LAWIS, July '96 p. 1 WOMEN IN SCIENCE NEWSLETTER Karen Schultz Paige, PRESIDENT July 1996 From the President Summer is a slower time for the Northern Chapter and we have fewer meetings and activities than usual. We started the spring with an interesting talk on fossils by Maureen Hudson. Everyone who attended enjoyed learning about fossils and trying out their new knowledge on the fossil hunting expedition she lead us on the next day. Our annual summer picnic in June was great fun. This year we at last had the picnic on a day without rain! The turnout was great and I met lots of interesting women. We are planning more activities for later in the year. We have the annual meeting for our local chapter coming up in September. This event will give us a chance to get together, meet new members, and arrange car pools to the State Annual meeting in Santa Fe in October. I am looking forward to seeing everyone then! Karen Schultz Paige vvvvv News from the State Board The State Board of Directors for NMNWSE recently held their June meeting. Northern Chapter member Ellen Overton recently resigned from her position as secretary because she was moving out of state. The State Board has requested that the Northern chapter fill this position. The term of this position ends this October. The position of secretary will then be open for nominees for the next term. The position of vice-president, as well as the election chair and other positions will also need to be filled. Northern chapter members interested in positions on the State board are encouraged to contact Kelli Livermore of the central chapter as soon as possible to make the upcoming ballot. Karen Schultz Paige vvvvv CONGRATULATIONS!! The Northern chapter is proud to recognize Denise George on her recent award for distinguished service to women. The New Mexico division of AAUW (American Assn. of University Women) awarded Denise the 1996 Grace Barker Wilson Award in recognition of her commitment to programs advancing the education, equity, or self-esteem of women and girls. Denise has been involved with programs such as Careers and Curiosity, and Expanding Your Horizons for many years. We hope that she will continue her work in this area. Congratulations, Denise! Karen Schultz Paige vvvvv In Memory I am sorry to report the death of long-time LAWIS member Georgia Fritz. Georgia died while hiking with a group in the Santa Fe National Forest. Georgia Fritz was one of the founding members of LAWIS and was instrumental in setting up the Reentry program, that allowed a number of our members to pursue technical careers. Throughout her career, she was actively involved with issues concerning women in science. Georgia was in the process of preparing a presentation on women in the Manhattan Project for this year's NMNWSE Annual Meeting. We will miss her contributions to this group but will proudly continue the work that she started. Karen Schultz Paige vvvvv LAWIS Annual Picnic This is a photograph from our annual picnic. The picnic was held in the afternoon of Thursday, June 20. It was a spectacular day for a picnic. The weather cooperated in giving us a sunny warm afternoon. We expected eighty-two people for this event, and the attendance was very good. About sixty people, a handful of children, and a couple of dogs came to enjoy hamburgers, hotdogs, and the trimmings. Besides the gourmet treats, many members were on hand to answer questions about WIS. Deborah, Membership Chair for LAWIS, met each picnic goer to give a name tag, hand out a brochure, and make everyone feel very welcome. Ginger Young Annual Picnic Committee Chair vvvvv NMNWSE Annual Meeting and Symposium It is time again for NMNWSE's Annual Meeting and Symposium. The Northern Chapter (that's us) is planning it this year. This year's conference will be held October 18 - 20th at the Fort Marcy Compound in Santa Fe. Put it on your calender and look for the Call for Papers and the Registration form in July's State Newsletter. This is a great opportunity for you to give a short talk (20 minutes) on what you do at work or maybe a hobby of yours. It's great practice and lots of fun. This is also a great chance to meet other women from around the state and make some great friends! Hope to see you there. Deborah Kubicek '96 NMNWSE Annual Meeting Committee Chair vvvvv Report of Women's Diversity Working Group Representative I'm privileged to have been serving on LANL's Women's Diversity Working Group since February, 1996. I'm a member of this group because of an e-mail sent out by Wendee Brunish last winter, urging WIS members to apply to this newly-created (resurrected?) volunteer group. I did, and with Wendee's sponsorship, was selected. The purpose of the Women's Diversity Working Group is to provide information, assistance, and advice to the Diversity Office Director on issues associated with the underutilization of women managers, women in technical positions, and other women employees. Membership of the Working Group is drawn from a wide number of Laboratory divisions/ programs and from all job classifications. The Diversity Office has coordinating responsibility and provides staff support for the Working Group as resources are available. Current members of the WDWG are Diane Albert, MST-6; Linda Anderman, CIO; Sandi Borrego, HR Staffing; Renita Cook, ESA-WMM; Micheline Devaurs, EM/WM; D. Gail Diedrich, DSTBP; Janie Enter, CST-7; Carla Jacquez, ESH-18; DeAnna Kruse, IPO; Alice Naranjo, ESH-OI; Mary Neu, CST-11; Amy Regan, AOT-5; Kathleen Romero, MST-5; and Laura Worl, NMT-6. The Working Group is addressing diversity issues, which will include, but are not limited to: recruitment, mentoring, cross-training or retraining, professional issues, professional educational development, Women's History Month activities (which take place in March of each year), and glass-ceiling issues. As a champion of the Laboratory's affirmative action program, the Diversity Office views the formation of the Women's Working Group as an excellent opportunity to increase communication on systemic issues that impact the Laboratory's diversity and affirmative action objectives, as well as an avenue to make recommendations for actions to be taken. Members will serve staggered two-year terms. The Working Group meets semi-monthly. I welcome any input, constructive criticisms, questions, or suggestions from WIS members. My phone number is 5-2266 and my e-mail is dalbert@lanl.gov. Diane Albert Women's Diversity Group Representative vvvvv Editor's Note We welcome your contributions to the newsletter. Please send news, articles, editorials, suggestions, etc. by mail, fax or E-mail to: Joyce Guzik XTA MS B220 Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos, NM 87545 Fax: (505) 665-2227 E-mail: joy@LANL.GOV