CONVENORS

Convenors

Contents

• What Has Worked In Christchurch

• Beginners Guide to Reviving AWIS Branch Meetings

What has worked in Christchurch!

1. Most importantly, circulate information widely – get on the uni list servers, send to all CRI’s, private research institutions, private companies etc.  Include info on what AWIS is as well as on the speaker/event itself.
2. Tell people to bring family and friends, if appropriate.
3. Give plenty of notice of meetings and then remind people two weeks before and on the week of the meeting.
4. Emphasise the social aspect of the meeting as well as any content-based hooks.
5. Choose a controversial topic/high profile speaker at least once a year.
6. Include outings to interesting places (one of our best-attended meetings was a visit to a Science Museum that people may not have otherwise gone to visit).
7. Sometimes providing a range of meeting nights (eg. Wednesday one month and Thursday the next) can help people who really want to come but have a regular clash.
8. Lunch-time meetings at a location close to where many people work (Lincoln for us) can bring in heaps of people particularly if they get to see inside their neighbouring research centres etc.
9. When all else fails, provide light refreshments (pot luck dinners are also fun but require people to already feel happy with the other people at the event).

• Invite a financial planner in to talk about wealth generation with specific emphasis on women
• Visit ecological restoration sites
• Have AWIS members give talks on overseas trips they have done
• Invite a forensic scientist to talk
• Invite a communication skills expert to talk
• Invite a local MP (we had Ruth Dyson who was perfect but others may well be interesting)
• Invite women with high profile careers to talk about their career paths
• Invite women who’ve left science to start businesses to talk about their journeys
• Plan trips to members’ institutions
• Have a controversial talk (about research in GE/animal welfare/various themes in social research etc)
• Run an evening on mentoring/being mentored
• Visit science museums, regional council science attractions/programmes, technology open days etc
• Invite someone to talk about issues in science leadership that are specific to women

Beginners Guide to Reviving AWIS Branch Meetings

• Identify a keen “convenor”, a.k.a. person with good organisational skills & enthusiasm for the task ahead.
• Provide support for the convenor in the form of at least one other, preferably more, AWIS members to bounce ideas around together and so that at least TWO people turn up for meetings.

• Prepare a mail-out list.  Ideally have 25 – 30 on the list.
• Consider looking at: old AWIS membership lists, University Calendars listing Academic Staff, local Science Centre, local medical labs, Science Teachers Assn.

• Organise a “test the waters” meeting.

• Give everyone a sticky-label name. 
• Make a point of talking to each person individually.  Yes, you CAN do it, even though you would probably rather not.
• Ask for ideas for meetings, and potential speakers.  WRITE THESE DOWN.

• Venue: location ? cost ? security ? parking ? speaker friendly ?
• Dates: plan several months ahead and let everyone know so they can keep the AWIS evenings free.  At Waikato we alternate between first Tues and first Thurs of the month.
• Invite speakers – start with people you would like to hear speaking, then it’s easier to do the inviting.  In my experience, most people will accept their invitation to speak.
•   Speakers ?  Forensic scientist, Science Centre, Presentation skills (drama lecturer, experienced speaker, HR recommended), Financial Planning, Science talks from AWIS members.

• Encourage social interaction and “networking” with regular social activities.
• Always give people name tags at meetings.
• Begin meetings with an “ice-breaker”.
• Finish branch meetings with a light supper.
• Have a couple of restaurant meetings.
• Organise a weekend walk.
• Set up a Wine & Cheese evening.

•     Make up a poster advertising the speaker and venue details
•     Email to all members
•     Encourage members to display the poster
•     Encourage members to bring along a colleague to the meeting