Bartlesville Women's Network: 2018

Congratulations to voting rights and registration activist and reading advocate Connie Lavoie, our 2018 History-Maker of the Year!

Each year we honor a woman from our community who has made a difference in the lives of women and children either over a lifetime or through one project.

Connie Lavoie grew up in Tulsa and Oklahoma City and didn’t wander too far from her roots when she attended OSU in Stillwater where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. Right out of college, she took a job with Amoco Production Company as a secretary for three years in Tulsa while deciding what to do next.

Like most all jobs she takes on, Lavoie made it more than it originally was and was up for a promotion with the company. It was at that time she took some graduate courses at TU while contemplating whether or not to pursue a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology.

“I was not confident that I could succeed in graduate school, but was encouraged by a professor at TU. He boosted my confidence and guided me in the process, and I was accepted at Western Kentucky University. I was still scared, but moved to Bowling Green and made it through to earn my Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology.”

It was in Bowling Green that Lavoie met and married Norm, her husband of thirty-nine years. Like the protagonist Vivanne in the movie “Chocolate” who feels an urge to move on to a different location with the north wind, Lavoie has a keen desire to do new and different things with her work life once she has grown any job she does to a bigger and successful level. She gets immense satisfaction from using her creativity. “I like new challenges,” Lavoie said. “When you start a new job, you get a fresh start.”

When asked what drives her, Lavoie replied, “Wanting to do useful and substantial things where I can use my creativity after my retirement.” Most recently, a few years ago, Lavoie joined the League of Women Voters of Bartlesville and energized the organization with ideas while learning how it works and noticing where she could best be of service.

Voter registration became her passion.

“It was something I could do for the League on my own schedule. I felt useful being able to do this. While doing that for a year and half, I learned the process of how the organization works and then stepped in as Chair of the Leagues’s Voter Services Committee where I recruit new members into the League and coordinate volunteers to register voters at the Bartlesville Public Library, Rogers State, Tri County Tech and Bartlesville High School.”

Longtime League member Donna Kay Fenstermaker said of Connie, “She is passionate about what the role of citizens should be in our government and getting young people involved is a priority.” Lavoie addresses government classes at Bartlesville High School, an idea she came up with and ran with. Donna Kay Fenstermaker said, “Women’s Network and the League of Women Voters have a tireless worker and advocate in their midst.”

While raising their two children, Lavoie held several positions in Bartlesville. Her first job here was coordinating the Big Brothers and Sisters program; she then went on to work with the Washington County Association for Mental Health. And later, Connie became a school counselor, working with students at Bartlesville High School, in the Barnsdall school district, and then back to Bartlesville at Oak Park Elementary School. She found all of these jobs challenging and fulfilling.

Along with running a household and working out at the gym several times a week, Lavoie and her husband are ardent world travelers and involved grandparents, visiting their grandchildren as often as possible. Connie is a bibliophile and her favorite authors are Annie Dillard, Celeste Ng and Anthony Doerr. Most recently she has been reading A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki.

Currently, she is the Vice President of Friends of the Library here in Bartlesville where she organizes and oversees the annual Creative Writing Contest. She runs The Book Loft, a small space at The Vintage Loft in Dewey that has a cozy, home library feel where people can climb up the stairs, enter a world of books well-organized that invites folks to sit down and browse to their hearts’ content. This began as a hobby and immediately became profitable enough to cover the rent and little beyond. She makes beautiful cards for all occasions and bookmarks. Her name for these pieces of art is Just the Write Note.

“During my career,” Lavoie said, “I’ve been energized by working to develop and strengthen programs that help people in our community, especially children and teens.” She also said she “receives intense enjoyment in playing a part in bringing people together—with other people, and with resources. I find that very satisfying. I have been fortunate to have had countless opportunities to learn in supportive environments and from amazing mentors.”

Congratulations, Connie, on being selected the Women’s Network 2018 History Maker!

Congratulations, Diane, we are so proud of you.

Diane Dixon

Regarded as a mentor and role model to dozens of students and colleagues, Diane Dixon began her teaching career at Lincoln Elementary, but soon leapt at an opportunity to teach gifted and talented students at different district schools.

Over the years in her own classroom or when rotating among sites, she was inspired by former administrator Bill Beierschmitt to make her students’ weekly two hours with her a “peak experience.”

She had centers for the students to keep them engaged and learning, having them master a skill, make it their own, and then pass it along to others. She also spent a decade helping conduct a summer program at Camp Wah-Sha-She, where she admits an electric pickle experiment once blew out an air conditioner.

The renowned teacher of gifted and talented elementary school students earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Louisiana State University. She said her achievements were possible through the students she had and teachers she worked with.

“The students were so good to me that I learned so much from them,” said Dixon.

From Examiner-Enterprise article.