WOMEN IN NETWORKING (WIN) ACTIVITIES
Claudia Gilliard, Midwest Regional Director for NAFE and WIN
Mary Aurtrey, WIN Co-Director for the Defense Finance and Accounting Center, Indianapolis
The National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) is one of the largest and most effective professional associations dedicated to the advancement of women in the workplace for education, training, and networking. There are over 150 networks in the United States, and Women in Networking (WIN), Defense Finance and Accounting Service-Indianapolis (DFAS-IN) Chapter, is one of the Indianapolis affiliates.
WIN was founded in April 1994 and officially commissioned by the Director of DFAS-IN as a professional development association in June 1996. It offers members monthly Leadership Forums, access to volunteer opportunities in the community, and exposure to on-line resources (www.nafe.com). The goal of WIN is empowerment to help professional and personal connections through career success.
PURPOSE: To share information regarding career growth, business, community involvement, and education for people to bring them together in networking situations in and out of the workplace.
WIN’s VISION: Annual goals include increasing NAFE’s and WIN’s memberships and benefits for the Midwest Regional areas, including the DFAS Indianapolis Service Center employees. Current benefits include discount rates on travel, telecommunications, office products, insurance, 1-800-FLOWERS, Business to Business Networking, Professional Development, and more.
· To partnership with other organizations, businesses, and schools.
· To develop communication skills, career strategies, and goals to help employees function more effectively in the workplace.
· To provide appropriate connections with resources in the private, state, federal, and local communities in business/government. Provide networking information through various media such as TV and radio.
· To share information and ideas on how to help others and to form partnerships with other groups as WIN strives to meet personal and professional goals.
· To enhance the workplace of DFAS-IN by increasing training, self-esteem, energy, and enthusiasm about employees’ jobs and careers.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: (1995-Present)
· WIN now has a website at: http://www.nafe-win.org/
· WIN partnered with the Indiana Fever Women’s Basketball Team
· WIN partnered with the Indianapolis Professional Association (IPA) to raise scholarship funds for the IPA Scholarship Program in December 2002.
· WIN 2003 Chartered to be launched with Women’s Life Insurance.
· WIN raised funds to assist the September 2002 Tornado Victims at Amber Woods Apartment Complex in Indianapolis.
· WIN provided monetary contributions through the Red Cross, for Victims of the September 11, 2001 Terrorist attack.
· WIN has formed and sponsored the following professional development and volunteerism activities for all DFAS-IN employees:
a. Monthly Leadership Lunch & Learns. WIN’s Lunch and Learns are usually held the 1st Wednesday of each month from 11:30-12:30 to provide leadership education and training. This training can be counted toward DFAS-IN employees’ professional development training.
b. Good News Ministries Homeless Shelter. WIN adopted the Good News Ministries, Inc. of Indianapolis, as our community project to help the homeless. The Indianapolis Chapter has set up annual food drives for Thanksgiving and Christmas as well as clothing and household supplies. For the past six years, DFAS-IN employees have donated truckloads of food, clothing, and toiletries to the shelter.
c. Annual Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness. NAFE/WIN members not only walk in this event, but also host an annual lunch seminar at the DFAS center for all employees.
d. Indiana Black Expo (IBE) Youth Summit. WIN members participate in this event and work with young people during the Summer Celebration of IBE. Members assist youths with career and educational opportunities.
e. Young Entrepreneur Training. Mentor youths during entrepreneur training
f. Dress for Career Success Program. WIN members donate clothing and other articles annually to help disadvantaged women prepare for job search and interviews.
g. Fashions for Successful Dress. DFAS-IN employees participate in modeling sessions for professional men’s and women’s clothing from major department stores in Indiana. Sessions are usually held annually in the DFAS-IN auditorium.
h. Indianapolis Colts Family Fun Festival. DFAS-IN employees came out in record numbers to help the Colts with their Family Fun Park. WIN members manned the registration tables, assisted children on interactive activities, and kept general order.
i. Aftercare in Mentoring (AIM) at IUPUI Science of Criminology. WIN members volunteered as mentors for one-on-one counseling and telephone contacts with boys that are released from the Indiana Boys School. Mentoring activities range from collecting clothing, school supplies, and attendance/supervision/planning of leisure events such as bowling, flag/touch football and other sports.
j. Adopt-a-Cottage Program. Christmas 1995, WIN adopted a cottage of 50 boys from the Indiana Boys School and donated clothing, toiletries, and school supplies through store solicitation.
k. Julian Center Job Program. DFAS-IN employees provided information and demonstrated interview skills for moms returning to the workforce. WIN also volunteer with the Julian Center at the Thrifty Threads Store and host clothing drives for them.
l. Esteem Teams for Girls. In-school programs targeted for girls, WIN helped them improve their self-esteem, community involvement, and community volunteerism activities.
m. Joint Activities with Black Employment and Federal Women’s Programs. WIN’s director provided special presentations for the DFAS-IN Center programs.
n. NAFE/WIN Membership Drives. WIN provides information and career resources for all DFAS employees.
o. Volunteers with WFYI TV Station. WIN members provide quarterly volunteer assistance with WFYI-TV for pledges and fund-raising events.
p. Fund-raising Activities. WIN hosts fund-raising activities such as bake sales, book sales, and fashion shows for various charities.
q. IPS Multicultural Educational Festival at Glendale Mall. WIN provides a display booth and distributes educational and business materials. This is also a Networking/Business opportunity.
r. WIN participates in the annual Federal Women’s Program at Lawrence North High School as an vendor and information resource.
s. WIN provides guest speaker resources to other organizations within DFAS Indianapolis for special programs.
Partnership with IPS Arlington High School, and Washington Township Northview Middle School [pending]. (Pen Pals and Parent Power Programs, professional speakers, leadership opportunities), Indiana Fever Women’s BasketBall Team, Julian Center, Woman’s Life Insurance.
For more information, please contact Mary Aurtrey at 510-5462 or Claudia Gilliard at 884-2912.
Please visit our new website and tell us what you think and make it one of your favorites: