Outdoor Industries Womens Coalition will launch a pilot chapter in the greater Washington D.C. area. OIWC has recently developed a model that enables women to create and maintain regional OIWC chapters throughout the country.
“The premise behind regional OIWC chapters is to provide our members the ability to continue building on the momentum generated at our trade show events,” stated OIWC Director Sally Grimes. “We believe localized activity is empowerment. Now our members can take what theyve learned through our professional development seminars and discussions and apply it to their community.”
At the recent D.C. gathering, OIWC Outreach Committee Volunteer Risa Shimoda invited members Elizabeth Preston of The Bicycle League of America, Mary Jo Tarallo of SIA, Angie Perez and Karen Kreamer of REI, to simply gather. “We are planning to develop our chapter organically, growing a base of participants before we employ the structure required to become an official chapter, according to OIWC guidelines. Well get there when we grow our group to a level that is sustainable, with a strategy for maintaining a club that will truly serve women in the Mid-Atlantic Region for years to come,” stated Shimoda.
If you live in the Metro Washington D.C. area and are interested in joining this chapter, you can receive additional information by contacting Shimoda, risa@theshimodagroup.com.
