Annual Meeting Luncheon Committee:

1. Secured an outstanding local keynote speaker, Paola Gianturco, whose message fits the overall concepts of community service and international connections to women.
2. Developed a theme for the luncheon: "In Her Hands" based on the speaker's book and created a colorful invitation for the Luncheon that is designed to attract a record-breaking crowd to the event.
3. Engaged a staging company, Total Media Group, to handle all aspects of sound, lighting, scripting, video, etc. to ensure a very high-caliber event.

Audit Committee:

1. Completed FY 2004 Audit, per WDS policy, and reviewed audit report in detail.
2. Selected a new auditor (for FY 2005 audit) in keeping with WDS policy to change its auditor every three years.
3. Made recommendation for enhanced audit oversight -- that a future member of the committee be based in the SF Bay Area to be in a position to visit the office if requested to do so.

Awards Committee:

1. Nominated seven WDS members for prestigious awards that are conferred by national dermatology organizations. All were notified of their nominations and appropriate letters were sent from WDS on their behalf.
2. Selected three candidates for WDS awards: Rose Hirschler, Mentor of the Year, and Wilma Bergfeld Visionary & Leadership Award.
3. Names of future award nominees were recorded for possible nomination in future years.

Bylaws Committee:

1. Worked with the Board of Directors and various committees and task forces to insure that our bylaws and administrative regulations are reflective and appropriate for the WDS as it grows as an organization.
2. Submitted for membership vote the language to include board-certified osteopathic dermatologists and osteopathic residents in approved osteopathic dermatology residencies as members in WDS.
3. Developed language that is being presented to the membership for voting at annual meeting 2006 to allow for international electronic members.

Career Development Committee:

1. Revised and updated the Career Development Award information brochure and mailed it to the WDS membership.
2. Reviewed candidates requesting grants.
3. Selected one candidate to receive a Career Development Grant in 2005.

Communications Committee:

1. Created a “Brand Bible” of all WDS required fonts, PMS colors, design features, etc. to maintain consistency of the WDS “look” in all communications.
2. Sponsored Media Day in New York City and attracted a large attendance of editors.
3. Reviewed all WDS communications materials prior to publication to ensure accuracy and consistency.

Editorial Board:

1. Published four great issues of the WDS Newsletter (April 2005, July 2005, November 2005, and January 2006).
2. Created the first-ever color issue (November) to recognize the launch of the new Families Play Safe in the Sun outreach campaign.
3. Through the dedicated efforts of Dr. Evangeline Handog, we now have a regular feature on international members and international events.
4. Increased the participation of resident members in the newsletter and hope to continue with their input on a regular basis.

Fundraising Committee:

1. Maintained funding for the on-going WDS programs, including the Mentorship Grants, the Career Development Grants, the Medical Student Awareness Grants, the International Travel Awards, our Annual and Mid-year Networking Receptions, the WDS Center, our WDS Newsletter, and our Website.
2. Secured additional funding for new programs, including the Resident and Young Dermatologists Research Grants, the WDS Website, WDS Media Day, WDS at LPGA, WDS Academic Dermatologists Breakfast meeting, and expansion of Local Networking Receptions.
3. Secured unrestricted funds that are used for many WDS activities allowing outreach to our members, most importantly, our Annual Luncheon Meeting and our Leadership and Member Retreats.
4. Through our WDS Foundation fundraising activities, secured funding to support our Service Programs, currently the 'Play Safe in the Sun' (3 year) project and the WDS (3 year) Women's Health Career Development Award for a Junior Faculty member, administered through the Dermatology Foundation.

International Affairs Committee:

1. Was accepted as a member of the International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS)
2. Funded seven International dermatologists to attend the 2006 American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting and our Annual Luncheon.
3. Selected site for the International Retreat at the upcoming World Congress in Argentina (Four Seasons Hotel, September 30-October 1) and began planning activities for topics/speakers.

Long-Range Planning Committee:

1. Developed a theme: “Managing Our Growth” for the WDS Leadership Retreat (June 23: Boulder, CO). In the process of selecting a retreat facilitator.
2. Initiated the development of e-Membership and joint WDS-EuWDS Membership for our international colleagues.
3. Began planning for the International Retreat at the World Congress in Argentina (to be implemented by Intl Affairs Committee)

Medical Student Awareness Committee:

1. Developed a very successful program to expose medical students to the field of dermatology.
2. Received 25 program applications and funded over $24,000 to 21 medical student award recipients.
3. Built a solid program structure with a mission statement to propel this program to continue for 2006-2007.

Membership Committee:

1. Development: Reviewed and recommended to the Board a record number of new member applications.
2. Recruitment: Designed and mailed a pink postcard to over 1,000 prospective members inviting them to join on-line.
3. Retention: Phoned and/or e-mailed all non-renewed members as well as 3rd year residents regarding becoming Active members

Mentorship Committee:

1. Evaluated 62 applications of excellent candidates for this year’s mentorship awards.
2. After reviewing and discussing the candidates, the committee agreed to fund 38 applicants for a total of $62,000. These applicants were from all over the world.
3. Since 1993, when nine awards were given for $22,000, an increasing number of grants have been awarded. We now have funded 265 awards at a total of $579,821. We are hoping to have a project funded by our foundation to discover how the mentees and our specialty have benefited from these opportunities.

Networking Committee:

1. In response to the Board’s request to increase the frequency of networking events, committee approved and carried out 30 networking functions in 2005 – the highest number in WDS history. These included events held abroad, at members’ homes, at other organizations’ meetings, pre-Families Play Safe in the Sun organizing events, and the WDS networking events held at AAD meetings.
2. Created a promotion entitled: “Have a Party on Us” to encourage members to hold Networking receptions and worked to streamline the process making it easier to do so.
3. Reviewed and approved all applications for networking receptions to ensure procedures and requirements were met.

Nominating Committee:

1. Selected Vice President and Board candidates for 2006 WDS election.
2. Selected nominees to be submitted to the AAD for its Board of Directors and Officers election.
3. Archived names of future candidates for WDS Board and Committee appointments.

Past Presidents’ Advisory Committee:

1. Created diamond WDS Rose Pins to recognize the contributions of WDS Presidents over the past 30 years.
2. Initiated a Past Presidents’ breakfast at the Annual Academy meeting as a way to keep the former WDS presidents connected.
3. Plan to identify ways that the past presidents can continue to support the WDS (as a group).

Website Committee:

1. Created a new section of the website entitled: “Find a Dermatologist” that is open to the public. Provided all members with the opportunity to update their profile information on the site.
2. On the site, added the WDS Historical Video created by Dr. Pearl Grimes and added a “WDS Blog” schedule of WDS Committee meetings that includes dates and times of meetings.
3. Kept the site relevant and vibrant by filling it with constantly changing information on events, news, literature reviews, press releases, etc.

Service Committee:

1. Developed a multifaceted, volunteer-based educational campaign "Families Play Safe in the Sun" which informs the public of the need for sun safety and provides resources with which to accomplish it. In the first three cities visited, 76 enthusiastic volunteers have donated over 350 hours, 590 skin cancer screenings have been conducted, 1256 individuals have undergone DermaScan assessments of sun damage and over 900 UV reflectance photos have been taken; 235 children have submitted drawings of sun-safe families. Sixty-six schools or classrooms have registered to receive SunWise, a free Environmental Protection Agency award winning educational program about sun safety that targets youth in grades K-8.
2. "Families Play Safe in the Sun" and the successful program " Play Safe in the Sun" have gained greater awareness of the Women’s Dermatologic Society by national groups. WDS is an invited member of the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention and an active participant at their conferences. An excellent relationship with the Dermatology Nurses Association has been initiated; one of their members serves as a liaison on the Service Committee.
3. Created opportunities for our members of all ages to shine as volunteers in this collaborative effort in public education. Ten radio and TV interviews were conducted by volunteers in the regions visited by the campaign. Collaborative discussions conducted at community forums provide unique opportunities to interact with civic leaders in health and education in some of the cities visited. To be an ambassador for dermatology and medicine in general has had a great impact on the volunteers and also the public.

WDS/ASDS Joint Committee for Women Dermatologic Surgeons:

1. Established an electronic ListServ for WDS and ASDS members.
2. Hosted a tremendously successful luncheon at the ASDS/ACMMSCO meeting in October, 2005 in Atlanta.
3. Continued to promote networking and leadership among women derm surgeons.

WDS FOUNDATION:

WDS Foundation Board:

1. Provided financial oversight to new $1M 3M Foundation Grant.
2. Solicited private funding for Foundation, securing over $40,000.
3. Promoted the WDS Foundation in the newsletter, on the website (created on-line option for making donations) and through press releases.

TASK FORCES & OTHER ACTIVITIES:

Member Renewal Retreat Task Force:

1. Selected location and schedule for 2006 Member Renewal Retreat to be held in Boulder, CO on June 23-25, 2006.
2. Designed and mailed Retreat “Save the Date” Postcards and attractive registration brochures.
3. Confirmed all speakers, topics, and special events to happen at the Retreat including line dancing, Celestial Tea tasting, hikes, walks, sing-a-long, etc.

Play Safe in the Sun at LPGA Task Force:

1. "Play Safe in the Sun" LPGA initiative won the AAD Gold Triangle Award – a first for WDS!
2. Held the first WDS Media Day in NYC on May 16, 2005 and it was a huge success - drawing a crowd of nearly 80 editors/media representatives.
3. Completed 2 successful skin cancer screening events at LPGA tournaments in Stockbridge, Georgia, and Portland, Oregon, resulting in hundreds of people screened.

Historical Task Force:

1. Developed process for archiving WDS’ historical records, photos, and important documents at WDS Headquarters in San Francisco.
2. Working to resolve discrepancy with regard to terms listed for those who served as President in the early years of WDS.

Academic Dermatologists Task Force/Interest Group:

1. Developed new academic research grant program due to new funding from Ortho-Neutrogena.
2. Formed task force headed by Drs. Clara Curiel and Ilona Freiden who created a mission and goals for a new Interest Group.
3. Began planning for initial breakfast meeting to take place during the AAD Annual Meeting on March 3 in San Francisco.

Women in the Workforce Survey:

1. Initiated a survey as part of the WDS Annual Meeting Luncheon to determine derm workforce issues. It was designed as a tear-off postcard attached to the pink luncheon tickets. Results to be released in the WDS newsletter and possibly other vehicles in the future.

Dermatology Foundation Career Development Award:

1. Developed criteria for 3-year Career Development Award on Women’s Health Issues to be administered through the Dermatology Foundation, thanks to a $55K annual grant from Unilever. Began promoting grant opportunity to WDS members though newsletter and website.