Oct. 11, 2004: Organizational meeting of the AWM Student Chapter

Erin Chamberlain told us about the purposes of the AWM and how our local chapter was 
founded.  We elected officers:

President: Erin Chamberlain
Vice President: Elizabeth (Liz) Doman
Secretary and Treasurer: Karin Leiderman and Borbala (Bori) Mazzag

We discussed various various potential activities for the academic year.  These included: 
* community outreach (such as tutoring or teaching in local schools, getting involved in 
workshops); Erin was to follow up on making connections with MESA and Liz with AAUW 
(American Association of University Women)
* inviting speakers to give a formal research presentation and talk about their 
experiences as mathematicians
* involvement of undergraduates in AWM (academic counseling/mentoring of undergraduates)
* bringing additional ideas to the next meeting

Erin emphasized that we need to make an effort to attract more undergraduates, and planned 
to have instructors announce the next meeting time in their classes.  

Nov. 8, 2004

Liz told us about the goals of AAUW and a possible cooperation with their organization.  
The AAUW organizes the GUTS (Girls Using Technology Successfully) Program in the Spring.  
The program is for young girls who have the interest and ability to study in technical 
fields but have had to overcome some obstacle.  Our AWM chapter could help with the 
design or facilitation of hands-on workshops withing the framework of this program.  The 
program will be in June.  No decision has been made on our involvement.  

Erin told us about the possibilities for community involvement through MESA.  
Possibilites are helping with the science fair either as judges or help with projects,
teaching lessons in the class or helping with the Olympiad in the Spring.  There was
interest in both teaching lessons and helping with the science fair.  Erin will find out
specifics: the amount of time commitment and logistics.

Janet gave us a presentation on 'Project Next', a professional development program 
designed for tenure-track faculty in or immediately after their first year.  The program 
provides an excellent networking opportunity and a source for practical advise to young 
faculty.  

Karin initiated a discussion on inviting speakers and suggested Dr. Lisa Fauci.  A smaller
group ('speaker committee')  will decide on inviting a speaker based on recommendations.  
Some of the logistics were discussed (such as having the speaker also give a talk at the 
department colloquium, undergraduate colloquium or at a seminar).  The proposed plan is to 
arrange for at least one research talk given by the speaker followed by an informal 
meeting.