Welcome to WISTA USA!April 2012
Dear WISTA USA Members and guests:
As the presiding President of WISTA USA, I'd like to welcome you to our website.
WISTA USA's membership includes over 290 maritime professionals from 23 states and the District of Columbia, representing all facets of the maritime industry - including (to name a few) shipowners, operators, brokers, bankers, insurance professionals, attorneys, analysts, and government officials. WISTA USA is the largest of any National WISTA Association (NWA), and is a prominent link in the network of over 1,500 women who participate in WISTA through NWAs in 33 countries the world over.
In the United States, our members are active through eight regional Chapters: (1) New York / New Jersey; (2) Connecticut; (3) Washington, DC Metro; (4) Florida; (5) New Orleans; (6) Houston; (7) West Coast (California and Hawai'i); and (8) the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, and Alaska). More information on our chapters is available here. These chapters have done a marvelous job of organizing regional events, often in conjunction with industry conferences. These events are captured in my quarterly e-Updates, which are disseminated to the membership and posted on our News page. You can also see what events might be coming up by checking the calendar on our Activities page. We encourage you to get involved in your regional Chapter - and if none exists in your area, to contact us about starting a Chapter of your own!
Our newest Chapter, in the Pacific Northwest region, is a spin-off from the West Coast Chapter, which was launched in 2008. Clearly, women see the benefits of networking and learning from one another in the WISTA setting, and that is why our membership has been growing so steadily. Although generally targeted to local members, the various Chapter events are most certainly open to WISTA members fom other areas of the U.S. and beyond. Before you set out on your next business trip, we encourage you to check back on this site to find out if there is a WISTA event being held in the city you will be visiting. Just look under the News heading or check the Calendar. You can also just reach out to fellow WISTA members in whatever country or city you're visiting by searching the international membership roster (access to which is restricted to members only).
In addition to the events organized by our regional Chapters, WISTA USA as a whole hosts several events of its own throughout the year. In March 2012, WISTA USA once again kicked off the Connecticut Maritime Association's Shipping 2012 Conference with its seventh annual luncheon featuring Rear Admiral Mary Landry (USCG ret.), speaking about her experiences as the first Federal On-Scene Coordinator for the Deepwater Horizon incident. You can read more about the event here.
From May 9-11, 2012, we will have our Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Houston, Texas. The theme for this year's AGM is "With Energy". As most of you know, the AGM is hosted by a different Chapter each year. Regardless of the location, the AGM is a wonderful opportunity to network with other WISTA USA members and to hear about industry developments around the country. For more information about the 2012 AGM, and to register for the event, please visit our 2012 AGM page. After the conclusion of the AGM, we will post the speaker presentations and photographs on this site.
Finally, if you are not yet a member, it's time to become one! To join, please fill out our online application form by clicking here. Just follow the instructions and you'll be on your way. Our 2012 membership dues are $100. If you have questions about membership generally or the application process in particular, please contact Parker Harrison, our Membership Secretary, at parker.harrison@american-club.com.
Jeanne M. Grasso
President, WISTA USA
Jeanne is a partner at Blank Rome LLP in Washington, DC. She can be reached at Grasso@BlankRome.com or by phone at (202) 772-5927.
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