Pacific Northwest Chapter of WISTA USA is official! Our first meeting is May 24 in Seattle.
Last April, at the annual general meeting of WISTA USA, a new chapter was voted into existance in my neck of the woods. We now have a Pacific Northwest chapter, with activities centered around Seattle.
WISTA is the Women's International Shipping & Trading Association, formed to support women in maritime shipping and support industries.
WISTA USA has eight chapters around the United States with over 230 members from 20 states. While many of these chapters are on the Gulf and East Coasts, about three years ago a West Coast chapter opened up. However, Alaska to San Diego is a lot of ground to cover for one group. We found that members seemed to mainly be in the San Francisco Bay Area, LA/Long Beach, San Diego and Seattle areas.
So much seemed to be going on for us up north in the Seattle area that the West Coast branch voted to have Seattle apply to become its own chapter. Captain Katharine Sweeney of Compliance Maritime, attended the WISTA USA annual general meeting and became our Pacific Northwest WISTA president when the chapter was given the official nod.
Our first meeting as a new chapter is Tuesday May 24th at 3 pm at the Waterfront Marriott at 2100 Alaskan Way. The meetings open to all and will include a visit from Bobbi Wolff of Alaris Companies, West Coast chapter president.
Send me a note at rainaclark@marinelink.com if you'll be in the area and would like to attend.