<img src="http://www.whoi.edu/committees/women/images/banner.gif" width="400"> : Women's Committee : Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)

Overview

Established in 1973, the Women's Committee at WHOI is an elected committee responsible for considering matters of special concern to women. Its primary charge is to be a forum for the ideas and concerns of women associated with WHOI (see Charter below). Each member is charged to make herself aware of pertinent issues and to be accessible to the women around her, to better represent them in the committee.

The eight-member committee represents all women at the Institution: Joint Program Students, Post-docs, members of the Scientific, Technical, and Exempt Administrative Staffs, and members of the Graded Administrative and Research Staffs. The group meets monthly for discussion of current concerns and for planning occasional seminars and annual activities such as:

celebration of Women's History Month in March
selection and presentation of the Women's Committee Educational Scholarship
coordination and selection of the Linda Morse-Porteous Award
the Annual Women's Dinner

The annual election for the two-year term takes place in the fall. The monthly meetings are open to all employees, and the minutes of the meetings are posted throughout the Institution.

Members of the Committee may be contacted by sending email to the Women's Committee mailing list as: womens-committee@whoi.edu. Please note that this list is for internal (WHOI) use only. Inquiries from outside the Institution should be directed to the Information Office at information@whoi.edu or to the Human Resources Office at hr@whoi.edu.

Charter of the WHOI Women's Committee
October 1996

Preamble
Resolved that the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution have a committee of elected members whose duty it is to consider matters of special concern to women.

Charge
The Women's Committee of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution has, as its primary charge, to be a forum for the ideas and concerns of women associated with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Each member is charged to make herself aware of pertinent issues, and to be accessible to the women around her, to better represent them in the Committee. When necessary, the Committee should seek cooperation and information from members of the Institution Staff and Administration.

Electorate and Eligibility for Election
All female employees or graduate students may vote in a Women's Committee election. A candidate for election must have been associated with the Institution for at least one year, may not be currently serving on the Committee and may not be a temporary employee.

Committee Size and Term
The Committee shall consist of eight women, each elected for a two-year term. Each year four members shall be replaced by election. Amended (1996) to increase size from six to eight women.

Election Procedure
The names of nominees may be determined by (a) open nominations, and/or (b) by a nominating committee chosen by the then-current Women's Committee. The names of those nominees willing to serve will be listed alphabetically on a ballot issued to everyone eligible to vote. If desired, nominees may be listed by categories. Each member of the electorate may cast up to four votes by secret ballot. The outgoing members of the Committee are charged with running the election and counting the ballots. Ties may be decided by lot, and if a duly elected member must step down, the person with the next highest number of votes (or next highest in the same category) shall replace her.

Officers and Procedures
Minutes shall be taken of each meeting for distribution to all members of the Committee by an Acting Secretary. From time to time, the Committee may designate one of its members to act on its behalf, for purposes of interacting with other persons or groups. The Women's Committee shall develop its own operating procedures.

Meetings
The Committee shall meet as the need arises, but at least once in each quarter of the year. An open meeting to report on the Committee's activities shall be held at least once a year.

Amendment
Amendments to this charter may be petitioned by any twenty members of the electorate. Amendments must be approved in secret ballot by a majority of the electorate.