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In This Issue
President's Corner

EWTG 2011 Annual Conference a Great Success!

EWTG 2011 Woman of the Year
Annual Holiday Luncheon and Teddy Bear Drive
Soldiers Angels
EWTG Stars
Affiliates Update
New and Renewing Members
Quick Links
 
 
Quarterly Scholarships
EWTG scholarships are awarded on a quarterly basis to those wanting an opportunity for professional advancement or personal growth. All interested members are encouraged to apply; financial need is not a factor. Take a moment to treat yourself to a course you have been putting off or a conference you would love to attend.
 
Guidelines for qualifying for a scholarship and applications are available on the EWTG website at ewtg.org. The Scholarship Committee will accept applications for this quarter until 5:00 p.m. on March 31, 2012. 
EWTG Board Meetings
The EWTG Board holds its monthly meetings at the Carver Library in Austin on the third Wednesday of each month from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The agenda for each meeting will be posted on EWTG's website by noon on the Monday before the meeting.
 
A summary of the board meeting minutes is also posted on the website.
Committee Volunteers Needed 
Please look over the Committee Descriptions on the EWTG website and consider becoming more active in the organization.
 
Participating on a committee is a great way to support EWTG, learn new skills and to meet other interesting executive women. As with so many things, "the more you give, the more you get."
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December 2011
 
President's Corner - December 2011 
 
Barrie Cogburn, President 
 

Barrie Cogburn

 
Reflections on 2011 

What a year this has been! As I look back, I’m grateful for the opportunity to have worked with the 2011 Board of Directors, an extremely talented group of women who were dedicated to supporting our members and promoting the efforts of EWTG. These women volunteered many hours and were truly committed to bettering our organization. I am very proud to have worked with each of them.
 
A special thanks to Mercie Zapata, our Vice-President and Conference Committee Chair. Her year began with the possibility that, due to state budgetary Issues, attendance for the conference might be lower than in past years. Due to her leadership and commitment, the conference committees presented an outstanding program of workshop presenters and keynote speakers. In the end, decision makers recognized the value of this anniversary event and over 900 attended the 25th Annual Professional Development Conference.  
 
I would also like to thank those women who served as Standing Committee Chairs: Susan Durso, Paula Griffin, Debbie Mitchell, Stephanie Nestlerode, Denise Pittard and Carol Lauder. These women supported our organization by developing their own committees who evaluated scholarship applications, coordinated opportunities for our members to serve others in our community, organized fun educational events for members and friends, reached out to the business community in order to raise funds to support our organization, informed us of changes in legislation and presented an outstanding slate of board members for the year ahead.
 
It’s been a wonderful year for EWTG and I know that our organization will continue to flourish in 2012 under the leadership of Carolyn Fry. Her good judgment and wise council over the past year were invaluable to me and I am grateful that I had the opportunity to get to know her better.
 
As the year comes to a close, I am reminded of the many opportunities that this wonderful organization provides to all members. I’ve gained leadership wisdom from many outstanding women, expanded my understanding of state government, developed new skills through committee participation, and along the way, had the very good fortune to make friendships that will last a lifetime. Thank you all for your help and support over the past year. I hope your holiday season is filled with joy and peace!
 
 
Barrie Cogburn
EWTG President 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EWTG 25th Annual Professional Conference 
Was a Success

Making History.  Creating Leaders. 
Embracing Challenges.
 
 
 
 
 
By: Mercie Zapata
 
More than 900 participated in EWTG's 25th Annual Professional Development conference on November 21, 2011. Two inspirational keynote speakers and more than 23 conference sponsors, 25 exhibitors, and 35 workshop presenters contributed to the success of the conference.

The Sunday networking reception featured a special program which highlighted and recognized two of EWTG’s founders, Karen Johnson and Claudia Stravato. These women provided insight and humor as they shared with us the vision they had over 27 years ago to create a way for women in Texas government to recognize value in themselves and in one another. 

In a packed ballroom at the morning general session, Laura A. Liswood, Secretary General, Council of Women World Leaders provided inspiration, motivation, and humor with her parables and anecdotes while providing innovative strategies for an effective, diverse workplace. After the session, Ms. Liswood signed copies of her book The Loudest Duck. The morning general session was also the setting for the announcement of the 2011 EWTG Woman of the Year, Carol Lauder. Carol, a long-time EWTG member and former president, was honored for her many contributions to EWTG as well as her professional and personal accomplishments.

Participants enjoyed three workshops each, choosing from a selection of 35 different workshops. Participants also enjoyed participated in networking opportunities and visits with Exhibitors between general sessions and workshops. A highlight of the day included the Silent Auction, which raised funds for scholarships benefiting EWTG members pursing professional development goals. Our Silent Auction received 165 donated items and brought in over $8,000 for the EWTG Scholarship Fund. Over 25 Exhibitors supported this year's conference, including sponsors and state agencies. EWTG members are encouraged to support these exhibitors at their business locations during the year.

The luncheon general session featured Connie K. Duckworth, who offered insight into her work with ARZU STUDIO HOPE, which helps Afghan women weavers and their families break the cycle of poverty by providing them with steady income and access to education, and healthcare. 

The conference was a success due to the many volunteers who made the conference possible. The Conference Committee Chairs and their committees, workshop presenters, and session moderators donated countless hours of planning, development, and coordination to guarantee that the conference would be a memorable experience for all attendees.
Please watch for an email notification about the conference evaluations.
 
The Evaluation Committee will send out electronic conference evaluations in early December. Your feedback is important to measure success and learn improvement opportunities for next year's conference. If you include your name and email address with your evaluation, you will be entered into a drawing for one of two $50 gift cards - just in time for the holidays.

The 2012 Conference Committee is already gearing up for EWTG's 26th Annual Professional Development Conference, scheduled for Monday, November 19, 2012. Save the date for the next spectacular EWTG conference experience
 
 
 

Carol Lauder EWTG 2011 Woman of the Year


 

By: Kathryn Harris
 
Each year Executive Women in Texas Government (EWTG) is proud to recognize a member as the Woman of the Year. This is a woman who has made a difference in EWTG, her profession, and her community through life-long learning and her support of other women.
 
Carol Lauder, EWTG member for over ten years and former President of the organization, was named the 2011 EWTG Woman of the Year at the organization’s 25th Annual Professional Development Conference on November 21, 2011. In addition to serving as EWTG president in 2010, she has been active in two other Board positions and numerous EWTG committees.
 
From 1981 until her retirement in July 2011, Carol worked in various positions at the Comptroller’s office. In 1997, Carol was nominated for “Outstanding Woman in Texas Government for Leadership” by the Governor’s Commission for Women and she was a 2009 graduate of Leadership Texas. Carol is a Certified Professional Facilitator who reached another career highlight when she facilitated at the “Listening to the City” event in New York City for the rebuilding of Ground Zero.
 
Carol takes pride in serving in local organizations and was a founding member of Impact Austin, a woman’s philanthropic organization that provides grants of more than $100,000 each to worthy causes that impact lives in the Austin area. She is also active in Meals on Wheels and has been delivering meals to those in need since 2007. A food delivery from Carol is not just about the meal, it’s about the greeting, warmth, the conversation, and love that she gives to each of the seniors.
Since her late twenties, Carol has performed for the Austin community through her involvement in local performing arts programs. She has acted in numerous plays and in 1989 she starred in the Oliver Haley play “Who’s Happy Now.” For this role, she was nominated for Austin’s version of the Emmy Award, the B. Iden Payne Awards “Best Actress in a Comedy.”
 
The 2011 Woman of the Year nominees also included Mary Castleberry, Susan Durso, and Ginny Booten. They are all outstanding examples of leadership and service to others and EWTG is a better organization for their participation. In accepting her award, Carol expressed that she shares it with her fellow nominees, for it is a great accomplishment to be nominated with such exceptional women.  And so it goes in EWTG.                             

 
 

EWTG Annual Holiday Luncheon and Teddy Bear Drive 

By: Paula Griffin
 
The EWTG Community Service Committee continues a long standing tradition by collecting teddy bears at the Holiday Luncheon. The luncheon will be held on Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at historic Green Pastures at 11:30 am. It is delightful to see all of the teddy bears and other stuffed animal “friends” on the tables when you enter the restaurant!
 
The teddy bears will be donated to SafePlace. The mission of SafePlace is to end sexual and domestic violence through safety, healing, prevention and social change. Please bring a bear to share!
 
 
 

Soldiers Angels
 
 
 
By: Paula Griffin
 
The EWTG Community Service Committee would like to thank the EWTG members who participated in the signing of Holiday cards at the November conference. These cards will be sent to our troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Special thanks to Barrie Cogburn, Audrey Selden, Sissy Gillis, Cheryl Taylor and Paula Griffin for donating the holiday cards, and to Heather Hall for mailing the cards for us. The cards were placed in the registration bags at the conference and delivered to the Soldiers Angels booth with a great response! We are happy knowing that our thoughts, prayers, and cheerful messages will be sent to those serving our country and away from home during the holidays.
 
 
 
 
EWTG Star
 
  
  
EWTG recognizes Susan Durso at Texas Public Finance Authority for recently her recent promotion to Interim Executive Director/General Counsel. Congratulations Susan!   
 
 
 

Affiliates Make Santa's Nice List - Significant Recruitment Efforts and Charitable Donations
 
 
 
By: Audrey Selden
 
Our Brazos Valley, Dallas, and Houston Affiliates conducted membership drives during November and December. They assisted several local charities and continue to share their knowledge, experience, wisdom, and charitable spirit with women across Texas. They definitely made Santa’s Nice List. 
 
Brazos Valley held a EWTG recruitment event on November 30 at the College Station Conference Center and 15 women attended. Aimee Smith (Chair-Elect), Debbie Eller (Membership Director), and Audrey Selden (EWTG Affiliates Director) presented. Gena Minjares and Alta Alexander (EWTG Affiliates Committee members) also attended the event. Members discussed the professional and personal benefits of EWTG membership and the great networking that occurred during the EWTG Annual Professional Development Conference. Lisa Mutchler and Debbie Eller provided feedback about the Board Consolidated meeting, additional recruitment efforts, and ways to assist and engage Affiliate participation in 2012. The December Holiday Social and Community Service Project are scheduled December 21 at Good Time Charley’s, 201 South Main in downtown Bryan. The Community Service Project is Phoebe’s Home, a program of the Twin City Mission, that provides services to victims of domestic violence needing emergency shelter, counseling, case management, legal advocacy, safety planning, and career assistance. The Brazos Valley EWTG Affiliate donated gift bags with toiletries to Phoebe’s Home.    The 2012 Brazos Valley Meeting Schedule is the fourth Wednesday of February, April, June, August, October, and December. 
 
Chair-Elect Erin Prather Stafford will share highlights from the EWTG annual conference at the Dallas EWTG Affiliate December 8 holiday gathering at Mattito’s. The Dallas Affiliate collected new socks for children at the Amelia Earhart Learning Center in West Dallas. They also participated in the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Program. The Dallas Affiliate’s excellent recruitment efforts were recognized during the EWTG Annual meeting. 
 
The Houston EWTG Affiliate elected its 2012 slate of officers: Ronda Tewell (Chair), Brenda McCoy (Chair-elect), Sherbert Mims (Treasurer), and Patricia Clark (Secretary). Glenda Wall, Ronda Tewell, and several Houston Affiliate members attended the EWTG annual conference. During the December 2, holiday social, Houston recruited additional EWTG members and collected donations for a local charity. 
 
The EWTG Affiliates Committee organized a December 8 planning meeting for a San Antonio Affiliate. Several women expressed interest in starting an Affiliate in 2012. Stay tuned for additional details in the coming year. 
 
Whether you work in the Brazos Valley, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, or a surrounding community, we invite you to join EWTG. Happy holidays, everyone! 
  
 
 
 
   
 New and Renewing Members 
November 2011
 
 
 
New Members
LaVonia Horne-Williams, Texas Department of Transportation
Elizabeth Prestwood, Texas Department of Transportation
Stephanie Raynish, UT Southwestern
Rachel Wilson, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
 
Renewing Members
Linda Angel, Workforce Solutions of Central Texas
Nancy S. Behn, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
Jessica Butler, Texas Department of Transportation
Elaine Chaney, Office of Injured Employee Counsel
Jennifer Dormer, Texas Department of Aging & Disability Services
Kathryn Harris, Office of Injured Employee Counsel
Shelley Harris-Curtsinger, Texas Racing Commission
Kay Howard, HHSC - Retired
Luz Loza, Office of Injured Employee Counsel
Jane Lundquist, Texas Department of Transportation
Sherbert Mims, Texas Department of Aging & Disability Services
Nancy Northington, UT Southwestern Medical Center
Denise Pittard, Texas Department of Motor Vehicles
Jo Virgil, Office of the Governor