AWIS-San Diego Open House 2004 |
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On November 8, a stream of professionals made their way to Garren Auditorium on the UCSD School of Medicine campus and the adjacent Leichtag Lobby, which was ablaze with lights. It was the place to be for women of science - the setting for networking and learning about the AWIS-San Diego Chapter. Janet White, AWIS-San Diego Chapter president, warmly welcomed the 130 guests (a mix of established AWIS members, which included a few, brave male colleagues, and potential members, who were on a fact-finding mission to discover what AWIS-San Diego could offer them). “AWIS-San Diego supports the advances of women in science and science-related careers,” White explained. “Our Chapter is one of the largest and most active of what is the national organization; we have almost 400 members and we’re growing fast!” White said enthusiastically.
White went on to outline the upcoming Chapter events, such as the Women in Bioscience (WIB) Conference 2005, and then provided a brief profile of each AWIS-San Diego committee and its individual mission, in addition to serving the Chapter and the San Diego community. It was clear by her animated descriptions that no matter what your interests, such as writing, public relations, fund-raising, community outreach and more, there was an AWIS Chapter committee for you. White recalled her experience in joining AWIS-San Diego over two years ago and becoming involved right away. This positive experience has led to her current leadership role. That was a perfect segue for her presentation of the AWIS Volunteer Awards.
The following Chapter members were selected for contributing their time and talents to the wide range of this year’s successful chapter events and activities:
Then, it was time for the featured guest speakers. Jenni Prisk of Prisk Communication is well-known to the San Diego community of theater, business, journalism, and not-for-profit organizations, such as KPBS. She provided an energy-filled keynote presentation entitled “Women as Risktakers…Experiment with Your Own Life.” With her unique style of drawing the audience into active participation, Prisk outlined how women can benefit from taking that bold step…and attempting to follow their passions. She pointed out that risk can often involve failure. “If we don’t fail, she said, we don’t know about ourselves and the limits to which we can go.” “With regard to risk in your own life, you get only one chance at this fabulous show we call life,” Prisk said. “To take risks while you are able is one of the best things that you can do for yourself and your planet.” She closed with a favorite quote from Gandhi, “Be the change you wish to see in the world!”
Prisk has taken her own advice to heart. After the terrorist attacks of September 11, she founded Voices of Women (VOW), an international forum for peace-minded people to foster global peace, justice and equality around the world. For more information about VOW and their upcoming events here in San Diego, visit
Kathi Diamant, the second speaker of the evening, is also well known locally, not only as the award-winning television broadcast celebrity of Sun Up San Diego, but also as the recently-named on air KPBS anchor for fund-raising and the acclaimed recipient of the Theodor Geisel Award, “The Best of the Best” presented at the San Diego Book Awards in 2004. Diamant’s recently-published book, Kafka’s Last Love: the Mystery of Dora Diamant, is the result of two decades of immersion research into the unknown life of Dora Diamant, Franz Kafka’s confidant and companion, who kept his literary genius alive well after his death.
Diamant, who is an adjunct professor and founder/director of the Kafka Project at SDSU, captivated the audience as she described her quest to learn more about Dora Diamant and to find a lost literary treasure: the missing papers of Franz Kafka, confiscated by the Gestapo in Berlin in 1946. Kafka was known as the “Father of the Modern Novel” and although his works were often dark and despairing, his true personality defined a man of humor, courage and hope, who represented a noble ideal to Dora Diamant. Her persistent drive and willingness to take risks led Diamant to discover the persona of Dora Diamant. Ultimately, her research was the catalyst in uniting Dora Diamant’s estranged relatives, uncovering recollections and clues from her past, finding her obscure grave site in London, as well as obtaining permission to view the private papers of Franz Kafka in the newly opened archives in the former Soviet Bloc. “Risk can be magical and can lead to greater experiences,” Diamant said. “We all get the call to adventure…Make the commitment, believe in it, and keep climbing.” Diamant rounded out her fascinating story and the evening by graciously signing copies of her award-winning book for new AWIS fans.
The outstanding success of the AWIS Open House 2004 event was due to the contributions of many local supporters. The AWIS-San Diego Chapter is very grateful to the law firm of Cozen O’Connor for their generous sponsorship, as well as the UCSD Division of Biological Science; the UCSD Department of Bioengineering (Chair Professor Shu Chien); Professors Katja Lindenberg and Edward Dennis, UCSD Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry; Kathy and Frank Ogilvie; and the Veloce Caffe & Bistro. A heartfelt thank-you from the membership of AWIS-San Diego!
The Open House 2004 was organized by volunteers from the Membership Committee chaired by Ursula Kessen, and volunteers from the Events Committee (Fan-Li Chou, Tracy Vivlemore, and Janice Payne). AWIS Newsletter Volume 13, Issue 1 Jan/Feb 2005 updated 4/9/06 |