The Alice Boarman Baldridge Woman of Distinction Award
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Alice Boarman Baldridge Woman of Distinction Award is to recognize IWF- Alabama members who demonstrate extraordinary leadership and commitment to cause, courage, and integrity. Recipients of the Baldridge Award epitomize the values for which IWF stands, and represent the best of who we are as women and as leaders.
The Baldridge Award is presented at IWF-Alabama’s annual meeting.
AWARD CRITERIA
A Baldridge Award nominee must be an active member of IWF-Alabama for at least one year who has attended at least 50% of Forum meetings over the past 12 months.
The Baldridge Award will be presented to women who:
- Exemplify the mission and ideals of IWF
- Are active and respected members of the community
- Demonstrate the leadership, community involvement and accomplishments exemplified by Alice Boarman Baldridge
- Demonstrate commitment and passion for serving others while making an impact and leading with purpose
- Have made a significant contribution to empower, advance, advocate, or support women
- Inspire others through their work, ideas, and example
- Are known for their positive influence and exceptional abilities
- Radiate passion and purpose to make an impact in their community
- Are advocates for change, lead by example, and practice mentorship
- Are making a difference in the lives of others
- Are compassionate and caring humanitarians
- Are thought leaders and visionaries
- Demonstrate a commitment to the highest ethical standards
Note: IWF-Alabama Board officers are excluded from this award while serving in any officer position.
THE NOMINATION PROCESS
- A nomination may be made by an IWF-Alabama member(s) in good standing (members may not nominate themselves)
- The nomination packet will include:
- A completed on-line application
- Letters of recommendation from: (1) the member making the nomination; and (2) another IWF-AL member who supports the nomination
- Applications and attached letters of recommendation should be submitted to the Leadership/Awards Committee: [email protected]
- Nomination submissions will be due on March 31.
JUDGES
The Judges Panel will include five IWF members representing Forums from across the United States, the IWF management team, and the Alabama Forum. The judges will review applications and recommendation letters independently, and then meet via Zoom to select the award recipient.
AWARD GIFT
The Baldridge Award recipient will be presented a gift designed and created by a woman artist.
ABOUT ALICE BOARMAN BALDRIGE
Born on August 21, 1874, Alice Boarman Baldridge graduated from Sophie Newcomb College and moved to Huntsville in 1895. A respected community leader, she was a charter member and vice president of the Huntsville Library Board; edited a Huntsville newspaper, Huntsville Evening Tribune: Library Edition, in 1904; and served as president of the Women’s League. Alice was the first woman elected to public office in Madison County, winning a seat on the Madison County school board in 1916, four years before women had the right to vote. She was also an instrumental leader in the women’s suffrage movement, speaking across the State of Alabama, and considered one of the best women speakers in the state. She at one time owned 40 farms of various sizes in Madison County. In 1918, Alice passed the Alabama State Bar exam, and became Madison County’s first female attorney. She practiced law in Huntsville until 1923, when she joined a Wall Street firm in New York City and practiced law there until her retirement in 1957. Alice died on July 23, 1961 and is buried in Maple Hill Cemetery.
“We women are the arch wheedlers and coaxers of the race. … We have begged for everything we got. … First, we begged for our personal freedom and got it; we begged for an education and got it; we begged to be allowed to own our own property and got it; we begged for legal and economic equality, and we are getting it; and now we are begging for our political enfranchisement, and this we shall most surely get.”
~ Alice Boarman Baldridge, 1916
Note: In October 2022, the Historic Huntsville Foundation dedicated a historic marker honoring Alice Boarman Baldridge on Adams Street in Downtown Huntsville.
IWF-A Baldridge Award nominations accepted through March 31, 2023!
It’s “awards season,” and while we might not be eligible for Oscars, Tonys or Grammys, there are many IWF-A members who are worthy candidates for the Baldridge Award – and it is every bit as prestigious as those “other” awards….at least we think so!
IWF-Alabama’s Alice Boarman Baldridge Woman of Distinction Award honors members who exemplify extraordinary leadership and commitment to cause, courage, and integrity. In 2022, we presented the first Baldridge Award to Historic Huntsville Foundation Executive (HHF) Director Donna Castellano, in recognition of her work to empower, advance, and support women, most notably through HHF’s “Women Makers, Creators, Movers and Shakers” program which honored trailblazing Huntsville women from the early 1900s.
We are currently accepting nominations for the 2023 Baldridge Award, so please consider nominating an IWF-A member for this year’s award! The 2023 Baldridge Award recipient will be announced at our June annual meeting.
Nominations for the Baldridge Award should be submitted to Candy Burnett ([email protected]). Please contact Candy if you have questions, or need additional information about the application process.