What is FEW's National Training Program (NTP)?

It is NOT a conference dedicated to training of Federal Women's Program Managers (FWPM) -- but it is an excellent source of training for FWPMs and other EEO professionals.

It is NOT a technical conference for employees in the contracting, procurement, computer, or planning fields -- but it does provide outstanding opportunities for individuals who want to advance in those fields.

It is NOT a conference for women only -- but each year thousands of women meet together to share experiences and build skills.

It is NOT a conference restricted to individuals who are members of Federally Employed Women -- but it is planned and staffed by FEW and is the location of the annual meeting of the membership of the organization and its' National Board of Directors.

The training of federal employees for career enhancement and improved public service has been one of FEW's primary objectives since its inception and the NTP is a major component of the program put in place to achieve that objective. Aware that quality training in career development and help in developing their leadership potential is essential for success, FEW sponsored its first annual training conference in the summer of 1970 with a keynote address and four training sessions. Since that time, the NTP has evolved into an event with more than 150 workshops and more than 2000 attendees.

Each year various federal agencies reach large numbers of their employees by offering special training sessions. In these Agency Forums, a popular trend in the agency has been to address equal employment opportunity issues including the Federal Women's Program. Agencies find it very beneficial to gather employees in one place to share successes from the previous year and to plan for progress in the year to come.

Large plenary sessions are also a part of the NTP tradition. Each year, keynote speakers are selected who will education and motivate, inspire and challenge. Speakers have included such luminaries as: columnist Ellen Goodman, feminist Betty Friedan, former Secretary of Defense Casper Weinberger, writer Linda Ellerbee, Rep. Shirley Chisholm, Astronaut Mae Jemison, and OPM Director Kay Coles James. Sessions of this type are designed to enhance the education experience of each attendee.

As the annual meeting of the membership of FEW, a number of activities are related to the business of the organization. Attendance at these functions is not restricted and all conference registrants are welcome. Among those activites is the announcement of the winners of FEW's national awards. The program includes three major awards: the Distinguished Service Award, given to a person outside the organization who has shown courage and leadership in promoting the goals of FEW; the Barbara Boardman Tenant Award, recognizing the FEW member who has consistently served the organization in an outstanding manner; and the Helen R. Dudley Chapter Achievement Award, presented to a chapter to recognize outstanding performance during the program year. Numerous other chapter awards are also presented.

Networking is another important aspect of the NTP. Because of the large number of attendees from many locations and many government agencies, the NTP provides an excellent opportunity for making new contracts and renewing old ones. The NTP week schedule has traditionally included an event designed to facilitate this interaction and training sessions to teach networking techniques are included as well.

One popular location for networking is the exhibit hall. Exhibits became a part of the NTP in 1974 and have continued to be a vital part of the learning experience. Typically, the exhibit hall contains displays sponsored by government agencies, major government suppliers, management and training consultants, FEW chapters and regions, and private sector companies. However, the exhibit hall is not just an entertainment venue. Exhibitors are selected expressly to provide attendees with the access to the tools they need to improve productivity and enhance job skills.

Now in its 35th year, FEW's NTP offers something for everyone. But first and foremost, it focuses on providing quality training and educational opportunities.