Join us on Saturday, January 25, 2025 for
Montgomery County Commission for Women’s
 45 ^th Annual
 Women’s Legislative Briefing

The Women’s Legislative Briefing (WLB) is the premier and longest-standing women’s legislative event in the state of Maryland. It is coordinated by the Montgomery County Commission for Women and brings together advocates, policymakers, and emerging leaders to empower, engage, and mobilize Marylanders around issues affecting women and girls throughout the state.

WLB 2025 Overview

• Date: Saturday, January 25, 2025
• Time: 11:30am - 5:00pm
• Place: Universities at Shady Grove, 9630 Gudelsky Dr, Rockville, MD 20850
• Theme: EMPOW(HER): Breaking Barriers to Success
• Early Bird Tickets: $45 through January 22, 2025 at 5:00pm
• General Admission: $55 through January 22, 2025 at 5:01pm - January 25, 2025
• Student and Emerging Leader Tickets: $10
• FREE Child Care: Available for children ages 2-10. Space is limited. After purchasing a WLB ticket, a link to secure a spot will be sent. Please email [email protected] for additional information.
• Chair’s Networking Breakfast: By invitation only
• Free Parking
• Program: Coming soon!

History and Purpose:

The Montgomery County Commission for Women hosted the first Women’s Legislative Briefing in January 1980, originally co-sponsored by 12 community and women’s organizations. Except for a single year in 1982, this briefing has been presented annually, making this its 45th anniversary. The number of co-sponsoring organizations has grown dramatically, with over 65 co-sponsors. The number of participants has also increased significantly, more than tripling from approximately 200 in 1981 to more than 750 in 2018. In fact, this event that began in Montgomery County has become a regional event in the state of Maryland.

The purpose of the briefing is to provide information on legislative issues of concern to women and families, including bills that will be introduced in the upcoming sessions of the Maryland General Assembly and U.S. Congress.  Local and state officials are invited to attend the briefing.

The Women’s Legislative Briefing aims to provide attendees with insights into legislative issues affecting women and families, including key bills set to be introduced in the upcoming sessions of the Maryland General Assembly and U.S. Congress. This event provides a valuable platform for attendees to engage with legislators and discuss issues that matter to their communities.

To emphasize the role of women as key to policymaking, keynote speakers in the past have included:

Rosie Rios, 43rd Treasurer of the United States
Joanne Bamberger, Author, How Women & Social Media are Revolutionizing Politics in America
Dr. Bernice Sandler, Author of Title IX legislation
Sara Manzano-Diaz, Director, Women’s Bureau, U.S. Department of Labor
Lilly Ledbetter, Pay Equity Advocate
Dorothy Height, Founder and President Emeritus, National Council of Negro Women
Donna Brazile, Founder and Managing Director, Brazile and Associates, LLC
Eleanor Smeal, Founder and President, The Feminist Majority and Past National President of NOW
Karen Nussbaum, Director, Women’s Bureau, U.S. Department of Labor
Shinae Chun, Director, Women's Bureau, U.S. Department of Labor
The Honorable Donna Edwards, U.S. House of Representatives
Irene Natividad, President, Global Summit for Women
Susan Wood, Ph.D., Former Assistant Commissioner for Women’s Health, U.S. FDA
Cokie Roberts, Senior News Analyst, National Public Radio, Political Commentator, ABC-News
Dr. Jane Smith, Chief Executive Officer, Business & Professional Women, USA
Ellen Malcolm, President of EMILY’s List
Lynne Battaglia, U.S. Attorney for District of Maryland
Patricia Blau Reuss, NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund
Anita Perez Ferguson, President, National Women’s Political Caucus
Carmen Delgado Votaw, Washington Representative for Girl Scouts of the USA
The Honorable Constance Morella, U.S. House of Representatives
M ónica Ramirez, Founder, Justice for Migrant Women

What is the Montgomery County Commission for Women?

The Montgomery County Commission for Women (CFW) is a 15-member board charged with the responsibility of advising the public, the county executive, the county council, and the agencies of the county, state and federal governments on the issues of concern to women. It was formed in 1972 through county law. Each commissioner is appointed by the county executive and confirmed by the county council. Commissioners serve three-year terms without compensation.

The mission of the Commission for Women is to advance women’s equal and full participation in the benefits, responsibilities, and opportunities of society, and to enable women to participate as equals in the community through the acquisition of skills and competencies, information and resources.  The Commission’s primary responsibility is to identify inequities in laws, policies, practices and procedures, and to recommend and promote remedies.

Sponsorships

The Women’s Legislative Briefing is made possible each year through the generous support of our corporate, non-profit, and community co-sponsors. Sponsoring this event is a simple yet impactful way to showcase your organization while championing critical issues affecting women and girls across the state.

Interested in becoming a sponsor? Please contact Carmen Kaarid at (240) 777-8300 or e-mail [email protected]. Sponsorships are due by December 31, 2024.

Corporate Sponsorship Levels

Platinum Sponsorship: $10,000

• Name and logo on all event publicity leading up to the event.
• Company video (up to 2 minutes) shared during the opening plenary session (video to be provided by sponsor)
• Name and logo prominently featured at the beginning of the conference
• Complimentary attendance for 10 members to attend the WLB conference.
• Complimentary attendance for 4 of those members to attend the pre-conference Chair’s Networking Reception.
• Complimentary exhibit table with prominent placement during the event.

Diamond Sponsorship: $7,000

• Name and logo on all event publicity leading up to the event.
• Company video (up to 90 seconds) shared during the opening plenary session (video to be provided by sponsor)
• Name and logo prominently featured at the beginning of the conference.
• Complimentary attendance for 8 members to attend the WLB conference.
• Complimentary attendance for 3 of those members to attend the pre-conference Chair’s Networking Reception.
• Complimentary exhibit table with prominent placement during the event.

Emerald Sponsorship: $5,000

• Name and logo on all event publicity prior to and up to the event (This will all be online and must be received by Saturday, December 31, 2022). 
• Company video (up to 1 minute) shared during the opening plenary session (video to be provided by sponsor). 
• Name and logo prominently featured at the beginning of the conference. 
• Complimentary attendance for 7 associates to attend the conference. Two associates may also attend the Chair’s Networking Reception. 
• Complimentary attendance for 2 of those members to attend the pre-conference Chair’s Networking Reception.
• Complimentary exhibit table with prominent placement during the event.

Topaz Sponsorship: $2,500

• Name and logo on all event publicity leading up to the event.
• Name and logo prominently featured at the beginning of the conference.
• Complimentary attendance for 5 members to attend the WLB conference.
• Complimentary attendance for 2 of those members to attend the pre-conference Chair’s Networking Reception.
• Complimentary exhibit table with prominent placement during the event

Amethyst Sponsorship: $1,000

• Name and logo on all event publicity leading up to the event.
• Name and logo prominently featured at the beginning of the conference.
• Complimentary attendance for 5 members to attend the WLB conference.
• Complimentary attendance for 2 of those members to attend the pre-conference Chair’s Networking Reception.
• Complimentary exhibit table with prominent placement during the event.

Pearl Sponsorship: $500

• Name and logo on all event publicity leading up to the event.
• Name and logo prominently featured at the beginning of the conference.
• Complimentary attendance for 4 members to attend the WLB conference.
• Complimentary attendance for 2 of those members to attend the pre-conference Chair’s Networking Reception.
• Complimentary exhibit table with prominent placement during the event.

Opal Sponsorship: $250

• Name and logo on all event publicity leading up to the event.
• Name and logo prominently featured at the beginning of the conference.
• Complimentary attendance for 3 members to attend the WLB conference.
• Complimentary attendance for 2 of those members to attend the pre-conference Chair’s Networking Reception.
• Complimentary exhibit table during event.

Community Co-Sponsorship Opportunities

Level 4 Community Co-Sponsor: $200

• Co-sponsoring organization's name included on all online event publicity.
• Opportunity for co-sponsor’s representative to participate on the WLB planning committee.
• Inclusion of co-sponsoring organization in the 2025 WLB Networking Directory.
• Complimentary attendance for 3 organization leaders or representatives to attend the WLB conference.
• Complimentary attendance for 1 of the leaders to attend the pre-conference Chair’s Networking Reception.
• Complimentary exhibit table during the event.

Level 3 Community Co-Sponsor and Friend of the WLB: $150

• Co-sponsoring organization's name included on all online event publicity.
• Opportunity for co-sponsor’s representative to participate on the WLB planning committee.
• Inclusion of Co-sponsoring organization in the 2025 WLB Networking Directory.
• Complimentary attendance for 2 organization leaders or representatives to attend the WLB conference.
• Complimentary attendance for 1 of the leaders to attend the pre-conference Chair’s Networking Reception.
• Complimentary exhibit table during the event.

Level 2 Community Co-Sponsor: $100

• Co-sponsoring organization's name included on all online event publicity.
• Opportunity for co-sponsor’s representative to participate on the WLB planning committee
• Inclusion of Co-sponsoring organization in the 2025 WLB Networking Directory.
• Complimentary attendance for 2 organization leaders or representatives to attend the WLB conference.
• Complimentary attendance for 1 of the leaders to attend the pre-conference Chair’s Networking Reception.

Level 1 Community Co-Sponsor: $50

• Opportunity for co-sponsor’s representative to participate on the WLB planning committee.
• Inclusion of Co-sponsoring organization in the 2025 WLB Networking Directory.
• Complimentary attendance for 1 organization leader or representative to attend the WLB conference.

Student Sponsorship: $20

• This sponsorship is for student groups associated with high school, college, or graduate school.
• Inclusion of co-sponsoring organization in the 2025 WLB Networking Directory.
• Complimentary attendance for 2 organization leaders or representatives to attend the WLB conference.