Aviation for Women - March/April 2010

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

john SlEMp

Dear Members:
There’s a saying in the maga-
zine business: we are always
thinking ahead. As I write
this letter we are actually in
the final days of preparation
for our 21st Annual Interna-
tional Women in Aviation
Conference. Of course, the
first of you to receive this is-
sue will be at the Conference
itself, so, welcome! If you are reading this online or at home
because circumstances made it impossible for you to join us,
be sure to click through to the WAI Connect Blog (waishow-
daily.blogspot.com) and follow along as we report daily hap-
penings from there. It will whet your appetite for our 2011 Con-
ference in Reno, Nevada!

Dr. pEGGy chabrian

The opportunity for WAI members to meet and interact in person is important to all of us and expresses the energy, enthusiasm and benefits of the organization. The professionalism and high energy displayed by our members is always an asset noticed by those attending the Conference for the first time.

We received a record number of scholarship applications this
year—with more than 520 individuals applying—up 40 percent
from our previous high. And the continued support of our WAI
Sponsors, Corporate members and individual members who
supply these scholarships is tremendously appreciated. Watch
for the announcement of our winners on the web site and in
the May/June issue of this magazine.

Meanwhile, as you read this the Sun ‘n Fun Fly-In is just around the corner and WAI will again be exhibiting and reaching out to the air show attendees to let them know who we are and what we do. We will present a forum at Sun ‘n Fun titled “Aviation Scholarships: Not Just for Kids” about the availability of career-oriented and fun-oriented aviation scholarships. We are doing this outreach to inform as many people as possible about the unique scholarships available to WAI members each year.

Plans have also begun for WomenVenture 2010 in cooperation with EAA during their convention in Oshkosh in late July. Watch for more details regarding WAI’s involvement in the next several months. I hope to see you at one of these events. And if you are one of our cherished WAI volunteers, thank you for everything you do to help make Women in Aviation, International a tremendous resource for aviation and aerospace enthusiasts and “vocation-ists” alike.