ANEW’s Beginning
A Network of Evansville Women creation began in November of 1980 when Nan Francis and Sylvia Neff Weinzapfel discussed the idea of a professional women’s network. They decided to pursue what they agreed was an intriguing idea when Nan, a Clinical Research Associate for Mead Johnson, returned to Evansville from Detroit in January 1981.
Sylvia, then Assistant Director of Continuing Education for Indiana State University-Evansville, knew of the university’s interest in and support of programs for women. The Office of Continuing Education agreed to finance the launching of a professional women’s network, to contribute clerical support and to give Sylvia release time to coordinate the network.
Several women representing a variety of professions were invited to a luncheon meeting to see whether others were interested informing a network.
Those attending that first luncheon meeting on February 19, 1981 included Margo Brown, Pat Carr, Tonya Goodman, Martha Julian, Joyse Rivers, Mable Shelley, Nancy Stephens Byrd, Carole Utley, Kit VanOst, Nan Francis, and Sylvia Weinzapfel.
It was decided that there was, indeed, interest in forming a professional women’s network and that each attendee would invite three other women to attend a luncheon meeting. Over 30 women attended the March 17th, 1981 meeting.
Today, A Network of Evansville Women (ANEW) is a growing independent organization providing a forum of networking, education, and friendship for professional women in the Evansville area.
Monthly meetings offer the membership a wide range of education and informative programs. ANEW’s website, membership directory and monthly newsletters facilitate contact between members for both professional and personal growth. ANEW members can be found in leadership roles in business, industry, government and the professions.