WAAD Elections Information

Elections for the WAAD governing board are approaching, and to be sure our membership is informed about each open position, below are the descriptions for:  President; Vice President for Membership; Vice President for Communications; Vice President for Programs; Treasurer, Secretary and Regional Representative. 

Please read and consider offering your talents to the governing board.  We need enthusiastic, capable and dynamic members to help WAAD enter the next phase of its development as a vibrant and responsive organization.  If you would like additional information, or to nominate yourself or another WAAD member, please comment below, or contact Nominating Committee Chair Ruth Goins (ruthgoinsAThotmail.com). 

Position Description: President 

The President serves as a member and the executive officer of the WAAD governing board.   

The President will: 

• Be elected by the national WAAD membership to a three-year term 
• Provide leadership to the national organization and governing board, guiding the organization’s development as an active network and resource for WAAD members 
• Lead the governing board’s articulation of organizational goals, outcomes and standards of accountability 
• Call and preside over meetings of the WAAD membership and governing board 
• Appoint, in consultation with the governing board, chairs of all committees 
• Serve as an ex officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee 
• Serve as the primary liaison between WAAD and the Wellesley College Alumnae Association,  College and student organizations 
• Be responsible for the preparation and submission of WAAD’s annual report to WCAA 
• Provide leadership for organizational fund development 

 

The President should: 

• Have enthusiasm for WAAD’s purpose and vision 
• Be interested in, and committed, to building an organization 
• Be a strong leader and team builder 
• Have experience with leadership in volunteer-directed organizations 
• Have familiarity with the structure and services of the Alumnae Association 

 

 

 

Position Description: Vice President for Membership 

 

The Vice President for Membership serves as a member and officer of WAAD’s governing board. 

 

The VP/Membership will: 

• Be elected by the national WAAD membership to a three-year term 
• Have responsibility for promoting and enhancing membership in WAAD 
• Work with the Wellesley College Alumnae Association (WCAA) to track WAAD membership 
• Develop and coordinate, with the Vice President for Programs and with Regional Representatives, creative strategies for cultivating the active engagement of the WAAD membership 
• Manage the development and maintenance of a comprehensive networking resource of active members 
• Explore, and as appropriate, propose member benefits  
• Develop and maintain a volunteer database for committee and board recruitment 
• Coordinate internal efforts to build and perpetuate a governing board that provides effective leadership to WAAD over time 
• Prepare and submit to the President an annual report of activities for inclusion in a report to WCAA 

 

The VP/Membership should: 

• Have enthusiasm for WAAD’s purpose and vision 
• Be an effective collaborator 
• Be a creative thinker and possess an entrepreneurial spirit 
• Have experience with nonprofit boards of directors 

 

Position Description: Vice President for Communications 

 

The Vice President for Communications serves as a member and officer of WAAD’s governing board. 

 

The VP/Communications will: 

• Be elected by the national WAAD membership to a three-year term 
• Coordinate the collection and dissemination of news and information – about WAAD and its members, the College, Wellesley College Alumni Association (WCAA) and relevant campus activities – of interest to the WAAD membership  
• Oversee and monitor the continued development of WAAD’s blog and use of social networking tools 
• Coordinate, with other officers and regional representatives, regular publication and  distribution of WAAD’s official communication 
• Manage the development and execution of organizational communications in electronic and other forms 
• Work with WCAA and the College to maintain accurate and up-to-date mailing lists – both electronic and postal – for all WAAD members 
• Have primary responsibility for guiding the public ‘brand image’ of WAAD 

The VP/Communications will: 

• Have enthusiasm for WAAD’s purpose and vision 
• Have the ability to guide a multi-platform communications effort that serves the diversity of WAAD alumnae 
• Be a creative leader, able to lead on both process and content 
• Be an effective collaborator and volunteer manager 

 

 

Position Description: Vice President for Programs 

 

The Vice President for Programs serves as a member and officer of the WAAD governing board. 

The VP/Programs will: 

• Be elected by the national WAAD membership to a three-year term 
• Provide national leadership for the development of creative program activities 
• Collaborate with, and support, Regional Representatives to effectively execute programs and activities 
• Coordinate communication among the Regional Representatives  
• Work with the VP/Communications to ensure members’ access to current information about WAAD’s activities 
• Develop and maintain relationships with the Wellesley College Alumnae Association (WCAA), College and campus organizations to facilitate programming that responds to member interests 
• Coordinate with other volunteers to execute national programming (e.g., campus-based programs, e-seminars) 
• Prepare and submit to the President an annual report of activities for inclusion in a report to WCAA 
• Fulfill the duties of the President in her absence 

The VP/Programs should: 

• Have enthusiasm for WAAD’s purpose and vision 
• Be a creative thinker and possess an entrepreneurial spirit 
• Have strong skills as both a leader and collaborator 
• Have strong organizational skills 
• Have an awareness of the structure and activities of WCAA clubs 

 

 

Position Description: Treasurer 

 

The Treasurer serves as a member and officer of WAAD’s governing board. 

The Treasurer will: 

• Be elected by the national WAAD members to a three-year term 
• Have primary responsibility for WAAD’s financial recordkeeping and reporting 
• Develop and manage, with the President and other officers, an annual organizational budget 
• Work to establish and document (with guidance and support from the Wellesley College Alumnae Association) WAAD’s practices re: bank accounts, investments, gifts and, as appropriate, dues and fundraising efforts 
• Maintain transparency in WAAD’s operations through periodic reporting to the WAAD governing board and membership 
• Prepare annual financial statements for WAAD’s submission to WCAA 
• File tax statements as required by the IRS and Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
• Establish and manage a system for timely bill payment 

 

The Treasurer should: 

• Have enthusiasm for WAAD’s purpose and vision 
• Have experience with organizational financial management 
• Have familiarity with nonprofit accounting practices 
• Have strong organizational and time management skills 
• Have the ability to see the big picture and manage significant detail 
• Have a talent for sharing financial data with others 
• Have a vision for creative fundraising/revenue-generating strategies 

 

Position Description: Secretary 

 

The Secretary serves as a member and officer of WAAD’s governing board. 

The Secretary will: 

• Be elected by the national WAAD membership to a three-year term 
• Manage, with the Nominating Committee, WAAD’s process of electing governing board members and officers 
• Be responsible for ensuring all meetings of the governing board and membership are documented and maintaining all such records 
• Work with the President to oversee the board’s internal communications 
• Establish a system for capturing and maintaining all official organizational communication 
• Work with the WAAD Archivist to establish consistent retention, maintenance and transfer of WAAD records 
• Prepare an annual report of office activities and assist President in compiling and preparing WAAD’s annual report to the Wellesley College Alumnae Association  

 

The Secretary should: 

• Have enthusiasm for WAAD’s purpose and vision 
• Have strong recordkeeping skills 
• Be committed to producing minutes and other records in a manner that facilitates organizational effectiveness 

 

Position Description: Regional Representative 

 

Regional representatives will serve as members of WAAD’s governing board. 

Each regional representative will: 

• Be elected by WAAD members in a defined geographic region for a three-year term 
• Coordinate with the Vice President of Membership and Vice President of Communications to promote alumnae engagement in WAAD and its activities 
• Establish a regional executive committee in order to engage alumnae in identifying, planning and executing programs and activities at the regional level 
• Facilitate communication between WAAD members in the region 
• Maintain a system of communication with members in the region to provide feedback to the national organization through the VP of Communications and at meetings of the Board 
• Serve as a full, active member of the WAAD governing board, ensuring that, among other responsibilities, the interests of her regional members are represented at the national level 
• Serve as a liaison between WAAD and local Wellesley College Alumnae Association (WCAA)  Clubs, facilitating communication between WAAD and WCAA clubs and others in the region 
• Submit to the President an annual report on the region’s activities for inclusion in a report to WCAA 

A regional representative should: 

• Have enthusiasm for WAAD’s purpose and vision 
• Possess an entrepreneurial instinct 
• Be prepared to innovate, through consultation with other regional representatives, WADD  governing board members and local WCAA club leadership, to create opportunities for alumnae to connect with each other 
• Enjoy communicating with a range of stakeholders and partners 
• Have an understanding of her region 
• Be willing to both lead and collaborate 

 

 

 

The WAAD Griot

Have you seen our new newsletter: The WAAD Griot?  It was sent via email in December to all WAAD members.  If you didn't receive it, or you're unsure whether your email address is current, visit the Wellesley Alumnae website and update your information here. 

Below are some excerpts from our first issue:

Why "Griot"?

We chose the name "griot" for our newsletter because of its meaning in West African culture. The griot legacy stretches back for hundreds of years, as the person who carries the cultural knowledge and identity of the people. The griot is a chronicler of history—keeping track of the history and developments of the people throughout time, and guarding the knowledge of the people. We hope the WAAD Griot will become the chronicle of our collective history as alumnae of African descent of Wellesley College.

President’s Message from Patricia Mell ’75

 

Greetings, members of Wellesley Alumnae of African Descent (WAAD—pronounced WADE)! As our second year comes to a close, I am very pleased to share with you in this, our first newsletter, some of the steps WAAD has achieved as it journeys to become a rich resource for you at each stage of your life.

Since our inception, your first Board has had as its primary purpose, the creation of an organizational framework that would support and advance the interests expressed by WAAD members. Those interests were: recruitment and admission; networking – social and business; mentoring; and interaction with current Wellesley students of African descent. We are working on all of these fronts, and have accomplished the following: held two WAAD Worldwide events (in 2011 and 2012) around the country, attended by hundreds of WAAD members, welcomed the classes of 2011 and 2012 into WAAD with gifts, and established a presence at Alumnae Leadership Council and with the College. To enhance communication among our members, we now have a blog, and we’re on Facebook. We have also developed the beginnings of a mentor-mentee program. And, to show our WAAD pride, we now have fabulous merchandise with the WAAD logo. On the financial side, we have established a PayPal account to facilitate purchases and contributions, and we’ve filed our Form 990 with IRS – yes, we are a real organization now.

Despite these accomplishments however, WAAD has a great deal of work ahead. As indicated by its new President, Karen Williamson ’69, the WCAA has pledged to assist WAAD to the extent that it can, but the reality is this: the lion’s share of the work of making WAAD into a vibrant and self-sustaining organization lies with each WAAD member.

Our journey towards this WAAD will be successful with your participation in the next building blocks of the organization. These building blocks are as follows

Regional Executive Committees. These committees will coordinate admissions and networking events at the local level, and will provide WAAD members with the materials/information necessary to do so effectively. There will be an organizational meeting for each region in the upcoming weeks. Check the master calendar for the date or contact your Regional Director.

Creation of varied, but regular information flow to WAAD members. This newsletter is a first step. What other forms of communication should we use to most effectively reach you? What would you like to share? Contact VP Communications, Michelle Davis Petelinz ’78, if you are interested in any of these projects.

Creation of a national WAAD networking forum/directory. Many WAAD members are in business, and as a benefit of membership, we would like to develop a WAAD B2B Directory. If you have an expertise in or interest in the creation of this or have other ideas, contact VP Membership Angela Norton Tyler. There will be an information gathering meeting in the upcoming weeks.

Your participation on the newly created Fund Development Committee or Budget Committee. The goal of these committees is to ensure that WAAD has adequate resources to support its strategic priorities at all levels. If you have experience in either arena, contact Treasurer, Novella Brady.

Creation of a post for an archivist. We would like to create an oral history of alumnae of African descent at Wellesley and to otherwise preserve a record of WAAD. If you have expertise in setting up an archive, please contact, WAAD President, Patricia Mell ’75.
Make regular financial contributions to WAAD. These projects and the establishment of WAAD as a self-supporting institution can only be accomplished by your contributions. $10 each month would go a long way toward WAAD achieving its goals in support of you. Our PayPal account makes this very easy to do.

In her interview for this newsletter, WCAA President Karen Williamson ’69 spoke of the treasure she has in the friendships she made at Wellesley. Perhaps this is the best gift the WCAA has given us in its support for WAAD’s creation. With WAAD, we have the opportunity to develop, nurture, renew, and cherish the personal relationships and support of each other as a unique group of peers, women of African descent who attended Wellesley College. What we make of this opportunity is entirely up to each one of us. Please accept my invitation to each one of you to step up and reach out. Participate. There are a number of ways to do so.

On behalf of the WAAD Board, I thank you in advance for your participation and for the fostering, strengthening, and broadening of friendships which is WAAD’s purpose.

Sincerely,

Patricia Mell '75, WAAD President

GIVE TO WAAD

To become the self-sustaining, vibrant organization we all want, WAAD Members are encouraged to contribute financially to our success. Below are suggested giving categories and guidelines. Please note these are guidelines only; please give what you can, as often as you can. Your donations support our efforts to build stronger connections to one another. WAAD is a 501(c) (3) organization and your contributions are tax-deductible in accordance with applicable law.

 

Sisterly Circle / New Alumna
Description: Wellesley students who’ve graduated in the most recent class
Suggested contribution: $5

 

Supportive Circle / Young Alumna
Description: Wellesley alumnae prior to their first Reunion
Suggested contribution: $15

 

Sustaining Circle / Regular Member
Description: Alumnae of Wellesley College
Suggested contribution: $25

 

Benefactor Circle / Enterprising Member
Description: Alumnae who are in business and would like to share their services with the Wellesley community
Suggested contribution: $50

 

Visionary Circle
Description: Alumnae who wish to give at the highest levels
Suggested contribution: $100 and up

Options for payment are as follows:

 Credit Card
– Via the ‘DONATE’ button/PayPal link on the WCAA website:

http://www.wellesley.edu/Alum/Groups/WAAD/index.html

Check
– Please make checks payable to ‘WAAD’; checks can be mailed to:

WAAD, P.O. Box 1059, Beltsville, MD 20704
Please direct questions to WAAD Treasurer Novella Brady ’98 (cell: 443-858-1622 or email: novella.brady@gmail.com)

 

SAVE THE DATE: March 3, 2013

 

For our third annual WAAD WORLDWIDE celebrations across the country.

Send your ideas, contacts, or information for the Board’s planning committee, to

Cheryl Holland, kyraali@gmail.com.

"Back in the Day" photo



Ethos Choir
Winter, 1974

 How many of these smiling singers can you name? (click to enlarge the photo for better viewing and identifying)

Wow, we were so young, then!

Do you have a "Back in the Day" photo you'd like to share here?  If so, please send via email to Michelle:  cmdavispATgmail.com.  Please include names and classes if available. 

Thanks!

WAAD Worldwide

On Sunday, March 13, 2011, WAAD alumnae from California to Boston celebrated our inaugural event.  Set to coincide with President Kim Bottomly's visit to the Atlanta Wellesley club, WAAD alumnae renewed friendships, made new connections, shared good food and memories of Wellesley.  Thanks to all who came; we're looking forward to even more events in the future.

Here are just a few photographs of the WAAD Worldwide gatherings.  To see the complete collection, visit our Flickr site here.

WAAD members in New York

WAAD members greet President Kim Bottomly
and Wellesley College Board of Trustees President
Alecia DeCoudreaux '76 

WAAD members at Harambee House

WAAD members in Los Angeles

WAAD members in Washington, DC

Congratulations, Karen Grigsby Bates!

Our WAAD West Regional Representative, Karen Grigsby Bates '73 is the author of the cover story, "When Life Doesn't Measure Up," in the latest issue of the Wellesley Magazine (Winter, 2011). 

From the introduction:

"The Wellesley culture, with its lofty models of success, seldom encourages discussion of the ways we fall short or don't live up to expectations.  Alumnae examine their failures, or perceptions of failure, and lessons gleaned from them."   

Karen Grigsby Bates is the Los Angeles-based correspondent for NPR News. One of Bates’s proudest contributions is making books and authors a high-profile part of NPR’s coverage. “NPR listeners read a lot, and many of them share the same passion for books that I do, so this isn’t work, it’s a pleasure.”

Before coming to NPR, Bates was a news reporter for People magazine and she was a contributing columnist to the Op Ed pages of the Los Angeles Times. In her non-NPR life, Bates is the author of Plain Brown Wrapper and Chosen People, mysteries featuring reporter-sleuth Alex Powell.

New WWW (WAAD World Wide) Event Information

Due to an overwhelming response to the WAAD Northeast event taking place in New York City,
we are excited to announce a NEW LARGER LOCATION for the WAAD World Wide reception on Sunday, March 13 from 3-6pm. Venue details are below.

Covo Lounge (on 2nd floor of Covo Trattoria)
701 W. 135th (on 12th Avenue, a few blocks from Dinosaur BBQ)
New York, NY 10031
212.234.9573
www.covony.com
Light hors d’oeuvres will be served

If you have not yet sent your RSVP, it's not too late! RSVP to Anna Johnson '02 at ajohnson29@gmail.com or by calling 708.707.6939.  See you there!

WAAD World Wide: March 13, 2011

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The Officers and Founding Committee of WAAD invite you to WAAD World Wide, a collection of special events which will coincide with President Kim Bottomly's visit to the Atlanta Wellesley Club on Sunday, March 13, 2011. While in Atlanta, President Bottomly will attend a reception with Alecia DeCoudreaux '76, chair of the board of trustees, and WAAD alumnae, and we hope you will be able to attend a similar event in your area on that day. These events have been planned across the country to reconnect alumnae with each other and with the College. We hope you will join alumnae in your area to socialize, share, and discuss your ideas of what you'd like to see WAAD provide in the future. All events listed below will be held on Sunday, March 13th**, unless otherwise indicated. West: California Regional Representative: Karen Grigsby Bates '73, kgbates73@gmail.com 1. Hostess: Dana Stevenson Lang '73 Address: 1001 Ashmount Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610 (Lakeshore area, corner of Ashmount and Portal Time: 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm RSVP: JBell@goldfarblipman.com, 510-635-1623 or DanaLang3@yahoo.com, 510-333-4836 2. California Casual Tea Time: 2:30-4:30 pm Address: NPR, 9909 Jefferson Blvd, Culver City, CA RSVP: kgbates73@gmail.com, (310) 815 4218 What to bring: photos and stories of your years at Wellesley. Central: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Missouri Regional Representative: Lori G. Nuckolls '82 , Nuckolls@blankrome.com 1. Hostess: Toya Horn Howard '74 Event: Spring Tea Address: 526 East 32d Street Unit D, Chicago, IL 60616 Time: 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm Please RSVP to Pat Mell '75 via email at patricia.mell.bus@gmail.com or 630-456-0513 2. Please join the Indianapolis WAAD alums for the following event: Midwest Fashion Week's Children's Fashion Show & Sunday Brunch 11:00am to 4:30pm Bella Vita Ristorante at The Marina in Geist (Fishers, IN) 11699 Fall Creek Road, Fishers, IN 46038 This is a fun-filled event for families and friends. Celebrate the joy of being a child through a colorful presentation of contemporary children's fashion. Enjoy an elegant Sunday Brunch, enter to win door prizes and learn how to express your child's individual style through clothing. This experience is sure to educate and delight children and adults alike while also promoting the services of Down Syndrome Indiana. This event is being organized by Sola Adelowo '00. Admission is $25 per adult. Tickets can be purchased on the Midwest Fashion Week's website at www.midwestfashionweek.com. Please RSVP to Teri Cotton Santos '90 at tcsantos@lilly.com no later than March 9, 2011. 3. Hostess: Marseille Allen '01 Location: Beans & Cornbread Address: 29508 Northwestern Highway, Southfield, MI 48034-5703, 248-208-1680 Time: 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm Attendees must RSVP with Marseille by March 10 at marseille@alum.wellelsey.edu or BBM: 315CA177. 4. Hostess: Susan Jackson Rollins '77 Location: St. Louis, Missouri - the Show Me State - in the Central Region Bring your yearbooks or favorite piece of Wellesley memorabilia Address: 3103 Eads, St. Louis, MO. 63104 Time: 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm RSVP: Susan Jackson Rollins at scjr63108@gmail.com Northeast: New York City Regional Representative: Anna Johnson '02, ajohnson29@gmail.com Location: Settepani, 196 Lenox Ave, New York, NY 10026, 917-492-4806 (corner of 120th and Malcolm X Blvd) Time: 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm Light hors d’oeuvres will be served, cash bar RSVP to Anna Johnson '02, ajohnson29@gmail.com, 708-707-6939 (cell) New England: Massachusetts Regional Representative: Gail Rock Townsend '95, grock@post.harvard.edu, 617-501-2129 WAAD New England Meet and Greet Social 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm Harambee House, Wellesley College Campus, 106 Central Street, Wellesley, MA 02481 RSVP to Gail Rock Townsend at grock@post.harvard.edu Mid-Atlantic: Washington, DC and Pennsylvania Regional Representative: Tania Peters '95, taniapeters@alum.wellesley.edu 1. Hostess: Tania Peters '95 Event: Sunday Brunch at the Piano Bar Location: Banana Café & Piano Bar, 500 8th Street, SE, Washington, D.C. 20003 Capitol Hill Area near Eastern Market Metro Station. Street parking is available. Time: 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm Phone: 301-442-1687 Cost: $30.00 per person (not including taxes or gratuity) with additional cash bar RSVP by March 6th to Tania Peters '95 at taniapeters@alum.wellesley.edu, 301-442-1687 2. Event: A Sunday Gathering of Friends Location: The Home of Denise Armbrister-McGregor '75, 6440 Overbrook Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19151, 215-473-3833 Time: 2:00-4:00 p.m. RSVP by March 6th to Tania Peters '95 at taniapeters@alum.wellesley.edu, 301-442-1687 South: Georgia Regional Representative: Brooke Richardson '03, brookellen81@yahoo.com Alecia DeCoudreaux '76, chair of the board of trustees, and President H. Kim Bottomly invite WAAD alumnae to a special reception Sunday, March 13, 2011 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm at the Atlanta Girls' School, 3254 Northside Parkway NW, Atlanta, GA Afterwards, please plan to stay for the Atlanta Wellesley Club event with President Bottomly 3:00 - 5:00 pm at the Atlanta Girls' School. RSVP for the WAAD reception at 2:00 pm: Brooke Richardson '03, brookellen81@yahoo.com or Karen Kerns, kkerns@wellesley.edu, 781-283-2310. RSVP for the Atlanta Wellesley Club event at 3:00 pm: Register Online, or contact Karen Kerns, kkerns@wellesley.edu, 781-283-2310. We hope you will be able to attend one of these events, but if you cannot, keep in mind WAAD World Wide is just our initial effort. Your WAAD board is always interested in hearing from you. If there is no WAAD gathering near you on March 13, we’d be happy to work with you to put one together later this year. We’re looking forward to reconnecting old friendships, and making new ones as we discover the sister alumnae who are near us. With warmest regards, Wellesley Alumnae of African Descent Patricia Mell '75, President C. Michelle Davis Petelinz '78, Vice President, Communications Angela Norton Tyler '88, Vice President, Membership Cheryl Holland '77, Vice President, Programs Novella Brady '98, Treasurer Kendall Alexander '08, Secretary **Please note that Daylight Savings Time begins on Sunday, March 13th, so be sure to change your clocks so you don't miss these exciting events!

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