After 18 years of working with the Girls Excelling in Math and Science Conference, you would think it might get a little old, but NOT TRUE! Another exciting Saturday of women professionals working with 5th and 6th grade girls and their parents took place on March 14th at Dogwood Elementary School. 

Our Branch of AAUW had 21 volunteers helping out with this event. Kathy Lamkin, Gail Osberg, Beverly Weise, Cyndi Dhanahan, Marilyn Silvey, Carol Hurlburt, Carol Van Evera, Stephanie Abbott, Felicia Strickland and Hale Ament made the reminder calls to the students and parents. On Friday the 13th we had the good luck to have Judy Helmich, Barbara Zicari, Carol Bradley, Hale Ament, Carol and Sid Hurlburt, Marion Stillson, Stephanie Abbott, Marilyn Silvey and Fran Lovaas filling folders for 200+ students and 17+ presenters. 

Lockheed Martin (Dogwood’s corporate sponsor) also provided goodie bags for us to fill for all of the Conference participants. Early on Saturday morning eager students hurried in the doors of Dogwood and were handed their folders by Judy Helmich, Beverly Weise, Carol Hurlburt, Nancy Thompson, Hale Ament, Roberta Sherman and Maureen Dwyer, while Marilyn Silvey helped handle the walk-ins. Brenda Ivery and Sheila Hanz ushered people in the door and also aided one of our fantastic workshop presenters. Bea Malone and Carol Van Evera did a great job of setting up the breakfast for the women leaders. 

We had the good fortune to have Sid Hurlburt take photos of the students in action while Elizabeth Vandenberg, Bea Malone and Stephanie Abbott took videos. Laura Jones was one of the leaders at the five parent workshops. A lot was packed into the four hours, but we all left feeling very satisfied that we had had another great GEMS year.  The idea of GEMS is spreading, and we now have 16 GEMS Clubs in Fairfax County. We also have found out that at least one other GEMS Conference is being planned in another part of the State for later this year. We are spreading the word that YES WE CAN work in  whatever field we choose.

Read article in Reston Connection at http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=326851&paper=71&cat=104