Women’s History Month March 2009

1. Women’s History Month March 2009

2. Today’s Speakers Sue Webster, National President, Federally Employed Women Admin/Tech Specialist, DoD US Navy Crane Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, IN (sue.webster@navy.mil)

3. Agenda • Women’s History Month • FEW 101

4. Women Taking the lead to save our Planet • Encourages the recognition of the important work of women in the on-going “green movement”. • Acknowledges the women in communities and states throughout the country. • Honorees include scientists, engineers, business leaders, writers, filmmakers, conservationists, teachers, community organizers, religious or workplace leaders and others whose lives show exceptional vision and leadership to save our planet.

5. The Women we will discuss and get to know today • Are from all walks of our society • Some are still living and some are not but their legacy lives on • Most if not all you have probably never heard of yet they have had an influence in daily lives • All are leaders in different ways

6. Leadership • A complex process by which others influence others to accomplish a mission or task. • A person carries out this process by applying her/his leadership attributes Beliefs - Values - Ethics - Love Trust – Knowledge - skillsCharacter -Confidence – Tolerance Passion – Commitment - Charisma

7. 2009 Women’s History Month Honorees

8. National Women’s History Project • Honorees • 104 women • 32 states • International

9. Dr. Alice Hamilton 1869-1970 Occupational Safety and Health Pioneer Indiana Hamilton was the first person to document the danger of industrial poisons like lead, phosphorus, and other chemicals in the work place. Her work at Hull House gave her the opportunity to fully investigate hazardous working conditions that led to accidents, deaths, and chronic illness. Her unprecedented work resulted in laws protecting workers and improving working conditions in this country and internationally. http://www.distinguishedwomen.com/biographies/hamilton-a.html

10. Hillary Rodham Clinton b. 1947 Secretary of State New York     USA While serving in the United States Senate, Senator Clinton worked to secure federal legislation to protect the environment both on the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee and as the senior Democrat on the Fisheries, Wildlife and Water subcommittee. She co-sponsored the Petroleum Consumer Price Gouging Protection Act and Close the Enron Loophole Act to enable the President to declare an energy emergency and trigger federal gouging protections. http://www.ontheissues.org/hillary_clinton.htm#Environmenthttp://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Hillary_Rodham_Clinton

11. The honorees are women leaders many still in our lives today who have made an impact and will continue to make an impact for years to come. http://www.nwhp.org/whm/honorees.php

13. Words that may describe our 2009 Honorees or the women in the preceding slide Beliefs - Values - Ethics – Love Trust – Knowledge – skills Character - Confidence – Tolerance Passion - Commitment - Charisma

14. Key Legislation We are reminded of the past – The Federal Economic Act of 1932 made it illegal for wives of federal employees to hold government positions, and required that the wives of employed men be the first on the lists for firing. Overnight, fifteen hundred women lost their jobs. The National Recovery Act of 1935 made it a law that women working in the government would receive 25 percent less pay than men doing the same jobs. It took almost 35 years to right the wrong. The Equal Pay Act for government passed in 1963 (it had been introduced in 1945) followed the next year by the single most important law affecting women as workers – The 1964 Civil Rights Act. And recently - The Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act passed in 2009 reflects Commitment to ending pay discrimination and providing adequate means of relief to those who have been discriminated against.

15. I hope you will take time to learn more about these women who are making a difference in our lives. We are reminded of the brave, courageous, committed, passionate, loving and gutsy women who are working tirelessly toward efforts that they strongly believe in. Without these women and countless others, we, our mothers, our daughters, granddaughters and so on would not have the rights and freedoms we enjoy as a class in our society.

16. FEW – A Brief History • Founded 1968 • Following Executive Order 11375 signed by President Johnson • Federal Women's Program (FWP) • Identify barriers in Civil Rights • Enhance Advancement and Employment Opportunities • Focus Areas: Diversity, Compliance, Training, Legislation

17. Purpose of FEW FEW is a membership organization committed to work toward ending sex discrimination and advancing career opportunities for women in federal government service by: • encouraging diversity and equity in the workplace • enhancing career opportunities for women • establishing and maintaining relationships with organizations to advocate the fair application of EEO and personnel laws, policies, procedures, and practices • improving the quality of life for women by influencing Congressional and Administration actions • committing to achieve and maintain a unified and diverse membership, and • providing opportunities for professional growth through leadership development, education, mentoring, and networking.

18. FEW AND FWP DIFFERENCES FWP • Official Federal Program • Cannot Lobby Congress • Cannot Raise Funds • Manager May Be Full-Time or Collateral Duty FEW • Private Non-Profit Non-Partisan Organization • Can Lobby on Non-Partisan Issues • Can Raise Funds • Leadership Elected by the Membership

19. FEW & FWP SIMILARITIES • Share same goals for the advancement of women in Government • Both seek opportunities for the hiring, training, and advancement of women in federal service • Share same goals for diversity and EEO programs • Partner for special events

20. FEW’S STRUCTURE • Three-Tiered Organization • National Board of Directors (Governing Body) • Regional Executive Committee • Chapter Executive Committee • Nationally contracted services provide administrative, legislative, conference planning/registration and financial support

21. 10 Regions with over 100 Chapters

22. NATIONAL GOALS • Provide training and career counseling at the National, Regional, and Chapter levels • Maintain current and develop new relationships with the administration, federal departments, independent agencies, unions, and the private sector • Communicate the purpose & expand the visibility and credibility of FEW

23. NATIONAL GOALS (continued) • Assist Federal Departments and independent agencies in the development and application of EEO laws • Represent Federally Employed Women’s interests before Legislative and Congressional bodies

24. NATIONAL GOALS (continued) • Develop well trained and diverse individuals capable of providing leadership at all levels of the organization – and in government careers • Make FEW the organization of choice for leadership, equity and the advancement for women.

25. FEW’S FOUR FOCUS AREASSPECIAL EMPHASIS • Compliance – with EEO laws • Diversity – cultural awareness • Legislative – process and participation • Training – national, regional, chapter

26. COMPLIANCE PROGRAM • Monitor policies and practices of agencies and activities for conformance with requirements, statutes, executive orders, and regulations. • Take action to assist agencies and activities in correcting identified deficiencies. • Provide guidance on compliance issues to FEW members who request assistance.

27. DIVERSITY PROGRAM FEW recognizes that minority women have historically suffered the double discrimination of sex and racial/national origin. FEW embraced diversity as a way for promoting better understanding and positive change that would make FEW more responsive to the needs of minority members. • FEW is an organization for all women and men in the federal government; • FEW has a structured approach to help us be more responsive to the concerns of minority women as well as a mechanism for implementing the plan, evaluating progress, and recommending change, when appropriate; • FEW’s National Vice President for Diversity promulgates this concern with the issues through appropriate activities; and • FEW policies and practices bring an awareness of the need to work together to use increased diversity cognizance in our organization, our members, our Chapters, and our Regions.

28. LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM • Members actively participate in the Legislative process • Legislative staff conducts Lobby Day activities on Capitol Hill in conjunction with National Board meetings and other events • Chapters conduct voter registration projects • FEW Washington Representative and Legislative Network send out Action Alerts on issues & bills identified in FEW’s Legislative Agenda

29. LEGISLATIVE AGENDA • Three Tiers • Issues directly impacting Federally Employed Women • Issues affecting all Federal Employees, regardless of gender • Issues affecting all women as a class • Published for each new Congressional session to give prioritized focus to our issues

30. TRAINING PROGRAMS • National Training (NTP) held every year in July: • 2009 Orlando, FL • 2010 New Orleans, LA • 2011 Philadelphia, PA • 2012 Detroit, MI • Regional Training Programs • Chapter Training Programs

31. TRAINING OBJECTIVES • To increase employee’s knowledge of federal systems, rules, and regulations under which they work • To help members acquire knowledge of career development and planning techniques (basic and advanced) • To enhance personal effectiveness and awareness of broader issues impacting women in the workplace

32. FEW & AGENCIES • Partnering to Bring Quality Programs • Shared Resources • Networking Opportunities • Professional Development for both Agency Employees and FEW Members

33. PARTNERS and SPONSORS • National Coalition for Equity in Public Service (NCEPS) • Blacks in Government (BIG) • Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC) • Image - Hispanic Government Employees • Society of American Indian Government Employees (SAIGE)

34. PARTNERS and SPONSORS • SPONSORS • Blue Cross/Blue Shield • Federal Long Term Care Insurance • GEICO • USDA • American Management Association • AVUE Technologies • First Command Financial Services • SAIC Crane Operations • Grantham University • PARTNERS • DCG Technology Learning Center • ACECAR Network • FEW Foundation for Education and Training • National Women’s History Museum • For info and links http://www.few.org/partners.asp

35. MEMBERSHIP • Open to all who support FEW’s mission and purpose • Types of Membership – Two types of membership: • Chapter Member – A member can join one or several chapters and pay dues at each, but can only be a primary member of one Chapter • Lifetime Member – offered at the National Level to those who have been members for at least 5 consecutive years. One time national fee, but annual Regional & Chapter dues may apply.

36. BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP Put the power of FEW to work for you! Membership does have its benefits • An opportunity to actively support an organization that represents the interests of over 1 million women in civilian and military federal service • Being a part of a national network of women who support and believe in a women’s role in government leadership • Being a part of an organization working to change government for the better • Two free 30-minute telephone consultations with the law firm of Shaw, Bransford, Veilleux & Roth, PC who provide representation in a wide range of Federal employment law and personnel law issues. • Access to lower member tuition rates for FEW’s National & Regional Training Programs • News & Views FEW’s Electronic National Newsletter • The opportunity to apply for both NTP and college scholarships • Leadership and Mentoring Opportunities through FEW’s member network • The opportunity to build your KSA’s by taking an active part in Chapter operations

37. SUMMARY • FEW Offers • Training • Networking • Progressive Legislative Action • Compliance Assistance • Leadership Development • The Opportunity to Make a Difference FEW – a Membership Organization Working for the Elimination of Sex Discrimination and the Advancement of Women in Government

38. Words that may describe members of FEW Beliefs - Values - Ethics – Love Trust – Knowledge – skills Character - Confidence – Tolerance Passion - Commitment - Charisma

39. CONTACT INFORMATION • Sue Webster, National President • sue.webster@navy.mil • (812) 854-1495 • FEW National Office (202) 898-0994 • WEB SITE www.few.org • NTP Website www.fewntp.org

40. Federally Employed Women The Organization of Choice for Leadership, Equity, and the Advancement of Women!