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LINKS
President:
Jerry Ashley
Site Administrator:
Daisy Diaz
WAI WEBSITE WAI MERCHANDISE AMELIA EARHART SITE AOPA CONF SITE NEW ENGLAND AIR & SPACE MUSEUM JULIE CLARK'S WEBSITE
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CHAPTER OF WOMEN IN AVIATION, INTERNATIONAL (WAI)
NEXT MEETING
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 5:30 PM
LENA'S RESTAURANT
655 John Fitch Boulevard, South Windsor, CT 06074
Tel: (860) 528-5365
This meeting is open to members as well as guests. Please drop a line and lets us know if you will attend.
Agenda:
Business meeting
Nominating committee for 2010 officers
2010 Planning
Thunderbird #5 Pilot, Samantha West with Chapter Member, Melanie Ho.
WAI CT CHAPTER ANNOUNCES ENGINEERING SCHOLARSHIP
The WAI Connecticut Chapter (WAI) is very pleased to offer the "WAI Connecticut Chapter Engineering Scholarship".
The $500 scholarship will be awarded to a woman who wishes to pursue a career in the aerospace industry in the field of Engineering. Each applicant must be a WAI member and complete the following application at this website:
http://www.wai.org/education/scholarships.cfm
Preference will be given to Connecticut residents, but all applicants will be considered based upon character, need, and accomplishments.
The award must be used for educational purposes at an accredited college or university. Applications are due by December 2009 and the winner will be announced in July 2010.
Requirements:
Meet all WAI scholarship requirements:
1. Full-time student with a GPA of 3.0 or above (on a 4.0 scale)
2. Be enrolled in an accredited Engineering program
Limitations:
Scholarship funds must be used within 1 year of receipt.
Scholarship funds must be used for tuition or books.
Questions? Please contact Elissa Johanson, WAI-CT Scholarship Committee Chair.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Nov 8th – New England Air Museum – Women Take Flight
Nov. 14th - Bus Trip– Radio City Music Hall
PAST EVENTS
CT CHAPTER ANNUAL RECEPTION - HELD SEPTEMBER 5, 2008
From CT Chapter President, Jerry Ashley:
Date: Oct. 16, 2009
Members,
Congratulations team! The annual reception was the best ever! We had terrific leadership, excellent guests, gorgeous gift baskets, and elegant gifts for the panel and an enthusiastic dedicated and professional team that made this such a successful event. We have had excellent feedback from panelists and guests.
Our next event is Women Take Flight on Nov. 8th. Caroline d’Otreppe has set aside two tables for our chapter. We will be providing an opportunity for girl scouts to accomplish tasks toward their aviation badges with a demonstration of an airfoil and making paper airplanes. We have just a few volunteers for this event, so far. So sign up and volunteer. This is really a lot of fun for everyone.
The Nov 14th trip to Radio City Music Hall is more than half full. If you or family and friends are still interested there is room on this trip. Please sign up as soon as possible.
Our next meeting is Tuesday October 27th at Lena’s Restaurant. Guests welcome!
Agenda:
Time: 5:30pm
Business meeting
Nominating committee for 2010 officers
2010 Planning
Lena's Restaurant Pizza of South Windsor
655 John Fitch Boulevard
South Windsor, CT 06074
Tel: (860) 528-5365
WATCH FOR PHOTOS SOON!
Check our the new CHAPTER LOGO!
2009 MEETING SCHEDULE
Future Meetings will be monthly Combining Board and Members Meetings into one.
Any suggestions or ideas for the board members to consider should be voiced at the member meetings or they can be emailed to any of the board members at any time. We are open to suggestions and ideas to help promote our association and women in aviation.
WHO WE ARE....
We are a chapter of Women in Aviation, International (WAI), a nonprofit organization that encourages and offers programs for the advancement of women and young people in all aviation career fields and interests. The WAI-CT Chapter was granted provisional status with a total of 10 members in February 2007 and official status in June 2007. We are now registered with the IRS and have our 501(c) status under WAI's Group Tax Exemption.
Our Connecticut Chapter provides networking at regularly scheduled meetings, programs that include local speakers and tours of aviation facilities, community outreach efforts to encourage young women to pursue aviation careers and scholarship opportunities.
Our common goal is to combine our efforts to create a new platform to encourage, support and promote the world of aviation for our fellow employees and community members through education, exposure and networking. In addition, our chapter creates a positive business relationship between employees, companies, customers and the community.
Scholarship awards are a major part of what Women in Aviation is all about. The WAI-CT Chapter is raising funds to award scholarships to young women interested in an aviation or aerospace career. More information to be provided at a future date regarding the application process.
Membership is available to anyone in the community with an interest in aviation, including students of all ages. Our chapter is comprised of members with aviation industry careers and are employees of Pratt & Whitney, United Technologies Research Center, International Aero Engines, Hamilton Sundstrand, Sikorsky, and the FAA. Our members bring an invaluable wealth of knowledge to share with and encourage our younger generation to pursue aviation career fields and interests.
TO JOIN OUR CHAPTER
In order to join the Connecticut Chapter, you must first become a member of Women in Aviation, International. Click on the link provided in the left-hand column for information and registration or go to www.wai.org. We can process your membership for WAI International when you join our chapter. Membership dues for WAI International are $39/year and membership dues for the CT Chapter is $10/year. If you are already a member of International, the cost is only the $10 membership for our chapter.
If you would like additional information, an email to this website (bottom right of this page) will go directly to the someone that can answer your questions.
VISION STATEMENT
Become a valuable part of a unique and dynamic organization which strives to promote women's accomplishments in aviation and aerospace.
Provide an awareness of the tremendous resources WAI and our new chapter have to offer women in our industry and in our community.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Provide a local platform dedicated to the encouragement and advancement of women in technical positions including all aviation career fields and interests.
We offer education outreach programs to employees, aviation industry members, educators, and young people within our community.
WOMEN IN AVIATION, CT CHAPTER'S YOUNGEST MEMBER, KATIE WEGENER
We are very excited and proud to introduce the youngest member to our Connecticut Chapter. Katie will be in the 6th grade next year. She is a very good student, a member of QUEST and loves Science and Math. She is thinking about becoming an engineer.
Katie is also a very good athlete and competes on a USA Swim team. Her favorite strokes are the Breast, the Free and the Butterfly. She is one of the top swimmers on her team. She works out 4 nights a week. Right now, they are in their "Long Course" season, where they will compete until end of July, take the month of August off, and then start on "Short Course" in September. She was one of the best athletes in her elementary school and competed in the mile run at the West Hartford Cross Country Field Day in June 2007.
Katie plays the French Horn. She was in the Inter-Elementary School Band, which included students who were chosen from 11 elementary schools to perform at the Bushnell Theatre in May.
Katie is also learning to fly. Katie’s father is a CFI (Certified Flight Instructor) and her family owns a 1950 Cessna 170A that is kept at Brainard Airport in Hartford. She is doing well with learning to fly the airplane. Katie (along with her dad) has flown to Long Island, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard and western Pennsylvania. Her favorite place to fly is to Katama Airport on Martha's Vineyard to have breakfast and go swimming at the beach.
Katie is looking forward to becoming more involved with the Women in Aviation Organization and the Connecticut Chapter is very pleased to welcome Katie as our youngest member!
COMMITTEES
Looking for members to volunteer as Chair per event rather than entire committee. This will allow members to participate in any committee without the pressure of having to chair or lead the committee for the entire year. Please contact any board member if you are interested in participating.The Connecticut Chapter of Women in Aviation International (WAI) hosted its second annual reception at the New England Air Museum on Sept. 5 with more than 50 people in attendance. Pratt & Whitney was a sponsor of the event.
Betty Huck, Chapter Relations Manager of Women in Aviation International, attended the reception. During the day, Huck had the opportunity to tour the P&W Customer Training Center. The Customer Training Center annually awards scholarships through the Women in Aviation.
This year’s guest speaker was Air Force Maj. Samantha Weeks, the No. 5 lead solo for the United States Air Force Thunderbirds. Maj. Weeks spoke of knowing at the age of six that flying was her calling. She achieved her goal through the Air Force Academy.
Maj. Weeks’ recipe for success is, “Know your dreams. Be dedicated and driven. Work hard and don’t let roadblocks stop you.”
After a question and answer session, Maj. Weeks presented Connecticut Chapter Member (and Pratt & Whitney employee) Meredithe Moore with a signed commemorative photo from the Thunderbirds to the Connecticut Chapter of WAI.
The reception preceded the New England Air Show at Westover Air Reserve Base on Sept. 6-7. The Thunderbirds demonstration team thrilled and inspired the crowd while Maj. Weeks, the first woman to fly a solo position with the Thunderbirds, performed the famous No. 5 inverted maneuvers.
Women in Aviation provides an excellent opportunity to network with other women in the aviation industry. Activities include community outreach programs and fundraisers to support the WAI Connecticut Chapter Scholarship Fund.
The CT Chapter played a big role at this benefit for The Hole In The Wall Gang Camp. Ten of our members helped throughout the day helping build rockets for the children to "propel into space", assisting with the magic show, and any other duties assigned to us. All in all, it was a picture-perfect day and a great time was had by all!
CT Chapter Junior Member, Katie Wegener helping build a rocket. Note that she is wearing a red WAI shirt.
Future member of the CT Chapter.
CT Chapter members Meredithe Moore and Melaine Ho.
It was all about the kids and they all had a great time!
CT Chapter members Fran Gudelski, Katie Wegener, and new member, Keilani Hughes.
Magician and helper from the audience
Magician and helper from the audience
Building rockets is serious stuff!
Future member of the CT Chapter
At the magic show. Do you think he was having a good time? 
CT Chapter Members Meredithe Moore and Keilani Hughes helping build rockets. 
Everyone loved the magician 
Even the adults enjoyed the magic show! 
The chance to see their rockets take off!
Future member of WAI CT Chapter
CT Chapter Secretary Melaine Ho explaining the process to a couple of future aviators.
Every rocket was decorated before going out to the launch pad to test it.
Kids just kept pouring in. It was a never-ending line!
This year's conference began with WAI Military Day which included a tour of Naval Air Station-North Island followed by a tour of aircraft carrier, USS Midway. Upon arrival at North Island, we were given the option of touring the aircraft static displays and talking with the pilots and maintenance personnel or touring the Flight Readiness Center (FRC), where damaged rotary wing and fixed wing aircraft are rebuilt and put back into service, saving our military millions of dollars.
While touring aircraft carrier USS Midway, we were honored to meet Mary Ann Eiff, one of many women mechanics that kept the engines in service during World War II.
The CT Chapter raised money gift wrapping at the Casino of the Sky.
Three young women were selected from participants in the New England Air Museum’s annual "Women Take Flight, Past and Present" presented by the New England Air Museum in collaboration with the NinetyNines on November 4, 2007.
Supported by the Experimental Aircraft Association, New England Air Museum, the 99s, and the FAA, these women took advantage of beautiful Fall weather in New England and grabbed hold of the controls of the Piper PA-28-180 and launched their dreams of flying.
Experimental Aircraft Association Member, Marilyn Pearson, an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector and member of the 99s and WAI-CT Chapter, took eleven year-old Jasmine Ichpas for her first flight in a light airplane. Jasmine is participating in a CT Pre-Engineering Program (CPEP) and hopes to learn to fly soon.
Deanna Speziale, another eleven year-old beamed after her flight, hoping to combine flying and engineering in her future.
Seventeen year-old Liz Marrero overcame nerves and piloted the airplane, making her Jr. ROTC leader very proud. Liz hopes to attend Tufts University, and study to become a Veterinarian and Pilot.
Presented at the New England Air Museum in collaboration with the NinetyNines.
We hosted our first event at the Pratt & Whitney Hangar Museum in East Hartford, CT with more than 70 people in attendance.
The highlights of the East Hartford event included guest speaker Dr. Peggy Chabrian, WAI founder and president, who spoke about the history of WAI and how it was formed. Eleven-year-old Katie Wegener, our youngest member, spoke about her experiences and Girl Scout Aviation patches were presented to Vernon Girl Scout Troop 10735.
Visitors from Flight Support, Inc., Wings of Eagles, Air Jamaica, and the Matos Group joined representatives from across UTC which included Sikorsky, Hamilton Sundstrand, Carrier Corporation, United Technologies Research Center and Pratt & Whitney. Other organizations in attendance were The Ninety-Nines, Inc., International Organization of Women Pilots, Vernon Girl Scout Troup 10735, AOPA, East Hartford High School and the New England Air Museum.
Wednesday’s event preceded the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Expo which was held at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford on October 4-6. Among the sixty exhibitors at the expo were members of WAI International.
On this beautiful Sunday afternoon, WAI members helped Pratt & Whitney employee volunteers assemble and fill 850 goody-bags with water bottles, playing cards, book lights, stationery, and baseball hats that were donated by Pratt & Whitney for incoming summer campers.
Each summer more than 1,000 children between the ages of seven and fifteen from across the country and abroad attend The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp free of charge. This camp offers an outdoor experience of the highest quality for children with cancer and other serious illnesses, while extending year-round support to their families and health care providers.
MARCH 13-15, 2008
19TH ANNUAL WAI CONFERENCE, SAN DIEGO, CA
WAI International Founding Board Member, Mary Ann Eiff, in front of a Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double WASP engine during tour of the USS Midway.
CT Chapter Member, Meredithe Moore, had an opportunity to sit in the cockpit of an F-18 during tour of the Flight Readiness Center,North Island.
CT Chapter Member, Mary Anne Cannon with Amy Klein, USCG, Aviation Maintenance Technician - Recipient of P&W Line & Maintenance Scholarship.
CT Chapter Members Elissa Johanson, Cindy Vivolo, Daisy Diaz, and Beth Matonak at the CT Chapter Booth.
CT Chapter President, Jerry Ashley, won the silent auction to go for a ride with Aerobatic Air Show Pilot, Julie Clark, on her T-34 Mentor. Julie, who retired from Northwest Airlines after 27 years as captain on the Airbus A-320, was Hughes Air West Airline's first female pilot. To read more about her interesting career, click on her name in the links section on the left-hand column.
CT Chapter Member, Jerry Ashley, about to take off for her airplane ride with Julie Clark.
Yep! Julie took no mercy on Jerry! There they go....
Taken after landing. Jerry appears to have a little less color but she is still smiling!
Aerobatic Air Show Pilot, Julie Clark and CT Chapter Member, Jerry Ashley.
CT Chapter Members Cindy Vivolo and Patty Harmon with Chuck Yeager.
WAI INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
The CT Chapter was recognized at the WAI Annual Membership Meeting since this is our first year as an official chapter (last year we were a provisional chapter). Other topics covered at this meeting were the endowment update, special presentation of the ten year anniversary of the magazine, some scholarship awards presentations, and election of the officers. Everyone in attendance was given a commemorative poster with all the WAI magazine covers for the past ten years.
CT Chapter Members Cindy Vivolo, Daisy Diaz, Meredithe Moore, and Jerry Ashley at the International Chapter Meeting.
CT CHAPTER MEMBERS AT CHAPTER SOCIAL
CT Chapter Members Cindy Vivolo, Meredithe Moore, Fran Gudelski, and Daisy Diaz poolside (and it was soooo cold!)
DECEMBER 23,2007
GIFT WRAPPING FUNDRAISER AT MOHEGAN SUN
NOVEMBER 17-18, 2007
YOUNG EAGLES TAKE FLIGHT 
Deanna Speziale (left) and FAA Aviation Safety Inspector and Pilot, Marilyn Pearson 
Deanna Speziale enjoying her first flight
NOVEMBER 4, 2007
"WOMEN TAKE FLIGHT, PAST AND PRESENT"
CT Chapter Members Patty Harmon, Melaine Ho, Ida Gall, and Jerry Ashley.
CT Chapter Members Fran Gudelski, Beth Matonak, Melaine Ho, Ida Gall, Jerry Ashley, and Junior Member Katie Wegener in front.
OCTOBER 3, 2007
RECEPTION AT THE PRATT & WHITNEY HANGAR, EAST HARTFORD, CT.
Guest speaker Dr. Peggy Chabrian, Founder of WAI. 
Dr. Peggy with some of our chapter members.
Eileen Drake with some of our chapter members.
Our Student Member, Katie Wegener (center) and proud parents.
Girl Scouts are all smiles after receiving their aviation badges.
Girl Scout and mom after receiving aviation badge.
Audience as they listened to Dr. Peggy Chabrain, President WAI.
Attendees at the October 3 reception.
WAI President Dr. Peggy Chabrian talks to CT Chapter Members Alissa Johanson, Ida Gall, and Melaine Ho.
CT Chapter Members Becca Hamel, Melaine Ho, Rose Anthony, and Beth Matonak.
AUGUST 16, 2007
FUNDRAISING YARD SALE HELD IN EAST HARTFORD, CT
JUNE 24, 2007
VOLUNTEER DAY AT EAST HARTFORD HOLE IN THE WALL GANG CAMP
CT Chapter Members at the Hole In The Wall Gang Camp.
