Presenting AWIS Elevator Pitch 2009

Purpose  This presentation was created by the Marketing and Communications Committee as a resource to Board Members and Chapters to extract and customize for their own uses when presenting AWIS  The presentation contains a set of core messages – AWIS's "Elevator Pitch" plus more detailed slides that can be used to illustrate what each of these messages is about.

How to use this document  Consider learning the four key points on the next page so that you’ll have them at the ready the next time someone asks you about AWIS.  The following pages describe in more detail what each of these key points means and what lies behind it. Feel free to customise these or add your won examples

AWIS – Who We Are  The Association for Women in Science is the premiere leadership organization advocating the interests of women in science and technology.  For nearly 40 years, the Association for Women in Science has fought for equity and career advancement for women – from the lab bench to the executive board room.  The Association for Women in Science is vigilant against workforce obstacles and has shattered barriers that prevent women from realizing their full potential in the sciences.  The Association for Women in Science unites women through its nationwide network of chapters and partnerships with aligned professional organizations.

The Association for Women in Science is the premiere leadership organization advocating the interests of women in science and technology.  What does this mean to you? Here’s what it means to the Board of AWIS:  The premier voice for women scientists in the public policy arena  The only voice that speaks on a national level for all women in science  Creating awareness, offering opportunities, and making a difference  The advocate for women in science  numbers?  Long track-record of accomplishments  Good name  Reputation and contacts  Promotes understanding of the status of women

For nearly 40 years, the Association for Women in Science has fought for equity and career advancement for women – from the lab bench to the executive board room.  What does this mean to you? Here’s what it means to the Board of AWIS:  37- year history/ long history of advocacy  Resilience and survivability  Commitment  Passion  AWIS matters because there is a need for a high- impact professional organization to speak on behalf of women scientists  Increase career opportunities for women scientists

The Association for Women in Science is vigilant against workforce obstacles and has shattered barriers that prevent women from realizing their full potential in the sciences (1)  What does this mean to you? Here’s what it means to the Board of AWIS:  Barriers and bias still exist for women in STEM  The playing field is not level; AWIS helps level the playing field  Restructure science careers to make them more women-friendly  Keeping the focus on important issues for women in science  Reducing sense of isolation  Willing to challenge  Workforce/competitive issues:  AWIS serves to increase the diversity of the national STEM workforce  The U.S. needs to have a larger tech workforce; particularly needs to increase the number of women in the tech workforce  Without women in STEM, the U.S. will lose its competitive edge  AWIS matters because science and technology are critical to the health of this nation (and the world)  AWIS matters because science equals answers to important questions for our world and more people, including women, should be involved in looking for answers  Women can bring new solutions to old problems

The Association for Women in Science is vigilant against workforce obstacles and has shattered barriers that prevent women from realizing their full potential in the sciences (2)  What does this mean to you? Here’s what it means to the Board of AWIS:  Advocates for change that will enhance the career development of its members  Professional development  Provide professional development resources  Tools and techniques to empower the women scientist in her career  Allows women in science to achieve their full career potential  Empowers women to excel in STEM fields  AWIS [must be] poised for the next big battle (e.g. Anita Hill, Larry Summers)  AWIS matters because its demise would convey publicly the loss of women power

The Association for Women in Science unites women through its nationwide network of chapters and partnerships with aligned professional organizations (1)  What does this mean to you? Here’s what it means to the Board of AWIS:  AWIS is a professional and well run organization  Volunteers  Superb staff and board  Strong financial position  Prize winning magazine  Members  Scientists  Students  Multiple sectors  Multidisciplinary  Age demographics

The Association for Women in Science unites women through its nationwide network of chapters and partnerships with aligned professional organizations (2)  What does this mean to you? Here’s what it means to the Board of AWIS:  Networking  With chapters  Brings the power of networking to women scientists across sectors, disciplines, and generations  e-mentor net and in-person mentoring  National magazine  Chapters:  Educational programs  On-site mentoring at schools (elementary through high school)  Member programs, mentoring, regional conferences  Networking, internships, education foundation, advocacy/ political visibility  Offers leadership opportunities in a safe environment  Recent strategic plan