Charney Gonnerman, Bozeman BPW member and Woman of Achievement was named Montana BPW Woman of Achievement, May 14, 2005

Charney Gonnerman, the Bozeman BPW Woman of Achievement award recipient, was selected as the Montana BPW Woman of the Year on
May 14 at the Business and Professional Women's 2005 State Convention in Great Falls. Charney is the executive director of the Network Against Sexual and Domestic Abuse in Bozeman. She was chosen for this award because of her strong advocacy for women and children. Her desire to help and empower women has always been her primary concern. Throughout her different work situations, she has provided leadership programs to enrich the lives of working women.

Her acceptance talk was in part as follows: "It is an extreme honor to be recognized by my peers. We are bound by our commitment to excellence. We are dedicated to raising the consciousness of women to challenge ourselves to reach our highest potential through recognition of our innate beauty, intelligence, and wisdom. Women are the key to changing the world. The influence we have in our personal and professional lives determines the attitude in our homes, in our
community, and in our nation and world.
Life is a journey. We learn from our coaster ride. My life has been one of many highs and many lows. Between the lines of my accomplishments
lie the agony of failures and hasty painful choices. Through all of this, I
am a product of Becoming - learning who I am and how I define myself.
Lily Tomlin, a comedian and actress, says, "We're all in this alone." This statement speaks about personal accountability and responsibility.
Marie Nemuth, who wrote The Energy of Money said, "I did it myself, but
I wasn't alone." this statement speaks about our Oneness and our
mutual support for each other. All of us stand on the shoulders of women who came before us, who mentor us, and who reflect the image we hope to model.
In my many pensive moments, I ponder on the choices we as women have in our relationships, in our careers, and in our attitudes. I realize
that I have chosen a career to empower others. My work has touched
the lives of infants to senior citizens, from the poorest to the privileged, from the dis-empowered to the highest of leadership, from the minorities
to the majority, from the disabled to the highest achiever, from the addicted to the rescuer, from the seeker of freedom from oppression to
the giver of opportunity. Of these experiences, I am so grateful.
Thank you to Norma Boetel, Bozeman BPW, Montana BPW, my family and friends.
 

                                                  

                                                                                           

Bozeman BPW is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization devoted to achieving equity for all women in the workplace through advocacy, education and information.