Women's Program Newsletter

WOMEN IN TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE 

The first Women in Technology Conference will be held on Saturday, April 21st from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Lane Community College's main campus. This one-day conference will acquaint women with many of the opportunities available in high tech industries. It is targeted for high school and college students as well as women retraining and/or returning to the work force. 

There will be three workshop sessions during the day. Each session will offer a variety of workshops from which to choose. Many will include hands-on experience such as building computers, wiring electrical circuits, testing electrical output, developing web pages, creating a drafting project with auto cad, and using technology in multi-media. 

Other workshops will involve panel presentations of women working in various high tech careers, employers addressing their needs for workers, information on educational and training opportunities, confronting math anxiety, and a session on the job outlook for high tech careers in Eugene and Oregon. 

In addition to the workshops, there will be information booths open from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. At these booths, employers will offer insight about employment needs and training opportunities in their companies, while educational institutions will share information about their programs. The conference will end at 2:30 p.m. with drawings for a number of door prizes. 

The daylong conference features free admission and free lunch as well as free childcare for children 2 1/2 (and out of diapers) to 10 years old.In addition, ASL and Spanish interpretation will be available. For these services, preregistration by April 18th is required. 

When asked why the Women's Program is sponsoring this event, Director Kate Barry responded, "The employment outlook involving technical careers in Oregon is very positive. In particular, information technology is growing rapidly. This trend will continue, and there is a lack of trained people to fill current vacancies. Women often overlook these careers, which offer high wages and job stability. We want to help women expand their employment options." 

According to Donna "LaRosa" Rose, ACCESS Advisor for the Women's Program and conference organizer, "High tech occupations are often viewed as non-traditional for women. However, since the industry is relatively new, it is a good time for women to become involved while there are less entrenched attitudes about these being male-dominated fields." 

Helping the Women's Program put on this conference are the following major cosponsors: Lane's Office of Instruction, the Computer Information Technology, Advanced Technologies, and Cooperative Education Depart-ments, and the Springfield School District. 

Flyers and posters about the event will be posted at area high schools, the LCC Women's Center and in the community. Information and regi-stration is also posted on the Women's Program web site. A Spanish version of the flyer is also available. To register, or for more information, call the Women's Center at 463-5353 or go to the Women's Program page (under College Departments) at the Lane web site: 2011sitearchive.lanecc.edu. 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS 

BROWN BAG TALKS are sponsored by the Women's Program to provide information on a diverse range of topics. These talks are free to everyone and are held in the Board Room of the Administration Building (Bldg. 2) on the main campus. For further information, please call 463-5796. Bring a lunch and join us for the following two discussions: 

"GETTING IT RIGHT: UNDERSTANDING FEMININE LIFECYCLES" Thursday, April 12 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Do you ever feel like you've just about figured out what you want, and then it changes? Or like everyone else is making progress except you? Or that you are somehow out of synch with what you are "supposed to be doing" in your life? Based on the book by Joan Borysenko, A Woman's Book of Life - the Biology, Psychology and Spirituality of the Feminine Life Cycle, Debora Landforce will present information and facilitate a discussion about our lives. Debora is a local counselor and one of the Transitions to Success instructors. 

"RIGHTS, RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY: A NEW APPROACH TO SEX EDUCATION" Tuesday, May 22 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Mary Gossart, Director of Education and Training at Planned Parenthood, will discuss the European educational approach to adolescent sexuality that has proven so successful in keeping teen pregnancy, abortion rates and the incidence of sexually transmitted infections among youth so much lower than in the U.S. A coalition of state and local organizations is hoping to implement this initiative here in Oregon. Come learn more about why this initiative is provoking so much discussion among educators, parents, and youth. 

SOROPTIMIST GARAGE SALE Saturday, April 7 Soroptimist of Springfield is having a garage sale Saturday, April 7 starting at 9:00 a.m. Proceeds from this fundraiser go to the Transitions to Success program. This annual event has helped to support the bus pass program TTS has with LTD, as well as the TTS graduation ceremony that happens each term. 

If you have items you would like to donate, Betty is receiving goods on April 6 and the morning of April 7. Her address is 2529 Debra Drive (off Hayden Bridge Road, almost directly across from Page School.) Everything from computers to clothes, books to typewriters, knick-knacks to school supplies is welcome. This is a high-end garage sale, with some great items donated. 

Show up and support our fabulous TTS women on April 7 and have some fun while you're at it! 

WOMEN STARTING COLLEGE WORKSHOP Thursday, May 3 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Women's Center Center Bldg. Room 213 This free workshop is for women who are anxious or unsure about starting school, and balancing school, family and work. Learn about support, resources and programs. For infor-mation or to preregister, call the Women's Center at 463-5353. 

TRANSITIONS TO SUCCESS GRADUATION June 14, 5:30 - 7:30 pm Cafeteria, Main Campus The Transitions To Success program will hold its graduation ceremony for all three spring term TTS classes on June 14. This is a fun and inspirational event that offers friends and family an opportunity to join the TTS students in celebrating their accomplishments and goals. Everyone is welcome. 

WOMEN'S CENTER HOURS  - Spring 2001
Spring: 
Monday, 8 am-3 pm & 4-5 pm 
Tuesday, 8 am-6:30 pm 
Wednesday, 8 am-5 pm 
Thursday, 8 am-6:30 pm 
Friday, 8 am-4 pm 

Summer: 
Monday, 9 am-4 pm 
Tuesday, 9 am-4 pm 
Wednesday, 9 am-6:30 pm 
Thursday, 9 am-4 pm 
Friday, 9 am-4 pm 

The Women's Center is a resource and referral center available to campus and community members. For more infor-mation about the services available, contact the Women's Center at 463-5353 or come by Center Bldg. room 213, Main Campus (until mid-June, when The Women's Center moves to the Student Services Building, 2nd floor. 

WOMEN'S OPPORTUNITY AWARD GIVEN TO RHONDA SCHEUMACK 

This year's Soroptimist International of Springfield Women's Opportunity Award was given to Rhonda Scheumack. Rhonda quit school in the ninth grade and later went back to earn her G.E.D. Starting with the Transitions to Success program at Lane in 1997, Rhonda returned to school to get an Associates Degree in Nursing. Rhonda currently works part-time in the Women's Program at Lane. She is a powerful woman who has overcome many challenges in her lifetime. Rhonda is the mother of four, with her youngest daughter, Lasha, still at home. She is a dedicated student, committed to improving the quality of her life through education. Congratulations, Rhonda, for making your dreams come true! 

3RD ANNUAL TTS BOWL-A-THON ROCKS! 

The Southtowne alleys were rockin' on March 10th when the 3rd annual TTS Bowl-a-Thon took place. It started off with a BANG when the Counseling Department team (a.k.a. the "Gutter Grannies", who lived up to their name in more ways than one!) arrived first in full costume ready to take on their rival teams from Facilities (the Rainbow Raiders), College Finance & Students First! (the Pin Heads), and the Women's Program. There were 20 people on the alleys bowling their hearts out with supporters watching and offering fine advice. Charleen Maclean of the Women's Program organizes this event each year with great prizes for the most pledges and best costume. The money raised goes to serve the needs of our TTS students, many of whom are single parents with limited resources. Total pledges this year amounted to more than $3,400. The Rainbow Raiders won 1st prize for the most pledges, Gutter Grannies for the best costume … but were they really in costume? Stop by the Women's Center and see for yourself. The photos are up … you be the judge! Individual winners for most pledges went first to LaRosa, and second to Miriam Jordan. Good work! Maclean's goal is for all of the departments at Lane, as well as community agencies to participate by creating teams to bowl in this event. In addition, friends and family are also welcome to participate. So, start thinking now about putting together a team for next year's TTS Bowl-a-Thon. 

SALLY NELSON RECEIVES BI-MART SCHOLARSHIP 

After 30 years of marriage, staying home and raising her child, Sally Nelson divorced and found herself wondering what to do next. Spring 1999 she entered the Transitions to Success program. That summer, she enrolled in a computer programming class to see what it was all about and enrolled full-time as a programming major the following fall. Sally has now been awarded one of two Bi-Mart scholarships for Computer Information Technology majors. This is a $1,000 merit-based scholarship to be divided between winter and spring terms 2001. "It has been fun to be back in school after many decades, to learn that I still can learn, and to do something that uses a totally different part of my mind and requires new skills. Before enrolling at LCC, I used computers only for email, minimal word processing, and entering my birding sightings into a database." "I was thrilled to be selected for one of the awards, not only for the money but for the encouragement that people think I have potential to "make it" in the field I have chosen for my second life. Finding TTS at a time when survival seemed to be the issue, let alone success, was one of the best things that could have happened to me. I am still transitioning, and although there are the usual uncertainties about my abilities to find and do well at a job, I feel ready to move on into this phase. Thank you TTS!!!" 

WOMEN'S PROGRAM SCHOLARSHIPS 

The Women's Program is offering two $500 scholarships for the 2001/2002 academic year. Applications can be picked up in the Women's Center and are due July 20, 2001. The Paschelke Scholarship is awarded to single mother students with financial need who will be second-year students and have a GPA of 3.0 or better. Criteria for the Barr/Kaib Transitions to Success Scholarship are the same except that applicants must also be current or past students in the Transitions to Success program. Call the Women's Center at 463-5353 for more information. 

WOMEN'S PROGRAM STAFF 

Kate Barry Program Director 
Patsy Raney Administrative Specialist 
Jill Bradley Women's Center Coordinator 
Charleen Maclean Transitions Coordinator 
Cara DiMarco Transitions Instructor/Counselor 
Marge Barnhart Transitions Advisor 
Sharon Braaten Transitions Office Specialist 
Linda Gonzalves Transitions Instructor 
Debora Landforce Transitions Instructor 
Donna (LaRosa) Rose ACCESS Advisor 

Spring 2001 Calendar 

April 7, Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 4 p.m. Soroptimist Garage Sale 

April 12, Thursday 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Brown Bag - "Getting it Right" - Debora Landforce 

May 3, Thursday 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Women Starting College Workshop 

May 22, Tuesday 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Brown Bag - "Rights, Respect, Responsibility: A New Approach to Sex Education" - Mary Gossart 

June 14, Thursday 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. TTS Graduation - Cafeteria, Main Campus 

July 20, Friday by 4:00 p.m. Women's Program Scholarship deadline 

For more information about any of these events, contact the Women's Center at 463-5353 or drop by Center Building 213, Main Campus. 

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