WID -

August 2004

WID Becomes Full Affiliate With NDIA Organization
Contributed by Heather M. Owens

Women In Defense recently became a full affiliate of the National Defense Industry Association (NDIA).

“The affiliation brings benefits to both entities. WID's membership, comprised of both women and men in government, military and industry, will help broaden and diversify the NDIA membership base,” said the association's president, Lawrence P. Farrell Jr.

WID will receive a full seat on the NDIA Board of Directors to be filled by the WID national board president. Additionally, WID will have access to NDIA's conference planning and membership services resources. A successful first conference on workforce development took place in 2003. More conferences are planned for the future.

For members, the affiliation means that the national board can spend more time developing programs and helping chapters, while needing less time for administrative matters. WID plans to use the incorporation to form new chapters in areas that have a high defense density.

As for WID's current membership, “the transition will be seamless to the members, because they have been NDIA members all along,” said WID President Carolyn Becraft, former assistant secretary of the Navy for manpower and reserve affairs and president of Becraft Associates.

Though WID has been considered an NDIA affiliate since 1996, the organization had retained its own corporate identity, articles of incorporation and by-laws, explained Becraft. She credits WID past President Jan Menker, of Concurrent Technologies with moving the process forward.

Joining NDIA gives WID a greater legitimacy and wider base within the defense platform, according to Becraft. “I think that it is a win-win for WID and for NDIA,” she said.

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