Briefing Session on the Presidential Appointment Process  

As you may know, we have organized the Women’s Appointment Project for every presidential election since 1976. It is a bi-partisan effort to assure that the names of qualified women are presented for consideration for presidential appointment to posts at all levels and in each agency of the new administration, regardless of which party controls the White House.

This year, as a result of the findings and recommendations of the 9-11 Commission, it is vital to have positions in Security in the new administration filled as soon as possible. That is why we have teamed up with Women in International Security (WIIS) to make sure we have women candidates in these crucial positions. However, the Women’s Appointment Project (WAP) will not be the success it could be without the cooperation of other women’s organization. As in previous years, we are forming task forces for each area of government service and seek your active involvement.

It is our belief that having qualified women appointed to positions within the next Administration will further women’s political progress. The objectives of the Project are many-fold: · Help women gain equal access and consideration in the traditional recruitment and placement process for presidential appointments; · Establish a talent bank of women qualified for senior-level government positions; · Educate women about the appointment process; · Increase the number of women in the government’s decision-making positions; and · Dispel the myth that “there are not enough qualified women for the jobs.”

The Project begins in September 2004 and continues through the spring of 2005 by assisting the Presidential Transition Task Force, whether Democratic or Republican, as it provides a pool of highly qualified women from which to make senior-level appointments.

At the Briefing session we will hear from Paul Light who literally “wrote the book” of the presidential appointment process. We will also hear from two women, one Republican and one Democrat, who have been through the appointment process in previous administrations. They have agreed to share their personal experiences. In addition, we will have a chance to learn what the Women’s Appointment Project plans to do in the coming months and the criteria it will use in seeking qualified women.

We are pleased to announce that this project is made possible with a generous grant from The Barbara Lee Family Foundation. As the Sponsoring Partner and President of The Barbara Lee Family Foundation, Barbara Lee continues her longtime commitment to advancing women’s political and leadership participation.

We have engaged Mulhauser and Associates to coordinate this Project. Please contact them if you: · know of anyone we should add to our database, or · have any questions. Mulhauser and Associates office (202.463.0180 or fax: 202.463.0182).

We hope you will join us as we collect names of qualified women for appointed positions for the new presidential term. We need your help and welcome your active participation. Remember, we are seeking names of qualified Republican and Democratic women, and will be working with both the Transition Team and the White House Personnel Office for the next administration.

We look forward to seeing you on September 21!