With what began in February 2002 as "just" an idea, the North Carolina Journal for Women proudly celebrated it's one-year anniversary last month. With her own personal vision, mission and an overwhelming desire to reach out and connect with women across the state, Journal founder and on-line publisher, Paula Monahan says,

“As our readership increases and our list of contributors continues to grow, I cannot begin to express how excited I am to be part of the process of connecting the women of this state and their wonderful stories through the Journal. I am truly blessed, and fortunate, to be the publisher of the first e-zine for women in North Carolina."

Inspirational. Educational. Motivational.

Twelve consecutive issues with over 80 contributors and articles too numerous to count, tell the story of the first year of the Journal. It was exciting, exhilarating and sometimes exhausting, nonetheless there is an unmistakable sense of pride in every achievement. Many, many thanks to each person who submitted the articles that give this publication its flavor, purpose and panache.

The first issue appeared in December 2003 with Paula Monahan and Santa Al featured on the cover. There were three sections, Monthly, @work and Somewhere in Between, two shopping pages and fifteen articles. The first contributors were Karen Hiser, AlexSandra Lett, Cyndy Ratcliffe, Cathy Howell, Olalah Njenga, Odetta Taylor, Beverly W. Weber, Cathryn Merten, Susan Maravetz, Lois B. Savoy, and Teresa Pennington.

Get the Body You Adore in 2004 announced the January 2004 issue. Angela Ursprung, The Body Sculptress, buffed and toned, graced the front cover. Paula wrote her first publisher’s letter. The Journal welcomed new contributors, Jennifer Snyder, Linda Ray, Marilyn Sprague-Smith, M.Ed, Janet Mobley, and Richard Averitt who shared the inspiring story of his sister, Dawn Averitt Bridge, who has lived for more than fifteen years with HIV/AIDS. Against the Odds – the Story of Dawn Averitt Bridge is a timely reminder of what happens when attitudes change and hope triumphs over despair.

Meet the Woman Behind the Woman, Elsie Phillips’ story of finding a balance between work and family with the help of Ida Terbert was the feature story for the February issue. There were twenty-six contributors and the Journal welcomed eleven new writers, Vickie Carswell, Tricia Santos, Susanne Gaddis, Russell Cronkhite, Megan Raspa, Linda Brakeall, Kay Allred, Janis Ramquist, Jackie Stanley, Elisa Roels, and Billie Goodmon.

Marilyn Sprague-Smith shared the story of the Honorable Lillie McKoy, Mayor of Maxton, NC in the March 2004 issue. Daring to be Bold is the story of how Mayor McKoy and two friends, Geraldine McLaurin and Sallie McLean ended a century of white male domination on the city council in 1989. This issue featured the work of twenty contributors including new authors, Dr. John Pittman, Irene Levitt, Janis Pettit, Lee and Jessica Miller, Michelle Sosnowski, Sheyenne Kreamer and Cara McLauchan. The Journal launched its book giveaway by promoting books of interest to the readers.

Sara Williams, a breast cancer survivor and advocate shared her story and information on the groundbreaking Sister Study Project in the April issue. Once she recovered from the shock of her diagnosis, she decided to become proactive in her fight against a disease that kills more than 40,000 women in the United States annually. There were nineteen contributors, including five new writers, Dena White, Eileen Wood, Mary Alice Monroe, Sally Reis, and Theresa Bennett-Wilkes. Vickie Carswell, Director of North Haven Child Development Center wrote an article entitled, Children Expressing Feelings. Dr. John Pittman wrote a piece on mercury toxicity and Jennifer Snyder spoke to the challenges many women grapple with – finding the courage to pursue our passions. AlexSandra Lett wrote a charming piece on Easter customs in the country.

The Honorable Jennifer Weiss, D, 35th District, North Carolina House of Representatives, was featured on the cover of the May issue. She serves as Vice Chair of the House Committee on Children, Youth and Families and sits on the House Select Committee on Domestic Violence. She is actively involved in crafting legislation that deals with smoking and obesity among children and teen-agers. This issue included the work of sixteen contributors and the Journal featured books by two new authors, Diane Warner and Ellyn Satter.

Joyce Dugan, A Perspective on Be Cause, is featured in the June issue. Marilyn Sprague-Smith described this dynamic Cherokee as the modern-day torch-bearer for education, culture preservation and tribal member economic development. She is the first, and only female to be elected Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Nation.This issue showcased the work of thirteen contributors and introduced new writers, Doris Barksdale, Edie Raether and Geralin Thomas.

Investing in North Carolina’s Future, the feature story for July is a profile of Valeria Lee, the “keeper of the flame,” beacon of hope, and leader of stewards for The Golden LEAF Foundation. This organization is helping North Carolinians transition from a tobacco-dependent livelihood by making grants and investments that will positively impact the long-term economic advancement of the state. This issue included the work of nineteen contributors.The Journal welcomed nine new writers, Ana Tampana, Allen Hinnant, Barbara Carr, Christy Geiger, Melissa Andron, Dawn Coletti, Lee Alcorn, Liza Weidle, and Martin Brossman.

The Honorable Elizabeth Dole, R, North Carolina, United States Senate sat for a forty-five minute interview at her home in Salisbury for the August issue. Senator Dole has spent her life working to improve the lives of people. This issue of the Journal consists of the work of twenty-two contributors, including five new writers, Cari Willis, Lea Strickland, Lucy Wellmaker, Mary Cantando, and Myelita Melton.

Jerrilyn Johnson, a public school counselor turned homeless advocate and author shared her story in the September issue. In her publisher’s letter, Paula Monahan points out how much having a place to call home means to so many. According to statistics provided by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Economic Opportunity, 20,000 to 30,000 families in this state are homeless every day. The number of women and children is alarmingly high. This issue boasted twenty-seven contributors including four new writers: Diana Fairechild, Gail Ostrishko, Laura Landsiedel, and Maureen Killoran.

Judy Mendenhall, President of the International Home Furnishings Market Authority and the Honorable Rebecca R. Smothers, Mayor of the City of High Point are long time friends who wield a great deal of power in the Furniture Capital of the World. Together they work to build on the city’s tradition as the center of the semi annual furniture market and its position as the sixth largest metropolis in the state. They are featured in the October edition which featured the work of twenty-six contributors. The Journal welcomed two new writers, Cherokee Pinder, D.J. Mitsch, and featured books from Judy King and Alexandra Levit.

Bridging Cultural Differences: A Real-Life 21st Century Pocahontas Story, by Marilyn Sprague-Smith is a profile of Ann Miller Woodford, the founder and executive director of One Dozen Who Care, the feature story for the November issue. Ann describes herself as an “imaginarian,” a creative person who can take situations she’s in and create things around it. One of Ann’s personal goals is to bring about more understanding among races, religions, and youth with adults. She says, “The worst part of change is fear. Education and understanding can alleviate some of the trepidation associated with the changes that are destined to come about.” There were twenty contributors for this issue and the Journal welcomed four new authors, Jan Delory, Jane Riley, Terri Zwierzynski, and Tobi Bowen.

A True Spirit of Giving, a most appropriate story for December is a profile of Liz Fentress, President of the North Carolina Community Foundation. “One of the most important aspects of the Community Foundation is to act as a catalyst to bring people together in a neutral environment to talk about things that are of interest to their community. We try to get people in our counties to understand that even if their disposable income is not large, that everyone’s charitable dollars, working with everyone else’s charitable dollars, can add up to a considerable resource,” Fentress explained in her interview. This is the anniversary issue of the Journal – the culmination of a year’s worth of effort, effort, effort and more effort. Twenty-four contributors are featured in this issue. The Journal welcomed four new writers, Ann Starrette, Mary Elizabeth Murphy, Susan Martin, and Tiyi Moori.

.....and 2005 promises to be an even greater year!