Committee opportunities

Advocacy/Community Outreach

The goal of the Outreach Committee is to advance the interests of women and the communications industry and strengthens member ties to the Washington-area community-at-large. The Outreach Committee's primary project is working with area literacy volunteer programs to help children and adults learn to read and write. Volunteers are always needed to help organize, administer and contribute to these programs. The committee also encourages members to donate books to these organizations. To volunteer, contact Laura Illenes, Vice President, Advocacy/Community Outreach, at laura.illanes@ey.com

Matrix Evening Committee

AWC-DC holds its annual Matrix Scholarship and Professional Awards Evening each year and needs volunteers to help organize our chapter's largest event. We'll need help at registration tables and we need volunteers to work as greeters and perform other tasks. Serving on the Matrix committee or helping on the day of the evening is one of our members' most effective ways to network and volunteer for the organization. Let us hear from you!

The Matrix planning committee will be meeting once or twice a month between now and the event, and volunteers will be needed to serve on the committee and on the day of the event. Interested? Contact Lynn Osborne at adinsight@aol.com.

Your help and involvement will make a difference!

Membership Committee

The Membership Committee is in charge of membership recruitment and retention. This committee runs an annual phone bank survey, is in charge of the Web site's member services and job bank programs, and works closely with other chapter vice presidents to coordinate member needs with chapter programs. Volunteers are needed to serve on the Membership Committee to help promote the chapter and its services, and to help recruit new members. Volunteers are also needed to help work the phones during our semiannual phone survey of new and existing members. It's a great way to get to know your AWC-DC colleagues and to learn more about the chapter and its services. To volunteer, contact Marcia Drucker-Holberton at fireflymjd@earthlink.net

Newsletter and Chapter Directory Committee

Our newsletter for the 2002-2003 program year is published quarterly, each issue features a specific topic aimed at keeping members informed of new trends and ideas in the field. Our newsletters are designed to compliment the main focus of our programs during the year. Our newsletter editor is always on the look-out for articles from members and news in the field of communications.

The chapter also publishes an annual membership directory with contact numbers, e-mail addresses, and fields of endeavor. An up-to-date database is maintained of all chapter members. Volunteers are needed to help edit the directory. To volunteer, contact Lynn Osborne at lynn_osborne@hotmail.com.

Professional Mentoring Committee

The Professional Mentoring program matches members seeking new challenges in their careers with more-experienced professionals in their field. The program sets up initial informational interviews and—through the Web site and direct contacts from our mentoring bank—links people together based on common needs and informational exchanges.

Members willing to be mentors are always welcome and anyone interested in promoting or helping to manage the program are encouraged to volunteer. Members may fax a current resume with a letter of interest, explaining what kind of guidance they are seeking—or, alternatively, what kind of guidance they could offer as a mentor. Members willing to be mentors are always welcome, and anyone interested in promoting or helping to manage the program are encouraged to volunteer for the Mentoring Committee. Many who have volunteered for this program report that the rewards are as great for the counselors as for those whom they guide.

Fill in the Mentor enrollment form, which highlights your interests and areas of expertise. Contact Natalie Doyle-Hennin at 703-920-0783 (work) or send e-mail to nataliedoyle@mindspring.com or natalie@gofilnet.com for more information.

Programs Committee

The chapter's regular programs are its primary networking opportunities during the year. Each program is planned by the Programs VP and volunteers who are interested in event planning and hospitality. To volunteer, contact Lynn Osborne at adinsight@aol.com.

Publicity Committee

The main goal of the Publicity Committee is to get the word out about AWC-DC events to other professional organizations, college campuses, and membership. This committee is in charge of promoting our programs and services to new and prospective members through press listings, cross-mailings, direct-mail pieces, and through special events. The committee also spearheads the promotion of chapter projects including the new Mentoring Program and the Web site. Volunteers, especially aspiring PR professionals and those with a background in promotion, are encouraged to help serve on the publicity committee. To volunteer, contact Danette Delmastro 202-314-5261 (work) or send e-mail to ddelmastro@tms-hq.com

Student Affairs Committee

The Student Affairs Committee focuses on assisting and recruiting the next generation of AWC members. This year's first goal is to develop new student chapters at local universities and increase student participation at chapter events. The committee is meeting with students and faculty from area colleges and universities to help form new student chapters of the association—and to coordinate a student career program for them. Their second goal is to raise money for the chapter's annual scholarship fund and select the chapter's scholarship winner. The winner is recognized in May at the Matrix evening. To volunteer for the Student Affairs Committee, contact Frappa Stout at fstout@usaweekend.com.

Volunteers Committee

You can volunteer to help your chapter by working on different projects on an as-needed basis or volunteer to help in the community with various chapter projects. See Helping your chapter for more information. Fill in our Volunteer form to volunteer your services to the chapter committees.

Web Site Committee

The chapter's Web site is one of the Washington, DC area's informative Web resources for women. For AWC-DC members, this online service provides help with job searching, career advice, and a calendar of chapter activities and area events. This Web site links you to chapters across the country and keeps you at the forefront of the evolving communications era. The AWC-DC Web Site Committee creates and maintains the site. Member involvement in suggesting additions and updates to the site is encouraged. Contact Lynn Osborne at lynn_osborne@hotmail.com

Committee opportunities • Community opportunities • Volunteer form • Mentor enrollment form