Mae Jemison on Arts & Science

Updates!

Hi WIL members! A quick update for those of you interested in upcoming events:

• The Students’ Union is pleased to announce a “Toy Mountain” initiative. Students will have the opportunity to donate new, packaged toys during the week of December 5th through 9th from 11:00 am-2:00 pm at the “Ugly Sweater Sale” table in the North Courtyard of MacEwan Student’s Centre. While all students are encouraged to donate and will be entered into a prize draw at the end of the week, we are offering additional incentive for clubs. Club members can donate toys on behalf of their club, and the club who donates the most toys will win additional club funding.

• The International Relations Club will be hosting Operational Christmas Child (OCC) box processing days on: Monday, December 5, and Tuesday, December 6 4 - 6:30 pm please be there by 3:45 for a short informational film. The groups will leave from and return to the U of C (if you are able to drive some other volunteers, please let them know!) WIL members can RSVP to Katherine Koch, the VP External of the IR Club with: "OCC Volunteer Contact Info [Name]" (as the subject) Full name Phone number Emergency Contact & Emergency Contact Phone number (in the body). Volunteers are encouraged to bring items to fill a box - they'll have some really nice reusable plastic boxes available. If you have any extra wrapping paper hanging around, please bring it along!

• For those who missed the deadline for Self-Defense training, there are still some spots available! The training sessions will still be this FRIDAY December 2, but the time has been changed from 4-6 pm (location is still TBA). The price for admission is $25, but if you bring a friend, it'll be cheaper! Email wil@ucalgary.ca to RSVP. The new deadline is THURSDAY December 1 at 12 pm.

With exams & papers we know this is a busy time of year for everybody. If you're unable to make it out to any of these events, don't worry - we have plenty more where these came from.

Bundle up, stay warm & study hard!

Volunteer with Operation Christmas Child!

Hey all! VP Tech here with some exciting news:

As you may know, the Samaritans Purse, through community development and vocational programs, help people break the cycle of poverty and exploitation – giving them hope for a better tomorrow. Through education, shelter, and long-term care projects, plus our Operation Christmas Child shoe box program, they provide help and joy to vulnerable children.

The IR Club has extended an invitation for WIL members to join them fill shoeboxes on Monday, November 28 from 4-8 in the MSC Bianca Room (MSC 226)! You should bring a box & some items to fill it with (see examples below). The event is a social one - music, decorations, etc. so once you've filled your box you're welcome to mingle. Bringing wrapping paper to make the boxes pretty is a great idea as well!

Ideas for items:

T-shirts, Hygiene stuff (we can't send liquids anymore, not even toothpaste, but soap (sealed in a plastic bag) or a toothbrush/hairbrush are still good), Toys (age appropriate and not war-themed), Kazoos/small instruments, Hard Candy, Cloth bags (if they line the bottom they make great storage/transport items), School supplies/colouring books etc, Jewellery, Stuffed animals, A note/photo from whoever is sending the box, $7 to help with shipping

Do not include:

Liquids, Weapons/war toys, Soft candy, Playing cards, Used items

In addition, the IR club would like to extend an invitation to WIL members to process shoeboxes at the warehouse as well! There is limited availability so make sure you RSVP!

Warehouse processing will take place on Monday December 5 & Tuesday December 6, 3:30 - 6:30 pm.

WIL members can RSVP to Katherine Koch (katherine.koch7000@gmail.com), VP External of the IR Club with:

"OCC Volunteer Contact Info [Name]" as the header

Full name

Phone number

Emergency Contact & Emergency Contact Phone number

The group of volunteers will leave from and return to the U of C; one more driver is required Tuesday so please let Katherine know if you are able to drive.

Entrepreneurship Forum!

In partnership with Global Entrepreneurship Week, College Pro is hosting an entrepreneur forum and meet and greet. Students will have the opportunity to hear from top entrepreneurs, College Pro alumni, and meet a large number of University of Calgary students that have started, and continue to operate their first businesses with the professional mentorship from College Pro.

Wednesday November 16th, 5 - 6:30 pm

MacEwan Hall, Hamlet Room (across from Black Lounge)

Sex & Money: Public Education Event

Hi ladies! Brianna, our VP Strategic Planning forwarded this to me, if you're interested in attending please RSVP directly to Marina at marina@servantsanon.com.

PUBLIC EDUCATION EVENT

SEX & MONEY: The Search for Human Worth

Please join us on Tuesday, November 29, 2011

from 5:30-9:00pm at VENU 1008 in Inglewood

1008 – 14 ST SE, Calgary, AB

Come learn more about local issues of sex trafficking, sexual exploitation & prostitution in Calgary via the International hit documentary film:

Sex + Money

followed by a discussion with a panel of experts including:

A/Staff Sergeant Jason Walker of the Special Crimes Unit of the Calgary Police Service

Staff Sergeant Jim Gamlin of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Dr. Sue McIntyre – leading expert in the field of women’s issues including crime & prostitution

Madelyn McDonald of Woods Homes programs for youth

Toni Jarvis – advocate

Elaine Belanger-Ostergaard – advocate & mother of Brenda Wolfe - killed by Robert Pickton in 1999

Moderator: Greg Hart of the Calgary Network on Prostitution

Light refreshments will be served!

This is a FREE event & all are welcome; however seats are limited and an RSVP is required!

Housekeeping

Hello readers, friends, members, and potential all-of-the-above's!

It is so exciting to be starting WIL off with such a big bang! For those of you who made it out to the Meet & Greet, it was great to meet you, and for all of you who didn't, we can't wait to have that pleasure. I have just a few housekeeping tid bits that I will address now before we get to the nitty gritty (& exciting) details:

• For those of you who don't know who "I" is, Hi! My name's Kenya-Jade (Kenya/Kj), I'll be your VP Technology, and the face behind Facebook, Twitter, and Blogspot. Of course, I'm just one part of our 10 woman Exec featured here, so go ahead and make yourself acquainted!

• What we ENVISION: To be a forum of discussion, collaboration, and innovation between women of various backgrounds, disciplines, and career paths. We strive to engage and empower women wanting to pursue leadership and executive roles locally and globally.

• What we EXPECT: WIL provides volunteer opportunities, training, and the possibility to meet and make contacts with leaders in the community. A minimum of 4 volunteer hours per semester is required from each member.

• and finally, you can add WIL on Facebook under Wil Ucalgary, like our page 'Women In Leadership', be friends on twitter @WILUCalgary, email any questions, concerns, and comments to wil@ucalgary.ca, and of course, stop any one of us in the hall and say hello!

That's about it from me regarding housekeeping. Stay tuned for updates, opportunities, and future meeting times!

Meet Your 2011/2012 Executive!

Jaclyn Dorchak, VP Community

Jaclyn is in her fourth year of a double-degree program in Law & Society and International Relations. With the hopes of surviving law school - sanity in tact - Jaclyn’s goal is to be involved in addressing the issue of human trafficking, about which she is writing an honors thesis. And in what little non-school time she has, you can be sure that Jaclyn is working on her own e-commerce project, for her family’s construction company, at the gym, or with friends, family, and her dog Hannah.

Don’t let her classic over-achieving, workaholic, type-A personality fool you! With an unexpected and wildly varied list of personal interests, passions, and pet peeves, you will find that travelling the world and helping others to find and achieve their dreams are the impetus to all of her crazy ways.

Personal Maxim: The opposite of success is not failure. It is quitting or never trying in the first place! And when the path to success is an uphill battle, stop complaining that it’s hard, because that’s the whole point!

Marija Giljanovic, VP Events

Marija is in her third year of Law and Society with a minor in Religion. She expects to write her honors thesis next year, but this all depends on how busy she’ll be studying for the LSAT. Marija, like a few of the other WIL execs, aspires to attend law school. Marija is looking forward to WIL’s growth and progression while having the opportunity to work with such inspiring women. Marija is sure she will find inspiration through her involvement with WIL.

Marija tries to stay involved in the community by volunteering through various organizations. However, she is always open to new volunteering opportunities. So if you’re ever looking for a volunteering buddy you know who to ask! Marija is also fluent in three languages, and one day hopes to learn Italian. Her passion for languages came from another passion – travelling! Marija also enjoys learning new vegetarian recipes, and absolutely adores movies and popcorn.

Joyce Gorospe, VP Development

Joyce is a third year student majoring in International Relations with a minor in Business. Her regional cluster for IR reflects her passion, love and overwhelming appreciation for Latin American culture. She first fell in love with the region during her visits to Costa Rica in 2007 and 2009 with the humanitarian organization, Samaritan's Purse.

Among her many peculiar interests, she enjoys having subtitles always on when watching films, enjoys smothering more than the usual amount of ketchup on everything she consumes, and is infatuated with reggaeton, booster juice, and Christopher Hitchens. Joyce eventually hopes to pursue her dreams working/interning for an International Governmental Organization through the Inter-American Development Bank when/if her plan to get her JD in international law fails.

Lastly, her inspiration comes from lead figures like Jon Foreman, Che Guevera, Nelson Mandela, and most of all her family. Joyce envisions WIL as a catalyst for change to empower young women and students alike through these toughest and most exciting years of our lives.

Stephenie Healey, Founder & President

In her fourth year of International Relations and French, Stephenie has an incredible passion for people, languages and cultures. She also has a passion for mentorship and personal development, which led her to start WIL at the University of Calgary. As the Valedictorian of her high school class, Stephenie encouraged her fellow students to “be the change” they wanted to see in the world. She continues to try and spread that message, setting an example by volunteering as a crisis counselor, and a youth mentor with various programs in the city. Stephenie enjoys seeing people discover their passions and learning to put their unique skills towards powerful and meaningful change. She’s very approachable and would always love to have a conversation over some tea or coffee!

When she is not studying or volunteering, Stephenie loves to experiment with different recipes, host dinner parties, get outdoors or play board games with family & friends, curl up with tea and a good book, and most especially, spend quality time with her husband Leighton!

Brianna Heinrichs, VP Strategic Planning

Brianna Heinrichs was born in Saskatchewan and moved to Alberta with her family when she was young. She was homeschooled before taking general studies at St. Mary's University College for two years and then transferred to the U of C in the fall of 2010. She is currently pursuing a B.A. Honours in Political Science. Brianna loves to write about current issues and has a particular interest in poverty, crime, immigration, and education. She frequently volunteers with youth and teaches both piano and flute lessons. One woman who inspires her is Sophie Scholl.

Karen Lamola, VP Administration

Karen is a fourth year student in International Relations with a focus on economics in Latin America. When she's not reading one of her hundred textbooks, she's experimenting with new food recipes! It's not a surprise with Ugandan parents who believe food is at the heart of family. The dinner table is where the bonding happens! As much as she loves food, she also makes time for her friends, yoga, and to keep up with her favorite TV shows (The Big Bang Theory is her current #1). She hopes to help create opportunities for women professionals and WILmembers.

Naween Mohammed, VP Finance

Naween is a third year student pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce in Energy Management. She is in love with this city and is an avid supporter of all the great things happening to make it even better. You’ll find her at most local Arts and Cultural events and festivals here in Calgary. She feels it’s important to be able to not only conserve one’s culture and background but to share it with others as well.

Her ambitious attitude is driven by constantly setting up new goals and challenges for herself, bettering herself in ways such as learning a new language or as simple as running for longer at the gym. She’s looking forward to networking with and meeting empowering and high-profile women from all over the world, in hopes that their inspiring stories help to better carve her own career path and success.

Dhuha Nader, VP Academic

Dhuha is a fourth year Political Science student who is interested in everything international. She was born in Baghdad, Iraq and grew up in Calgary. Her passion is in humanitarian work and advocating for those without a voice. In the future she hopes to work for an organization devoted to making a positive impact in the lives of others. Dhuha's ultimate goal would be to start her own Non-governmental organization (NGO) and make a difference in the world in any small way she can.

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."
-Anne Frank

Kenya-Jade Pinto, VP Technology

People are mostly confused when Kenya-Jade (Kenya/Kj) introduces herself. But if you linger long enough you'll come to find that that's where she grew up, not just where she got her name. Since leaving Africa, Kenya has lived in Calgary, where she completed her grade school career as High School Valedictorian for the class of 2008. Today, Kenya is in her fourth year of a major in International Relations and a minor in Development Studies.

This Woman In Leadership likes to keep herself busy! When she's not writing papers and brainstorming potential WIL initiatives, Kenya is a member of the Wellness and Health Awareness Team (W.H.A.T) on campus, a volunteer photographer for AIDS Calgary, and holds down two part time jobs. She prides herself most on approachability, and loves meeting, inspiring (& being inspired by) new people. She hopes you'll stop her in Mac Hall, TFDL, or anywhere in between to say hi, hello, and what YOU would like to get out of WIL.

Fiona Rumohr, VP Public Relations

Fiona is a third year International Relations major, hailing from the town of Sylvan Lake, AB. She will try anything once (maybe even twice) and this has led to many an adventure! She loves scuba diving, basketball, endorphins and homemade canned peaches. Fiona volunteers at the Centre for International Students and Study Abroad, as a youth mentor, as a basketball coach and a volleyball referee. She thinks lunch dates are the single greatest part of the day, smiling is essential to survival and that people are extraordinarily fascinating. She lives by the words of Einstein: "Everyone is a genius in their own way, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb trees, the fish will forever live thinking it is a failure."