NEWS RELEASE 09-04
May 11, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WomenVenture returns as part of EAA AirVenture this year, with an Oshkosh "first" – an all-female air show scheduled for Friday, July 31, 2009. Confirmed performers in this first-time event include Melissa Andrejewski, Julie Clark, Chandy Clanton, Susan Dacy, Debbie Gary, Jill Long, Misty Blues, Debby Rihn-Harvey, Teresa Stokes, Patty Wagstaff, and Suzanne Oliver doing skywriting. Also, Connie Bowlin will be flying a P-51 Mustang during the Warbirds segment of the show that day.
"This is the first-ever, all-woman air show at EAA AirVenture, and it’s just one part of what we have planned for WomenVenture," said WAI President Peggy Chabrian. "We’re delighted that WomenVenture was not a one-time only event and that our partnership with EAA to celebrate women’s accomplishments in aviation while attracting new women pilots and enthusiasts continues for a second year."
A WomenVenture Theater in the Woods program is scheduled for that Friday evening which features leading women in aviation. Moderated by WAI President Peggy Chabrian and Martha King of King Schools, the invited participants are NASA Space Shuttle Commander Eileen Collins, Lt Col Jill Long of the US Air Force, who has flown more than 50 combat missions, and Jessica Cox, who became a pilot even though she has no arms. A Women Airforce Service Pilot (WASP) will likely be part of the program as well.
EAA Vice President Elissa Lines, who, with Peggy Chabrian, is the co-chair of WomenVenture, says, "WomenVenture is a chance to build camaraderie and to use our collective voice to inspire and motivate women of all ages to get engaged in aviation – for fun and/or as part of their career aspirations. There are so many avenues and opportunity – taking the first step is key."
Women in Aviation will kick-off the activities of Friday, July 31, with a celebrity breakfast at 8 am held at EAA’s Nature Center. After the breakfast, women pilots will gather at 10:30 in AeroShell Square for a group picture of all the women pilots gathered at AirVenture.
T-shirt distribution will begin on Monday, July 27th at the EAA Welcome Center. T-shirts will also be available at the 8:00 am WAI breakfast on Friday, July 31st as well as the WAI booth #B-2041. The logbook will be available at the EAA Welcome Center and the WAI Breakfast.
"We had a sea of pink t-shirts last year with hundreds of women pilots. This year, we hope for an even bigger sea of lavender t-shirts for our big photo," says Chabrian. "What’s more important than t-shirts, though, is the visibility that this gathering gives to women at AirVenture."
Women interested in taking part in WomenVenture (and obtaining their free t-shirts for the photo) may register beginning on Monday, July 27, 2009, at the EAA Member Welcome Center on site. For more information and a complete schedule of events, please visit www.airventure.org/attractions/womenventure.html.
To purchase tickets for the WAI Celebrity Breakfast, please call 937.839.4647.
Women in Aviation, International is a nonprofit 501(C)(3) organization dedicated to providing networking, mentoring and scholarship opportunities for women and men who are striving for challenging and fulfilling careers in the aviation and aerospace industries. For more information about the Conference and about WAI, contact WAI at 3647 State Route 503 South, West Alexandria, OH 45381, Phone (937) 839-4647; Fax (937) 839-4645 or through www.wai.org.
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Contact:
Connie Lawrence
Women in Aviation International
937-839-4647 Phone
937-839-4645 Fax