Joining women in countries around the world, Iowa State will celebrate International Women’s Day next month.

The international voices committee of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics will host a soup and sandwich supper for the March 8 event.

Participants are invited to bring potluck dishes with an international flavor.

Robin Hinders, international voices committee member, said she was contacted by the Margaret Sloss Women’s Center to increase interest about the celebration at ISU.

Hinders said International Women’s Day was started 86 years ago by German labor leader Clara Zetkin.

She said the committee has found that the day is traditionally celebrated more in socialist countries.

One of the first American celebrations of the day was in New York, when textile workers took to the streets to protest child labor, Hinders said.

The International Women’s Day program, which will be in the College of Design’s atrium, will include a brief history of International Women’s Day and a musical performance, Hinders said. Charlotte Bruner, a professor in foreign language and literature, will also do a reading.

The Catt Center’s international voices committee includes eight members, all ISU faculty and students.

Hinders said the committee had been inactive during the beginning of her time at the center, but it has since tried to institute more programs.

“Because Carrie Chapman Catt did a lot of international work, the center has always tried to carry on that part of her work in having an international focus,” she said.

The International Women’s Day celebration will start at 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 8, with dinner at 5:30.

Reservations are requested, and there is no charge for the program or dinner. Robin Hinders can be contacted at 294-3181 for more information or to make reservations.

In other news:

Nominations for the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics’ Strong-Minded Women Awards are due Monday. The awards will be presented at a ceremony on April 6.

All women ISU students, faculty and staff, as well as Ames community members are eligible for the award.

To nominate a strong-minded woman, contact the Catt Center for a nomination form and details.