Engaging in fair trade is essential for the future since it will help save the planet and also help women build sustainable communities around the world. This was the message from Nancy Jones , Director of Chicago Fair Trade (www.chicagofairtrade.org), in a presentation to OWIT representatives at the recent Board meeting in Chicago. (The principles of fair trade include fair compensation for labor and care for the environment.) We are at the point where what is good for our planet is actually good for business, she said, adding that the 55 organizations that make up Chicago Fair Trade are launching a campaign to make Chicago a Fair Trade City.

Diane MacDonald, Nancy Jones and Maureen Sanderson

Over a dozen exhibits ranging from coffee from South America to handicrafts from Sri Lanka were part of a unique Fair Trade Fair that kicked off our action-packed Spring Board meeting, hosted by the Chicago Chapter and attended by representatives from our chapters around the world. A wide range of topics were discussed at the two-day board meeting, including the upcoming Annual Conference in Mexico, and many best practices in running chapters were also shared. OWIT's newest chapter Hampton Rhodes represented by President Karen Bland , participated in the meeting that included representatives from chapters in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Mexico and South America.

Kudos to OWIT Chicago President Diane MacDonald and her entire team for being such wonderful hosts and to the generous sponsors of the Spring Board Meeting, including Baker & McKenzie, Barnes/Richardson, Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, Horwath, LR International, and Roanoke Trade. "Hosting this board meeting was a big step for us and it created a larger awareness for OWIT in the Chicago area, said Diane. It's a good way to get members involved and to demonstrate that your individual chapter is part of a larger organization."