Dr. Sarita Jackson and Racquel Smith

We Proudly Present the Fall 2006 Edition of the Newsletter of the Association of Women in International Trade
This edition is important and exciting for many reasons. It has been virtually 20 summers since WIIT's founding! Read more. . .

President's Letter
Nicole Bivens Collinson
President

Dear WIIT Members,

The Association of Women in International Trade is 20 years old! It is hard to believe that in 1986, Julie Hughes was our first WIIT president. Today, as I take over that position for 2006-2007, I look back on the list of past Presidents, and I am amazed and humbled at the incredible women who have held this position before me. Many of today's leaders in international trade in Washington, D.C. served as WIIT leaders. Read more . . .

Fair Trade: The Wave of the Future or a Victim of its Own Success?
Steven Suranovic
Associate Professor of Economics and International Affairs, George Washington University
In recent years consumers at coffee shops, cafes, and supermarkets have been offered a new type of coffee, tea, chocolate, fruit and rice. In terms of taste or quality, these new goods are arguably indistinguishable from similar products, but they share one distinct feature: a label that says "Fair Trade Certified." Read more . . .

Developing Women Entrepreneurs Through Crafts in Bolivia
Jennifer Marcy
Program Officer, CHF International
In Bolivia's Tropics of the Chapare, Prima Zerda, an indigenous Quechua woman, has formed a crafts association with her neighbors. They meet regularly to produce items made out of a native straw called Jipi Japa. But the group has struggled in its efforts to find sustainable markets for the home-based enterprise. Read more . . .

Selecting Overseas Representative For Your Products
John R. Jagoe
President, The Export Institute of the United States
Establishing an international sales network is one of the most challenging aspects of selling products in overseas markets. In essence, when an overseas representative is appointed, that agent is charged with the legal right to represent company and products in markets located thousands of miles away from the company's direct supervision. A non-performing export representative can cause serious damage to the company's reputation in world markets that could take years to correct. Read more . . .

Report from the Organization of Women in International Trade
Andrea Ewart
OWIT Representative
OWIT continues to review and update its brand. As part of this process, the OWIT Board recently voted on a new logo to better speak to OWIT's vision, mission and values.
Read more . . .

2006 Annual Luncheon; Honoring Senator Blanche L. Lincoln
As tradition holds, an annual gathering marks the end of a year for the Association of Women in International Trade (WIIT) around the end of May.We honor our "Woman of the Year" for her professional record and accomplishments in international trade, and the current WIIT President hands her torch to a successor. Read more. . .

WIIT Charitable Trust: Bringing International Trade Education to Classrooms and Beyond
Karen Dubas
2005-2006 has been yet another busy year for the WIIT Charitable Trust as the committee continues its efforts to refine and disseminate its trade education module for high school students. The trust has also been hard at work on its first grant proposal, submitted to the Cafritz Foundation, and is awaiting feedback in July. Read more. . .

Corporate Social Responsiblity Series
Given the extremely positive reaction to the Export Promotion and International Finance Section's introduction to corporate social responsibility (CSR) in February, the Section hosted two more, equally successful CSR series events. A number of industry and government representatives from organizations that are dedicated to CSR practices offered insight on issues such as sustainability, standards, business accountability, and monitoring mechanisms. Read more. . .

Upcoming Events
Find details and new additions at http://www.wiit.org/events/events.htm.