Askins also visited Sallisaw High School students and Carl Albert State College, met with Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce members in the afternoon, and with city officials in the evening.
At the BPW meeting Askins encouraged women to compete in the business world.
Askins, who has served as a judge, a state representative for 12 years and has been lieutenant governor for a year, said she has a sign on her office wall which reads "Women Mean Business," and she commented on how the numbers of women in business, politics and the state legislature have increased.
"I am extremely impressed with the number of women here," she told the group.
Askins said she saw more women become involved in the law as attorneys when she was a judge and when Gov. David Walters appointed her to the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board, she was the first female to chair the board.
"That prepared me for the legislature," she said.
Askins said when she first went to the state legislature the other few female legislators were from Oklahoma City and Tulsa or from the areas around the University of Oklahoma at Norman and Oklahoma State University at Stillwater.
"Now we're finding more women elected from smaller, different places, like Sallisaw," Askins said. "The majority of these women come from educational backgrounds, not business. Not a lot of women come to the state capital with that kind (business) of experience.
"So I would encourage you. Take the initiative as business women to become more active in politics," Askins urged.
Askins, who also serves as Oklahoma's Small Business Advocate, participates in and promotes various economic development projects. She said she and staff members are preparing a brochure so state agencies "will know what other agencies are doing," which will increase government efficiency.
"We need to know where to tell you to go (as small business owners and operators)," Askins said, "to what agency, and so we can refer you to programs for small business needs."
Askins invited BPW members to Small Business Day in Oklahoma City in April, and said the date would be available later.
"We want to provide services to you all," she said.
After reviewing rules of the workplace and how they pertain to women in the workplace, Askins noted that men are often hired based on their potential and women are hired or promoted based on their performance. She said it is true that women work twice as hard as men to attain the same level as men in their careers.
Askins concluded, "I'm having a great time as lieutenant governor, but I am not bragging or saying I'm better than others. Everybody brings something different to the table."
