The Northwest Georgia Chapter No. 365 of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) recently received the "Best Use of Partner" award at the 2008 annual national convention held in Las Vegas, NV. The award recognized the NAWIC chapter's partnering with Home Depot earlier this year in a program that helped women learn basic home repair and maintenance skills while also promoting NAWIC.
During the event, NAWIC members worked in conjunction with female (and a few male) experts to show women how to do such things as operate tools properly, cut and hang trim/moulding, do drywall patching and sanding, install exterior lighting, install faucets and toilets, and install window treatments.
Sherry Sullivan, CIT of Ready Mix USA, LLC and Angie McElroy, CIT of CW Matthews, spearheaded the event, working with Monica Frederick, Home Depot's district human resource manager. Home Depot assisted with designing event flyers and distributed "bag stuffers" for two weekends prior to the event to enhance promotion and attendance. NAWIC members sent flyers via e-mail, dropped off flyers at local businesses, and posted the event on a number of construction organization and community event calendars.
The four-hour event educated more than 60 women (and even a few men). Every participant left with a cloth Home Depot bag of related promotional items, plus information on NAWIC.
