Good Morning, Ladies, and other supporters of CGWLA,
Many of you shared your stories in your e-mail replies to LCDR Chambliss' successful CGWLA re-vamp message. (Don't worry, we won't post any of them here.) I was inspired and overwhelmed by the power of how much we can share with each other so we can learn from other people's experiences. As we continue to set up interest-area forums and begin to reload the CGWLA website, we plan to set up contact lists of women who have experience they'd be willing to share in a particular area of interest. Examples include: temporary separation program, how pregnancy affects unit-level work relationships, collocation with military spouses, and acclimation of civilian spouses, just to name a few. In the meantime, if you have a portion of your story you'd like to share in this forum, keeping in mind that it's very public, please do so. I have posted some of mine below.
I went straight from high school to the CG Academy, which had about 15% women at the time. Not a lot, but still significant bench strength. Imagine my surprise to get to my first assignment in 1992, CGC THETIS in Key West, FL, and find my roommate and I would be the first women officers on board (excpet for a single EO years before) along with 10-12 of the first enlisted women. We faced many challenges and overcame lots of stereotypes, and there never seemed to be any senior women to ask for guidance, or anywhere to share our experiences. Of course, that was before the Internet, e-mail outside the ship, or everyone having a personal cell phone. Times have changed for the better, but many women are still isolated with no women senior to themselves to seek for advice. Our vision is that we can use this forum and others like it to connect, learn from each other, and more importantly, gain strength from each other. I succeeded in the CG with the help of many informal mentors, both men and women. As I reflect back, I'm humbled by the women who went before me and broke down barriers, and I'm inspired now by junior women who are still facing obstacles and successfully overcoming them. I look forward to growing our strength in numbers and pooled resources.
Thank you for your interest in CGWLA!
Monday, January 26, 2009
THANK YOU!
I just wanted to say "thank you" to all of you for the effort you have put into revitalizing this Association. It would have been easy to keep the status quo and not add another tasker on anyone's list of things to worry about - Necia, you with a new baby - and I'm sure the rest of you all have busy personal and CG lives too. I'm excited about the possibilities for this group. Thanks again.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Seeking Recommendations and Volunteers
We are looking for people who are technologically savvy to help out. We need advice on the right venue for the members of CGWLA to communicate with each other about topics of interest. Chat rooms, bulletin boards, this blog, the website, a "forum", a Facebook page, or something else....what is the right venue for this?
In addition to the website, which will post information that the general public can view, we are thinking it would be best to have a place that is restricted to those that sign in (CG women only, probably), although everything is up for discussion at this point. We would like to have several topics up on the site, with people able to post comments on the various topics. Any thoughts on the best place for this would be appreciated. We would like a site that requires minimal maintenance/intervention on our part, as we are all busy, but rather is a place for a fairly free-flowing discussion among interested group members.
Second, we are looking for a few volunteers who have experience with this sort of thing to help us with the site management.
Please contact LCDR Roxanne Tamez if you are interested in volunteering or if you have ideas. Or, post a comment to this blog!
In addition to the website, which will post information that the general public can view, we are thinking it would be best to have a place that is restricted to those that sign in (CG women only, probably), although everything is up for discussion at this point. We would like to have several topics up on the site, with people able to post comments on the various topics. Any thoughts on the best place for this would be appreciated. We would like a site that requires minimal maintenance/intervention on our part, as we are all busy, but rather is a place for a fairly free-flowing discussion among interested group members.
Second, we are looking for a few volunteers who have experience with this sort of thing to help us with the site management.
Please contact LCDR Roxanne Tamez if you are interested in volunteering or if you have ideas. Or, post a comment to this blog!
202 CG women interested so far...
As of today, if I am counting correctly, 202 women have expressed interest in CGWLA. An e-mail just went out to those women summarizing our current status. If you expressed interest in CGWLA and didn't receive the e-mail, I apologize. I tried to be diligent, but someone may have slipped through the cracks. Just send me another e-mail and I'll add you to the list.
That said, we're going to try to shift communications to this blog for now so we aren't e-mailing so many people, and so that others can comment on what we are saying or doing. So, watch this site! Also, we are getting ready to stand up the website again, which is http://www.cgwla.org/. It's not up yet, but should be soon. We have one person working on it now, but will probably be asking for others to assist with content development.
In case you missed it, here is the e-mail that went out:
Good morning,
You are receiving this e-mail because you have indicated an interest in the Coast Guard Women’s Leadership Association (CGWLA).
On December 30, 2008, we began sending an e-mail to as many CG women as we could find, soliciting input on whether to disband or continue the organization. We posed two questions: (1) is there still a need for an organization dedicated to supporting CG women, and (2) if so, what things would best meet the needs of CG women? We asked that the e-mail be forwarded to as many CG women as possible, and gave a deadline of January 15, 2009 for responses.
Even though the e-mail went out during the holidays, we were flooded with responses. The nearly unanimous response is quite clear: there is a need for an organization dedicated to supporting CG women. Many of you shared experiences that you have had over the years. Many of you wrote that having another CG woman to turn to, or a role model, would have been invaluable during some of your more difficult times in the Coast Guard. Over 180 women have responded, and so far, only 4 have said that they do not see a need for this organization.
And so, for the great news: CGWLA is being revived!!!
We are inspired and motivated by the stories you have shared, and we are really excited to get this organization going again! Many of you had not heard of CGWLA before our e-mail, which is probably because CGWLA used to be focused on women in the Washington, DC area. But in this age of electronics, there is no reason for us to be geographically limited. And, many of the women who need the support of such an organization are women in isolated or remote areas who don’t have many women geographically near them to turn to. So, the new CGWLA will be a national organization, and will therefore (hopefully) be more relevant.
We have started a blog to keep you posted - you can find it at http://www.blogger.com/www.CGWLA.blogspot.com (***Please remember that right now, anyone can see what you post, not just CG women. We are looking at creating a more secure site for more private conversations.) We also hope to have our website up and running again very soon. We are currently talking with a webmaster so updated content can be loaded. With that said, there may be other forums that are better suited to exchanging ideas and supporting each other. Please remain flexible as the best suited avenue is found. If you have an idea of what might be a good way to do this, please let us know. We’re also looking for a few volunteers to run/oversee these various electronic avenues that are created. If you are good at these things and have time to help, please e-mail LCDR Roxanne Tamez by February 13.
Thank you again for your interest in CGWLA. More information will follow. Please keep the ideas coming. And, please keep passing the word about us so that we can include as many women as are interested in being a part of this.
Future information will be passed via the blog, and then our website (soon to be up and running) rather than by e-mail. If you have any questions, please contact any of the five organizers (listed below).
V/R,
CDR Heather Hanson, CDR Leona Roszkowski, LCDR Roxanne Tamez, LCDR Necia Chambliss, and YNCM Ann Tubbs
P.S. My apologies if I failed to send this to anyone who expressed interest. I think I captured everyone, but I may have missed someone with the flood of e-mails.
That said, we're going to try to shift communications to this blog for now so we aren't e-mailing so many people, and so that others can comment on what we are saying or doing. So, watch this site! Also, we are getting ready to stand up the website again, which is http://www.cgwla.org/. It's not up yet, but should be soon. We have one person working on it now, but will probably be asking for others to assist with content development.
In case you missed it, here is the e-mail that went out:
Good morning,
You are receiving this e-mail because you have indicated an interest in the Coast Guard Women’s Leadership Association (CGWLA).
On December 30, 2008, we began sending an e-mail to as many CG women as we could find, soliciting input on whether to disband or continue the organization. We posed two questions: (1) is there still a need for an organization dedicated to supporting CG women, and (2) if so, what things would best meet the needs of CG women? We asked that the e-mail be forwarded to as many CG women as possible, and gave a deadline of January 15, 2009 for responses.
Even though the e-mail went out during the holidays, we were flooded with responses. The nearly unanimous response is quite clear: there is a need for an organization dedicated to supporting CG women. Many of you shared experiences that you have had over the years. Many of you wrote that having another CG woman to turn to, or a role model, would have been invaluable during some of your more difficult times in the Coast Guard. Over 180 women have responded, and so far, only 4 have said that they do not see a need for this organization.
And so, for the great news: CGWLA is being revived!!!
We are inspired and motivated by the stories you have shared, and we are really excited to get this organization going again! Many of you had not heard of CGWLA before our e-mail, which is probably because CGWLA used to be focused on women in the Washington, DC area. But in this age of electronics, there is no reason for us to be geographically limited. And, many of the women who need the support of such an organization are women in isolated or remote areas who don’t have many women geographically near them to turn to. So, the new CGWLA will be a national organization, and will therefore (hopefully) be more relevant.
We have started a blog to keep you posted - you can find it at http://www.blogger.com/www.CGWLA.blogspot.com (***Please remember that right now, anyone can see what you post, not just CG women. We are looking at creating a more secure site for more private conversations.) We also hope to have our website up and running again very soon. We are currently talking with a webmaster so updated content can be loaded. With that said, there may be other forums that are better suited to exchanging ideas and supporting each other. Please remain flexible as the best suited avenue is found. If you have an idea of what might be a good way to do this, please let us know. We’re also looking for a few volunteers to run/oversee these various electronic avenues that are created. If you are good at these things and have time to help, please e-mail LCDR Roxanne Tamez by February 13.
Thank you again for your interest in CGWLA. More information will follow. Please keep the ideas coming. And, please keep passing the word about us so that we can include as many women as are interested in being a part of this.
Future information will be passed via the blog, and then our website (soon to be up and running) rather than by e-mail. If you have any questions, please contact any of the five organizers (listed below).
V/R,
CDR Heather Hanson, CDR Leona Roszkowski, LCDR Roxanne Tamez, LCDR Necia Chambliss, and YNCM Ann Tubbs
P.S. My apologies if I failed to send this to anyone who expressed interest. I think I captured everyone, but I may have missed someone with the flood of e-mails.
Monday, January 19, 2009
I'm humbled and inspired
I am still trying to read through all of the e-mails that I have been receiving from women all around the Coast Guard. I can't begin to tell you how amazing they have been.
I have lost count of the number of e-mails I have received. I think we are over 180 at this point. They have been overwhelmingly in support of reviving CGWLA (I think we have had 4 negative responses so far.) I wish I could share with everyone the heartfelt, thoughtful, insightful e-mails I am reading. There are so many stories of women who have needed an ear, a helping hand, or the insight of someone who has gone before her, and has not been able to find anyone. It saddens me to think of the struggles that people have faced - they are so much easier when shared.
Yet, at the same time, I am heartened by the many stories I have also read of women reaching out to other women, offering their experience and wisdom to help others along the way. And, I am so excited about CGWLA! I think this organization can provide a forum for women to find others to share ideas and lend a helping hand. Many of the stories were similiar - for example, units where there were only a few women, all E-3s, with no senior women (enlisted or officer) to use as mentors. I can only imagine how itimidating it would be to be one of 3, brand new to the Coast Guard, trying to find your way in this wonderful but challenging branch of the military...
Please know that if my e-mail response to you seemed a bit short, or you haven't even received a response yet, it is because I have been flooded with responses. I'm trying to respond to everyone as quickly as I can. I, too, am trying to juggle the requirements of my Coast Guard job and those of my new daughter at home (almost 8 months old and cute as a button). So, forgive my short responses. Know that I, and the other 4 women reviving this organization, are reading each and every response we receive.
Thanks again for your stories, your candor, your offers to assist, and the inspiration you are providing me. Soon that inspiration will be flowing between all of us!
I have lost count of the number of e-mails I have received. I think we are over 180 at this point. They have been overwhelmingly in support of reviving CGWLA (I think we have had 4 negative responses so far.) I wish I could share with everyone the heartfelt, thoughtful, insightful e-mails I am reading. There are so many stories of women who have needed an ear, a helping hand, or the insight of someone who has gone before her, and has not been able to find anyone. It saddens me to think of the struggles that people have faced - they are so much easier when shared.
Yet, at the same time, I am heartened by the many stories I have also read of women reaching out to other women, offering their experience and wisdom to help others along the way. And, I am so excited about CGWLA! I think this organization can provide a forum for women to find others to share ideas and lend a helping hand. Many of the stories were similiar - for example, units where there were only a few women, all E-3s, with no senior women (enlisted or officer) to use as mentors. I can only imagine how itimidating it would be to be one of 3, brand new to the Coast Guard, trying to find your way in this wonderful but challenging branch of the military...
Please know that if my e-mail response to you seemed a bit short, or you haven't even received a response yet, it is because I have been flooded with responses. I'm trying to respond to everyone as quickly as I can. I, too, am trying to juggle the requirements of my Coast Guard job and those of my new daughter at home (almost 8 months old and cute as a button). So, forgive my short responses. Know that I, and the other 4 women reviving this organization, are reading each and every response we receive.
Thanks again for your stories, your candor, your offers to assist, and the inspiration you are providing me. Soon that inspiration will be flowing between all of us!
Welcome!!!
Welcome to the Coast Guard Women's Leadership Association (CGWLA) blog!
Our organization began in 2004, and was for CG women in the Washington, DC area. However, in the last couple of years, the organization became largely inactive as people became busy with other responsibilities.
We (CDR Heather Hanson, CDR Leona Roszkowski, LCDR Roxanne, Tamez, YNCM Ann Tubbs, and LCDR Necia Chambliss) decided it was time to either revive the organization or officially disband. We wanted input from other CG women before making the decision, and so on December 30, 2009, we sent an e-mail to as many CG women as we could think of, and asked that the e-mail be forwarded on throughout the CG. Our question was two-fold:
*********************************************************************
Is there still a need for an organization that is dedicated to supporting women in the Coast Guard?
If yes, how can this organization be most helpful to you?
Please be creative and share your ideas and comments, particularly ideas for supporting women at field units and units outside of the Washington DC area. For example, we are considering things such as leadership blogs, conferences, mentor programs, electronic newsletters sent to member bang list, etc.
*********************************************************************
The response has been truly overwhelming. We have lost count, but have received probably about 180 positive responses. (We received 3 negative responses at last count.) The stories women have shared have been both inspirational as well as frustrating as we see that gender-related challenges remain alive and well.
Recognizing this overwhelming need, CGWLA will now be much more "virtual" so that we can extend our support to women throughout the Coast Guard. While this will pose some challenges as we adapt to this new format, we think the benefits far outweigh.
This blog is a first step towards recreating the organization and giving a voice and a forum to women throughout the CG. We will be restarting our website as well. We will be looking for volunteers to assist with keeping these electronic sites active and current. We are all leading busy lives - by sharing the workload, we will be able to keep this valuable organization and these tools alive and relevant.
Please check back frequently. We will try to keep new developments posted here.
Thank you so much. We are truly excited about bringing together so many amazing women.
Very respectfully,
Necia Chambliss
***Please note that this is not an official Coast Guard organization. We are separate and independent, so that we have a little more freedom to do and say what we are thinking. But, remember, we are all still military women, and so common courtesy and respect - towards all people - is expected here.
Our organization began in 2004, and was for CG women in the Washington, DC area. However, in the last couple of years, the organization became largely inactive as people became busy with other responsibilities.
We (CDR Heather Hanson, CDR Leona Roszkowski, LCDR Roxanne, Tamez, YNCM Ann Tubbs, and LCDR Necia Chambliss) decided it was time to either revive the organization or officially disband. We wanted input from other CG women before making the decision, and so on December 30, 2009, we sent an e-mail to as many CG women as we could think of, and asked that the e-mail be forwarded on throughout the CG. Our question was two-fold:
*********************************************************************
Is there still a need for an organization that is dedicated to supporting women in the Coast Guard?
If yes, how can this organization be most helpful to you?
Please be creative and share your ideas and comments, particularly ideas for supporting women at field units and units outside of the Washington DC area. For example, we are considering things such as leadership blogs, conferences, mentor programs, electronic newsletters sent to member bang list, etc.
*********************************************************************
The response has been truly overwhelming. We have lost count, but have received probably about 180 positive responses. (We received 3 negative responses at last count.) The stories women have shared have been both inspirational as well as frustrating as we see that gender-related challenges remain alive and well.
Recognizing this overwhelming need, CGWLA will now be much more "virtual" so that we can extend our support to women throughout the Coast Guard. While this will pose some challenges as we adapt to this new format, we think the benefits far outweigh.
This blog is a first step towards recreating the organization and giving a voice and a forum to women throughout the CG. We will be restarting our website as well. We will be looking for volunteers to assist with keeping these electronic sites active and current. We are all leading busy lives - by sharing the workload, we will be able to keep this valuable organization and these tools alive and relevant.
Please check back frequently. We will try to keep new developments posted here.
Thank you so much. We are truly excited about bringing together so many amazing women.
Very respectfully,
Necia Chambliss
***Please note that this is not an official Coast Guard organization. We are separate and independent, so that we have a little more freedom to do and say what we are thinking. But, remember, we are all still military women, and so common courtesy and respect - towards all people - is expected here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)