Amarillo Globe Article STEM1It’s a small world.  In the summer of 2014, I ran across a retired co-worker in the Amarillo Public Library whom I had not seen for several months.  I was in the public library prepping their meeting room for a make-up club officer training.  He and his wife stepped into the room and we chatted about his retirement, work and of course Toastmasters.  It turns out his wife is the president of the Amarillo Women’s Network (AWN).  She told me about her organization’s mentoring program where they pair female students from area high schools with successful professional and businesswomen.  She asked if I would come talk to the girls at their luncheon about my path and the major influencers in my career.  I stated I would be happy to do so and I left her my card and went on with the club officer training.  She reached out in January with the specifics and in March 2015, I was one of three speakers who presented briefly at their luncheon event, along with two others.  I spoke on how finding my strengths (natural talents), formal education, work ethics helped in my career.  After that presentation, I was asked by the president to speak at their upcoming August event and offered an honorarium.  I was fortunate that the recent Las Vegas Toastmasters International Convention did not conflict with this August event.  The topic of this upcoming discussion will on the history of women in STEM fields at CNS Pantex and in the Panhandle area in general.  Due to Toastmasters, I’m feeling confident that I’ll be able to convey the desired information interjected with personal stories and some humor.  On August 28th, 2015 the 6th Annual Louise Daniel Women’s History Luncheon and Women’s Equality Day Celebration will take place from 11:30am-1:00pm in the Great Hall of Polk Street Methodist Church, 1401 S. Polk St., Amarillo, Texas.