LAW: Lawyers' Association for Women, Marion Griffin Chapter, Nashville, TN

LINKS

PARTNERSHIP WITH CABLE - THE WOMEN ON BOARDS PROJECT

Did you know that of the 819 board seats for Tennessee's public companies, only 60 (7.3%) were held by women in 2005, and of those only 6 were held by women of color? Did you know that of 105 Tennessee companies studied, 55 (52.4%) had no women on their corporate boards, only one had three women on its board, and none had more than three women?

LAW has agreed to partner with CABLE's Women on Boards Project in a state-wide effort to increase the number of women who serve on boards of for-profit companies headquartered in Tennessee.

As a first step, CABLE is developing a database of women who are interested in serving on boards. Are you interested but afraid you might not be qualified? You are probably wrong about your qualifications -- companies usually look for a broad range of experience and talents in board members. Regardless of whether you think you are qualified, it wouldn't hurt to put your name in the database. You will find a link to a questionnaire below that you can fill out to place your name in the database.

As a second step, CABLE is developing a list of companies that could benefit from the database. If you know of companies or business leaders who should hear about this project, please email that information to Lauren Anderson, who is chair of the Cable Women on Boards Project, landerson@bakerdonelson.com.

CABLE "Women on Boards" Candidate Survey

FOSTER CARE REVIEW BOARD NEEDS VOLUNTEERS

As you might know, LAW sponsored the award-winning "Early Truancy" program in conjunction with the Davidson County Juvenile Court. The program matched LAW volunteers with individual children who had been adjudged truant from school. The goal was to get the children back in school and keep them there. There were many success stories that came out of the program.

The Juvenile Court is asking for LAW volunteers for another program - the Foster Care Review Boards. This program is a cooperative effort between the Juvenile Court, Department of Children's Services, and state agencies that have custody of children in foster care. There are approximately 1000 such children in Davidson County on any given day. By law, every foster child's case must be reviewed at least every six months. Most of these reviews are conducted by citizen volunteer boards, with technical assistance by the Court and the Tennessee Department of Children's Services.

There are twelve Foster Care Review Boards, each with about ten members. Each board meets once a month to review the case progress of ten to fifteen children - meetings last about two hours. Board members receive a training manual and initial training, and take an oath of confidentiality.

If you have any questions about this program, call Kate Stephenson, who has been a foster care review board member for three years. To volunteer, contact Patty Swartout at 615.862.8077, or pattyswartwo@jis.nashville.org.

*LAW does not endorse any particular opportunity or organization. These volunteer listings are a service provided to the membership as part of LAW's purpose to promote active participation in community service.