MESSAGE FROM INCOMING PRESIDENT, KATHERINE C. GUGULIS

July 31, 2008

Being elected President of Executive Women in Government is one of the highlights of my career. I’m excited to follow Immediate Past President Lynn Scarlet in a succession of outstanding women in that role. We will continue to build upon their successes. Leading EWG during a transition year as we wait for the outcome of the Federal election and a new Administration is an exciting challenge.

With 45 percent of the Senior Executive Service (SES) corps eligible for regular and another 45 percent eligible for early retirement, there is a critical need to close the gender gap between men and women in senior leadership positions within the Federal Government. According to OPM, only 28 percent of SES positions are filled by women. Although a great improvement from 40 years ago when the number was only 1.5 percent, as women, we know that Government works more effectively when a diversity of viewpoints is represented at all levels. This is especially true at the top where decisions are made that affect our entire country.

We in EWG have a unique opportunity this year to be a strong voice with the incoming Administration, by offering to work collaboratively in closing the gender gap and in offering programs featuring strong executive women leaders, mentoring and networking opportunities, and training for current and future women leaders.

Although the new Board members began their term July 1, we will kick off the program year with the official Inaugural Ceremony set for September 10, from 6-8 p.m., at the National Botanic Gardens. I hope to see many of you there so that we can introduce the Board in the lovely setting of the newly renovated Conservatory and two acres of gardens. The Botanic Garden, which traces its beginning to 1816, moved to its current location in 1933 and is a beautiful and fascinating living plant museum located on the National Mall at the foot of the U.S. Capitol. Come join us for networking, noshing, and learning about the role of plants in the sustainability of our planet.

Speaking of the Board, I am privileged to serve with a truly talented and diverse group of women who are dedicated to the mission of EWG and spend a great deal of energy helping to develop programs that appeal to all our members. Elizabeth Cotsworth is our Vice President; Mary Josie Blanchard, Secretary, and Carolyn Cole, Treasurer. They are supported by our Committee Chairs: Kate Perry, By-laws; Maria Vickers and Becky Minton, Communications; Mary Louise Uhlig and Chris Tirpak, Annual Summit; Gayle Jefferson, Membership; Lesia Banks and Kathleen Bartholomew, Programs; Paula Farrell, Status of Women; and Lynn Scarlett, Past President. You can read their bios on our website. We also have a new management company, We also have a new management company, The Roberts Group, which will help us deliver exciting programs, update our website, expand membership, and plan for the future.
The Board has already begun putting a very strong program agenda (see attached) forward for the coming year. Our goals are to help more women advance to senior leadership positions; reach out to more senior women by increasing membership and recruiting volunteers, offering more networking, mentoring, and training opportunities to prepare and sustain women in leadership roles; and revitalize our website to serve our members better. We will establish a strong governance policy for EWG and initiate succession planning by offering more opportunities for members to become involved by serving on committees and as agency liaisons to extend EWG’s outreach efforts. We will strengthen our financial position so we can reach our goals.

As EWG members, you are important in modeling strong female leadership attributes and paving the way for more women to join the senior ranks of government officials. I encourage you to get involved with EWG. Your ideas and participation are vital. As always, we welcome your input and look forward to your support.

KATHERINE C. GUGULIS
President, Executive Women in Government

MESSAGE FROM OUTGOING PRESIDENT,
P. LYNN SCARLETT

July 30, 2008

What a privilege to have served as President of Executive Women in Government (EWG) for the past year. EWG provides a context for women leaders to seize our destinies through increased learning, networking, and exchanging information and experiences.

Last October, the new Board installation took place at the historic Mary McLeod Bethune Council House, a place that reminded us of her leadership as a woman of vision and action. We spoke to the attributes of leadership—courage, conviction, confidence and civility. Each of us needs the courage in our daily workplaces to think outside the box. We need conviction in the missions we pursue—at work and in our communities. We need confidence to step forward with action. But perhaps the greatest virtue of any leader is civility—the ability to listen to others, to act with humility, to recognize that each and every person has something important to offer.

This past year, EWG continued the series of “Conversations With” outstanding leaders. Highlights included a “conversation with” Vice Admiral Nancy Brown, Director for the C4 Systems (J6) The Joint Staff in November and Mary A. Bomar, Director of the National Park Service. Both inspired us with their professional and personal leadership journeys.

In a program on Women, Development and Micro Credit, we learned about the vital part of a movement to give poor women in underdeveloped regions of the world access to capital with which to start small, home-based businesses. EWG will continue to support this program through financial contributions.

At EWG’s annual Summit, speakers included Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters; Chancellor of the DC Public Schools Michelle Rhee; and others, including analysts, government experts, authors, an artist, and a poet. The speakers at this Summit and training conference shared their passion, intelligence, and life’s work, which was both motivational and inspirational to other women.

We took mentoring a step further this past year by partnering with the Treasury Executive Institute and setting up a first-of-its-kind “Flash Mentoring: EWG style. Ten outstanding, experienced senior executives interacted with 45 women who wanted to gain insight from a mentor “in a flash”. So successful was this experience that EWG plans to repeat this forum in future years.

We continued to emphasize personal development in various forums. Nancy E. Randa, of the Office of Personnel Management, spoke on OPM’s Presidential Rank Awards and Executive Development. Marylouise Uhlig of the Environmental Protection Agency shared her experiences on developing a satisfying career. Carol Harvey, recently retired from OPM, provided Practical Tips on Assembling on SES Certification Package during a brown bag luncheon. We held a tea with over 130 members and guests and Ms. Marasco, Founder of the Newton Marasco Foundation, provided advice on authoring the chapters of our lives.

Among significant undertakings this past year was the convening of a Board retreat to reflect on our strategy and basic operations. We recognized the need for much tighter Board control over the activities of our support contractor on behalf of EWG. After reviewing our support contract, we decided to extend the existing contract until June 30, and to re-bid it for the next year. As a result, we have a new contractor for this year.

Our goal is to make EWG events pay for themselves to the greatest extent possible and to seek out sponsors where feasible and appropriate. Board members agreed to take more responsibility for planning and implementing EWG events, preparing the newsletter and other activities, and overseeing the costs involved with catering, including for example, using a spreadsheet to lay out the costs and revenues of each event; and having our Treasurer approve expenditures above a certain dollar threshold. These steps should ensure better fiscal oversight and control. Board members agreed to become more personally involved in planning and implementing events.

As I look back on my year as President, above all, I reflect on the fantastic women who comprise Executive Women in Government. I thank each EWG member and the Board for outstanding leadership.

P. LYNN SCARLETT