2020 has been an exceptionally difficult year for all professions and walks of life. In addition to creating heartbreaking sicknesses and loss, the pandemic has changed our lives in so many ways, including how we interact socially and professionally, job, financial, and business losses, and challenges in caring for children. Despite the inherent hardships, there were shimmers of good to be found. For the last post of 2020, we decided to reflect and focus on a few of the positive accomplishments by this group this year.
1. In January 2020, we officially became a non-profit organization, and our bylaws (download here) were finalized in June.
2. We initiated a mentoring program and had 41 women participate in our first mentorship matchup. Participants filled out pre- and post-surveys, which we will use to evaluate the program and incorporate feedback for future.
3. On May 16, 2020, we surpassed 1,000 members in the private Facebook group, and are currently at over 1,200 members! Over the last year, members continued to introduce themselves and their interests. See the introductions topic on the private Facebook page, and if you haven’t posted your introduction, please do!
4. We continued to share job and career opportunities each month, and had in depth job discussions about interviewing, negotiating, and transitions during May (our jobs month), including a week of highlighting different career paths.
5. We started networking threads in August, hoping to connect women in similar fields within fisheries. See the networking topic on the private Facebook page to connect with like-minded women of fisheries!
6. We posted several pandemic check-ins throughout the year which resulted in poking a bit of fun at our new “co-workers.”
7. In order to publicize the group and engage with allies, our forward facing website and public Facebook page were launched in October 2020!
8. We completed our very first fundraiser, the fisHER Adventure Classic which encouraged our members to get outside and share their stories. Click here to check out all the fun that was had!
9. We hosted 2 happy hours, one for the virtual American Fisheries Society 2020 meeting’s Diversity and Inclusion day and one recently in December to reflect on our challenging year.
10. A regular blog posting schedule was announced including profiles of women in science, research highlights by women of fisheries, and discussion highlights that summarize some of the energetic discussions we have had in the private Facebook group over the past 2+ years.
But most of all, we were able to support and encourage each other over this difficult year. We are so thankful for our growing and compassionate community of women. We’re looking forward to better days ahead when we can meet not only virtually, but also in person, to keep these important discussions and planned initiatives going.
Happy New Year, Women of Fisheries!
