Former Vermont Gov. Madeline Kunin, one of the Green Mountain State’s elected Democratic delegates at the national convention, will give a lecture this afternoon in Denver. She will speak at a "Women's Equalitea" event sponsored by the Feminist Majority Foundation at the Democratic National Convention in Denver from 3-5:30 p.m.

The Burlington resident has been touring the country speaking about her most recent book, "Pearls, Politics, and Power: How Women Can Win and Lead," which was published in May. As part of the book tour, Kunin has been invited to speak to a handful of women’s events because of the book she said.

“The simple explanation is that I am passing the torch to the next generation,” Kunin said, who served as Vermont’s first woman governor from 1985 to 1991.

Last week Kunin was in Evansville, Ind., celebrating Women’s Equality Day where she was the keynote speaker, addressing a crowd of about 250 women. She spoke about encouraging women to run for office or helping others get elected she said.

“It’s fulfilling the mission that I intended,” she said. “It’s giving people the inspiration to take the risk to run for office or help someone else. Everyone can’t run but everyone can certainly get involved.”

"Pearls, Politics, and Power: How Women Can Win and Lead" is a compilation of about 100 interviews with female politicians. She said she interviewed them about how and why they got involved in politics and why it’s worth it.

“I am trying to give a practical description what it means to be in politics and how you can affect change,” Kunin said. “Women need to be there. Women can’t be the bystanders in history anymore.”

Kunin, who is supporting Barack Obama's presidential bid, was initially behind U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York. She said she was disappointed Clinton didn’t make it as the Democratic nominee for president.

“I do think she still has a place in history because she is the first woman to win any state primary and she has done what no woman has done before,” Kunin said. “She has made it easier for the next woman.”

Kunin will spend the rest of her time at the convention at several book signing events and blogging for The Huffington Post. This is the fifth national convention Kunin has attended. She is among 20 delegates and seven super delegates representing Vermont.

She is a Marsh Scholar Professor-at-Large at the University of Vermont and lectures on history and women's studies.

Kunin was also the first female ambassador to Switzerland under President Bill Clinton.