Calendar of SWPA Events 2008-09

Standing committees

Standing Committees

• Executive Committee
       Chair: Patricia Shields, Texas State University at San Marcos
       Vice-Chair: Donna Handley, University of Alabama at Brimingham
       Secretary: Dianna Noli Hill, City of Phoenix/Municipal Court
       Treasurer: Phin Xaypangna, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
       Ex-Officio: Becky Schergens, National Women's History Museum
  
  
• Finance Committee
       Chair: Eileen Larence, US Government Accountability Office
  
  
• Nominating Committee
       Chair: Becky Schergens, National Women's History Museum

Appointed committees:
SWPA members encouraged to join any of these committees!

ASPA National Conference
SWPA Participation at ASPA's 69th National Conference 2008 (Dallas, Texas; March 7-11, 2008)
Chair: Rosyln Alic-Batson, Capital Improvements Analyst

• National Conference Program Liaison
  Maria J. D'Agostino
  SWPA participates throughout the ASPA National Conference both in program and events. A SWPA liaison is designated to the ASPA Conference Program Committee to assure that a representative number of gender-related sessions are approved and that women are represented proportionate to their membership in the Society on the Conference Program.

Annual SWPA Members' Meeting
Officers, Board & Professional Development Co-Chairs: Phin Xaypangna, Mecklenburg County, NC & Suzanne Discenza, Metropolitan State College of Denver

An Annual Meeting of the Section membership is scheduled each year during the ASPA National Conference. SWPA members and guests are encouraged to attend and learn firsthand about SWPA business and activities. This is an opportunity for dialogue and suggestions among the members and to the officers and Board about current and future Section activities. In response to SWPA members' 2006 recommendations, a special professional development focus is planned for the 2007 SWPA meeting. The results of the SWPA election are announced during this meeting .

Annual SWPA National Awards Breakfast
Chair: To be determined- Volunteers needed, please!

The annual SWPA Awards Breakfast has become a tradition, open to all ASPA members and their guests. The Breakfast offers the opportunity for SWPA to invite ASPA members to join them in honoring women through its National Awards Program and listen to an outstanding featured speaker of significant accomplishment. At the breakfast, the new SWPA officers are introduced and the SWPA National Awards are bestowed on four women honored for contributions to the field of public administration; for outstanding research in gender-related issues for outstanding service to SWPA; and for contributions to the field of public administration internationally at the Annual National Awards Breakfast.

Exhibit Area - Booth Coordinator
Chair: To be determined

Rosyln Alic-Batson, SWPA chair for the ASPA Conference Committee, is seeking a volunteer to coordinate activities in the SWPA Booth in the Exhibit Hall. This is a wonderful way to represent SWPA , meet delegates and coordinate the officers, board and member volunteers in this fun and very important assignment.

SWPA National Awards Program
Chair: Sherri Greenberg, University of Texas at Austin

The Awards Committee solicits nominations for the four National Awards that SWPA bestows each year. These are: the Joan Fiss Bishop Award for outstanding contributions to the field of public administration; the Rita May Kelley Award for outstanding research in gender related issues: the Marcia P. Crowley Award for outstanding service to SWPA; and the Julia B. Henderson Award for significant contributions to the field of public administration internationally. These awards have honored outstanding women leaders in ASPA and in the public administration community and are one of the main ways that the section focuses attention on the contributions of women to our field.

By-Laws and Policies
Chair: Marcy Crowley, Public Policy Consultant

The Committee reviews the SWPA By-Laws and Policies to assure that they continue to reflect and guide the work of the organization. Due to the organizational work done in 2005-2007, it is anticipated that no major revisions to either will be made in 2007-2008.

Communications
Chair: Janet Hutchinson, Virginia Commonwealth University

The Communications committee is charged with the oversight, planning and implementation of all Section communications including; the Section newsletter, Bridging the Gap ; the Web site; publications; and public and media relations. This important committee works closely with all SWPA committees, particularly the Membership committee and National Conference committee with outreach and visibility. .

Bridging the Gap (BTG) Newsletter
Editor: Janet Hutchinson, Virginia Commonwealth University
News & Book Editor: VACANT

Each year, the section publishes three issues of our newsletter, in summer, winter, and a Pre-conference Bulletin describing SWPA's planned activities at the annual ASPA conference. We are always seeking brief articles, book reviews, announcements, job ads, and other news and notes for the newsletter.

SWPA Web Site (www.swpanet.org)
Chair: Janet Hutchinson, Virginia Commonwealth University
Webmaster: Bradford Wible, Consultant
Currency and Content: VACANT (interim: Patricia Shields, Texas State University at San Marcos)

Public Relations and Marketing
Chair: Barbara Lewkowitz, Student Representative

As PR and Marketing Chair, Jill spearheads initiatives that showcase SWPA and provide visibility for ongoing collaborative efforts and campaigns such as the Public Employees Roundtable, the Nordin Public Awareness Campaign with ASPA National headquarters and Women Joining Forces with Business & Professional Women USA among others.

Membership and Recruitment
Chair: Donna Handley, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Committee Members: Dara Baldwin, DMADRINA, LLC / Dianna Noli Hill, City of Phoenix Municipal Court / Becky Schergens, National Women's History Museum

The SWPA Action Agenda 2007-2009 cites Increasing SWPA membership as a top priority for 2007-2009. All SWPA members are an important part of the membership outreach. The Membership Committee spearheads specific initiatives to assure a growing SWPA membership. It works with the leadership and other SWPA committees to identify programs, benefits and strategies that increase and retain members. It also tracks SWPA's membership roster, contacts new members with a welcome message, and does "exit interviews" with members who decide to give up their membership as an ongoing assessment of the section's effectiveness. Click here to volunteer.

Professional Development
Co-Chair: Suzanne Discenza, Metropolitan State College of Denver
Co-Chair: Phin Xaypangna, Mecklenburg County, NC

Pr The new SWPA professional development initiative Transitions debuts in the summer issue of Bridging the Gap, the official SWPA publication. The SWPA Web site also offers insights into Transitions from student to new professional; mid-career and senior career plus changing careers at any time in the continuum. potential forum for exchanging ideas and providing professional development experiences.

Scholarship Program
Chair: Yahong Zhang, Rutgers University-Newark

The SWPA has long awarded scholarships to attend the National Conference to women who show a keen interest in public administration and the impact of gender/diversity of professional choices and decisions. The program was designed to provide a practitioner and a Master's or Doctorate level graduate student with a $500 award to assist with expenses in attending the next National Conference. The awardees are recognized at the Section's Annual Meeting and its Awards Breakfast at the National Conference. Click here for application information.

Special areas of emphasis for 2007-08:

Outreach and Collaborative Initiatives
Chair: Dara Baldwin, Washington, DC

As Outreach Chair, Dara will identify collaborative opportunities surface with other organizations similar to those SWPA Affiliations with the National Women's History Museum; National Conference of Minority Public Administrators (COMPA), Institute for Women and Politics American University, this committee will assess and recommend collaborative efforts as they promote the mission, priorities and work of SWPA.

Chapter Outreach
Chair: To be determined

SWPA continues to explore the most effective way to interact with Chapters. As a new chapter president in Birmingham , Alabama , Donna Handley will lead efforts to assess her chapter's need and work with leadership to develop recommendations for such ideas as a SWPA Turnkey program for Chapter use, Informal Luncheon Meetings with Board and other SWPA leaders in the community.

SWPA Liaison Responsibilities
ASPA Endowment: Kathy Hensley, Commissioner (Lexington, SC)
ASPA National Council: Jennifer Alexander, George Mason University