The next meeting of the AWIS Washington DC Metropolitan Chapter Board will be held on October 21, 2008.

Board Meeting: July 14, 2008

1. Review of recent and upcoming events:

May 13, 2008: Networking Event at Gordon Biersch.

June 13, 2008: Networking Dinner with AWIS National Board of Directors and sister chapter AWIS Bethesda at Parthenon. The event was a great success with over forty people in attendance.

July 28, 2008: Networking dinner and talk by Dr. Dahlia Sokolov at Bua Thai.

2. There will be a new AWIS Chapter at the University of Maryland
College Park. We are looking forward to possible networking and social events with the new chapter.

3. In review of the Chapter 2008 goals, we are pleased to report many of the chapter’s goals have been reached and are underway. Membership is up from last year but we are still looking to reach our goal of a 15% member increase, great reminder to all current members recruit new members. Also look for new electronic networking opportunities for members in the future.

4. The 2009 Nominations and elections time is coming. Natalia Melcer will chair the nominations and elections committee. This is a great opportunity for members to become involved. If you are interested in joining the 2009 nominations and elections committee please contact Natalia Melcer through the contact us link on the website.

Our next board meeting will be held on October 30th 2008. If you have any suggestions or ideas for topics to be discussed at the board meeting please contact Angela Grant, VP for Communications, through the Contact Us link on the website.

Board Meeting: January 28, 2008

1. Review of recent and upcoming events:

January 10, 2008: Bethesda and DC metro AWIS and AWG New Years Party. The holiday party was a great success. The event was both well organized and well attended.

February: Town hall/networking dinner. Date, time and place to be
announced. This will be a great opportunity to learn about the AWIS DC board and offer suggestions or ideas for the chapter.

March 30, 2008: Managing Your Career in Science. AWIS DC Chapter Symposium at Capital Science 2008. Event coordinated by Jennifer Hobin, VP for Programs.

2. In review of the chapter 2007 goals, we are pleased to report many of the chapter’s 2007 goals were reached, including a membership increase above 15%, the expansion of our chapter’s web presence, and the continued existence and success of the programs committee.

3. In 2008, we will expand our goals to include an emphasis on
increasing networking opportunities for members, increasing input from members pre- and post-event, and increasing member involvement. The 2008 AWIS DC Chapter goals will be posted on the chapter website shortly.

4. The chapter constitution and bylaws were reviewed and will be
posted on the chapter website. The chapter bylaws give a great
description of the board members duties, if you are interested in
running for the board in future years.

5. We had great feedback from members for suggestions and ideas for topics to be discussed at the Board meeting. These suggestions were discussed and have been incorporated into the goals for 2008.

Our next board meeting will be held on April 21, 2008. If you have any suggestions or ideas for topics to be discussed at the board meeting please contact Angela Grant, VP for Communications, through the Contact Us link on the website. 

Board Meeting: October 12, 2006

1. Review of recent and upcoming programs and events:

September 26, 2006: Networking Dinner and discussion of the National Academies' report "Beyond Bias and Barriers: Fulfilling the Potential of Women in Academic Science and Engineering." Jennifer Hobin, NRC Fellow, led the conversation. A very well attended event with lively conversation about the report.

October 23, 2006: Networking Dinner and discussion with Chris Flett, author of “What Men Don’t Tell Women about Business” at Teaism.

November 20, 2006: Kathie Bailey Mathae from the Board on International Scientific Organizations at the National Academies will talk about international general assemblies, challenges for women mathematicians, and what happened to Pluto. This event will take place at Teaism.

November 30, 2006: George Washington University outreach event coordinated by Nancy Forbes, a program committee member.

December 7, 2006: The chapter Holiday Party will be held jointly with the Bethesda Chapter and the Association for Women Geoscientists-Potomac Area Chapter in the 6th Floor Atrium of the AAAS building.

2. The chapter is committed to increase its outreach activities. The first event in the series will be held at George Washington University’s Mount Vernon Campus this November.

3. Our website is being updated periodically with event information, volunteer notices, and other opportunities.

4. Membership and mailing lists are updated and used effectively in communications with members and friends of the chapter.

5. Election time is here: the Nominations and Election Committee is chaired by our Past President, Nancy Bakowski. Election ballots will be distributed electronically to the membership in November.

In addition to the election of the new officers, several changes were needed to align the bylaws with current chapter practices. Among them was an addition to the duties of the VP for Finance, a change in the duties of the VP for Communications and the VP for Public Relations, and the alignment of the articles on board meetings and on chapter dues and membership with current practices.A more detailed list of the changes and a link to the full strikeout version of the text appears as an item in the ballot.

Our next Board Meeting will take place in January with the newly elected officers. If you have any suggestions or ideas for topics to be discussed at the Board Meeting, please contact Ester Sztein, VP for Communications, through the Contact Us link on the website before the end of the year.

Board Meetings: July 27, 2006 and September 21, 2006

1. Review of recent and upcoming programs and events: 

June 5, 2006: Networking dinner. Fifteen chapter members gathered for great food and great company at our networking dinner at Bertucci’s. Stacy Guo and Arnell Carr joined us from the American Institute of Physics (AIP) to lead an informal discussion of their recent report "Women Physicists Speak Again."

June 16, 2006: National AWIS Board Reception at AAAS, co-sponsored by our chapter. National AWIS and volunteers organized this very well-attended event.

July 17, 2006: Networking Dinner. Six chapter members met at Bua Thai for a networking dinner.

August 10, 2006: Robbie Melton, President and Director of Women in Bio. Robbie introduced her organization, why it was started and what it does, and followed with a discussion of areas where men and women differ in starting a business.

September 26, 2006: Fourteen people attended the Networking Dinner and discussion of the recent National Academies report "Beyond Bias and Barriers: Fulfilling the Potential of Women in Academic Science and Engineering."

October 10, 2006: A Networking and Brainstorming session will be held at the Bethesda library to discuss ways to expand and strengthen the network of women scientists locally and nationally, determine ways that AWIS can best be a resource for women in science, and prioritize the issues on which AWIS should be most vocal.

October 23, 2006: Chris Flett, author of “What Men Don’t Tell Women about Business.” This one-hour session brings the common beliefs about men and women in business into the open and bridges the information in an entertaining and useful manner. This event will take place at Teaism.

November 20, 2006: Kathie Bailey-Mathae from the Board on International Scientific Organizations at the National Academies will talk about international general assemblies, challenges for women mathematicians (discussions held this summer at the International Mathematical Union General Assembly), and what happened to Pluto (from the International Astronomical Union General Assembly).

November 30, 2006: George Washington University outreach event. Coordinated by Nancy Forbes, program committee member.

2. The program committee continues the planning of university outreach events. The results of the survey targeted to members and friends of the chapter are in and will help in planning future events. Several members noted their interest in volunteering in chapter activities.

3. Our new chapter website is up and running (and you are here now!). Among its many features, it includes an event calendar with activities sponsored by our chapter, the Bethesda chapter, and other DC metro area organizations.

4. Ester Sztein and Jennifer Hobin wrote an article on the March 2006 Symposium on Mentoring that was featured in the Summer 2006 issue of AWIS Magazine.

5. Election time is near: the Nominations and Election Committee is being chaired by our Past President, Nancy Bakowski. Election ballots will be distributed electronically to the membership.

If you have any suggestions or ideas for topics to be discussed at the Board Meeting on October 12, 2006, please contact Ester Sztein, VP for Communications, through the Contact Us link on the website.

Board Meeting: May 11, 2006

1. Review of recent and upcoming programs and events:

March 25, 2006: “Mentoring: Making the Most of Scientists,” a mentoring symposium presented by our chapter at the Washington Academy of Sciences’ Capital Science 2006. Speakers and attendees were very impressed with the quality of the event.

April 20, 2006: “Why So Few? How to Increase the Number of Women in Science,” a talk by Meg Urry, Yale University. All attendees were very engaged in the discussion.

May 7, 2006: Potluck Picnic and Azalea Tour at the National Arboretum. It was a great day for both and the azalea tour was very informative.

June 16, 2006: National AWIS Board Reception celebrating AWIS’ 35th anniversary. This event will be co-sponsored with the Bethesda chapter.

2. The recently established program committee will meet on May 22nd. They will discuss topics such as suggestions for speakers at future events, the upcoming survey targeted to members and friends of the chapter, and events at DC-area universities.

3. Work continues on the chapter website, which will be hosted by AWIS National. Our website will have a new look and will include new content and links.

4. Jodi Wesemann, President of the chapter, shared some of the tentative plans for the 2008 AWIS National Conference, including a list of the goals and potential outcomes.

If you have any suggestions or ideas for topics to be discussed at the Board Meeting on July 27, 2006, please contact Ester Sztein, VP for Communications, through the Contact Us link on the website.

Board Meeting: March 9, 2006

1. Upcoming programs and events:
March 25, 2006: Symposium on Mentoring with the participation of mentor-mentee pairs at the graduate school, postdoctoral, and professional levels, followed by a panel that discussed institutional issues.
April 20, 2006: A talk entitled "Why So Few? How to Increase the Number of Women in Science" by Dr. Meg Urry (Yale University).
May 7, 2006: Family event: A Potluck Picnic and Azalea Tour at the National Arboretum.

2. An announcement has been sent to the membership to solicit volunteers for the program committee.

3. The chapter website will be given a new look and will include new content and links.

4. New publications: “A Hand Up” and “Women in Science: Assessing Progress, Promoting Action" are now available for purchase from the National Office through the www.awis.org website.

5. Some DC Metro Chapter Board members participated at the AWIS Reception honoring AWIS 2006 Fellows held by National AWIS, and the Networking Breakfast and Workshop organized and hosted the St. Louis chapter at the February 2006 AAAS meeting in St. Louis.

If you have any suggestions or ideas for topics to be discussed at the next Board Meeting on May 11, 2006, please contact Ester Sztein, VP for Communications through the Contact Us link on the website.

2006 Chapter Goals

Goal 1: Increase membership by 15%
Objective 1a: Maintain and increase membership in 2006
Objective 1b: Update and print chapter brochure

Goal 2: Involve members in chapter activities
Objective 2a: Establish a Program Committee
Objective 2b: Obtain input from chapter members about activities

Goal 3: Update and expand web presence
Objective 3a: Identify content for a new chapter website
Objective 3b: Submit chapter events to Webmaster and to the National Website calendar
Objective 3c: Move chapter website to National website

Goal 4: Maintain regular communications with members
Objective 4a: Maintain a current member database
Objective 4b: Provide summaries of board meetings and requests for volunteers

Goal 5: Compile chapter records
Objective 5a: Develop a protocol for maintaining records