the last word
by sandi tomlin-sutker

This premiere issue of WNC WOMAN has as its theme "finding our voice" but perhaps it should be "voices".

As I look back over the articles, poems, stories and even the adertisements, I see (and hear) many notes. Each one is important to the whole creation, to the development of a rich and harmonious orchestration. I love listening to women's voices singing harmony. Kate and Anna McGarrigle, two Canadian sisters, have what has been called "genetic harmony". Their voices blend, then move away from each other, creating new sounds that couldn't exist with one voice alone. Three fine singers, Parton, Ronstadt and Harris, created a haunting series of albums which both highlight each woman's uniques voice and build something entirely new-a soaring, floating, piercingly sweet coming together.

With WNC WOMAN we want to create the sort of harmony that truly honors the diverse voices in Western North Carolina, yet exemplifies the unity at the core of women's lives.

Please join us in exploring the ways women are the same, ways we differ, ways we can support those similarities and differences to build an ever stronger community.