Female members of the Bush family applaud at the conclusion of the W Stands for Women rally in New York on Monday, August 30. From left to right are: Barbara Bush (daughter of the President), Jenna Bush (daughter of the President), Doro Bush Koch (the President's sister), and Barbara Bush (the President's mother). (Photo: © AP Photo/Dean Cox)

Monday, August 30—The keynote women's event at the Republican Convention today was the "W Stands for Women" forum at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. About 500 small business owners and delegates gathered to hear former First Lady Barbara Bush, Lynn Cheney, and Doro Bush Koch (the President's sister). President Bush's twin daughters, Jenna and Barbara, were also on the stage, but did not speak.

Each of the women who did speak told stories of their families and how much they admired President George W. and Laura Bush. Lynne Cheney told about how her oldest granddaughter referred to her once as the "Grandmother of the United States." Barbara Bush told about spending two weeks at the Olympic Games in Greece with her granddaughters, Jenna and Barbara.

Scholastic Student Reporters Bianca Ramos and Cheyenne Lizardi talk to Washington, D.C., delegate Grewn Southerland at the "W Stands for Women" forum on Monday, August 30. (Photo: Suzanne Freeman)

"I kept telling them to stand up straight and keep their hair out of their eyes," she said. "I'm surprised they agreed to come with me today."

The anecdotes were well received by the mostly female audience.

"Being a grandmother, I loved the speeches," said Gwen Southerland, a delegate from Washington, D.C. "They were warm and fuzzy speeches. That's why I like them."

The women got down to work after the speeches, breaking into four groups to hear panel discussions on education, health care, the economy, and international women's rights.

Scholastic Student Reporters Bianca Ramos and Cheyenne Lizardi talk to Paula Paglioni of Atlanta, Georgia, at the "W Stands for Women" forum on Monday, August 30. (Photo: Suzanne Freeman)

"This is the first time I've been to anything like this," said Paula Paglioni of Atlanta, Georgia, who went to the education session. "I'm interested in knowing what the administration for education is doing, and I look forward to going home and giving my perspective."

And that's just what the leaders of W Stands for Women hope each of the women there will do when they get home.

"The women in this room today will build the most extensive grassroots campaign in history by reaching out to neighbors and friends to make sure they know how George W. Bush has made America safer, stronger, and better," said Doro Bush Koch.