State Sen. Gina Walsh to headline MoWIT Tradeswomen Awards Gala Sept. 20

Pioneer in the St. Louis-area tradeswomen’s Labor Movement

Missouri State Senator Gina Walsh (D-Bellefontaine Neighbors), a champion for women in the building trades and working people across the board, will be the guest speaker at the Missouri Women in Trades (MoWIT) Blue Collar/Black Tie Tradeswomen Awards Gala on Friday, Sept. 20.

The inaugural event will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 36 Grand Hall, 2319 Chouteau Ave. in St. Louis. It will include dinner, the award ceremony and a dance party. The gala is black-tie optional and will include a cash bar. Tickets for the gala are $45 each or $360 for a table of eight.

PIONEER ST. LOUIS AREA TRADESWOMEN
Walsh, who serves as the first female president of the Missouri State Building and Construction Trades Council, is also the first woman to go through the Heat & Frost Insulators Local 1 apprenticeship program. She draws upon her more than 30 years in the union to mentor women considering non-traditional careers and to provide insight for women currently in the trades.

Walsh was elected to Senate District 13 in 2012 and reelected to the position in 2016. She currently serves as minority floor leader. Prior to her work in the Senate, she served four terms in Missouri House District 69, which included Bellefontaine Neighbors, Glasgow Village, Jennings, Moline Acres and Riverview.

ABOUT THE AWARDS
MoWIT is seeking nominations for the following award categories. If you are interested in nominating a tradeswoman, union or contractor, submit your nomination by Friday, Aug. 16. MOWIT executive board members are ineligible for nomination. The award categories include:

• Tradeswoman of the Year – This is a currently working tradesperson with at least four years of experience. She has achieved a skill level respected by her peers, supervisors and the community, shows passion for her work and mutual respect for co-workers. To nominate a tradeswoman, visit https://forms.gle/iEBrKLA6Gp6r93u47.
• Breaking Barriers – Union of the Year – MoWIT’s goal is to honor unions who support, advocate and sustain women in the workplace. How has this union made innovations, broken barriers and improved the status of women in the skilled trades? Nominate a union by visiting https://forms.gle/JRPj78zw1ShZJf79A.
• Breaking Barriers – Contractor of the Year – The group’s goal is to honor contractors who support, advocate and sustain women in the workplace. How has this company made innovations, broken barriers and improved the status of women in the skilled trades? Nominate a contractor by visiting https://forms.gle/ppFXztGRs2M4k7Wt9.

GROUP AWARDS
In addition to the individual awards, MoWIT will be calling up two groups for recognition: tradeswomen who have entered into an apprenticeship in the past year and tradeswomen who have journeyed out in the last year.

The evening will also do a brief roll call of tradeswomen recognized by their years of service for five, 10, 15, 20, 25 and over 25 years.

SPONSORSHIPS
MoWIT is seeking sponsorships for the gala fundraiser. Sponsorship levels include:

• Platinum ($5,000) – Listing in program booklet and in MOWIT video, a full-page ad, a special message from sponsor included in MOWIT video and table of eight
• Gold ($2,500) – Listing in program booklet and in MOWIT video, a full-page ad and table of eight
• Silver ($1,000) – Listing in program booklet and in MOWIT video and a half-page ad
• Bronze ($500) – Listing in program booklet and in MOWIT video

PROGRAM BOOK ADVERTISING
Advertising in the program book is available on a first-come, first-serve basis at the following prices:

• Back cover, full-page, color – $1,000
• Inside front or back cover, full-page, color – $750
• Full-page, black-and-white – $500
• Half-page, black-and-white – $250
• Quarter-page, black-and-white – $125

Email ads in a .pdf or .jpg format to info@mowit.com.

DEADLINE
The deadline for tickets, ad submissions and sponsorships is Friday, Aug. 30.

Make checks payable to MoWIT and mail to 2929 S. Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, MO 63118. For more information, call 636-926-6948.

For event updates, visit mowit.org or follow MoWIT on Facebook at facebook.com/MissouriMOWIT/.

The story in the July 16 print edition had an incorrect date for the event. The Labor Tribune regrets the error.