Letter
from the President, Susan Schmidt:
WIIT Participation as a
Professional Development Tool
WIIT members value the range and depth of the professional development discussions offered by our Professional Development Committee. In addition, we recently reinvigorated our mentoring program under the guidance of Angela Hofmann (WIIT President, 2005-2006) and Christine Ramsdell (WIIT Board member, 2005-2006). These professional development programs support both new and longstanding WIIT members as they enhance skills that make them more effective in their current positions as well as prepare them to assume even greater professional challenges and responsibilities. WIIT has a Toastmasters chapter and soon hopes to provide members with opportunities to participate in a Speakers Bureau. WIIT also maintains a Members-Only job site and, as a member of the Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT), provides access to the OWIT job bank. Often overlooked, though, is how involvement in WIIT itself can be an excellent professional development and career enhancement tool.
WIIT participation is a way to learn skills and gain experiences essential to advance professionally that may not be readily available through daily responsibilities. WIIT has ten substantive committees (regional and topic-specific), six standing committees (special events, membership, public relations, calendar, elections and Newsletter) and six officer positions (President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, VP Professional Development and VP Programs). Two of its members serve as liaisons to OWIT, as the WIIT-DC delegate and alternate delegate. All of these volunteer positions offer unique opportunities to refine and obtain professional skills.
WIIT members plan programs on the trade issues of the day when they participate on a substantive committee. They reach out to and remain the point of contact to leaders in international trade. These leaders may be in the Congress, the Administration, business, international organizations, academia, Embassies, think tanks or NGOs. At Brown Bag events, the organizer runs the event, introduces the speaker, moderates the discussion and writes the notes published in the WIIT Newsletter that reaches over 400 members and others. By joining one of the standing committees that link WIIT with its members and its community, volunteers gain skills in managing large events, writing and editing, or public outreach. WIIT members can parlay skills learned in these activities to move into WIIT leadership positions on the Board of Directors or as an Officer.
The WIIT Charitable Trust offers similar opportunities focused on trade education initiatives and projects. The WIIT Trust Committee interacts regularly with WIIT's leadership, both its officers and its Board of Directors. It also is active in the broader trade, educational and academic communities. For example, Trust Committee members work with secondary school teachers and with universities and their related organizations, such as GWU's Center for Business and Education Research (CIBER).
WIIT's ongoing professional
development programs are a valuable resource for members. Active participation
in WIIT, however, can make membership even more valuable at every stage of
a member's career. Contact any WIIT Officer or Board Members if you are interested
in exploring these opportunities.