SPECIAL AWA REPORTS
Barbara Cooper Sherman Receives Founders Award
Last year, the marketing committee introduced the Founders Award in an effort to recognize individuals whose contributions have helped shaped the organization as we know it today.
Alumni Update: Gale (Stasch) Slattery DVM
Current Hometown: Indianola, Nebraska
Dairy Science/MAS 1986
Alumni Update: Jodi (Luttropp) Hoynoski
Current Hometown: Greenfield, Massachusetts
Dairy Science/Life Sciences Communication 2001
Time Continues to Fly!
As we look forward to a new year, a new semester and the second half of another school year, we’re probably all making resolutions and planning for what’s ahead.
Change – is AWA ready for it? – AWA Inc. President’s Report
As I gazed at my new baby boy, Ryan, I suddenly realized what everyone was talking about. Change. My whole life had just been transformed within a 24 hour period. Whether I liked it or not, a new period of my life had opened – beautiful and rewarding, but uncomfortable and stressful too.
As I think about this recent event – Ryan was born on Aug. 7 and was 10 lbs 4 oz and 22 inches, I think about how much he and our family have changed. Ryan is now 18 lbs 4 oz and 25.5 inches. We have grown together into a new family unit. Our schedules have changed, the focus has changed, and even though it has been difficult at times, we have a wonderful little human being here with us.
Our AWA future is changing too. In as little as 10 years, the campus has changed with towering new buildings, seemingly endless construction and new staff on campus. With these changes, AWA’s role on campus has been evolving as well. With a new dean and new staff, our active members have communicated our positive and empowering purposes to not only new active potentials, but also potential new advocates for our organization.
The campus of CALS is changing too. Now, more than 60 percent of the CALS student population is women. I am sure the founding AWA members would be shocked if they were back in college now, as women are no longer minorities on campus. AWA is not the only agriculture minded group for women on campus, as Sigma Alpha - Alpha Tau opened a new chapter on campus in 2001. Their purpose listed on the website is “It is the purpose of the members to strive for achievement in scholarship, leadership and service, and to further the development of excellence in women pursuing careers in agriculture.” Based on their chapter enrollment in 2006-2007, the chapter had 26 members with 12 being both AWA and Sigma Alpha members.
While speaking to several dual AWA and Sigma Alpha members this spring, I was encouraged to learn how well these active chapters are working together and helping each other with promotional and fundraising activities. I believe this speaks volumes on the maturity, resourcefulness and solidarity of the CALS women on campus.
With all these changes, how will AWA change with the times? How will AWA promote and recruit new women interested in agriculture and agricultural-related fields? How can alumni take a more active role in promoting AWA to upcoming women interested in agriculture? How can you become more involved in AWA’s alumni committees and lending your talents and ideas as AWA changes and adapts to future needs?
Our AWA Marketing Committee and Newsletter Officer has done some tremendous work on reshaping our AWA website to access more information and easily navigate to help potential AWA members learn more about the organization. The website will be available soon and I urge you to go and check it out. When it is available, it will be posted on the listserv. Also, please sign up for the AWA listserv at http://groups.google.com/group/awa-madison to learn more about posted job opportunities, sign up for committees and learn more about potential opportunities to volunteer and assist the actives in their activities.
In addition, the AWA Corporate Board is also looking for a new treasurer starting in 2008 and a new House Management Chairwoman. Jill Makovec and Karen Lee are stepping down after serving AWA for many years in these roles. We thank them for their service, and we are excited to allow new leaders to fill their roles. Please let me know if you are interested, or if you have ideas to shape AWA’s future. I am available at rademacherw@hotmail.com
We are a very talented, strong and dedicated group dedicated to the future of agriculture and AWA. I am certain we will be able to handle the changing tides, and I look forward to the wonderful opportunities ahead.
By Wendy Clark, President
