National Professional Chapter

The Association for Women in Communications began in 1909, when seven female students at the University of Washington in Seattle formed the women’s journalism society, Theta Sigma Phi.  As word spread about this dynamic group, student chapters quickly formed across the country and later evolved into professional chapters.  National full story. 
 
Springfield, Missouri Professional Chapter

Efforts to organize a local chapter began in April 1983.  Diana Cowan, Paula Ringer and Karen Parry attended the Women in Communications Midwest Regional Conference in Kansas City where they met professional women who inspired them to form a local chapter.  Cowan and Ringer, then co-workers at KOLR 10, gathered their friends and contemporaries and began extolling the virtues of belonging to a national organization for female communicators.   

Camaraderie was soon built through meetings and fundraising activities to obtain the capital needed to start the organization.  There was no stopping this determined group of women.  Everyone shared in the duties, where Deb Gallion agreed to be the first president.

Final approval for chartering was received in October, 1985, when Tina Hacker, Vice President of the Midwest Region wrote in a letter to the Board of Directors stating, “this chapter has been an inspiration for the entire Midwest Region.” Nineteen women were listed as charter members on the application for the Greater Springfield, Missouri Area Professional Chapter.  The charter was officially received later that year at the National Professional Conference in Indianapolis.

Over the past 100 years, the organization has experienced a variety of name changes; however, the core focus continues to promote women through programs that emphasize education, professional development, and networking opportunities across all communications fields.