WGR Task Forces & Working Groups
In addition to annual events, WGR hosts regular briefings, roundtables, and panel discussions as well as brown bag luncheons with policymakers and other government affairs professionals. These events are organized through special task forces and working groups focused on major issue areas. New working groups are formed based on the interests of the membership. Working groups that are successful are then formalized into task forces.
Interested in starting a new Working Group?
Members are encouraged to participate at the task force level by attending monthly brown bag lunch meetings or helping execute an event. If you are interested in receiving event emails from a specific task force, call the WGR office to make sure it is listed as one of your interests. If you are interested in playing a greater role and serving on the committee contact the co-chairs directly.
I appreciate the continued support that the Board has given our task force. I want each of you to know how deeply thankful I have been, from the start, for the opportunities and supportive environment that WGR continues to provide. WGR has provided me with an opportunity to lead and serve in a capacity that is fulfilling and invaluable to me both professionally and personally. My thanks to each member of the WGR Board for running an organization that fosters the growth and confidence of women still gaining their “feet” in the working world.
– Sarabeth Patch, International Relations Working Group Co–Chair
The current WGR task forces and working groups are:
Task Force: Education
The Education Task Force seeks to help our diverse membership advance thier careers by enhancing their knowledge of education issues, providing a forum for discussion, expanding their network, exposing them to practitioners in schools and districts, and introducing them to new technologies and tools that can improve their effectiveness and efficiencies. This group offers services, special events, and analysis that focus on major educational policies including pre-K, ESEA, HEA, educational research programs, and address topics such as child nutrition, juvenile delinquency, the student loan crisis, high school reform and many other key areas of interest to the community. One of our main goals is to bring our members together with practitioners -- teachers, principals and other school or district administrators -- to get a better understanding of how federal policies impact our nation's public schools. In addition, we host a variety of speakers from the media, federal agencies, Congress and other organizations who are experts on education reform. We serve as a resource by providing information about and demonstrations of new tools to help our members grow and succeed professionally.
Task Force: Energy, Environment & Agriculture
The Energy, Environment & Agriculture Task Force provides networking and informational programs about current events and trends that affect energy and environmental policy. The task force seeks to provide a balanced look at these issues. Representatives of industry, government, and the public interest are strongly encouraged to participate in task force events. Often, the task force will coordinate its events with other WGR task forces in order to present a factual issue along with political and policy contexts.
Task Force: Health & Social Policies
The Health & Social Policies Task Force is comprised of members from the public and private sectors who share a common interest in shaping health care and social policy. By bringing together congressional, federal agency and health care industry leaders, the task force provides all WGR members with unique networking and educational opportunities. In addition to regulatory briefings and networking events, at the beginning of each year, the health and social policies taskforce conducts a House and Senate Congressional staff panel to discuss the upcoming legislative cycle.
Task Force: Homeland Security & Defense
The mission of the Homeland Security & Defense Task Force is to provide information and networking opportunities, with key Congressional and Administration Members and staff, on a broad cross section of homeland security issues. The task force’s premier event is its annual Homeland Security Honors Reception where both a Member of Congress and an Administration Appointee are honored for their work towards securing our nation. Various other task force events throughout the year also provide WGR members with information on timely homeland security topics.
Task Force: Networking & Special Events
Task Force: PACs, Politics & Grassroots
The PACs, Politics & Grassroots Task Force of WGR provides members with career enhancement opportunities through a variety of professional development and networking activities tailored to those with a penchant for all things political. Both seasoned industry professionals, as well as their up-and-coming colleagues look forward to WGR’s annual PACs & Grassroots Conference. And briefings by an impressive mix of policymakers, government affairs professionals, and political pundits draw crowds from across WGR’s membership and beyond. Whether you’re looking to grow your PAC, your grassroots campaign, or your own personal Rolodex, WGR’s PACs, Politics & Grassroots taskforce has something for you.
Task Force: Telecommunications & IT
The Telecommunications & Technology Task Force enables individuals to come together to share knowledge, gain new information and network. This task force brings key Members of Congress, congressional staff, administration representatives, regulatory officials and industry leaders together to discuss current and upcoming telecommunications and technology issues.
Task Force: Transportation & Infrastructure
The Transportation & Infrastructure Task Force is a truly intermodal group that culls from the best of women transportation professionals. The task force invites those Congressmen, Senators and Agency officials who are in the midst of high profile transportation activities to speak and answer questions at breakfast and lunch events throughout the year. The task force also hosts Brown Bag lunches, where key transportation staffers are available for questions and discussion.
The current working groups are:
Working Group: Financial Services
The Financial Services Working Group offers a unique opportunity for professionals from all sectors of the financial services community to engage with relevant policy makers, industry experts, and each other on the issues impacting the financial community. Our Working Group will explore the policy issues accompanying implementation of Financial Services Reform, as well as on-going Congressional action in the sector via a series of meetings, panels, and networking events featuring relevant Agency officials, Congressional Members and Staff, and private sector experts. Our kick-off event, a breakfast with House Financial Services Committee staff, Senate Agriculture Committee staff, the Congressional Research Service, and private sector representatives held during the Financial Reform Conference was a huge success and we look forward to growing the group.
Working Group: Public Affairs & Communications
Working Group: State Relations
The State Relations Working Group provides a forum for individuals with interest and experience in State Government Affairs to come together to share knowledge, gain new information and perspective, and network. This group works to provide programs that will enhance your interaction with state and local officials and their staffs. This group invites experts in the field (including members of State Houses and state legislative groups) to participate in panel discussions, roundtable deliberations, and networking events focused on current issues in the states. Programs are designed to give an inside look, among them: the “State of the States” pre-election briefing and Brown-Bag lunches featuring educational programs.