NEWS RELEASE 08-10
October 6, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
It's a trade show and job fair with dozens of educational sessions, speakers and other social and networking events.
Women in Aviation, International (WAI) will hold its 20th anniversary conference in Atlanta on February 26-28, 2009, at the Atlanta Hyatt Regency. With just under five months to go, this milestone Conference is shaping up to be WAI's most exciting ever. With the theme "A New Approach to Your Tomorrow," the 20th Anniversary Conference will be packed full of three days of activities, kicking off the day before the Conference officially opens with an all-day tour of the Museum of Aviation at Robins Air Force Base followed by a tour of TIMCO Aviation Services in Macon, Georgia.
"We're planning as many activities and events as possible to make this Conference a memorable one. It's our 20th Anniversary Conference so we are doing things big in Atlanta," said Women in Aviation President Dr. Peggy Chabrian.
On Thursday, February 26, the Conference officially begins. Interested Conference attendees may take a half-day tour of Delta Air Lines' Technical Operations Center or participate in a variety of professional development seminars, including an FAA-sponsored Aerospace Educators' Workshop. The day concludes with an Opening Reception sponsored by Gulfstream.
Throughout the Conference, seminars and speakers will provide inspiration and education. Among the invited speakers for the 2009 Conference are Richard Anderson, CEO, Delta Air Lines; Victoria Cox, Vice President, Air Traffic Organization Operations and Planning, Federal Aviation Administration; Bob Fornaro, CEO, AirTran Airways; Corkey Fornof, movie stunt pilot, aerial coordinator and director for movies such as Octopussy, 6 Days/7 Nights; Face Off and others; Ervin "Sonny" Perdue, Governor, Georgia; Patty Wagstaff, Aerobatic Champion and air show performer, WAI pioneer; and Peggy Whitson, first female Space Station commander and record-holder for the most planetary orbits from space.
More than 150 exhibitors including aerospace companies, airlines, associations, manufacturers, the military, museums, publishers, universities, and other organizations and vendors will make for a busy Exhibit Hall. Dr. Chabrian adds, "Since some companies conduct on-site interviews, I urge attendees to bring their résumés with them and possibly start a new career here!"
Other Conference highlights include a private tour and reception at the world-famous Georgia Aquarium on Friday, February 27, sponsored by AirTran. Seminars, workshops, networking events, and speakers fill out the Conference schedule, and the Conference concludes on Saturday evening, February 28 with WAI's traditional banquet where many scholarships are awarded and the 2009 group of Aviation Pioneers is inducted into WAI's Aviation Pioneer Hall of Fame. The closing banquet is sponsored by UPS.
Registration is available on line at www.wai.org/09conference, and the discounted Conference rate is available at the Atlanta Hyatt Regency through February 2, 2009. A discounted "early bird" registration fee is available through December 5, 2008.
An integral part of the WAI Conference is the disbursement of scholarship funds. This year, WAI's scholarship opportunities total $311,650 to date, in 55 separate scholarships, ranging from academic scholarships through flight training for pleasure pilots right on to a fully-paid "big iron" typeratings. Scholarships are open solely to WAI members (women and men), and all applications must be complete and submitted by November 28, 2008.
New scholarships may be added in the weeks ahead so interested individuals are urged to keep checking WAI's web site at www.wai.org for additions. A complete description of each scholarship along with step-by-step instructions, useful tips to increase your chances of winning as well as the application form are available at www.wai.org.
Women in Aviation, International is a nonprofit 501(C)(3) organization dedicated to providing networking, mentoring and scholarship opportunities for women and men who are striving for challenging and fulfilling careers in the aviation and aerospace industries. For more information about the Conference and about WAI, contact WAI at 3647 State Route 503 South, West Alexandria, OH 45381, Phone (937) 839-4647; Fax (937) 839-4645 or through www.wai.org.
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Contact:
Connie Lawrence
Women in Aviation International
937-839-4647 Phone
937-839-4645 Fax