Time is running out to nominate the extraordinary female leader in your life for the Santa Monica Commission on the Status of Women's (COSW) 2008 Outstanding Woman Leader (OWL) Award!  Nominations are being accepted through May 31, 2008. 

The Outstanding Woman Leader is an annual award presented by the COSW to women who have demonstrated exceptional personal and/or professional dedication to improving the lives of women and girls in Santa Monica. 

Past OWL award recipients have included Mimi Lind, founder of the Safe Families Domestic Violence Intervention Program at Venice Family Clinic and former director of the Westside Domestic Violence Network; Susan McCarthy, former City Manager for Santa Monica; Toni Reinis, Executive Director of New Directions, a center providing services to homeless veterans; Kelly Snyder, Samohi student leader and founder of Schools for Schools; and Gloria Curiel, Guadalupe Castro, Maria Leon-Vazquez and Rita Morales, founders of the Latina Youth Conference.

Nominees must meet the following criteria to be considered for the Award:

• The candidate has gone above and beyond in her effort to provide outstanding service to the women and girls of Santa Monica;

• She has demonstrated commitment to women's issues;

• She has made a positive lasting impact on the community; and

• She has done work directly benefiting the women and girls of Santa Monica.

Women of all ages are eligible. Applications are available at http://www.smgov.net/ccs/cosw/index.html.  Nominations must be received by May 31, 2008   OWL Award winners will be honored in late summer.

"The Commission is honored and excited to once again celebrate the important and often unrecognized work women are doing to serve the community and benefit the lives of other women and girls," said Andrea Lipton, Chair of COSW.

The Santa Monica Commission on the Status of Women works to enhance the status of women in the community. The Commission promotes these goals through investigation of, advocacy for and policy development regarding issues relevant to women and girls, and by creating leadership and career advancement opportunities for women and girls in the community.