PWN Committee Information   Scholarship:      The main purpose of the Scholarship committee is to administer the PWN Scholarship Program/Foundation.  This includes participating in the annual fundraising activities as well as the applicant review process.  We currently utilize two annual Younkers Community Day events as our major fundraising activity.  This committee helps to carry out PWN’s mission:  “Women helping Women” by awarding scholarships to local non-traditional women students.  Currently 4-5 scholarships per year are awarded.   Meets: Currently the 1st Tuesday of each month at Noon at TrueNorth Companies downtown. Co-Chair:  Cheryl Mrstik, 739-1336, cmrstik@truenorthcompanies.com Co-Chair:  Nancy Williams, 739-1333, nwilliams@truenorthcompanies.com Special Events Committee:      Special Events coordinates and develops special events/programs for the year outside of the general membership meetings; for example our annual Golf Classic, PWN Marketplace, Health Expo, Wine Tastings and other professional development opportunities.  The mission of the Special Events committee is to bring women together to socialize through educational, stimulating and fun events.  Meets: Once a month at 5:30 at various locations in Cedar Rapids.   Co-Chair:  Stacie Reid, 363-9634, sreid@phelansinteriors.com Co-Chair:  Michelle Williams-Jones, 533-0533, kindred_spirit66@hotmail.com   Membership/Networkers Committee:      The purpose of our Membership/Networkers committee is to assist in recruiting and retaining PWN members.  Our goal is to do this by promoting PWN as an active, viable organization for personal and professional growth. Members of this committee act as greeters and table discussion leaders at general membership meetings, organize mentoring/pairing at meetings and send welcome notes to new members.  Meets: Currently the 2nd Wednesday of each month at noon at Wells Fargo, 150 1st Avenue in 2010 Co-Chair: Sarah Specht, 848-4444, sarah@wemailu.com Co-Chair: Patty Webster, 866-7021, patty_webster@hillsbank.com Program Committee:      The Program committee is vital in developing a current, interesting and engaging program slate for the upcoming year.  This   committee is responsible for the great speakers we have at each general membership meeting, including securing a “high caliber speaker” for the March Colleague Event.  Meets: January through May.  They currently meet at the United Way downtown at noon. Chair: Shelley Woods, 981-9887, pwn@pwn.org Community Outreach:      The Community Outreach committee gets PWN involved in our community.  Currently we are partnering with Waypoint Services as our “Adopt-A-Cause”.  We are also participating in events such as Growing Up Workshop, the Especially for You Breast Cancer Walk, Women’s Equality Day and the Go Red for Women campaign. This committee also has the honor of choosing our PWN’s annual Founders Day “Woman of the Year” Award recipient.  Meets: Currently meets third Thursday of each month Chair: Amy Miller, 654-8007, amy_miller@hillsbank.com Colleague Committee:              Recently added as a standing committee, the Colleague committee plans PWN's signature event of the year, the Colleague event held each spring.  Our Colleague event features a high caliber speaker and is very well attended attracting 300+ attendees, both men and women each year.  The committee is responsible for securing corporate sponsorships, encouraging companies to purchase corporate tables, and helping with the logistics of the event.  Meets:  The committee meets October until the Colleague event is held in the spring. Chair:  Shelley Woods, 981-9887, pwn@pwn.org Public Relations Committee:      The main focus of Public Relations is to communicate information about PWN to the media, business community and PWN members.  Also, they identify and coordinate special marketing and advertising opportunities throughout the year such as exhibiting at Beyond Rubies, placing print ads and ordering advertising specialty items.   Meets:  At various restaurants at 5:30 p.m. every other month. Co-Chair:  Sheila Semler, 396-5059, sems1957@mchsi.com Ways & Means:      Serves as knowledgeable resource for providing ideas to raise funds that can be used to help fund PWN’s growth towards helping women.  If anyone is interested in sharing their fundraising knowledge (or learning about it) we would love for you to get involved. Meets: A few times a year Strategic Planning:      This committee helps identify areas in need of development while providing direction and leadership for the implementation of the PWN Strategic and Marketing plans.  Meets:  As needed to review and develop plans, typically 1-2 times per year.