Winter 2020 Updates

Greetings friends,

Here's hoping that 2020 is treating you well so far!

We have a lot of new stories to share with you, starting with a new saga from contributor Carrie about having her second child and subsequently returning to work, all while utilizing Milk Stork to ship breastmilk home to her new baby from as far away as Frankfurt, Germany, or checking it with her luggage on the way home from work on the rig offshore in Luanda, Angola! As ever, Carrie leaves us in awe of her powerful efforts to pursue a fulfilling career while providing for her family, together with her amazing partner. Congratulations Carrie on the wonderful new addition to your family!

We have a wealth of information from Jill about her journey to becoming a deputy pilot, and all the information you need to apply for the next SEAPA exam (it's close to the deadline now, but it's a good time to start thinking about getting ready for a future exam if the challenge of becoming a marine pilot has crossed your radar!).

Catherine wrote a piece for us about her first-ever hitch as a fully fledged 3/M since graduating from Kings Point, and offers encouragement to those still in school or thinking about giving a maritime career a try. 

The third annual She Sails Meetup happened last month, and quite a few returning attendees from the first two years were unable to make it, which meant there were a ton of new faces! We have collected the thoughts of a first-timer, as well as a couple of She Sails veterans about this amazing event. If you have wondered what goes on at these meetups, our recap should give you a good idea!

There are so many good things to come in 2020, including a few upcoming events which you can check out below. And - hold on to your hats - the first Sea Sisters Retreat will be happening in the San Francisco Bay Area, September 4-6, 2020! We are STOKED to make this event happen in 2020 (the majority of 2019 was monopolized by the 501(c)(3) application process) and can't wait to welcome you to the beautiful Marin Headlands next September. More details to follow, including the incredible guest speakers we've got lined up to inspire you. Save the date and get ready for registration, opening on March 4, 2020.

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Save The Date!

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Upcoming Events

EmPower Women's Leadership Conference | March 8-9, 2020
Ilani Resort, Ridgefield, WA

Presented by the Construction Center of Excellence, part of Renton Technical College in Washington State, the EmPower conference brings together women in trades careers to celebrate their success as leaders, inspire other women to find and embrace their inner leader, and showcase the possibilities when women succeed in breaking barriers.

If you are in the Pacific Northwest, consider attending this great event! You'll also find Elizabeth, Sea Sisters Founder, and Hali Boyd, a driving force behind The Seafarer Collective, speaking on panels alongside many other inspiring women at the EmPower Women's Leadership conference.

Click here to register.

Women In Maritime Leadership Conference | February 28-29, 2020
California Maritime Academy, Vallejo, CA

Now approaching its ninth year, Cal Maritime's Women in Maritime Leadership Conference supports the success of women in maritime. The 2020 conference will deliver a leadership development curriculum specific to the goals of professional women in the maritime industry. The 2020 program will feature tracks for "Developing Self" and "Developing Others," and structured networking opportunities throughout the two days. The conference will leave participants with applicable, industry-relevant, and effective leadership strategies to add to their toolkits and inspiration to effect positive change within their own careers and the maritime industry.

Click here to register.

UNITE Women Offshore Conference | July 9-10, 2020
Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business, Houston, TX

Women Offshore will host its 3rd annual Unite Conference July 9-10th, 2020. Save the date and get ready to join us in Houston! More details will be coming soon!

Visit https://womenoffshore.org/unite-event-2020 for information.

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Thank you for reading, and fair winds to you,

Sea Sisters

She Sails 2020 Recap

She Sails held their third meetup in Fall City, WA, earlier this month! While several of the original attendees couldn’t make it this year due to work conflicts, that made room for some new attendees to experience the fun!

Here’s what first-time attendee Fionna Boyle had to say about the event:

She Sails is a She Must. As a first time participant, I can’t say enough positive things! As an experienced conference goer for personal and professional growth, I was hopeful, excited and open-minded for the event that came so highly recommended by other women mariners.

Starting weeks before, Megan Rycraft (She Sails founder) coordinated logistics and engaged with participants. I was flying in and everyone was so helpful in offering transportation which, after an 8-hour layover, was above average to start!

Night one was fueled with a crackling fire in the community room, “the graze” full of delicious snacks for the picking, drinks and icebreakers. Crafting skills were indulged with tote bags for design and She Sails logo add-ons: perfect mementos to remember the weekend.

The bulk of the event comprised morning yoga sessions, great conversations on the importance of emotional intelligence, exercising the assertive voice, lessons learned from the loss of the El Faro and honoring the 33 fallen mariners.

Camaraderie, community building, care and compassion for all experiences and persons at the table created an intimate space for a small group of women to share their careers and the ebb and flow of life.

I can’t wait for She Sails 2021!

Another friend of ours, Christine Klimkowski, was in attendance for the third year running! We asked her to give some thoughts on the event as well.

One weekend in mid-January with some bad-ass ladies has become a life-affirming tradition.

When I first attended She Sails 3 years ago, I didn't really know what to expect. I did know one thing. I knew a few of the women attending and, for better or worse, we'd have a few glasses of wine and enjoy each other's company. And the same has been true every year: I didn't know everyone attending or how it would go, but I did know that I could and would have a good time.

The "secret sauce" year after year has been three-fold. First, while knowing some of the women involved, it has been amazing to meet women from all sectors of the maritime industry that I otherwise would have never met. I'm from the deep-sea world, and it's been great to meet my sisters in towing, dredging , tankers and great lakes; mates, masters, engineers and stewards alike.

Second, the organic questions, problems and solutions that arise from the unscripted social time has been amazing. Everything from periods to pornography, work gloves to podcasts, reading recommendations to sexual harassment, birth control to boots. If you've thought about it, wondered if other women have struggled with the same issue, or been curious about other points of view, we have talked about it! Even when the same subject has been brought up in a previous year, it's always refreshing to hear new thoughts and ideas.

Third, and the most surprising, no code-switching! There is a distinct moment every year where many of us have the same realization…"I/she haven’t/hasn't had to set up, qualify or overly describe this situation and EVERYONE GETS ITS?!?!?!" I think we, as women in the maritime industry, don't realize how much time and mental & emotional effort we put into describing our lives and issues at work to others outside the industry. It is so consistently refreshing to be with a group who just GETS IT!!

More on code-switching and minorities here: NPR's Code Switch Podcast & Wikipedia's article.

So, if you've thought about joining us before, if you'e wondering about attending a weekend that wasn't filled with workshops and panel discussions, JOIN US! Professional and personal development isn't just about structure; it's about relationships and community, too.

If you'd like to know more or have specific questions, please feel free to email me: Christine Klimkowski.

And one more attendee, Katrina Anderson, graciously wrote up her thoughts on her third She Sails Meetup!

The 3rd Annual She Sails women’s retreat took place over the weekend of January 17-19th surrounded by the picturesque mountains of Snoqualmie Pass at Fall City Farms, WA - not your normal locale for a get-together involving a bunch of sailors! However, an awesome retreat space to relax and reflect on our life on the water. The Northwest did not disappoint with wind and rain but as we know, sailors are a hearty bunch and we enthusiastically had a good time, not deterred by the weather in the least. As usual, the weekend was full of networking, relaxation, personal growth, and release. These ladies know how to have a weekend! We enjoyed yoga, good food, and conversation, along with exceptional sessions to hone our career-building skills.

This year’s topics were a bit heavier on the emotional side of sea-faring, but the format of the weekend really lends itself to group problem solving, brainstorming, and teamwork. The theme of the event this year was “Emotional Intelligence”. We learned about what it was, how to identify it, and how to build our personal emotional intelligence as a tool for future success. This led us into a very heartfelt group discussion and case study of the El Faro Tragedy. The El Faro crew is sorely missed by many in our group, and we were able to talk about the case in the context of both a healing and future problem-solving initiative. The seafaring community never wants to see tragedies like this happen, and we were actively engaged in the topic of how to foster healthier ship culture, so that crews can feel heard while still keeping order on board. It was a heavy topic to close the day, but the gals gathered at the bunk house for a communal meal and a heartfelt toast to those we lost.

She Sails is an entirely different experience that is hard to describe without actually participating in it. It has changed my life by introducing me to some spectacular ladies I never would have encountered in my days at sea. It makes friendships feel closer, even if we have half a world between us.

The ladies debriefed at the end of the weekend with a session to discuss logistics of future She Sails retreats. We discussed trying to coordinate outreach at sea to provide resources for sailors in trouble, both physically and mentally, as well as remedies for any professional issues that might need some outside guidance and help. Everyone involved re-committed to staying connected and having small meet-ups whenever they reach land. The group is still actively looking for the best way to advertise these meet-ups online, but for the moment we are just outreaching through social media and phone numbers exchanged.

Here’s to another year of sailing safe, and hope to see you at She Sails next year!! 

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Sincere thanks to Fionna, Christine, and Katrina for sharing their thoughts on She Sails 2020! Congrats to founder Megan Rycraft on another successful year!

She Sails Night 1

Dinner Party

SEAPA Exam Coming Up

The Southeast Alaska Pilots’ Association will hold examinations to select new trainees from April 6-10, 2020, at the Pacific Maritime Institute (PMI) in Seattle. Applications must be either postmarked or emailed by 2/15/20. Minimum qualifications and detailed application information can be found here, but applicants should know that no local knowledge or Alaska experience is required to apply. Depending on initial qualifications, the training program typically takes from 2-4 years. 

To read more about the process, and to ask Deputy Pilot Jill F. Russell any questions you might have about SEAPA, read her latest article!

Click here to apply to the SEAPA Marine Pilot Trainee Program examination! Application deadline is February 15, 2020.

Donation Drive 2019

Posted by Elizabeth Simenstad

Greetings, friends!

Are you thinking of a Christmas gift for your friend or loved one who has everything? We have an idea for you!

You can give in honor or memory of a loved one.

A gift in someone’s honor is a threefold gift: you’ll feel good knowing that you have given in support of a worthy cause; your honoree will receive a sparkly surprise in their inbox to let them know you donated in their honor (with a message from you if you so choose); and your gift will benefit Sea Sisters around the world in 2020!

For those who have given in memory, we will commemorate your loved one in a social post. We are humbled and grateful to those who have donated to us in memory of someone special.

Want to stretch your donation dollars even further?

You can now search a database for your company right in the donation form to see if they participate in donation matching! You can select your company and make your donation, and Donorbox will then forward details to you on how to apply for a donation match from your employer. This makes it easier for you to give more without straining your wallet, win-win!

We thank you for your consideration and wish you a happy holiday season, wherever you are in the world, however you celebrate.

With love,

The Sea Sisters

USCG Proceedings Special Issue Highlights Maritime Women

by Elizabeth Simenstad

The United States Coast Guard has recently published a special issue of their Proceedings journal, highlighting maritime women across the scope of the industry, from deck and engineering to maritime executives and shoreside professionals.

This issue is packed cover to cover with awesome stories about inspiring women, so be sure to take advantage of the holiday week and enjoy some really great reading! Go to USCG Proceedings to check it out.