At first blush, Dan Rather seemed an odd choice for guest speaker at the SafePlace Celebration. Of course whatever the longtime newsman and sometime Austinite said was bound to be intriguing. But what does he have to do with shelters and services for victims of domestic violence?
Jeff and Deanna Serra
We soon found out at the packed — and unusually well-catered — Hilton Austin luncheon on Friday. In 1981, not long after the charity, then known as the Battered Women’s Shelter, was founded, Rather featured it on the widely watched national news magazine “60 Minutes.” At the time, such a place was startling news, especially in macho Texas, where domestic violence was, pardon the expression, swept under the carpet.
Mary and Rusty Tally
No longer. In fact, so supportive is society of such crucial aid, the shelter’s placement is no longer a secret. For those who look at the past through rose-colored glasses and who think traditional relations among household members should not be altered, just consider how far we’ve come in 35 years. Want to go back? I didn’t think so.
Frank and Nina Seely
Texas Tribune editor Evan Smith interviewed Rather from the stage. As usual, Smith balanced sincere flattery with tough questions. He sought insights into the role of women in the presidential race. The crowd sounded bipartisan, but everyone seemed to agree that it’s surprising long-settled issues like contraception and equal pay for women keep creeping back into the discussion.
Forrest Preece and Linda Ball
SafePlace director Julia Spann introduced the eloquent survivor speaker Anna Belle Burleson — a former client and now backer of the charity — the the winner of the group’s Guardian Award, longtime board member Patti O’Meara .
Described as a “woman of peace,” O’Meara is clearly somebody I should get to know better.
CORRECTION: Jeff and Deanna Serra were misidentified in an earlier version of this post.