Greetings! Dear CWIT Friends, April is a most important month for Charleston Women in International Trade, as it marks our annual celebration of our vocations, our city, and our colleagues in trade. I hope that you are planning to attend the CWIT Annual Banquet event on April 12th at the Charleston Place Hotel. If you haven’t registered, there is a link on this page to the registration information, so please do plan to join us. General Dan Christman of the US Chamber of Commerce, the keynote speaker, will discuss the need for American leadership in the global economy.

Many of you are looking forward to warmer weather and the end of the school year when you can enjoy some vacation time with family and friends. CWIT, too, will take a break in July and August, with regular programming starting up again in September. But before that, please note on your calendars the CWIT monthly luncheons in May and June. On May 10th, we will have a chance to learn about Noisette, a 3,000 acre city-within-a-city in North Charleston, and, on June 7th, to hear what it’s like for a woman to work overseas in international business and what effect the local culture can have on job effectiveness. -- Ann Watts, CWIT Chair

This year's Annual Banquet keynote speech by General Dan Christman will highlight the "Global Economy: The Need For American Leadership". Join us for an exciting evening event at the "Soiree at the Charles Towne Exchange" held at the Charleston Place Hotel in beautiful downtown Charleston, SC on Tuesday, April 12, 2005, starting 6:30 pm. View details at www.cwitsc.org\documents\Newsletter05_Apr.asp.
-- Pam Everitt, Banquet Chair

"The Exchange" Silent Auction starts from 6:30 until 7:30 pm, and there are some great packages up for bid! Don't forget to bring your checkbook ~ will not be set up to take credit or debit cards. While your shopping, please keep in mind, CWIT's Annual Banquet event is the funding mechanism which provides much of the necessary revenue to financially support CWIT's annual scholarship awards, Woman-of-the-Year award, and active participation in OWIT and the silent auction is a vital part of CWIT's fundraising efforts. Visit www.cwitsc.org\documents\Newsletter05_Apr.asp to preview auction items. See you there!
-- Sandra Klein, Fundraising Chair

Anne M. Moïse, ret. Vice President for Public Relations, Port Security, Human Resources, and General Service, for SC State Ports Authority (SCSPA), has been named recipient of the Charleston Woman in International Trade (CWIT) 2005 "Woman of the Year" (WOTY) award. In recent years Moïse successfully led the SCSPA's effort to increase port security and federal funding. Moïse retired in 2004 but continues to serve on security-related projects at the SCSPA and is highly respected for her maritime and security expertise in addition to her vast knowledge of international trade and over 30 years experience in the maritime industry. She is well known by many editorial boards and media leaders throughout this state for her professionalism and dedication to our state ports and South Carolina.

Moïse will be presented the award at the CWIT 2005 Annual Banquet April 12, 6:30 pm at the Charleston Place Hotel.
-- Jackie Adamson, Awards/ Scholarship Chair

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Two well deserving international business students, Bradley Whitley and Jessica Shuler, have been named recipients of CWIT's scholarship awards. Bradley Whitley attends the College of Charleston, and is majoring in International Business/Global Logistics & Transportation. Mr. Whitley was formerly employed as a part-time Stay-in-School employee with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol from 2002-2003. He was employed in the Entry Branch under the supervision of Mrs. Jackie Nolen. He is currently a part-time employee at Mediterranean Shipping Company. Jessica Shuler attends Clemson University and is majoring in Language (Spanish) and International Trade. She is Vice-President of the Clemson Language and International Society, in addition to membership in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, The Golden Key Honors Society, and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. In her spare time, she enjoys playing intramural soccer and frisbee. She has a GPA of 3.9. Both will be presented the awards at the CWIT 2005 Annual Banquet April 12, 6:30 pm at the Charleston Place Hotel. -- Jackie Adamson, Awards/ Scholarship Chair

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April 8th, will be a special day in the world of the Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT) as the First South African Chapter in Johannesburgholds its first meeting. Our chapter has offered some suggestions for "getting off the ground". We are excited about the "International Growth" of OWIT and expect to see more chapters as the year progresses. Visit OWIT on the web at www.owit.org. If you are a member of CWIT and wish to access OWIT's "membership only" pages, click [email protected] to send an e-mail to request CWIT's chapter password. -- Jackie Adamson, OWIT Rep

Maylyn Thomas, NAFTA Specialist, Robert Bosch Corp

Background: A native of Charleston, SC, Maylyn returned to the Lowcountry upon graduating from Clemson University -- where she earned a BS degree in Financial Management, with a concentration in Investments -- to begin a career in Finance.  After a period of job searching, she became employed by Robert Bosch Corporation – Automotive Division in 2002, working in the International Trade Department.  As a NAFTA Specialist, Maylyn's responsibilities include, but are not limited to completing/issuing NAFTA Certifications, Manufacturer's Affidavit's, and CAFÉ Certifications to the Bosch customer base, efficiently and effectively.  Through her employment with Bosch, Maylyn has become CWIT member, and since then, has had the opportunity to represent CWIT and Bosch at the National OWIT conference held in Tampa, FL November 2004.  Outside of her career life, Maylyn is actively involved in ministry, both with her church, Macedonia Baptist Church in the Murray Hill Community, and the LightHolders Ministries, where she is co-founder.

Recent Accomplishments: Since employed by Robert Bosch Corporation, Maylyn has had the opportunity to prepare for the US Customs Broker test, and today, she stands as a licensed Customhouse Broker.

Affiliations: CWIT - Member and former Historian/Goodwill Chair; Macedonia Baptist Church – member and Sunday School teacher; LightHolders Ministries – co-founder.

Sean Kittrell, Assistant U.S. Attorney, presented an overview of Operation Seahawk at CWIT's Tuesday, March 8, 2005 field trip event. Operation Seahawk is an office compiled of numerous government agencies working together for providing homeland security solutions. Spearheaded by Senator Hollings, this operation is one of his accomplishments as a South Carolina State Senator. Operation Seahawk is a Joint Terrorism Task Force, the trend of the future in terms of homeland security.The goal of this task force is to act as a deterrent to criminals locally and internationally and also to be a proactive force against crime. CWIT thanks Sean Kittrell and Pamela Zaresk for allowing CWIT members to have an opportunity to see this high security facility in action. -- Tameika Anderson, Publicity Committee

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April 12: Keynote Speaker Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Daniel W. Christman, Senior Vice President for International Affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce will deliver a speech as on the "Global Economy: The Need For American Leadership" at CWIT's 3rd Annual Banquet, Tuesday Evening, April 12 at the Charleston Place Hotel in downtown Charleston. Networking and cocktails starting at 6:00 pm and dinner at 7:00 pm. Cost is $75.00. Sponsorship Opportunities are available.

May 10: John Knott, President and Co-Founder of the Noisette Company, will present the “The New American City” at CWIT’s Tuesday, May 10, 2005, luncheon meeting at the Radisson Airport Hotel, 5991 Rivers Avenue, North Charleston, SC 29406, starting at 11:45 AM. Cost: $20 members/$25 non-members.

June 14: Dalhi Myers, Attorney, Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, will present the "Women in International Business (What They Don't Tell You in School)" at CWIT’s Tuesday, June 14, 2005, luncheon meeting at the Radisson Airport Hotel, 5991 Rivers Avenue, North Charleston, SC 29406, starting at 11:45 AM. Cost: $20 members/$25 non-members.

RSVP via email: [email protected] or by phone: 803.737.0488. For additional information visit CWIT on the web at www.cwitsc.org.