us publish her story and shout it out loud and clear. Her story is a part of women’s history. It simply needs to be told again and documented so it is never forgotten and her historic struggles will never need to be repeated  by other women today or in the future. Check out the link for the video that Makers posted at:

https://www.facebook.com/MAKERSboldanduntold/videos/1012075932299946/

 

I’m thrilled to announce that my poem “El Diablo” was accepted and has been published in the 2018 Redwood Writers Poetry Anthology. It “contains poems by a broad range of Sonoma writers: in addition to about a hundred poems depicting the many aspects of life in Sonoma county, it has a special section devoted to poems rising out of the ashes of the devastating wildfires of October, 2017. There are poems written by a number of people who lost their entire homes and all their belongings. The anthology includes poems written by all of the Sonoma County poet laureates, many of whom were directly affected by the fires. Three poets received the Sonoma County Award of Merit distinction, and their poems open this special volume.” It’s an honour to be published in the same book as these distinguished poets.

I’m so pleased that my short story was accepted for publication in this year’s Redwood Writers Anthology. The title and theme is: Redemption.  Mine is an edgy memoir about how one day at work in 1978, after being sexaully assaulted, I learned the corporate secretaries had been repeatedly harrassed and assaulted by the same guy over a long period of time. It took some doing but I convinced enough of them to stand up against the ongoing sexual harrassment at the company. I credit the current #metoo movement for my wanting to share the story so women are reminded that fear of retaliation or being fired can be overcome with the support of other victims. But it is critically important to document and subtantiate all the details to be credible before accusing anyone of bad behavior. I also credit my employer with doing the right thing and firing him the same day, not a common occurance in that era. I’m working with a wonderful editor to polish the story before publication and am pleased to finally get the story out of my system. It had been festering in my mind for 40 years.

National Women’s History Month Honoree Awards Luncheon
Washington, D.C. ~ Dusty Roads Award Accepted by Elaine Rock
on March 25, 2017

I was profoundly honored to represent Dusty at the National Women’s History Project (see http://www.nwhp.org) luncheon and award ceremony for “Trailblazing Women in Labor and Business.” She was unable to be there so I went to Washington, D.C. with two of my friends. It was moving and inspiring to have the opportunity to share the stage, meet and chat with the other illustrious women being honored including Lilly Ledbetter, Equal Pay Activist; Barbara Hackman Franklin, former Secretary of Commerce; Rebecca Anderson, Community and Economic Development Organizer; Nina Vaca, CEO and Chairman of Pinnacle Group, and Norma Yaeger, the first woman stockbroker on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

I was first up to speak after the NWHP showed a segment of her interview from the 2013 Maker’s documentary,100 Women Who Made America. Just before the luncheon I was told I only had a minute to speak because of the length of the film. So, I had to quickly cut my speech in half. Here’s what I said:

“Good afternoon. I’m delighted to accept this award on behalf of Dusty. I met Dusty Roads in 2014 in the Sonoma County, California YMCA swimming pool. She told me about her life as a stewardess and what she had accomplished as an unpaid labor lobbyist in Washington, D.C. Concerned her story might fade with time, I interviewed her for the next two years and am currently writing Dusty’s biography. I only have time today to share one anecdote of the hundreds I collected from her.

There was a photograph you may have noticed in the background of the documentary you just saw. She was wearing her Hawaiian muumuu uniform and carrying a protest sign. It proves how quick-witted she is. Dusty had just gotten off a flight from Hawaii and as she rushed to join the picketers, she saw a sign leaning against the entry to the Women’s Restroom. It said “Out of Service.” Without hesitation, she grabbed it and used it as her message to the press while picketing. The other stewardesses knew exactly where she got that sign from and you can see them laughing if you look closely.

I wish she could have been here today. If she had been, I’m sure she would have inspired us all to get up and march across the street to the White House in protest.

Dusty is grateful that the National Women’s History Project has acknowledged her and bestowed this honor upon her and it assures her proper place in our Women’s History. Thank you very much.”

The photograph above shows me with Angie Klink, Author and NWHP Board Member, on the left, and Molly MacGregor, founder of the NWHP, on the right. I’m holding one half of the inscribed marble book ends they presented to all the honorees.

Elaine B. Holtz Interviews National Women’s History Project Founder, 2017 Honoree, Dusty Roads, and Me

Below is the link to the Womens Spaces radio program interview featuring Molly MacGregor of the National Women’s History Project, Dusty and me. Molly discusses the women chosen for the 2017 theme “Trailblazing Women in Labor and Business.” Dusty and I come into the discussion at about the 35 minute mark to discuss why she was selected as one of the honorees.  Dusty is her characteristically feisty self!

http://www.womensspaces.com/ArchiveWSKBBF/WSA170306.html