Join WATCH for its 13th Annual Gold WATCH Award Event to honor Suzanne Koepplinger, Executive Director of the Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center, for her leadership and commitment to addressing the disproportionately high rate of sexual assault of American Indian women and for working in partnership with others to stop the trafficking of Indian women and girls for commercial sexual exploitation.

The event will take place at the Chambers Hotel in downtown Minneapolis, 5th floor rooftop lounge, 901 Hennepin Ave. Parking: valet available, Target ramp. There will be a 5:00 p.m. reception with hors d'oevres and beverages with the 6:00 p.m. presentation of the Sheila Wellstone Gold WATCH award.

The Gold WATCH award is given each year in recognition of leadership on behalf of women and children who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or child abuse. Honorees are chosen from both within and wihtout the justice system. This award was renamed the Sheila Wellstone Gold WATCH award in 2003 as a tribute to Sheila Wellstone's dedication to ending violence against women and children.

Past Gold WATCH recipients:

• 2007 Michelle Jacobson
• 2006 Lois Bishop and Lonna Stevens
• 2005 Beverly Balos
• 2004 CornerHouse
• 2003 Marjorie Hogan and Linda Thompson
• 2002 Joan Peterson
• 2001 Nancy Halverson
• 2000 Jeffrey Edleson
• 1999 Kathryn Quaintance
• 1998 Bernie Martinson
• 1997 Sheila Wellstone and Lolita Ulloa
• 1996 Gunnar Bankovics

About the 2008 recipient:

Suzanne Koepplinger is the Executive Director of the Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center, an organization that provides culturally specific services to American Indian women and their families. Ms. Koepplinger is working locally and nationally to raise awareness about Native women and girls who are disproportionately targeted by traffickers for commercial sexual exploitation, and who are likely to be victims of sexual violence 3 times as often as other women. She is an outspoken advocate and leader in the Native American community dedicated to reducing family violence and sexual assault through public policy and victim services.

Please RSVP by May 2, 2008.

Suggested donation: Sponsor - $50, Patron - $35, Friend - $20. All sponsor donations received by May 2 will be recognized in the event program.

For details, go to www.watchmn.org. To RSVP, please contact Nashad at nmuse@watchmn.org.