Seventh Annual Summit & Training Conference
Inspires All to Write Women Back into History!

The Executive Women in Government hosted the 7th Annual Summit and Training Conference on March 11, 2010 at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. With a new year and a new decade upon them, more than 200 executive women were in attendance to network, reconnect and evaluate the past and future for women in government. The conference theme, “Her-Story…Writing Women Back into History,” was carefully threaded throughout the day by inspiring speakers including Cokie Roberts, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Helen Thomas, and many more.

“Today is a day that we want to honor all of you as women. We want to treat you like the executives that you are,“ said Marylouise Uhlig, Executive Women in Government Summit Chair and Associate Administrator for OPPTS at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Ms. Uhlig, the first lifetime member of EWG, past EWG president, Summit planner extraordinaire and mentor to all, gave a warm and inspiring welcome to kick off the day.

“Our constitution’s vision of a more perfect union is only possible because of the tireless efforts of all of you,” said Ms. Uhlig.

EWG President Peg Weir added, “The Annual Summit provides us with a day to listen and learn from each other. It is a tremendous opportunity to network, rekindle friendships, and make connections with so many women in government.”  Ms. Weir commented, “The Summit is EWG’s flagship event, it’s where you decide to become an EWG member.  This year’s program surpasses all others.”

Roberts shared her background as an influential woman in the media but also touched on her mother’s journey and described her as “living, walking women’s history.” As a woman born before the right to vote, her mother grew up and went to Congress in 1973. She was the 16th woman to join the House of Representatives. The number has now grown to 75 and hopefully will continue to grow, according to Roberts.

Roberts wrote a book, We Are Our Mothers Daughters, highlighting women’s role in society and their untold stories. “You get a much better sense of history as you meet the women of history,” Roberts said. The title of the summit “Writing Women Back into History” seemed contradictory according to Roberts, “as is they were ever written into history to begin with! It’s just not the case. I’ve spent the last 13 years basically trying to do that, to write histories about women,” Roberts said.

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton relayed a powerful message and prediction for the new decade.

 “I think this morning, with women who are often at the top of their professions, who are on point with issues of the day, and especially with how women are faring, it is appropriate to ask how change for women will continue, not only in a markably changed economy, but in an economy undergoing nothing less than profound structural change.” Holmes Norton said.

Ms. Holmes Norton, who is serving her 10th term as Congresswoman for D.C. is also the chair of the House Subcommittee on Economic Development, Emergency Management, and Public Buildings.

Ms. Holmes  Norton touched on goals executive women in government should work toward, including development of a national support system, reversing job/wage disparities, preparing for the work place of the future and changing the view of women after childbirth. The future is “lined with goals both delicate and tough,” Holmes Norton said.
 
Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Maryland’s first woman Lieutenant Governor and eldest daughter of Robert and Ethel Kennedy, captivated the audience with her personal stories and words of advice.

“On Saturday morning we had touch football practice. My father would say if you can touch it, you can catch it. It was not enough to just try hard and do your best. You were supposed to win,” Kennedy Townsend said. “Set the bar high. If you don’t set the bar high you’re not going to go anywhere.”

Helen Thomas, along with Craig Crawford filled the room with laughter and priceless stories. Thomas is an American icon and news service reporter, Hearst Newspapers Columnist, member of the White House Press Corps, and author. Crawford and Thomas wrote Listen up, Mr. President.

Describing her job as a reporter, Ms. Thomas said: “I love my job. Somebody someday will find out it’s tough. My favorite question, which they never answer, is why?” and “I have to admit I stay up at night thinking how can I get them!”

On a serious note, Thomas addressed the EWG with a reminder that “you can’t have informed people unless you have government credibility. Once you lose your credibility in the government, it’s the boy who cried wolf.  No one will believe you.”

Christina Tchen, Executive Director of the White House Council on Women and Girls and Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement spoke about the significance of March 11th, which marked the one-year anniversary of the White House Council on Women and Girls.

“Issues concerning women and girls are not just the problems of one office…it is the responsibility of the entire federal government, so every agency, from agriculture through veterans affairs, and everything in-between should be thinking about what they do for women and girls,” Tchen said. “Everything an agency does is going to affect women and girls in some way.”

Dr. Eva J. Pell, is a recent addition to the Washington area, and is now serving as the Undersecretary for Science at the Smithsonian Institution. Prior to her current position Pell was the Senior Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School at Pennsylvania State University.

“Today women can go lots of directions that were less open to them a generation ago,” Pell said. “As we strive to encourage and mentor the next generation we must keep in the forefront of our minds that we need to encourage people to strive to do what they love and then support them getting there.” As my mentor said to me many years ago, “you’ll only fail if you stop working.”

Brigadier General Loree K. Sutton brought a new perspective to many EWG members. As she stood at the podium in her fatigues Sutton said, “I had no idea that there were this many executive women in government. This gives me great hope, strength and courage.”

With her war stories pulling at many attendees’ heartstrings, and exemplifying just how far women have come in the military.  “If we provide people with different experiences we can actually change attitudes and people from within,” Sutton said. “I don’t think there’s anything that all of us as women can’t accomplish.”

Dr. Shelly Metzenbaum, OMB Associate Director for Performance and Personnel Management also had advice for the EWG attendees that they can put into action within their organization.

“It is my hope to get everyone of you to look at your own work and operations,” Metzenbaum said. “Think about to whom you need to communicate…and think about how you need to package the stories and lessons so that they can all learn from them.”

Gillian Tett, U.S. Managing Editor of The Financial Times, also spoke about teaching the next generation.

Women cannot wait around for their knight in shining armor to provide financial stability, according to Tett.

“The specific thing we need to teach women is that money is not dirty,” Tett said.  “Having more women in finance might be more helpful.”

Lisa Haneberg, Vice President and OD Consultant for Management Performance International and author of Hip & Sage -- Staying Smart, Cool and Competitive in the Workplace.

“We need to impact people. There are four generations in the workplace today and we want to impact them all. To do that we need to communicate, connect and collaborate,” Haneberg said. “Organizations like this, events like this, are priceless. The more conversations that occur the more they have impact.”

Media Panelists

EWG Business

EWG President, Peg Weir, discussed the following:
•    Recognition of EWG Corporate Sponsors – Deloitte, Kinney, and Federal Long Term Care
•    Updates to EWG’s 4-part Mentoring Program, introducing EWG’s Mentor-Protégé Program which will be launched this Spring.
•    Bylaws changes:  The Protégé membership proposal will be posted for review and vote in the Spring.
•    Membership:  Introducing 1-year, 2-year, 5-year, and lifetime memberships in April.  Lifetime members will receive perks.

Executive Women in Government Board members