BELLINGHAM — A musician who builds community, a librarian who stands up for individual freedom and a state senator known for behind-the-scenes leadership are among the five women who will be inducted into the Bellingham YWCA’s Northwest Women’s Hall of Fame on Sunday.

This is the 10th year the YWCA has highlighted the accomplishments of area women, particularly those whose actions have improved the lives of other women and girls.

“Usually the recipients are women who operate below the surface,” said Elaine Lynch, cochair of the committee organizing the awards. “They’re the women who don’t want accolades, but they definitely stand out and it’s time to recognize them.”

YWCA officials will host a dinner Sunday to honor this year’s five Hall of Fame inductees:

Flip Breskin a folk musician and neighborhood organizer whose e-mail newsletters, neighborhood gatherings and concerts help foster a sense of community.

The co-founder of the Puget Sound Guitar Workshop and a key member of the Whatcom County Homemade Music Society, Breskin also has helped organize block watch and emergency preparedness activities in the Columbia Neighborhood, where she lives.

Kathryn Hanowell of Everson and Jo Zeimet and Sue Anderson of Bellingham, who nominated Breskin for the award, described her community building efforts as “organized friendship.”

Catherine May, a longtime advocate of senior services, who died in 2003.

May served as director of Whatcom County Senior Services from 1966 to 1981 and held many other leadership roles with agencies serving seniors. The Catherine May Apartments, named in her honor, provide housing and care for lowincome elderly and disabled residents.

“Catherine’s persistence and personality opened doors and gained acceptance that radiated to the benefit of those who followed,” wrote Jean Gorton, who nominated May.

Amory Peck, chair of the Whatcom County Library System board of directors, who helped the system resist a grand jury subpoena to turn over circulation records to the FBI.

“Under Amory’s leadership, the library’s case became a nationally recognized example of standing up for the rights of library patrons to read whatever they wish without the fear of government intervention without just cause,” wrote Joan Airoldi, the system’s director, who nominated Peck.

Peck also is a lay minister, active in the United Methodist Church and a strong advocate for inclusion of all people, including gays, in the church.

Barbara Rofkar, whose leadership positions include chair of the Whatcom Human Rights Task Force, organizer with Voices for Middle East Peace, mediator with Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center and trustee at Whatcom Community College.

Rofkar has helped organize conferences, worked toward legislation and volunteered for hard jobs such as many days of kitchen duty at the Paddle to Lummi event last summer, wrote Shirley Osterhaus, who nominated Rofkar.

“Barbara gracefully educates and encourages people across generation lines, ethnic groups and ecumenical faiths,” Osterhaus wrote.

Harriet Spanel, who is completing her final term as a state senator.

Before she was elected to the state Senate in 1993, Spanel served in the state House of Representatives from 1986 to 1993, developing a reputation as a behind-the-scenes leader along the way. More recently, she has been outspoken about her experience fighting breast cancer, holding herself up as an example of the value of early detection, said Joy Keenan, who nominated her.

“Harriet is a good listener, hardworking, principled, unassuming, focused on building consensus where possible, yet unafraid to stand alone if necessary for what is right,” Keenan wrote.