AWIS Open House a Success
By Hima Joshi

Approximately 200 people attended the AWIS Open House on Thursday, September 4 at the Salk Institute.  The evening began with mingling in the foyer outside the Frederic de Hoffmann Auditorium.  Each of the AWIS committees had a booth with information and sign-up sheets. 

After the crowd moved into the Auditorium, AWIS-San Diego President-elect Janet White presented a series of awards to active AWIS members.  Anjali Kansagara received an award for Achievement in Innovation.  She developed and implemented the popular Strategy Sessions.  Karin Lucas was named Rookie of the Year for jumping into AWIS with both feet and for chairing the Membership Committee.  Lucas was also in charge of public relations for the Women in Bioscience Conference, and she was instrumental in organizing the Open House.  The Mentor of the Year was Swanie Schmidt.  In her Strategy Sessions on mentoring, Schmidt has helped many people find mentors.  She has also shared her wisdom and given support to many individuals in the AWIS community.  Elaine Weidenhammer received the Leadership Award.  While she was the president of AWIS-San Diego, Weidenhammer built the foundation that has led to the amazing growth of the San Diego Chapter of AWIS.  The chair of the Outreach Committee, Jodi Connolly, received the Outreach Award.  Connolly was recognized for her great ideas and her ever-present enthusiasm.  The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Susi Jennings for her dedication and her enthusiasm in creating and maintaining the AWIS-San Diego member database.

The evening ended with improvisational pandemonium, led by Milo Shapiro of IMPROVentures.  Shapiro’s interactive presentation, entitled “You Gotta Fail…To Succeed!”, had the audience vocalizing as an “emotional orchestra” and speaking in made-up languages with their neighbors.  Shapiro’s exercises were designed to encourage teamwork and communication…and they were a lot of fun! 

Thank you, volunteers from the Membership Committee (Karin Lucas, Ursula Kessen, Nina Robinson, Huong Huynh, Julie Kinyoun, Karen Arden, and Swanie Schmidt), and volunteers from the Events Committee (Fan-Li Chou, Tracy Vivlemore, Janice Payne, Stella Kim, and Lisa Lai) for organizing such a fun and productive Open House.

AWIS Newsletter Volume 11, Issue 6 November/December 2003