11.7.11+Meeting+Notes

**__"Women with Power ~ Resilient Leadership in Challenging Times"__** **November 7, 2011** midhudsonwel@yahoo.com http://midhudsonwel.wikispaces.com/
 * __MHWEL Meeting__**

//Really general notes from the meeting, taken by Christine Williams…//

Dr. Paula Perez spoke about the opening position as Executive Director of NYSAWA. The next annual NYSAWA conference is scheduled for March 18th at theDesmondHotel inAlbany. This year, they are looking at integration of APPR and Common Core Standards.

Find what’s important and make sacrifices. You can’t neglect yourself. Schedule time for yourself. BALANCE Find what you love and make time for it. How do we tackle the difficult inevitable changes? The changes are happening. Be flexible. Move forward. You have to find the ray of light. Be a part of the team. We’re all on the same team. We’re all feeling a challenge. We all have strengths. We all bring something to the table. Difficult conversations have to happen. We are all together for the students. Be there for the teachers. Be supportive. Find the fun. It is new, but so much of what you’re already doing is good. FOCUS energy on what’s important. Stop doing the old things. You have permission to let some things go. What’s going to move students forward?
 * __Comments from group discussion:__**

Women persevere. GM did research and found that men take charge and women take care. We get caught up. Men delegate. Being a woman can be a challenge, especially because of what we think of ourselves. Are we happy? It’s our nature to make everyone happy. à Is it appropriate in the work place? We need to do what’s right for the students. Talk about the facts. Take charge Think about your interactions with others. Come into the room and take charge. Who’s in charge here? …also in our personal lives. If you’re uncomfortable, take charge of it. Get a good team and delegate. You’re a facilitator. You’re a manager. Not a doer à or they’ll let you do it. It is important to have interests and follow through with them. Keep balance à you can’t take it all on yourself. Everything is changing. à How will your roll look? We have different students. They learn differently. Technology is a piece you can embrace. If you’re planning on staying in the business à get into technology, talk to a 3 year old. You can’t wrap your mind around everything. You will have to try new. You can use some old. Learn to influence, engage, delegate, and take charge. Ask yourself: Am I taking charge or taking care? I am who I am. Embrace who you are! Use memo pads to keep track of meetings; take charge; good for reflection; when meeting is “going bad”, write down your feelings for later reflection. Keep those steno pads. Taking charge comes with wisdom and age, but it doesn’t have to be. Command the room. We are like fine wine. Look at life in segments; you will see different things you did well at different parts of your life. Acknowledge those successes. Embrace your power at an early age. You do start to feel more empowered with age. Feel the power. Don’t be afraid.
 * __Linda Suarez’s talking points:__**

Work for men. All the people who look to us need to have confidence in us. We have to be confident in our own life. BALANCE between take charge and take care is important! It’s hard to own a mistake à we have a hard time accepting. Forgive yourself. Say it’s ok. We’re hard on ourselves. It’s ok we’re not perfect. Celebrate your imperfections.
 * __Closing Discussion:__**