OWIT
Report
Andrea Ewart, OWIT Representative
The Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT) is in the process of making some important reforms that will greatly improve the benefits of membership by WIIT, its Washington, DC chapter and by the chapter's individual members. Chief among these changes is the introduction of a new interactive website that will provide resources for members, and opportunities to interact with other chapters and to highlight members' professional skills and expertise. Stay tuned to this spot for updates on the roll-out of this exciting OWIT feature.
WIIT was pleased to have hosted OWIT's Fall Board meeting. In addition to the internal Board meetings, at which a new slate of officers was elected, the week-end included a WIIT social for our guests, and a 15th Anniversary celebration reception at which WIIT's Women and Chapter of the year awards were made.
Slate of Officers 2005/2006:
President Leann Hackman-Carty, Alberta
Executive Vice President Lilia Navarette, Los Angeles
VP Chapter Development Kim Holizna, NE Ohio
VP Chapter Support Renie Bassin, Orange County
General Counsel/Corporate Secretary Marian Ladner, Houston
VP Marcom Elizabeth Glynn, Los Angeles
Treasurer Erin Crockett, Dallas
Assistant Treasurer Karin Simpson, Alberta
Advisory Chair Amy Johannesen, New York
Fundraising Vacant
WIIT members should consider getting involved and running for office.
The 2005 OWIT Woman of the Year Award is given annually to a woman who has furthered international trade through excellence and innovation and who by doing so has enhanced the status of women in international trade and business. The 2005 award went to Futhi Mtoba of OWIT - South Africa, the first black female partner and deputy chairman at Deloitte Southern Africa.
The 2005 Member of Year Award was given to Amy Johannesen, OWIT-New York. Amy joined OWIT-NY in 1992, since then serving as Chapter President, then becoming involved with OWIT as Assistant Treasurer, Treasurer, Executive Vice President, President, and now as the Chair of the Advisory Board.
The 2005 Chapter of Year went to Charleston Women in International Trade (CWIT). This chapter is highlighted in the following article, and illustrates the diverse pool of women (and men) in international trade to which WIIT members have access through their OWIT membership.
OWIT Annual Conference
The 2006 Annual Conference is being hosted by Women in International Trade - Northern California (WIIT-NC), in San Francisco. San Francisco and California function as the primary hemispheric golden gate for trade and investment in the U.S. producing over 1.35 trillion in goods and services annually. This location makes it the perfect setting in which to host the conference, whose theme will be:
"Building the Bridge from Market Access to Trade Compliance"
Program Tracks are:
Hotel accommodations will
be at the luxurious The Stanford Court, a Renaissance Hotel
located in the heart of downtown San Francisco. The conference will be held
in mid-October-November. All WIIT members are invited to participate. Stay
tuned to this space for additional details on this exciting conference.
OWIT Chapter Highlight -- Charleston Women in International Trade (CWIT).
CWIT illustrates the diversity of OWIT membership in the various chapters across the United States and the globe. Charleston's status as an international port means that CWIT's membership differs in interesting ways from that of WIIT's. CWIT membership currently includes both women and men who share an interest in international trade and are professionals in finance, public relations, government, freight forwarding, international law, agriculture, sales and marketing, import/export, logistics, and transportation.
CWIT was chartered in 2002. Since then, the chapter has developed a strong annual program calendar that includes the following activities:
" Two programs on
trade specific topics
" Two "field trips", usually tours of local importers, and
exports operations
" South Carolina Ports "hot topics"
" Annual economic forecast for the city, state, nation and internationally
" Annual Banquet - Installation of Officers, Recognition of the Woman
of the Year award and Scholarship awards
" Two professional development programs related to furthering women in
their careers
" Monthly Newsletter - distributed electronically
" Media Relations, press releases to some 500 organizations through U.
S. southeast
" A membership directory
" Creation of a scholarship fund
More information about
CWIT is available at http://www.cwitsc.org/.
WIIT members are encouraged to contact other WIIT chapters and members.
