The radio annual (1956)

AWRT Maintains U Chapters In America By BETTE DOOLITTLE AWRT Eastern Area Vice-President IT WAS a year full of progress for American Women in Radio and Television, Inc. A year in which membership grew to on alltime high of 1,325. President Jane Dalton of WSPA, Spartanburg, S. C. and all of AWRT are to be congratulated on the growth of the organization, its increased activity and the valuable service to its members in the bringing together of women with something in common — employment in the broadcasting industry. i^ ik i^ I The exchange of ideas and informcstion when I it is undertaken by women is always of great I and far-reaching importance and has been demonstrated in AWRT. We have seen small local chapters form with no more than the seven required minimum of members, women who got together to exchange ideas and information, and within a few months that ; membership has doubled and even tripled I with a program of activity underway which reached all the women in the area in the broadcasting field, cooperating in community and industry projects and furthering their own value and stature by helping one another. AWRT's 1,325 members come from every state, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Canada. There are 26 chapters, with eleven of them chartered in 1955. The majority of members are employed by radio and television stations and networks in widely diversified jobs: broadcasters, disc jockeys, administrators, program directors, continuity directors, lawyers, owners, librarians, and women in traffic, writing, publicity and promotion, education, film, soles and music. i^ ik i^ Another important segment comes from advertising agencies, package agencies and public relations firms. These women are account executives, administrators, writers, actresses, publicists and in agency production. Companies that want to reach Mrs. Consumer have home economists and consumer service women in membership, too. Government agencies and public service organizations also are represented. There are also many freelance writers and performers, casting directors, researchers, industry consultants, and women writing for the important broadcasting trade press. AWRT has demonstrated that it has something of value for every woman who is employed in broadcasting, either part or full time, wherever she might be. News and Views, the AWRT monthly newsletter continues to carry news to every member. All chapter activities are reported, outstanding success stories of members and reports from its board and national committees. Eleven national committees function in AWRT: EUgibility, Constitution and By-Laws, Membership, Projects, Public Relations, Scholarship, Publicity, Information Services, Convention, Industry and Information and Chapter Services. The latter two are new committees, having been created in 1955. i^ ik ^ The AWRT 1955 Convention held in Chicago in May, was the largest in its history, with a registration of 529. The first AWRT Scholarship was awarded to Heather Woodard, 21-year old student at the University of Miami. Panels, speeches and business meetings gave to every delegate useful information, and more significantly, inspiration to improve her own work and contribute her share to the progress of the industry. The McCall Award again was a highlight, with seven women in radio and television rece-iving gold mikes as symbols of their achievements and service to the listening and viewing public. 1^ iV 1^ The AWRT Scholarship deserves special mention here, since it is the pioneer effort by women in broadcasting to encourage college women to enter the field. The $500 cash award is given to a woman in her junior year in college, who is majoring in radio and/or television, and with the scholarship goes the guidance and counsel that the winner may draw upon from the membership of AWRT. The Scholarship can be best described as the faith and enthusiasm radio and television women have in their own work and in the future of the industry. AWRT has great plans for the future. The national convention will be held in Boston in April of 1956, with Heloise Parker Broeg of WEEI as Convention Chairman. In 1957 the convention will be in St. Louis, and in 1958 the West Coast. AWRT has come a long way since its organizing convention in New York City, in April, 1951 when it had a total of 358 members. But we consider our work only begun and will continue our efforts to build the organization. 81