WID -

October 2003

WID Offers Opportunities for Networking
by Janice M. Menker

The National Board of Women In Defense is laying out plans for the future of the organization, as it debates how best to serve its members. To that end, the board came up with a catch phrase that captures the essence of WID and what it does: “Women supporting national security through education and professional development.”

WID is an association that operates as a non-profit business, collecting revenues and paying bills with that revenue. WID focuses on mentoring and promoting educational events that enable individuals to achieve their own successes while also contributing to the successes of their organizations.
WID chapters are forming rapidly around the country in areas where NDIA chapters have a strong presence. Individually and collectively, they are transforming the industry and helping companies become more agile and responsive to government's needs.

Women have been a factor in the defense community for decades, noted Mary Adams, president of WID's Iowa/Illinois Chapter. “The concept of women working in defense first manifested itself in the national conscious, during World War II, in the form of 'Rosie the Riveter,' the symbol of women who took aircraft-related wartime jobs,” Adams said. Women played a prominent and critical role in the ordnance industry. Those women–known as Women Ordnance Workers, or WOW–responded to a need for highly skilled defense workers with the manual dexterity necessary for the production of ammunition and fuses.

Today, WID is a continuation of that historic role, expanding beyond Rosie's narrow, albeit important, scope. Women working in factories or as engineers, lawyers, company presidents, and members of Congress is no longer a novelty. WID remains committed to supporting these women through opportunities for professional development education and networking.

This month, WID highlights the Iowa/Illinois Chapter, which formed in spring 2000 with 35 members. In three years, the chapter membership has grown to more than 85. Chapter community and social events provide resources for women and the defense industry, attracting new members and setting an example for other chapters to follow.

The Iowa/Illinois Annual Symposium is the chapter's fundraiser for the year. Success has come through the hard work of the program's chair and chapter membership. NDIA provided the seed money for the first symposium in 2001. In that year, the chapter surpassed everyone's wildest expectations, and by continuing to push for improvement, the chapter has excelled in each subsequent year.

To date, the chapter has not had to search for industry sponsors. Instead, industry has approached the chapter, asking to sponsor events to promote their corporations.

Each year, the Iowa/Illinois chapter awards two $1,000 college scholarships to local high school seniors. Through these scholarships, young men and women learn about service to country and the importance of national security. Beyond the scholarships, the chapter has been able to provide resources and support to the following:

The child development center and day care program at Rock Island Arsenal.
Prizes to the non-commissioned officer of the year.
A donation to the Red Cross for Treasures for Troops.
The Marine Corps Toys for Tots program.
The Officer's Wives Club.
The Army Birthday and Military Holiday Ball.
The Quad City Composite Squadron Civil Air Patrol.
The Army Show and Picnic.
Families in Waiting.

One project that has had an overwhelming response is collecting contributions for military and civilians from the local community who are stationed in Southwest Asia. More than 50 boxes of treats, hygiene items, and requested supplies have been shipped to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kuwait. The chapter is continuing the collection and challenges other chapters to do the same.

WID is seeking to fill two volunteer positions. One position requires an individual with excellent mentoring skills to focus on membership growth. The second position is for an individual with a marketing and communication background who can will develop and maintain links with the chapters.

Janice M. Menker is national president of Women In Defense.

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