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The following is the Concept Proposal for a Harvard Women Shared Interest Group (SIG) submitted to the Harvard Alumni/ae Association in mid April.

Alumnae/i Network for Harvard Women SIG
Concept Proposal

The following is a concept proposal that outlines the vision statement, goals, and proposed initiatives of the Alumnae/i Network for Harvard Women SIG (ANHW)

Vision Statement

ANHW aims to develop a vibrant intergenerational community of Harvard alumni/ae designed to increase and strengthen Harvard women's presence, voices, and leadership within Harvard and in the larger society.

Goals

To further the sense of community of Harvard women through an actively supportive network of alumni/ae, faculty, administrators, and students that increases alumni/ae participation and investment in the Harvard women's community from all schools.

To expand societal definitions of leadership and success to acknowledge the value of women's contributions and leadership styles in traditional and non-traditional realms, including both paid and unpaid work.

To foster an environment that encourages and prepares members of the Harvard women's community to seek positions of leadership and power in all spheres, without exception.

Governance

Membership is open to all Harvard and Radcliffe alumni/ae, faculty, administrators and students.

Governing Council

The governing body will be a Governing Council of up to 14 members serving 3-year terms. Governing Council members will elect a Chair, a Vice Chair, a Secretary, and a Treasurer from among the Council members. Officers may serve 2 successive terms. The Vice Chair will be the presumed, but not automatic, next Chair. Except for first set of Officers, an Officer must have served at least 1 year as a Council member before being eligible for one of the Officer positions.

The Governing Council will be responsible for the business of the SIG, overseeing its activities and raising funds to cover administrative and program costs. In addition to communicating electronically, the Council may convene such meetings as it deems necessary for the proper execution of its duties. It will prepare the required reports for the HAA and an annual report or newsletter for its membership and other constituencies.

Council members may serve 2 successive terms. Every effort will be made to have a Council that is diversified by geography, age, gender, ethnicity, and school. If a Council member retires before her/his term expires, a replacement shall be appointed by the remaining Council members. Terms will run from 7/1 through 6/30.

There will be three standing committees made up of Council members: a Nominating/Membership Committee, an IT Committee, and a Finance Committee. The Council may appoint other such committees or committee members, standing or temporary, as it deems necessary and add to its own membership by majority vote of the Governing Council members.

Programmatic -- the Governing Council
The Governing Council will oversee and participate actively in the planning and execution of events and other forms of engagement, soliciting suggestions from its membership and appointing event chairs and committee members from both the Council and the wider SIG membership. Council members will also reach out to such other Harvard-affiliated entities as the Women's Center and the Office of Faculty Development & Diversity, the faculty, and the other SIGs to reinforce a strong mentoring culture, to share ideas and build alliances, and to co-sponsor activities.

Nominating/Membership Committee -- 4 Members
This body is responsible for preparing the slate of Officers and for proposing candidates to replace Officers who resign before the ends of their terms. It will also follow up on expression of interest in membership arising from both personal contacts and the web page.

IT Committee -- 3 Members
This body is responsible for communications-- web page, Facebook, and such other technological platforms as evolve and are appropriate.

Finance Committee -- 3 Members
This body is responsible for assisting the Treasurer in the preparation of administrative and program budgets and for fund-raising.

Note: We do not propose to assess dues. Instead we plan to solicit our membership for administrative support and to charge admission fees for events.

Contact Information

Acey Welch
553 Old Road to Nine Acre Corner, Concord, MA 01742
acey29@verizon.net

URL: http://world.std.com/~cewh/
April 2012