Message From the WIN Region IV Chairman of the Board

After two years in office as the Women in Nuclear Region IV chairman, it has been a fantastic journey.

I encourage all of you to attend the Region IV Conference this year at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. The conference is free to WIN members in Region IV, and doubling or tripling up in rooms can reduce your room costs. The applications, which can be found on our website at www.winregioniv.com, should be submitted by May 1. If you are interested in going, let SONGS know via e-mail as soon as possible at women.in.nuclear@sce.com.

Region IV is also hosting a contest with the theme “Save the Earth from the Giant Asteroid” to encourage student interest in math, science and engineering. WIN chapters should encourage kindergarteners through 12th graders to submit projects, including those created with online media such as YouTube. Entries may be submitted until June 15, and awards will be presented this summer, with prizes of up to $2,000.

As I leave office in July, I look back over the last two years at our accomplishments, including continued support of our university chapters. We helped them attend the legislative conference in Washington, D.C., where we meet with our senators and representatives. This year we encouraged our legislators to consider more funding for nuclear and for our universities. Last year, I rode with 11 students from Missouri University of Science and Technology-Rolla to Washington, D.C.—what a trip. This year I flew with two Lincoln University Students and one University of Missouri-Nuclear Science and Engineering Institute, ensuring that Region IV was well represented.

We also have two new university chapters being established in Region IV—one at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo., and one at Linn State University in Linn, Mo. In addition, we are trying to establish chapters at universities in Texas, Oregon and Kansas.

We had our first regional conference in 2009 in Washington, D.C. We had a bus tour to Dominion Training Center and were greeted by David Christian, chief executive officer of Dominion, who graciously sponsored a tour of Surry Plant and a dinner in Williamsburg. In addition, we heard lecturers from an author and discussions by three chief executive officers and a vice president from Luminant, Callaway and Columbia Generating Station. Speakers also discussed NRC litigations, nuclear security and the future of nuclear. We visited a winery and saw presentations from all chapters about their activities throughout the year. It was a great time and a good beginning, and this year promises another exciting conference at SONGS.

Among our other accomplishments, we formed a WIN Region IV Board and bylaws, opened Region IV to both women and men, named an official webmaster and created WIN apparel.

We held a WIN Missouri rally day to encourage passage of the construction bill in progress for building the Callaway 2 Plant. WIN chapter members from Callaway Plant, University of Missouri WIN and Missouri University Science and Technology participated, several WIN members testified before the Senate committee in support of plant construction. Another Missouri legislative day is being planned, which will provide a template for other WIN chapters throughout Region IV.

We continue to support Math Day for Girls at Lincoln University and other activities around our region to help mentor and sustain a diverse work force that offers us the opportunity to succeed and use our gifts. We continue to encourage optimism and growth.

This past year, Region IV established the Nuclear People of the Year Award. Four individuals received this honor: Adam Heflin, chief executive officer and senior vice president of Ameren and sponsor of WIN Region IV; Fadi Diya, vice president of nuclear at Callaway Plant and executive director of WIN Region IV; David Christian, chief executive officer of Dominion Generation; and Carol Berrigan, senior director of infrastructure at NEI and WIN director. Without these individuals, the above activities would not have been implemented. A very heartfelt thank you goes to Fadi Diya, whose continued hours of WIN meetings and support for our region has made it the success that it is.

I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you.

Sincerely,

Janese A. Neher, PE, Consulting Engineer, Callaway Plant and Ph.D. candidate, University of Missouri-Nuclear Science and Engineering Institute