Dear GWAMIT Members,<br><br>Happy Women’s History Month! If you have any events or announcements to share with the GWAMIT membership, please email us at <a href="mailto:gwamit-sec@mit.edu">gwamit-sec@mit.edu</a>.<br><br>Have a great week!<br>
<br><b>The GWAMIT Board</b><br>Send your ideas to: <a href="mailto:gwamit-exec@mit.edu">gwamit-exec@mit.edu</a><br>Send your announcements to: <a href="mailto:gwamit-sec@mit.edu">gwamit-sec@mit.edu</a><br>Visit us: <a href="http://gwamit.org">http://gwamit.org</a><br>
<br><b>========<br> IN BRIEF<br>========</b><br><br><b>MIT: </b><br>1. Sign Letter to President Reif on Families @ MIT<br>2. Strategic Networking: Keys to Securing Your Career (Mon. Mar. 4, 6:30pm)<br>3. [WGS] Women's Herstory Month Lunch Lessons: Menses 101 (Wed. Mar. 6, 12-1:30pm)<br>
4. [WGS] Women Take the Reel Film Festival: "Made in India" (Thurs. Mar. 7, 7pm)<br>5. Call for nominations: Honoring Graduate Women of Excellence (Nominations due March 15)<br>6. [GCWS] Seeking Volunteers for Graduate Student Conference (Apr. 3-6)<br>
<br><b>Outside MIT:</b><br>7. MassChallenge Sampler: Leadership (Tues. Mar. 5, 6-8pm)<br>8. The Power of Community: Global Marathon (Mar. 6-8)<br>9. [HGWISE] Imposter Syndrome: Round Table Discussion (Thurs. Mar. 14, 3-4:30pm)<br>
<br>To see more events beyond this week's digest visit <a href="http://bit.ly/gwamitevents">http://bit.ly/gwamitevents</a> and <a href="http://bit.ly/gwamitinterest">http://bit.ly/gwamitinterest</a><br> <br><b>====================<br>
FULL ANNOUNCEMENTS<br>==================== <br><br>**********MIT**********</b><br> <br><b><u>1. Sign Letter to President Reif on Families @ MIT</u></b><br><b>Link:</b> <a href="http://bit.ly/MITFamiliesLetter">http://bit.ly/MITFamiliesLetter</a><br>
<br>Marzyeh Ghassemi, Course 6 PhD, was able to meet with President Reif a couple weeks ago and discuss some of the challenges she believes families face at MIT. He asked her to follow-up their conversation with a letter summarizing their discussion, and to have other families sign the letter if they agreed with her. She is planning to send the linked letter to President Reif, the Chancellor, and Dean Ortiz this week, with as many endorsements as she can get. Topics include greater access to amenities and childcare.<br>
<br>If you agree with the content of the letter, please electronically sign using the link above with your name, program and housing location (Eastgate, Westgate, offcampus). If you'd feel comfortable, it would also be nice to include your spouse/partner's name and the names of any children you have.<br>
<br><br><b><u>2. Strategic Networking: Keys to Securing Your Career (Mon. Mar. 4, 6:30pm)<br></u>When:</b> Monday, March 4, 6:30pm<br><b>Where:</b> 4-163<br><b>RSVP:</b> <a href="mailto:heidy@mit.edu">heidy@mit.edu</a><br>
<br>Knowledge is powerful, but it is not just what you know, but "who you know" AND "who knows you" that makes the ultimate difference in career success. In this dynamic and interactive presentation, Juliette C. Mayers will share strategies to help you become an effective networker. <br>
<br>Topics include:<br>* Building and strengthening your network before you need a job. How to create strategic and productive networks now!<br>* Personal branding -- Why it is important for your career and how to build a strong brand now!<br>
* Winning with social media. Understand how to position yourself for career success. <br>* It's not just about "the what," but "the how" of networking. Juliette will share her approach on how to network effectively.<br>
<br><br><b><u>3. Women's Herstory Month Lunch Lessons: Menses 101 (Wed. Mar. 6, 12-1:30pm)<br></u>When:</b> Wednesday, March 6, 12-1:30pm<br><b>Where:</b> Margaret Cheney Room, 3-310<br><b>RSVP:</b> <a href="mailto:wgs@mit.edu">wgs@mit.edu</a><br>
<br>What's up with the EWWW effect? About 1/2 the planet's population menstruates and yet, we treat this natural biological process as a source of shame, ridicule and mystery. Can it be another way? Should it? Menstrual activism is a little known movement to challenge menstrual taboos and call attention to how the evil twins of medicalization and commodification shape our menstrual attitudes and practices. Come and hear about what an array of menstrual activists are up to and how you might get involved. Please join us for a presentation by activist Chris Bobel. <br>
<br>Lunch provided! RSVP to <a href="mailto:wgs@mit.edu">wgs@mit.edu</a><br>Wheelchair accessibility available through the Infinite Corridor in Building 8 or through the ramp at Building 14. Elevator access in Building 10.<br>
<br><br><b><u>4. [WGS] Women Take the Reel Film Festival: "Made in India" (Thurs. Mar. 7, 7pm)<br></u>When:</b> Thursday, March 7, 7pm<br><b>Where:</b> 4-163<br><b>Trailer:</b> <a href="http://www.wmm.com/advscripts/wmmvideo.aspx?pid=133">http://www.wmm.com/advscripts/wmmvideo.aspx?pid=133</a><br>
<br>In San Antonio, Lisa and Brian Switzer risk their savings with a Medical Tourism company promising them an affordable solution after seven years of infertility. Halfway around the world in Mumbai, 27-year-old Aasia Khan, mother of three, contracts with a fertility clinic to be implanted with the Texas couple’s embryos. MADE IN INDIA, about real people involved in international surrogacy, follows the Switzers and Aasia through every stage of the process. <br>
<br>With its dual focus, this emotionally charged, thoroughly absorbing film charts obstacles faced by the Switzers and presents intimate insights into Aasia’s circumstances and motivation. As their stories become increasingly intertwined, the bigger picture behind offshore outsourcing of pregnancies—a booming, unregulated reproductive industry valued at $450 million in India alone—begins to emerge. So do revealing questions about international surrogacy’s legal and ethical implications, global corporate practices, human and reproductive rights, and commodification of the body. <br>
<br><br><b><u>5. Call for nominations: Honoring Graduate Women of Excellence (Nominations due March 15)<br></u>When:</b> Friday, March 15 <br><b>Submit nominations:</b> <a href="http://bit.ly/WomenOfExcellence">http://bit.ly/WomenOfExcellence</a><br>
<br>The Office for the Dean of Graduate Education is pleased to announce Graduate Women of Excellence, an event to honor graduate women who exemplify leadership and outstanding accomplishment. Using this short form, please nominate a graduate woman who meets the following criteria by March 15: <br>
<br>* is a leader among her peers in her example and her actions, <br>* is dedicated to serving the MIT community to improve the graduate student experience, <br>* provides thoughtful and constructive feedback when asked for advice, <br>
* is a catalyst for change when challenges arise.<br><br>A celebration event will be held in late April and posters created by selected nominees detailing their path to MIT will be displayed. If you are interesting in joining to planning team for Graduate Women of Excellence or have any questions, please contact <a href="mailto:agerman@mit.edu">agerman@mit.edu</a>.<br>
<br><br><b><u>6. [GCWS] Seeking Volunteers for Graduate Student Conference (Apr. 3-6)<br></u>When:</b> Wednesday, April 3 – Saturday, April 6<br><b>Register:</b> <a href="mailto:gcws@mit.edu">gcws@mit.edu</a> <br><br>We are looking forward to a wonderful turnout for our graduate student conference coming up this April. In order for it to run smoothly, though, we need people to volunteer their time for various tasks. We are organizing a corps of volunteers to help to make this happen. Would you like to volunteer? Do you know colleagues or students who would be interested? <br>
<br>We're asking that volunteers lend at least 2-4 hour chunks of their time so that we've got a semblance of continuity. More information about the conference is available at: <a href="http://web.mit.edu/gcws/news+events/2013-Conference-Home.html">http://web.mit.edu/gcws/news+events/2013-Conference-Home.html</a><br>
<br>We'll be needing assistance with food prep, registration, cleanup (various clean-ups, really), setting up posters, "chalking" (bring out your artistic sides for this) and putting up signage. A loose breakdown of the volunteer times is below. If you'd like a more detailed list of the tasks we need help with, please let us know.<br>
<br><br><b>**********Outside MIT**********</b><br><br><b><u>7. MassChallenge Sampler: Leadership (Tues. Mar. 5, 6-8pm)</u></b><br><b>When:</b> Tuesday, March 5, 6-8pm<br><b>Where:</b> MassChallenge Headquarters, 1 Marina Park Drive, Boston<br>
<b>Register:</b> <a href="http://mcsamplerleadership.eventbrite.com/">http://mcsamplerleadership.eventbrite.com/</a><br><br>MassChallenge is a startup accelerator program based in Boston that grants $1M a year in grants and $13M a year in in-kind support (mentorship, resources, free space) to 125 startups that make it into the accelerator.<br>
<br>Join us to hear the women alumni of MassChallenge share how they’re forging their own entrepreneurial paths and discuss what it takes to rise to the top. <br><br>Panel discussion moderated by Susan Duffy, Executive Director of Babson’s Center Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership. The panel will conclude with Q & A and open networking!<br>
<br><br><b><u>8. The Power of Community: Global Marathon (Mar. 6-8)<br></u>When:</b> Wednesday, March 6 – Friday, March 8<br><b>Register:</b> <a href="http://bit.ly/GlobalMarathonReg">http://bit.ly/GlobalMarathonReg</a><br>
<br>In most countries, women are under-represented in engineering and technology professions. The Marathon -- a free, virtual event -- engages women (and their supporters) from any discipline, experience level, age, interest, culture, industry or employer. It encourages any and every woman in engineering and technology to create opportunities for connecting through discussions locally and globally. <br>
<br>The globally connected Main Forum – hosted by the National Engineers Week Foundation - will present live Webcasts March 6-8 using our virtual platform at <a href="http://www.inxpo.com/events/globalmarathon">www.inxpo.com/events/globalmarathon</a>. With this launching point, the Forum will cover leadership by established and emerging leaders, entrepreneurship, and how one woman can make a difference. During the Forum, attendees will have an opportunity to talk with speakers during facilitated chats in our Live Chat Lounge. The Forum is free, but registration is required.<br>
<br><br><b><u>9. [HGWISE] Imposter Syndrome: Round Table Discussion (Thurs. Mar. 14, 3-4:30pm)<br></u>When:</b> Thursday, March 14, 3-4:30pm<br><b>Where:</b> Monks Library, Holyoke 2nd floor, 75 Mount Auburn Street<br><b>RSVP:</b> <a href="http://tinyurl.com/bc3q8yu">http://tinyurl.com/bc3q8yu</a><br>
<br>Do you secretly worry that others will find out that you're not as bright and capable as they think you are? When you do succeed, do you think, "Phew, I fooled 'em this time but I may not be so lucky next time"? Then you are not alone!! <br>
<br>Despite evidence of their abilities, many people feel like they are an “imposter” and their successes are due to external factors or luck. This "impostor syndrome" often hits students hard in grad school, and can be incredibly isolating. Come join Dr. Barbara Lewis and Dr. Kevin Wehmhoefer for a round table discussion of the impostor syndrome with other graduate students facing the same challenges you have. Sponsored by HGWISE and the Office of Career Services (OCS)<br>
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