In preparing for the PWA board of directors election process, we, the current board members have reflected on what evolutions have transpired on our watch, beginning July 2005. Serving on the board requires commitment and dedication, but it also rewards those willing to put their efforts into the organization. We've put together a list of what we consider our proudest achievements, made possible only through teamwork and perseverance:

New and improved events and services to our members

• Promotional opportunities via the online professional services board, literature table, and posting of CV's on the EuropeanPWN web site
• Institution of monthly networking aperitivi
• Interesting and stimulating speaker events

Membership and registration

• Overall increase in our membership: we now have 150 members as of April 2006, the highest in a number of years
• Welcoming the first corporate member firms in Italy, including IBM with 11 members
• Online registration implemented and automation of the membership application process
• Online payments possible via credit card for both dues and event fees
• Online registration for events with the possibility to download the list of the attendees, with profiles and pictures
• Reinforcement of the welcoming of guests and new members through orientation sessions: to help make new people feel at ease, stimulate their interest and make them eager to join

Web and multimedia

• PWA Milan's continuously improving website, including the newly introduced Professional Services Board
• The expanded information in the members' directory, thanks to integrating the EuropeanPWN site capabilities into our own
• Implementation of the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section on the site
• Newsletter available on-line with an updated image in both format and content

Professionalizing PWA

• Organizing the first General Assembly of the membership in many years
• Improvement of the contents and format of the newsletter: work-related items, women-related articles, success stories.
• Editorial procedures to improve and standardize PWA's external communications and signage
• Development of a more professional and consistent image in line with our identity as a professional group
• Professional services table at all meetings: allowing members to put their promotional literature on a clearly-marked, designated table

Focus on networking

• New networking aperitivi: inexpensive, convivial, easy to attend! Drop in to have a chat and exchange business cards without committing to a preset timetable
• Expanding our networking potential within the Milan community: PWA is forging links with other high-profile women's associations such as Manageritalia and Network Bellisario
• Expanding our networking potential Europe-wide with EuropeanPWN's sophisticated platform

Pricing policies

• Annual fee lowered by 13%
• Revised the PWA budget to ensure financial stability now and in the future
• Marketing: introduction of targeted distribution of PWA brochures and posters, while lowering advertising expenditures
• Newsletter: online distribution saves funds by taking advantage of available technology

And last but certainly not least, the personal growth that each of us board members enjoyed in the process

• Discovering new skills
• Meeting new friends: interacting with women we wouldn't have met otherwise
• Increasing self-confidence - succeeding in tasks that are different from our personal and professional lives
• As part of a team of very competent women, helping members to make their lives better

We hope you've benefited from the changes and new initiatives that we have instituted this year. As always, we appreciate your feedback including any suggestions for further improvements or additions. We hope, as well, that you consider putting yourself forward for next year's board to join the team that makes a difference.

The 2005-6 PWA Board of Directors

Board Member Elections

PWA is currently recruiting candidates for its Board of Directors for the term running from 1 September 2006 to 31 December 2007, as well as Assistants and other volunteers. Are you willing to put your experience, knowledge and energy into action? We are looking for women with the drive and enthusiasm to become part of the group that works behind the scenes to make PWA happen.

Being a member of the board is a great way to make new contacts, learn new skills and enhance your CV. While it requires commitment, it is also very rewarding: as part of a dedicated team, you contribute to PWA's growth, evolution, and overall success.

What are the positions and requirements?
The current board has determined that 10 specific Director positions are appropriate for the management of PWA, certain of which may be supplemented by Assistant positions. Each Director is responsible for coordinating the tasks of her area, for attending monthly board meetings, and participating in as many PWA events as possible. The roles and responsibilities of the Directors are posted on the PWA website.

For certain positions above with more extensive duties and/or with easily divisible tasks, which include but are not limited to those of Program Directors, Membership Director, and Professional Services Director, Assistants are welcome. The requirements of Board Assistants are similar to that of Directors, without the overall responsibility for the function nor the necessity to attend the board meetings. While Directors are elected, Assistants are simply accepted as needed.

Naturally, PWA is also looking for volunteers on an ad hoc basis, i.e. members who would like to help out on certain events or projects without taking on the commitment of serving for the whole term.

All Directors, Assistants and volunteers must be valid PWA members during their term or time of service.

How do I find out more?
If you'd like to learn more about joining the PWA Board of Directors, becoming a Board Assistant, or simply volunteering on a project or event basis, see the section accessible via the home page of the PWA website or contact Election Committee members Ann Marinelli (marinann@tin.it, 347 298 6266) or Axelle Videau-Brown (axelle.videau@fastwebnet.it, 338 784 8516). You may also speak to any current member of the board.

What is the process and timing for the Board of Directors elections?
The deadline for submitting your candidacy for one of the 10 Board of Director positions is 15 May 2006. To do so, please contact Ann or Axelle of the Election Committee by that date to confirm your intention. Although there is no strict deadline for the Assistant or ad hoc volunteer positions, we would also appreciate your coming forward by the above date should you be interested in serving in one of these roles.

The Board shall be elected by an email vote lasting a period of two weeks, commencing on or about 1 June 2006, and in any case after the General Assembly is held (scheduled for 31 May 2006). The results of the elections will be announced on or about 15 June 2006 by email and will be published on the PWA website and in the July newsletter.

A handover period in which the incoming Board will collaborate with the outgoing Board, will take place from approximately 16 June - 31 July 2006. The new Board of Directors will officially assume responsibility for the management of PWA starting 1 September 2006.

The Elections Committee looks forward to hearing from you as a prospective member of PWA's management team or additional volunteer staff.

The 2005-6 PWA Board of Directors

PWA General Assembly - 31 May 2006

PWA is holding its General Assembly on 31 May 2006 and, of all the events of the year, this one pertains to us as an organisation and is important. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend. Read on to learn more about why, what, how and when as well as how you can win a dinner for two at Gref Food & Charme in Milan.

1. What is the purpose of the general assembly (GA)?
The objective of the GA, to be held on 31 May 2006, is threefold:

1. To vote on the proposed changes to the bylaws
2. To present our financial situation
3. To discuss PWA policies and orientation

We discuss each in turn below.

1. Changes to the bylaws
   We, the current board, would like to make six changes to the bylaws. These encompass changing some of the legal requirements (eg changing our legal address; altering what constitutes a quorum; and elimination of the audit board) and enabling PWA to use technology to make your participation easier (eg enabling email voting, allowing 'virtual' General Assemblies; providing further definition on the use of proxies/absentee ballots). However, we need your votes to do so!
    
2. Present our current and prior year's financial data
   We would like to share with you the 2005 financial results and discuss our financial situation going forward in 2006
    
3. Give you a chance to comment on PWA policies and orientation
   Members are invited to ask questions about, and discuss, the policies set by the board each year. This will help next year's board to make decisions that reflect your needs and preferences

For further information, please refer to the members' section of the PWA website for:

• further detail on the format of the general assembly including the Order of Business and the proposed by-law changes
• a detailed explanation of the suggested changes to the by-laws
• the current by-laws in English and in Italian (statuto)
• the by-laws containing the proposed changes, in English
• the Internal Regulations document, which the 2005-6 Board of Directors has developed to supplement the official by-laws (statuto) with the objective of providing further specifications and clarifications on current policies and procedures.

2. Why is your voice important?
In order to make our proposed changes to the by-laws, we need to meet a legal quorum. Although historically this has been defined as the majority of members (50% + 1), our current by-laws use the definition as per the Italian Civil Code. We therefore need votes from 75% of the membership. To address this going forward, one of our proposed by-law changes would align the by-law quorum with the definition used over the years by PWA of 50% + 1. However, because we haven't yet approved that change, we will strive to respect the current, legal definition of a quorum.

What's good is that even if you can't be present you can still vote and therefore contribute to our 75% quorum, please read on.

3. How can I vote?
If you can't come in person, please submit your proxy/absentee ballot by 2 p.m. on 31 May 2006. Even if you plan to come, you can still cast your vote this way or alternatively do it in person at the meeting.

The proxy/absentee ballot form can be downloaded from the website. Just fill in your name, your vote (Yes or No) for each of the proposed by-law changes and then sign and date the form. You then either name a person to submit your vote or leave it blank (recommended). Since by-laws stipulate that no single member can submit more than five proxy/absentee ballot votes for others, this ensures that your vote is valid. The delegate name will be filled in at the GA based on the members present at the meeting. In all cases your vote will be cast as designated.

Once completed, please return your form either in person to any Board member at future PWA events or via fax to Lynn Chasson, PWA Treasurer, at 02 2024 0994. The deadline for submitting proxy/absentee ballots is 2 p.m. on 31 May 2006.

4. What's this about a free dinner?
All members, voting either in person or by proxy/absentee ballot, will have the opportunity to win dinner for two at Gref Food & Charme. This special prize has been graciously donated by Gref owner and PWA member Maria Luisa Celoria.

The name of the winner will be drawn during the general assembly and if you are not present, we will notify you the following day. Good luck!

5. When and where is the General Assembly?
The General Assembly will be held at the Centro Svizzero, via Palestro 2, Milano (MM Turati), from 7-10 p.m. The meeting will start with a cocktail hour, accompanied by a ricco buffet, from 7-8 p.m. At 8 p.m., the meeting will be opened and will finish by 10 p.m. Please note that this is a free event and open to members only.

6. Who can I contact for further information?
Please contact Lynn Chasson, PWA Treasurer, at lchasson@fastwebnet.it with any questions you may have.

Speaker Meeting

All professional women welcome whether members or guests

How many times have you said to yourself "I'd really like to change careers" but didn't know how? Whether for personal or professional reasons, many of us would like to make a new start in the same field, or find a new direction altogether.

We've gathered a panel of PWA members who will share their experiences on how they've made it happen: reinventing themselves by developing their existing strengths and interests, and finding the way to make it happen.

Come hear their stories and learn what it takes to start a new venture or change the course of your career - you may find the inspiration to do it yourself!

Panel participants include:

• Delia Weissy, who left a career in the pharmaceutical industry to work for a yacht-chartering business.
• Axelle Brown-Videau, who used her experience with an Italian PR company to launch her own firm.
• Adele Fenstermacher, who combined her years as a lawyer, her passion for acting and her desire to live in Italy to initiate a new career as an "in-house" English teacher specializing in business/legal writing for a Milan law firm.

Cocktails 7-8 p.m. / Presentation 8-9.30 p.m.
StarHotel Rosa, via Pattari 5 (MM Duomo)
Free for members; €20 for guests, payable by cash or cheque at the event

Members: please register your attendance in the calendar section of EuropeanPWN <www.europeanpwn.net>

For guest reservations, and for more information in general, please contact speakers@pwa-milan.org

Networking Event

How to Join

Individual membership
To join, simply fill in completely and submit the online application form at www.pwa-milan.org and pay the dues. Probably the best way to find out if PWA Milan is for you is to experience the association by coming to one of our events as a guest. Meet members, ask questions, speak to the members of the board and see whether joining would be beneficial for you.

Membership fees
January 2006-December 2006    €100

Corporate membership
Companies may join PWA Milan, enabling designated women employees to benefit from all that PWA has to offer. For further information, please refer to the website www.pwa-milan.org or email pwa@pwa-milan.org.