We kicked off the new year right with fun outdoors icebreakers and group activities. Many thanks to the Adventure Network!

	Habitat For Humanity WOMEN BUILD A group of WILD women went up to the Bridgewater, NJ to work on their Women Build site. 30 women only on the worksite. We helped place aluminum siding, build a shed, caulk windows, etc.
	Ambassador Susan Burk U.S. Special Representative Susan Burk engaged WILD members in her rise from average college student to successful public servant and political leader.
	Linda Orlando Board of Trustees member Linda Orlando engaged WILD members in her rise from average college student to successful corporate leader. She also emphasized the importance of social media and reached out to students as a mentor.
	Lynn Richardson WILD members learned basic money management with money mogul, Lynn Richardson. Everything from learning how to save to living within one’s means, to managing credit card debt was covered.
	Letters To My Younger Self w/Ellyn Spragins Award-winning author, Ellyn Spragins, came to Georgian Court to lead our WILD women in this acclaimed reflective exercise from her series “Letters To My Younger Self.” This exercise benefits participants in allowing them to tell themselves something at a younger age that they’ve learned, to give encouragement to their younger self, to bring closure to past hurts, etc. WILD members enjoyed it immensely.
	WILD VIII Welcome Dinner We officially welcomed the newest members of the Women In Leadership Development program with dinner and an individual introductions as well as an introduction to the WILD Steering Committee.
	WILD VIII Retreat By far, one of the most engaging and touching WILD retreats since WILD began in 2003. I was amazed at how quickly our newest members jumped right into icebreakers and getting to know one another. Our WILD mentors did an excellent job in leading icebreakers and guiding their mentees throughout the process and the rest of the year. Critical Concerns Week Student Panel Students tackled the issue of racism and participated in panel discussions to open a dialogue about race relations.
	Healthy Relationships Seminar w/Ellen Gootblatt Mrs. Gootblatt won over WILD as soon as she set foot on GCUs campus. Her personality and “straight-no-chaser” talk about how to build and maintain healthy relationships was a winner during the Fall semester.
	In Her Shoes “In Her Shoes” is an interactive scenario-based training designed to help participants learn what dating is like for today’s teens from their perspective. Catholic Charities’ representatives came to lead WILD in this activity.
With 2010 under our belts, we’ve got our sights set on 2011 and we are charging full-speed ahead!

At quitting time we took a group shot after a long yet rewarding day.

One Saturday per month Raritan Valley’s chapter of Habitat For Humanity hosts their well-known Women Build Day at their Bridgewater work site. Six WILD members – Mercedes Contreras, Rebeccah McGettigan, Asiah Dent, Christina Federowski, Jeannesis Rodriguez, and Christine Sinisi and myself rose early to make the trek from Lakewood to Bridgewater at 7:00 AM this past Saturday. What we encountered was an amazing group of women ranging in age from 16 to late 50s, all of whom shared a direct and heartfelt passion for helping others. We learned how to apply aluminum siding and roofing to a house. We learned how to correctly measure wooden planks to complete the building of a shed. We learned how to install bamboo flooring. We learned how to caulk window ledges. And those experiences were great. We joked that we won’t need contractors to make home improvements when we each have our own homes. But there was something more that we each took away from the experience. We sat and spoke to some of the women for whom the houses were being built, listening to the sincere delight in their voices. One woman remembered the exact date, time and place she was when she got the fateful call from Habitat three years ago, telling her that she had been selected for a new home. They were mostly young women with children who are working to make a better life and simply needed a willing and helping hand to do so.

In all of the technical/construction learning that took place, we took away something much deeper. It truly is better to give than to receive. As educated women leaders we will never reach a point in our lives where our help is not needed. It is our duty. No matter how large or small our contribution to humanity we are better women and the world is a better place for it. The seven hours of labor we put in on Saturday day may have left us a bit sore or with an accidentally hammered finger or two (Mercedes), but more importantly it left us with sense of Purpose higher than ourselves.

Mercedes Contreras and Christine Sinisi apply wooden planks to a shed with the guidance of a Habitat For Humanity work site leader.

“…It really was an experience that I will never forget. I had so much fun. Doing something like this to help those families is very rewarding and that at the end of the hard working day you feel good about yourself and the cause you are (helping). Thank you so much for having us there and I can’t wait to go back.”

- Mercedes Contreras – WILD VI

“What I liked most about Women’s Build Day with Habitat for Humanity was being able to work, hands-on with projects I’ve never accomplished before, like cutting, drilling and screwing spindles onto a porch. It was definitely a new experience but well worth it. I loved having the honor of working with the women who were going to be receiving these homes, as well as having the privilege of knowing their heartwarming stories. I learned how important and effective it is to work together for a common goal and how proud one can be of themselves for putting in hard work. The feeling of working on and putting together a house that one day a family will live in is indescribable. This experience allows you to reach out to people in support and physical activity that I cannot wait to take part in again.

- Rebeccah McGettigan – WILD VII

“(We) are God’s hands extended to humanity, His feet driven with a Purpose, His heart with an insatiable need to give, His eyes to see the world and all it holds as it is, His forethought to use (our) gifts to leave this world as it should be… a little bit better.”

- Ashley Hobbs

More photographs of our amazing day with Habitat can be viewed in the Photo Gallery and the WILD Facebook page, www.facebook.com/GCUWILD.

A few WILD members take a photograph with Ambassador Burk after her Fireside chat.

“A good mentor is a thing of beauty.” – Ambassador Susan Burke

On September 15, 2010  W.I.L.D women from groups VI and VII had the chance to sit down with Ambassador Susan Burk to discuss her career journey with the U.S government. Ambassador Burk is a successful woman who graduated from Trinity College in Washington D.C. with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a Master’s in Government from Georgetown University.  She is now works with other States to strengthen the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the International Non-Proliferation Regime. Susan Burk spoke to us of her journey in government. Burk began as an intern with the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force for about four months which was located in the Pentagon and a part of the Department of Defense. It was here that she learned much about leadership skills from how well the military trained their officers in leadership techniques and skills. From there she was able to work with leaders such as  then Secretary of State, Colin Powell. Burk stated, “Traveling with him is like being with a rock star.”

Ambassador Susan Burk told the crowd that she learned most of her leadership skills while in the Air Force. She gave us ten important points of advice which we received as very important lessons to learn throughout our leadership journey at Georgian Court University:

1. Look for opportunities to lead. – If you are presented with a leadership opportunity, take it because it gives you the experience and knowledge you need to move ahead.
2. Importance of communication – Knowledge is power but teaching that knowledge is even more powerful.
3. Be a good listener.
4. Know what you know and know what you don’t know. – It is okay not to know everything and it is okay to ask questions when you don’t know the answer.
5. If you make a bad decision, change it. – It is okay to admit that you messed up but be prepared to fix the situation.
6. Treat people with respect. – Give everyone the benefit of the doubt. Allow them to express their ideas. When addressing someone, be professional at all times. Show gratitude where it is needed!
7. Project optimism. – Always have a positive attitude even when things seem as though they are not going as planned. Remember every problem has a solution and with a little brainstorming it can be solved.
8. Don’t be afraid. – Take risks and try things that you normally would not. It will benefit you in the long run.
9. “On their deathbed no one ever regrets not spending enough time at the office.”
10. Look after yourself.  -Never neglect yourself when it comes to work. Work may get hectic from time to time but make sure that you can put that work away and spend time to focus on yourself.

Ambassador Susan Burk left our minds filled with excitement and also with the strength to strive to be all that we can be as women. These ten points will not happen over night but if we keep them in our minds and practice them everyday, women of this country will soon recognize their  strength in this world and collectively use it to affect positive change.

WILD VII member, Azaria Valentin asks career advice of Ambassador Burk.

“We as women have ways to go.” – Ambassador Susan Burk

Written by: Jennifer Valentin and Shinade Ramirez

AH: What one thing did WILD prepare you the most for during your post-graduate career?

LC: WILD  gave me the confidence I needed to thrive in my career. All of the workshops, speakers and the activities helped me to present myself as a young professional that was prepared, polished, and knowledgable. I was also able to create a personal vision for myself using everything I learned about myself in WILD.

AH: What goals have you accomplished since you graduated from Georgian Court?

LC: Since I graduated from GCU I have finished my Masters in Organizational Leadership and I am currently working as an Admissions and Database Coordinator for a nonprofit named Year Up that provides opportunities for young adults from urban areas. It was through my first job at Catherine McAuley H.S. right out of college I realized my passion to help young adults achieve.

AH: Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten years?

LC: In five years I see myself finishing up my Doctorate in urban studies and growing in my current organization. In ten years I see myself developing a community center that helps to combat the economic and social disadvantages that affect the residents of urban communities.

AH: If you could have lunch with any three people dead or alive, who would you choose and why?

LC: If I could have dinner with any three people it would be Michelle Obama, Martin Luther King and Maya Angelou.

AH: What newspapers, websites, or magazines do you read most frequently to keep up with current events?

LC: To keep up with current events I usually read  the Daily News, The New York Times, The Root.com, CNN.com, Abelleinbrooklyn.com, and of course theybf.com (The Young, Black, & Fabulous)

Leah Clarke is an alum of Georgian Court’s Centennial class of 2008. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Communications and Business Administration. She was also co-founder of Georgian Court University’s Black Student Union. Miss Clarke also held the position of President of the Student Government Association during her senior year.

Who is the most influential woman in history? To me, the most influential woman would be Sandra Day O’Connor.

Ronald Reagan appointed Sandra Day O’Connor in 1981 to the Supreme Court, making her he first female member on the US Supreme Court.  O’Connor often became the deciding vote when making decisions. During her time on the Supreme Court, O’Connor made it clear that American society was to interpret the law, not to legislate! She usually was very conservative but she frequently surprised many of her followers with her political independence.

Sandra Day O’Connor was a quiet, but determined woman who became a role model for women everywhere. She is an advocate for education. I was watching “Good Morning America” one morning, and Sandra Day O’Connor was a guest. She had said something that had me thinking. O’Connor said, “More Americans can name a judge on “American Idol” than can name the three branches of government.” Her concern for education and civics had O’Connor devoted to serving her community, devoting her time to volunteering and lecturing.

I think Sandra Day O’Connor is a great role model, and is one of the most influential women, who fought for women and our rights. O’Connor was the first American woman on the Supreme Court, and set a political example for women in the future. Without O’Connor we would have never had such respect for women in politics. I believe that we would have never had a woman campaign for president in America, if it wasn’t for Sandra Day O’Connor to set the political example.

Women in Politics

- Julia A. Hollywood