<html><head></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Dear GWAMIT Members,<br> <br>Hope to see you at the GWAMIT Holiday Party tomorrow! See further details below to RSVP. If you have any events or announcements to share with the GWAMIT membership, please email us at gwamit-<a href="mailto:sec@mit.edu">sec@mit.edu</a>.<br> <br><b>The GWAMIT Board</b><br>Send your ideas to: gwamit-exec@mit.edu<br>Send your announcements to: gwamit-sec@mit.edu<br>Visit us: http://gwamit.org<br> <br><b>========<br> IN BRIEF<br>========<br> <br>GWAMIT:</b><br>1. Holiday Party (Tues. Dec. 17, 5:30-7pm)<br>2. GWAMIT Executive Board Application 2014 (Applications due Sun. Jan. 5)<br>3. Apply to organize the 2014 GWAMIT Empowerment Conference!<br> <br><b>MIT: </b><br>4. Artists Beyond the Desk: Kerry Kelley (Wed. Dec. 18, 12-1pm)<br>5. 2014 MIT Energy Conference – Early Bird Registration (Register by Tues. Dec. 31)<br>6. Government and Policy Panel (Wed. Jan. 8, 1pm)<br>7. Aspiring Writer's Weekend at MIT Endicott House (Fri. Jan. 10 – Sun. Jan. 12)<br> <br><b>Outside MIT:</b><br>8. Communicating Science Workshop (Apply by Fri. Dec. 20)<br>9. New Skill, New Year! Taza and Taranta: Chocolate and Wine Pairing Class (Thurs. Jan. 9, 6:30-8:30pm)<br>10. Winter Xcelerate (Thurs. Jan. 23 – Fri. Jan. 24)<br> <br>To see more events beyond this week's digest visit http://bit.ly/gwamitevents and http://bit.ly/gwamitinterest<br> <br><b>====================<br>FULL ANNOUNCEMENTS<br>====================<br> <br>**********GWAMIT**********<br> <br><u>1. Holiday Party / GWAMIT Membership Mixer (Tues. Dec. 17, 5:30-7pm)<br></u>When: </b>Tuesday, December 17, 5:30-7pm<br><b>Where:</b> Meadhall, 4 Cambridge Center, Cambridge<br><b>RSVP:</b> http://bit.ly/GWAMITHolidayParty<br> <br>Not ready for the snow? Stressing about finals? Need a break with friends, food, and drinks? Come on out to the GWAMIT Holiday Party on Tuesday, December 17!<br> <br>GWAMIT has reserved our own corner of Meadhall for plenty of festive refreshments and fun – hope to see you there! RSVP here to attend: http://bit.ly/GWAMITHolidayParty<br> <br> <br><b><u>2. GWAMIT Executive Board Application 2014 (Applications due Sun. Jan. 5)<br></u>When:</b> Applications due Sunday, January 5, 2014<br><b>Positions:</b> http://bit.ly/GWAMITBoardStructure<br><b>Application:</b> http://bit.ly/GWAMITExecApplication<br> <br>Interested in being more involved in GWAMIT? Have you attended or helped plan a past GWAMIT activity, and would you like to become a member of the Executive Board? Apply now for a GWAMIT Executive Board position for the 2014 term, from January to December 2014!<br> <br>Before applying, please review the responsibilities and requirements of each Executive Board position on the GWAMIT website (https://sites.google.com/site/gwamitweb//about/gwamit-board-structure) . Additionally, after submitting your application, please email gwamit-exec@mit.edu to schedule a brief, 1:1 interview with a current Executive Board member.<br> <br> <br><b><u>3. Apply to organize the 2014 GWAMIT Empowerment Conference!<br></u>Application: </b>http://bit.ly/Empowerment2014Application<br> <br>GWAMIT is currently recruiting conference co-chairs, event leads, and committee members for the annual Spring Empowerment Conference to be held in March 2014. This is a great opportunity to be a part of the 2014 organizing team!<br> <br>There are many different ways you can get involved depending on your interests and schedule. Please contact the GWAMIT Executive Board at gwamit-exec@mit.edu if you have questions. We also encourage you to read more about previous leaders and events on our website: http://gwamit.org.<br> <br> <br><b>**********MIT**********<br></b> <br><b><u>4. Artists Beyond the Desk: Kerry Kelley (Wed. Dec. 18, 12-1pm)<br></u>When:</b> Wednesday, December 18, 12-1pm<br><b>Where: </b>14W-111 (Killian Hall)<br><b>More info:</b> http://web.mit.edu/abd/about.html<br> <br>In 1985, Anne Armitage sponsored a brown bag seminar during IAP entitled, "The Artist Behind the Desk." From this seminar grew the collaborative effort of the Working Group on Support Staff Issues. In 1987, the first Artist Behind the Desk Series was born. Since then, the MIT ABD Committee has "helped hundreds of individuals reach their...artistic potential" (MIT Tech Talk, March 9, 2005). ABD is a subcommittee of the Working Group on Support Staff Issues (WGSSI), and is funded in part by WGSSI, the Council for the Arts at MIT and MIT Human Resources.<br> <br>Singer/songwriter Kerry Kelley will perform some of her original music on Wednesday, December 18. Originally from New York City, Kerry was brought up listening to opera and a wealth of other classical music as a child. Then she discovered the explosion of sounds heard in rock, folk, blues, Broadway and jazz. When pressed, she will cite strong female artists, such as k.d. lange, Annie Lenox, Siouxsie Sioux, Joni Mitchell, Alison Moyet and bands like The Motels and The Pretenders as influences. This latest edition starts on a fresh page...imagine if Aimee Mann or k.d. lang started a band with Matthew Sweet<br> <br> <br><b><u>5. 2014 MIT Energy Conference – Early Bird Registration (Register by Tues. Dec. 31)<br></u>When: </b>Register by Tuesday, December 31<br><b>Register:</b> http://bit.ly/2014EnergyConf<br><b>More info: </b>http://www.mitenergyclub.org/<br> <br>Every year, the MIT Energy Conference draws over 1000 attendees to engage in critical discussion about key challenges defining the energy sector. Attendees hail from industry, academia, and policy. They provide an array of perspectives that foster rich dialogue amongst CEOs, entrepreneurs, investors, professors, researchers, regulators, students, and more.<br> <br>Early Bird pricing ends December 31, so don't miss out! Please contact us directly for a discount on purchases of 6 tickets or more Tickets are required for BOTH Friday and Saturday panels. The Showcase is on Saturday and it is open to the public. A detailed conference schedule will be released by December 31, 2013.<br> <br> <br><b><u>6. Government and Policy Panel (Wed. Jan. 8, 1pm)</u></b><br><b>When: </b>Wednesday, January 8, 1pm<br><b>Where:</b> 68-181<br><b>More info: </b>http://science.mit.edu/events/government-and-policy-panel<br> <br>A scientist's skills need not be applied only to the lab and classroom. Come find out how scientists can employ their expertise in government and policy agencies, playing a role in shaping research infrastructure and public perception and understanding of science!<br> <br>Panelists include: Amanda Arnold, MSc, Senior Policy Advisor, MIT Washington Office; Zofia Gajdos, PhD, Lecturer and Curriculum Fellow in Microbiology and Immunology, Harvard University; Ellie Graeden, PhD, Director of Strategic Systems Analysis, Gryphon Scientific; and David Healey, PhD candidate, Gore Lab, MIT Biology Department.<br> <br> <br><b><u>7. Aspiring Writer's Weekend at MIT Endicott House (Fri. Jan. 10 – Sun. Jan. 12)<br></u>When: </b>Friday, January 10 – Sunday, January 12<br><b>Where: </b>MIT Endicott House, Dedham<br><b>More info: </b>http://www.mitendicotthouse.org/packages-themed-weekends.htm<br> <br>Have you ever wanted to write? You can. Writing is a learned skill. Join Jane K. Cleland, author of the Josie Prescott Antiques Mysteries and a gifted teacher of writing, for this highly interactive working weekend. You'll find your unique writer's voice as you journey through six modules with thought-provoking and inspirational activities.<br> <br>Whether you're a first time attendee or one of Jane's students, you'll participate in fresh exercises that target just the kind of writing you want to do, from memoirs, cookbooks, and other creative nonfiction to literary novels, children's literature, and genre fiction like mysteries and thrillers.<br> <br> <br><b>**********Outside MIT**********<br></b> <br><b><u>8. Communicating Science Workshop (Apply by Fri. Dec. 20)<br></u>When: </b>Apply by Friday, December 20<br><b>Apply: </b>http://comscicon.com/apply-attend-january-2014<br><b>More info: </b>http://comscicon.com/january-2014-workshop<br> <br>Harvard and MIT graduate students are invited to apply now (http://comscicon.com/apply-attend-january-2014) for the Communicating Science (ComSciCon-local) workshop, sponsored by HILT and to be held at Harvard in January of 2014. The ComSciCon workshop series (http://comscicon.com/) is designed to empower graduate students to communicate the complex and technical concepts that arise in research in science, engineering, medicine, law and other fields to broad and diverse audiences, beyond fellow practitioners in the field.<br> <br>The ComSciCon-local event will be held in two half-day sessions over the January term (http://www.gsas.harvard.edu/january), on the mornings of January 13th and 24th. The application for the workshop is open now and will close on December 20th, 2013. There will be no cost or fee to graduate student attendees, but only a limited number of spots are available. For more information, please contact ComSciCon organizing committee co-chair Nathan Sanders (nsanders@fas.harvard.edu).<br> <br> <br><b><u>9. New Skill, New Year! Taza and Taranta: Chocolate and Wine Pairing Class (Thurs. Jan. 9, 6:30-8:30pm)<br></u>When: </b>Thursday, January 9, 6:30-8:30pm<br><b>Where: </b>Taza Chocolate Factory Store, 561 Windsor Street, Somerville<br><b>Register: </b>http://bit.ly/TazaTaranta<br> <br>Chocolate and wine is a classic pairing with so many different options and Taza is excited to share some of our favorites! Join Taranta Restaurant's Beverage Director, Alex Galimberti, and Taza Chocolate's resident Wine Enthusiast, Josh Mamaclay, for an evening of enticing combinations to surprise even the most seasoned wine experts.<br> <br>This tasting includes a flight of 6 wines that will demonstrate how to pair some of Taranta's sustainably-sourced wines with various organic, stone ground chocolates from Taza (and a sweet treat created especially for the occasion). To top off your evening, Josh will give you a brief tour of Taza's Somerville factory, a Taza goodie bag, and plenty of chocolate samples. Cheers!<br> <br> <br><b><u>10. Winter Xcelerate (Thurs. Jan. 23 – Fri. Jan. 24)<br></u>When: </b>Thursday, January 23 – Friday, January 24<br><b>Where:</b> Harvard i-Lab, Boston<br><b>Register:</b> http://bit.ly/WinterXcelerate<br> <br>Harvard College Venture Partners, in collaboration with Hack Harvard, presents Winter Xcelerate, a two day crash course in entrepreneurship. Learn from experienced industry professionals about developing your own business, writing a business plan, and venture capital.<br> <br>***************<br> <br>Join GWAMIT on the web to get the latest updates:<br>Visit us: http://gwamit.org<br>Blog: http://gwamit.blogspot.com<br>Twitter: http://twitter.com/gwamitweb<br>Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gwamit<br>GWAMIT Calendar: http://bit.ly/gwamitevents<br>GWAMIT Interest Calendar: http://bit.ly/gwamitinterest<br>Send your ideas to: gwamit-exec@mit.edu<br> </body></html>