On International Women”™s Day ”“ always March 8 ”“ last year, Gloria Cukar, senior vice president and chief operating officer of the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce, and 39 friends ”“ “many were chamber members” ”“ marched on the Brooklyn Bridge.
On the trip back to Dutchess County, they hatched an idea that will bear fruit in a planned major event on the Walkway Over the Hudson exactly one year later.
The global pitch line for the day comes from sub-Saharan Africa: “Meet me on the bridge,” which makes the Walkway a natural choice. This is the event”™s centennial.
Some 50 nonprofits have signed up to participate. Cukar is hoping to attract a crowd of 1,000. Registration begins at the Walkway March 8 at 2:30 p.m. The program begins 4 p.m. Keynote speaker Kadiatou “Khady” Sidibe Sarassoro ”“ a Mali-raised women”™s rights activist ”“ is scheduled to speak at 4:30 p.m.
A march takes place at 4:45 p.m.
The gathering should be good for business.
Bringing the event to the Hudson Valley could generate as much as $88,730 in revenue, or an average of $88.73 per person, according to the chamber. It is estimated as many as 1,000 people will participate in the event.
Health Quest and KeyBank have agreed to sponsor the event. The Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce Women”™s Leadership Alliance is the organizing committee.
Poughkeepsie-based DRA Imaging is the entertainment sponsor.
Event performances will include the Vassar College Anti-Slavery Singers; Just Off Broadway; Dorraine Scofield and Thunder Ridge; Doug and Martha Martin”™s World Peace Bells; Evergreen Chorus of the Sweet Adelines; First Ladies of Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School; St. Stanislaus Adult and Children”™s Folk Group with the Children”™s Choir; and the Pegasus Quartet from Arlington High School.
“We participated last year and on our way home we decided we wanted to do this and utilize the Walkway Over the Hudson,” Cukar said. “It”™s a worldwide event and we wanted to utilize the Walkway, which is a world-class facility.”
