Jane Burdette:  

Jane E. Burdette Jane E. Burdette, was educated in Wood County schools being the first student to attend regular classes while using a wheelchair for muscular dystrophy and graduated from Parkersburg High School. She earned college degrees from Parkersburg Community College, Glenville State College and her master¿s degree from West Virginia University. She also received an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity. Governors, mayors and county commissioners from both the Democratic and Republican parties have appointed her as their representative to conferences, committees and councils in West Virginia, nationally and at international meetings Her employment experiences have included nonprofit consultant work, grant writing for numerous charitable organizations, former YWCA executive director, vice president of Burdette Funeral Home and recruiter and fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. She has served in leadership capacities on numerous boards and committees on the local, county and state level including the Wood County Commission on Crime, Delinquency and Correction (Past Chairman), Wood County Juvenile Crime Enforcement Coalition, West Virginia¿s Wood County Highway Safety Advocate, and the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) Project Review Panel. Enabling all to enjoy recreation saw her involved with Mountwood Park White Oak Village Advisory Committee, Parkersburg Area Recreation Committee; and, SCORP (WV¿s Statewide Outdoor Recreation Plan ) Task Force where West Virginia¿s state parks and forests were evaluated with recommendations on how to make them all inclusive were presented to the state and federal government. Politically, she has been associated with the Wood County Democratic Executive Committee, Democratic Women¿s Club, Parkersburg Municipal Democrat Committee and served on Governor-elect Joe Manchin¿s Transition Team Member, as well as a City of Parkersburg Mayoral Candidate. Disability rights and having been there from the beginning of the term ¿mainstreaming¿ saw her work through the boards of Horizons Center for Independent Living, Inc. (Past President), A Special Wish Foundation, Inc., Westland Adams Management Corporation (President), Parkersburg Community Organization on Disability (Past Chairman), West Virginia Chapter of MDA (Past President and Task Force member), West Virginia Statewide Independent Living Council, Inc., WV Council on Independent Living, the Consumer Advisory Committee, Western District Guidance Center (Past President), National Organization on Disability, SW Resources Board of Directors, Parkersburg Consumer Advisory Committee (Past President), Organ Donor Committee, Governor¿s Conference on Disability, Wood County Disability Awareness Essay Contest Judge, National - International Year of the Disabled Person as West Virginia¿s representative and national workshop leader, MDA State Youth Chairman, Legislative Chairman, Public Relations Chairman, Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon Local Chairman, Miss Wheelchair West Virginia Pageant Committee, Governor¿s Commission on Disabled Persons, and West Virginia Statewide Rehabilitation Council, Inc.(Past President). Women¿s groups saw her leadership through the Junior League of Parkersburg, GFWC Parkersburg Womans Club, GFWC Western District President¿s Special Project Liaison, West Virginia Women¿s Conference, Career Advisory Network, and the Banquet of WEALTH Steering Committee. She was a member of the Junior League¿s Mint Julep¿s Book Review group and the Epsilon Sigma Omicron Literary Sorority. She has received from the Epsilon Sigma Omicron Sorority recognition at the Star, Torch and Century Levels. She holds a deep spiritual belief which is evidenced through her membership and volunteer work with the St. Joseph Hospital¿s Pastoral Care Department, St. Margaret Mary Parish Pastoral Council, St. Margaret Mary Catholic Churc...Expand for more