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New wave of 48 women honored in new book
BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer
Adecade after the publication of the successful book, “48 Women: Arizona’s Most Intriguing Women,” a sequel with a new wave of four dozen women is about to hit the market.
The new “48 Women: Arizona’s Most Intriguing Women” is slated for an April 29 release and one of the women behind its development is optimistic about its potential influence across the state.
“‘Impact’ is a word that I use because everyone in their own way has made one,” said Connie Robinson, the chair of the 48 Arizona Women Steering Committee. “The common thread of the women is the impact they’ve made.”
It was just over a decade ago when Robinson was asking herself how she could make an impact herself.
“The origin of ‘48 Women: Arizona’s Most Intriguing Women’ was born out of a philanthropy and leadership program through the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and in collaboration with the Women’s Funding Network years ago,” she said.
‘’Upon graduation from the program, we had to present a project and Kellogg said ‘Now that we have invested in you, how are you going to lift up women in leadership?’ 48 Women is that project.”
Upon the first book’s release, Robinson felt this sequel was in order.
“The first book we did centered around the Arizona Centennial in 2012 and it was after the sales began to pick up and men began asking us ‘Are you doing this again next year and when are you doing this for men?’” Robinson said with a laugh.
Though Robinson was anxious to get a new book out as early as three years after the initial publication, several delays occurred.
“We initially said we would do this three years later but this didn’t happen for various reasons, then we tried to do it five years later and that was when
Connie Robinson, the chair of the 48 Women Arizona steering committee, is excited for the release of the organizations second book detailing the impact of women across the state.
(Alex Gallagher/ Progress Staff)
see48 WOMEN page 24
Scottsdale man collected nearly 2 million stamps
BY LIN SUE FLOOD
Progress Guest Writer
It was 1939, and Monroe Wingate was just 9 years old when his father returned home from a business trip with a little package of German stamps.
Two depicted an eagle circling the world with a swastika. Hitler’s invasion of Europe was all over the news and the young boy knew he was holding a piece of history.
Over the last 81 years, Monroe has cataloged 962,000 stamps using a software program that helps him keep track of what he has. But he is only halfway through his collection.
Honestly, I never met a stamp I didn’t like,” the 90-year-old chuckles. “Some collectors specialize in butterfly stamps or something. But I love them all and that’s my problem.”
Stamp collecting may have begun as a hobby, but now it’s his life’s work.
“Every stamp tells a story,” he said. “Commemorative ones celebrate statehood, for example. Others are pieces of art. They all have variations in watermarks and perforations. To me, every one of them is a miniature painting.”
After respiratory illness reduced Monroe’s mobility several years ago, he “gave up sailing and golf,” his wife Peggy said. “But he’s never, ever bored!
Phoenix Philatelic Association president, Kevin Lesk, admires Monroe Wingate’s collection. The large map above Monroe’s desk inspires him to research and pursue
the pandemic hit,” she said. “When everything came to a halt, we realized how much more important it was because the educational component of this book that raises awareness of what women are doing had its importance displayed during the pandemic.”
After driving through the state and taking nominations for the new wave of 48 women, Robinson noticed one commonality.
“Through the process of learning who these women were and sending out nominations was how we learned about the depth of what these women were doing in their own communities,” she said. “These women are so humble and would have never self-submitted.”
Among the 48 women profiled, there were some stories that Robinson felt were noteworthy.
“For instance, Amy Bockersette – who plays golf at Paradise Valley Community College – inspired the Down syndrome community with her passion and Sian Proctor – who grew up wanting to be an astronaut – went up with SpaceX and changed the world in terms of orbiting around the world,” she said.
Robinson was also blown away by the impact that the six women who represented Scottsdale have had on their community.
“The impact of women who aren’t far apart in Scottsdale that contribute to building this community, making it stronger and lifting up women who have done amazing work through their leadership, is remarkable,” she said.
Once the book is released, Robinson plans for the book to be used in an educational capacity both inside and outside of classrooms across the state.
“We have a partnership with the Arizona Historical Society and this book will be in the 45 certified museums across the state so that everyone who visits those sites can see the book,” she said.
“What we’d like to do and what we want to see is that this book becomes a part of classrooms especially in underserved areas and rural areas so that there is this increase in knowledge about what is possible and what women are doing across the state.”
Robinson also plans to create a documentary about the original 48 women and how they align with the current decade of 48 women.
“Showing those kinds of comparisons will show how far women have come and new and emerging leaders have so much opportunity, grab it and you can do it,” she said.
As for her short-term goals, Robinson hopes that the book is a source of inspiration and knowledge for young women.
STAMPS ���� page 22
He can sit for hours studying stamps, storing them in albums or deciding which ones to bid on in auctions.”
When Monroe’s Hospice of the Valley social worker, Thomas Corrigan, saw the extensive collection in the couple’s Scottsdale home, he felt compelled to introduce his patient to someone who would truly appreciate his passion for stamps.
“I just knew he would enjoy sharing what he’s been working on for decades,” Thomas said.
Which is how, one sunny morning, Monroe met Kevin Lesk, president of the Phoenix Philatelic Association, who was duly impressed.
“This is a wonderful — the sort of thing you rarely encounter! Monroe is the epitome of a true collector who’s in it for the enjoyment and collecting for the love of it.”
The camaraderie was instant. Both men paged through heavy volumes holding hundreds of colorful stamps from faraway places. Some mark world events like the Olympic Games; others feature Hollywood Legends or capture pieces of history like the trio of Graf Zeppelin stamps.
That particular set was issued for letters that the airships carried to Europe in the 1930s.
“When people share their collections,” Kevin said, “their stamps educate us — about the past or current events or art or culture. It’s a hobby for anyone who is curious about the world. And collecting isn’t just for the rich… it’s available on any budget.”
Enthusiasts and serious collectors alike will be attending the Aripex Stamp Show, Feb. 18-20 at the Mesa Convention Center.
This year, 47 exhibitors will be displaying their collections. For details, visit aripex.org.
Kevin will even be there giving free appraisals to anyone who is wondering what their stamps may be worth.
Monroe won’t be at the show this year, but he’s already looking forward to Kevin’s next visit. “I love being able to share my collection,” he said softly. “I wish more people did it.”
Honorees hail from 15 cities across the state and include:
Avondale: Betsy Hargrove Bullhead City: Nancy Mongeau Chandler: Kristine Mill Flagstaff: Coral Evans, Lyndel Manson Fountain Hills: Ginny Dickey Gilbert: Cara Christ Kingman: Krystal Burge Maricopa: Evandra Catherine Paradise Valley: Juanita Francis Phoenix: Amy Bockerstette, Katie Cobb, January Contreras, Naomi Cramer, Sybil Francis, Diana Gregory, Dawn Grove, Michele Halyard, Katie Hobbs, Kara Kalkbrenner, Pardis Mahdavi, Ruth McGregor, Cindi Nannetti, Sian Proctor, Reena Rastogi, Denise Resnik, Mary Jane Rynd, Jennifer Sands, Jannah Scott, Ann Timmer, Ginger Torres Scottsdale: Helen Collins, Susan Eastridge, Abbie Fink, Alexa Kasselman, Mitzi Krockover, Barbara Peters Somerton: Emma Torres Tempe: Sarah Davis, Miki Garcia, Liz Lerman, Tiffany Lopez, Colleen Jennings Roggensack Tucson: Lisa Lovello Yuma: Gladys Brown, Shelley Mellon
“I hope that the emerging leaders and current leaders feel inspired,” she said. “I hope it inspires all folks to want to do their best as it relates to what their passion is and that it will connect.”
“I also hope that this book will provide some connection in terms of knowledge of who’s your neighbor and uplift and connect women’s networks internationally,” Robinson added.
To pre-order the new book call Connie Robinson at 602-896-9000 or email her at crobinson@cox.net.
Graf Zeppelin stamps are some of the most popular and valuable stamps from
the 1900s. (Courtesy of Hospice of the Valley) “When people share their collections, their stamps educate us — about the past or current events or art or culture. It’s a hobby for anyone who is curious about the world. And collecting isn’t just for the rich… it’s available on any budget.”
