Standard salutes influential women

This year’s banquet took place Thursday at McMinnville Country Club with 25 distinguished women of honor. These ladies were nominated by their peers because they exemplify a long list of traits which make them worthy of recognition.

This year’s top honor was shared by two well-respected women who serve as models of community excellence ‘ Helen Elkins and Mary Gaffin. They were praised as the Standard’s co-Women of Achievement for 2007.

‘It was such a delight to be in a room where you could look around and see such upstanding people at every table,’ said Standard publisher Patricia Zechman, who presided over banquet ceremonies. ‘These awards are a small way for us, as a newspaper, to say thank you to 25 women who have done so much for this community. We are proud to honor their achievements.’

The Women of Achievement special section is inside today’s edition.