The WBFN fiscal year is almost coming to an end. A lot has happened: a picnic, the Children’s Holiday Party, new classes for expecting moms, the annual exhibits and events, etc.—the result of a close collaboration of countless one-time volunteers and the more regularly involved members of the Executive Committee who helped steer the different jobs and tasks involved in all those activities. This is also the time of the year when we present you with the new slate of candidates for the WBFN Executive Committee, and I am very proud that for the first time in the history of WBFN we can announce that we have two male spouses among the proposed team for 2010–2011! This is a start at reflecting the trend in the WBG recruiting. Among the 1,000 spouses/partners who joined WBFN over the past two years, about 30% were male.

The role of the Executive Committee is to provide leadership and oversight to ensure that WBFN services and programs reflect the ever-changing needs and interests of our members, now about 4,500 in Washington, DC. We have more and more young parents and spouses/partners at the start of their career. No wonder that new activities spring up whenever the need is felt.

The Executive Committee consists of twelve members: a President, who has a one year term; a President-Elect who has a full year of learning on the job; a Secretary; a Nominating Chair, who is in charge of contacting members for the new team; a Welcoming Chair and a maximum of seven other members. We are proposing for the coming year that these seven members will be: the Mosaic Editor, the Male Spouse Coordinator, and five Members-at-Large who are not specialized but can oversee any regular activity or upcoming event. This flexible structure has been chosen since many members cannot predict when or whether they will have to leave their position prematurely due to a job found, a baby born, a new contract of the staff, or whatever else happens in our lives. In principle, EC members serve two years and are eligible to serve for a third year.

The Executive Committee meets on the first Thursday of each month, except for July and August. Also in attendance at the meeting, but without a vote, are representatives from the two outreach programs under the WBFN umbrella, the Book Project and the MMMF, and former WBFN Presidents who are serving as advisors. Throughout the year, WBFN encourages and welcomes interested WBFN members to contact the Nominating Chair about EC positions. Personally, I have found it very interesting to be Nominating Chair. Meeting and talking with many new people I would otherwise not have met and working with so many talented and dedicated people is very rewarding. Giving time to WBFN has been an enriching and valuable experience. You are always welcome to take that extra step and become more involved too!

Aminata Bojang