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About the Chapter

Welcome!

The Capital Chapter of Women In Defense (WID-DC) is your source for networking, professional development and mentoring with other women leaders in the greater Washington DC area, specifically those working in defense-related industries.

This web site is designed to keep you informed of everything that is going on with WID-DC: events, meetings, seminars, chapter news, and more! New events are added frequently, so keep visiting.

WID-DC, formed in 2003, is the largest chapter of Women In Defense, serving members in the greater Washington DC metropolitan area.

Women In Defense (WID), A National Security Organization affiliated with NDIA, provides its members with opportunities for professional development and networking, cultivating the advancement of women leaders in government and industry professions.

Membership

Membership in WID-DC is automatic when you become a member of the national organization.

Membership in WID is open to all professional women and men whose primary professional activities are related to national defense or any aspect of national security. All WID members are automatically members of NDIA at no additional cost. Benefits of membership include:

  • Networking and Professional Development Opportunities
  • WID Newsletter
  • WID Membership Directory
  • Access to WID Job Bank
  • WID and NDIA Membership Pins
  • Subscription to National DEFENSE (the magazine of NDIA)
  • Automatic membership in your local chapter of Women In Defense

Members are strongly encouraged to participate in meetings, seminars, and committee activities to ensure a mutually beneficial relationship between themselves and the organization.

Membership Dues

Annual dues are $35.

As a result of WID's status as an affiliate of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), WID members are automatically members of NDIA and eligible for the privileges and rights of both organizations.

Membership must be renewed annually, and renewal fees will be due on your anniversary. For example, if you join Women In Defense in August of 2003, you will renew your membership in August 2004.

Join TODAY!

Sign up online now (WID is at the bottom of the page). Visit http://eweb.ndia.org
Download/View/Print (PDF) application and mail or fax it in, or if you have further questions email Erin Shanahan at erin.shanahan@dynetics.com.

When mailing in your application, include your check for $35 made out to Women In Defense and mail to:

Women In Defense
2111 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 400
Arlington, Virginia 22201-3061

Already a member? Interested in serving on the WID-DC Membership Committee? email Erin Shanahan at erin.shanahan@dynetics.com.

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Leadership

President

Candace C. Vessella

Vice President

Vacant

Secretary Vickie Plunkett

Treasurer

Susan Davies
Programs Director Maggie O'Neill

Membership Director

Erin Shanahan

Mentorship Director

Catherine Ni

Communications Director

Shauna L. Hidlebaugh
Sponsorship Director Melissa Koloszar Gatewood

Community Outreach Director

Vacant

Chapter Past President

Ann Elise Sauer

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News & Events

Upcoming Events

Date

Location

Events

July
15, 2008

Lockheed Martin
Global Vision Center
1550 Crystal Dr.
Arlington, VA

Professional Development "Tool Box" Series

Join the Women in Defense Capital Chapter for a Professional Development Breakfast Seminar: "Unleashing the Power of Networking: Successful Networking through Personal Branding"

RSVP deadline: Tuesday 8 July
To: WID Program Committee Member Kecia Reyes at kecia.reyes@thalescomminc.com

Download/Print/View event flyer (PDF)

March
20, 2008
Hamburger Hamlet
(Crystal Shops North)
1550 Crystal Dr.
Arlington, VA

Committee Sign-up & Networking Social

Join the Women in Defense Capital Chapter for our
March Networking Social and Committee Sign-up

RSVP to Erin Shanahan, erin.shanahan@dynetics.com

Download/Print/View event flyer (PDF)

January
14, 2008

Army & Navy Club at
Farragut Square
901 17th St. N.W.,
Washington, DC

Professional Development Seminar

Join the Women in Defense Capital Chapter for a half day Professional Development Seminar: “Beyond Career Management 101” Lessons Learned by (Other) Successful ‘Women in Defense'. Seating is limited, and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Get 2008 off to a great start by taking a more proactive approach to managing your career. We've assembled a diverse panel of highly successful women in the defense industry who will share their best practices and lessons learned, including:

  • Networking Before You Need To (What we can learn from the Gen Xers)
  • Making the Move (Internal Promotion versus External Offer)
  • Negotiating Flexibility (The Trade-offs and Pitfalls)
  • Doing the Deal (Surviving M&As while Cracking the Glass Ceiling)
  • (How and When to) Work with Recruiters (and when to go it alone)
  • Compensation Considerations (best practices*) *
Charts from the Professional Development Seminar Download/Print/View (PDF)
January
8, 2008
  Board Meeting

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Bylaws

Download/View/Print (PDF) Bylaws

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Programs

Women In Defense Capital Chapter Mentorship Program
Are you interested in becoming a Mentor or receiving Mentoring?

Do you feel that you have experience in your field that you would like to share with others starting out? Or are you new in the defense industry and would like to benefit from the experiences of others?

WID DC is establishing a new Mentorship Program designed to fit your needs.

Program Details:

The Mentorship Program is open to all Women In Defense members.

Its purpose is to enhance job skills, foster career development and increase professional growth while providing wisdom, knowledge and support through positive role models.

To kick-off this new program, we are seeking respected, motivational and supportive volunteers from the community of WID DC members who are willing to give their time as Mentors to facilitate growth in less experienced individuals.

We are also looking for individuals who are eager to become Mentees. These individuals should have a desire to learn and a positive attitude towards gaining their Mentor's wisdom and professional insight to further their professional career choices.

Once volunteers are obtained, we will pair the Mentors with those members who seek Mentoring to ease their transition into the workforce, to gain insight into key career moves and/or to gain a greater satisfaction in their professional growth patterns.

If you would like to volunteer to become a Mentor or a Mentee, please email Catherine Ni at catherine.a.ni@lmco.com.

Community Outreach

The Women in Defense Capital Chapter wants to provide its Chapter members with current information about volunteering in our community, particularly as it relates to supporting active duty military and their families. We try to highlight upcoming or ongoing events in the links menu to the right, and for each organization listed below.

To suggest a new activity, learn more, or to join the Community Outreach committee of WID, please contact Laura R. Barton at laurab@roamsecure.net.

Volunteer Opportunities

USA Freedom Corps Network provides individuals with information about service opportunities that match their interests and talents in their hometowns, across the country or around the world. USAFCN is expanding service opportunities to protect the homeland, to meet important community needs and to extend American compassion around the world through partnerships with these and other organizations that create a holistic volunteer service infrastructure.

A Million Thanks is a year-round campaign to show our U.S. Military Men and Women, past and present, our appreciation for their sacrifices, dedication, and service to our country through letters, emails, and cards. Founded by 15-year old Shauna Fleming, A Million Thanks has sent more than one million thank you notes to members of the U.S. military. Consider writing a letter of appreciation to a soldier.

Operation USO Care Package enables individuals to sponsor a Care Package for a US service member stationed overseas. With the generous support of volunteers, USO Care Packages “stuffs” the packages with items provided by the USO and delivers them to our troops. Each USO Care Package contains at least one prepaid international calling card, one disposable camera, toiletries, sunscreen, and a message of support from a sponsor. Other donated items are included so that the maximum weight of each package is about 2 lbs.

For more information, call Pamela Dickinson, Program Assistant at (703) 696-0994. To join the local USO, visit www.usometrodc.org.

Since 1994, more than 250,000 men and women have served in AmeriCorps, providing needed assistance to millions of Americans. AmeriCorps provides trained, dedicated people to help nonprofit groups, both secular and faith-based. Members tutor and mentor youth, build affordable housing, teach computer skills, clean parks and streams, run after-school programs, help communities respond to disasters, and recruit and manage traditional volunteers. At the request of President Bush, AmeriCorps has expanded its work to include projects directly related to homeland security.

Defend America is a web site of the US Department of Defense News about the war on Terror. Through Defend America, you can also sign an online thank you card to members of the US military.

Operation Uplink purchases phone cards and distributes them to servicemen and women who are separated from those they care about.

Through AMVETS Voices from Home allows serving military members and their families and friends to send and receive instant voice e-mail packages so that they can hear the actual voices of their loved ones, regardless of the schedule difficulties, in remote locations around the world.

The Helping Our Heroes Foundation provides a way for donated funds and services to directly reach our injured military and a way for concerned Americans to volunteer to actively support our armed forces.

Monetary Donations

If you want to donate money, there are many organizations that help military families. Each of the branches of the armed services has a military relief society that offer low interest loans and other emergency financial assistance to military families:

Army Emergency Relief is a private nonprofit organization incorporated in 1942 by the Secretary of War and the Army Chief of Staff. AER's sole mission is to help soldiers and their dependents by providing them with emergency financial assistance.

The Navy -Marine Corps Relief Society provides, in partnership with the Navy and Marine Corps, financial, educational, and other assistance to members of the Naval Services of the United States, eligible family members, and survivors when in need; and to receive and manage funds to administer these programs.

The Air Force Aid Society (AFAS) is the official charity of the United States Air Force incorporated in 1942 as a non-profit organization whose mission is to help relieve financial distress of Air Force members and their families and to assist them in financing their higher education goals.

Coast Guard Mutual Assistance is an independent non-profit charitable organization established to provide financial aid to the entire Coast Guard family in time of need. Though CGMA works closely with the Coast Guard, it is not part of the Coast Guard. Its mission is to promote the financial stability and general well being of Coat Guard people through interest free loans, grants, and financial counseling.

Volunteer at a VA Hospital: to honor veterans who bore the lamp of freedom in past conflicts.

Support for Families

Many Americans are looking for ways to support members of the military and their families. The following are some of the ways you can express your support for our troops, give time and care to their families, and help strengthen their communities. Volunteer with one of the youth serving organizations helping to tutor or take care of children while a parent or caregiver is stationed away from home. Some of these organizations include the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Camp Fire USA, National 4-H Headquarters and the YMCA of the USA.

Other Opportunities

Donate a calling card to help keep service members in touch with their families:

Sign a virtual thank you card at the Defend America:

Sponsors

The Capital Chapter of Women In Defense would like to thank the following organizations for their continued support:

Are you interested in becoming a WID-DC sponsor? The following levels of sponsorship are available, and donations of any amount are kindly accepted.

    Hays-Hoisington Level Sponsors (Over $5000):

    Anna Mae Hays and Elizabeth P. Hoisington were the first women promoted to the rank of general or admiral in the U.S. military, promoted to the rank of Army brigadier general on June 11, 1970.

  • Complimentary membership for one individual for each $1,000 in cash or services donated from the sponsoring organization
  • Letter from the Capital Chapter to all members announcing sponsorship
  • Website acknowledgement and link to company website
  • Listing in all promotional literature
  • Complimentary table at annual meeting and dinner in March
  • 4 Complimentary passes to all educational seminars
  • Plaque of appreciation and acknowledgement at annual meeting

    Holm Sponsors: $5,000

    Jeanne M. Holm was the first woman in the Air Force promoted to the rank of brigadier general in 1971.

  • Complimentary membership for 5 individuals from the sponsoring organization.
  • Website acknowledgement and link to company website
  • Listing in all promotional literature
  • Complimentary table at annual meeting and dinner in March
  • 2 Complimentary passes to all educational seminars
  • Plaque of appreciation and acknowledgement at annual meeting

    Duerk Sponsors: $2,000:

    Alene B. Duerk was the first woman promoted to the rank of rear admiral in the Navy in 1972.

  • Complimentary membership for 2 individuals from the sponsoring organization
  • Website acknowledgement and link to company website
  • Listing in all promotional literature
  • 2 Complimentary passes to all educational seminars
  • Plaque of appreciation and acknowledgement at annual meeting

    Brewer Sponsors: $1,000:

    Margaret Brewer was the first woman promoted to the rank of brigadier general in the Marine Corps in 1978.

  • Complimentary membership for 1 individual from the sponsoring organization
  • Website acknowledgement and link to company website
  • Listing in all promotional literature
  • Plaque of appreciation and acknowledgement at annual meeting

For more information on becoming a sponsor, or to make a donation in any amount, contact Amy Gray at amyggray@comcast.net or Ann Sauer at ann.e.sauer@lmco.com.

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Contact Us

Are you a current member interested in serving on a WID-DC committee? Please email the appropriate committee chair for information on how you can get involved.

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