News Bulletin: Paul Named Maritime Museum Interim Director

• Amy Paul has been named acting executive director of the Door County Maritime Museum following the resignation of Executive Director Rick O’Farrell. Paul held the position of marketing and communications manager prior to her promotion. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of Amy Paul as acting executive director for the Door County Maritime Museum,” said Bill Harder, president of the museum’s Board of Directors. “Amy’s outgoing personality has been integral with the museum’s public events. From boat raffles during the Fourth of July parade in Baileys Harbor to the museum’s annual Door County Classic & Wooden Boat Festival, Amy’s smiling face has been the projection of the museum’s enthusiasm for pride in our maritime community. Amy has demonstrated dedication and passion in expanding the Door County Maritime Museum’s outreach and a tireless work ethic. We are elated to have Amy at the museum’s helm as we expand the educational programs, update exhibit technologies and build the ‘Beacon of Education’ Maritime Tower addition.” Paul’s ties to the museum extend back to 2008 when she served voluntarily on the museum’s Marketing Committee before being hired by the museum in the spring of 2013 in oversee the organization’s marketing and communications efforts. Paul is enthusiastic to assume her new position at a time when the museum has undertaken ambitious projects at all three of its locations. These include exhibit enhancements at Gills Rock, completion of the first phase of lighthouse and tower restoration on Cana Island and the tower addition at Sturgeon Bay. “Much of my career has been in maritime related fields,” said Paul. “I’m excited and honored to continue my journey with the museum and further share the maritime stories of Door County.”
• The Wisconsin Alliance for Women’s Health (WAWH) applauds the Senate Committee on Labor and Government Reform for holding a hearing on SB 385, which would create a Wisconsin Family and Medical Leave Insurance program. If enacted, SB 385 would make it possible for many Wisconsin workers to take paid time off from work to take care of their own serious health condition, to care for a family member with a serious health condition, or care for a new baby. The United States is the only industrialized country in the world that doesn’t provide workers with any type of guaranteed paid leave. Nationally, only 12 percent of workers have paid family leave through their employers and fewer than 40 percent have personal medical leave through an employer-provided short-term disability program. As a result, workers who take time off to take care for themselves or their families often face a significant loss of income. Even though both the federal and Wisconsin Family Medical Leave Acts (FMLA’s) do provide important protections to some workers, a significant portion of the work force is not eligible for these protections and both FMLA’s only provide for unpaid time off, which many workers cannot afford to take. For more information and statistics regarding how paid family and medical leave insurance would benefit workers, and women workers in particular, see page 21 of the National Women’s Law Center report Moving Women and Families Forward: a state roadmap to economic justice.

COMING UP

• The League of Women Voters of Door County Forum for candidates running for Sturgeon Bay city council seats in Wards 2 and 6, will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 3, at 7 pm in the City Council Chambers, 421 Michigan St. This is an opportunity for the public to become acquainted with the candidates: Ron Vandertie and Kelly Avenson (Ward 2) and Stewart Fett, Tom Benzshawel and Nissa Norton (Ward 6). A forum is held to help voters select the most qualified, best-suited person for the office. It is not a debate. The event consists of anonymous written questions from the audience. Each candidate will have an equal opportunity to share his or her positions and views with the public. For those unable to attend but would like to ask questions, send them to [email protected]. The forum will be videotaped and aired on public access cable channels in Sturgeon Bay. It will also be available for circulation at the Sturgeon Bay Library.