December 2021 - Reflections
As we approach the end of the year, I find it is often a good time to look back over the experiences we have had in our lives and careers, as well as those experiences shared by the WID, NY community in 2021. There are many wonderful moments to reflect upon. But before we do that, after the extraordinary challenges we have been living with, I’d like to look ahead and share a hopeful glimpse of what’s on the horizon for WID in 2022.
The big news is that WID plans to return to in-person events as soon as possible in 2022. We hope to begin with our renowned networking event, I to I, followed by our Spring Luncheon, the flagship Woman of Achievement event, the return of the Insider Breakfast, and the much-anticipated Annual Member Meeting. As we lay plans for these gatherings, we will continue to keep safety top-of-mind, and will keep the community updated as we move forward. In order to have something for everyone, we will also offer the same robust virtual programming, with webinars, Deconstructing Development conversations, and President’s Council events.
Topics on tap for the New Year include time management tips for women in the nonprofit sector; a deep dive into effective digital fundraising; and our ever-popular grammar workshop.
We are also launching a new initiative in January via Instagram Live called WID Watch, which will host focused conversations on a wide range of issues and opportunities for the WID community. Be sure to follow WID on Instagram (and LinkedIn) so you don’t miss this exciting series with great guests and topical information!
Looking back over 2021, I am so proud of the top-notch programming that we continued to bring to WID members and colleagues in the development profession. We covered an amazing range of subjects: Successful Virtual Event Fundraising; Creating More Inclusive Workplaces and Boards; Budgeting for an Uncertain Environment; Development Operations in a Thriving Development Department; Facing the Career Challenge of the Involuntary Exit; and Inside Executive Search Firms: What Development Professionals Need to Know. We also hosted our first Virtual Job Fair, which was a great success for both the job-seekers and hiring professionals who attended.
All of us at WID are especially proud of our first Virtual Forum in March, a wonderful morning of sharing and learning through workshops led by a terrific group of experts. I was thrilled to moderate the powerful keynote panel, Because We’re Worth It: Strategies for Women’s Pay Equity, that provided essential information about this critical subject to our attendees. I extend my great thanks to all the incredible panelists and speakers who made these programs such a success. Your commitment to generously sharing your expertise is at the heart of what makes WID a flourishing community!
At the heart of WID’s mission is equity for women in our sector. Salary transparency is a key tool for ensuring a more equitable workforce for women in the development profession. This is why we also made the decision to require salary transparency for the WID Job Board. I am also very happy to say that I recently testified in a hearing of the New York City Council Committee on Civil and Human Rights around this topic, and I am thrilled to report that the bill to require salary transparency in NYC has passed! I hope this yields good things for the WID community.
My sincere thanks goes to our volunteers, committee members, sponsors and the members of the WID Board. Thank you for all that you do move WID forward!
You’ve heard me say this many times, but it is no less heartfelt at this moment: WID is here to support you, to champion you, to help you achieve success in your lives and careers. Please let us know how you are! We love to hear from you. Stay in touch and share your joys, celebrations, achievements, questions, needs, ideas and whatever else is meaningful to you. If you are not yet a member of WID or if the past couple of years of uncertainty have meant that you have not yet returned to the fold, we invite you to join or renew your membership today. And for all of those who have stayed the course with us during the “now normal,” thank you from the bottom of my heart. You - our members- are what keeps WID going.
I very much look forward to seeing you all in person once again! Until then, have a safe and joyful holiday season and a beautiful start to the New Year!
Onward, Upward, Forward,