Guidelines for Nominating New Members
Utah Women’s Forum | 2026–2027
Thank you for nominating a prospective member to the Utah Women’s Forum. New members strengthen our organization by sharing their knowledge, insights, energy, and commitment. These guidelines will help you shape a successful nomination.
Mission
The Utah Women’s Forum is a non-partisan, non-profit organization of women of outstanding accomplishment in diverse fields. Our purpose is to identify and bring together leaders in business, the professions, and civic life to build and foster a network of communication, enhance the status of women, and undertake selected community service. Through prominent speakers and programs on timely issues, the Forum seeks to enlighten and inform its members and to provide an open forum for the exchange of ideas. The Forum does not endorse public policy issues, individuals, or political candidates.
Key criteria for membership
We seek:
- Emerging, mid-career, and established leaders from the business, nonprofit, government, education, and cultural sectors.
- Diversity in age, political views, career paths, and ethnic and geographic backgrounds.
- Nominees who have demonstrated support for enhancing the status of women, shown through one or more examples of their work or volunteer activities.
What the Forum expects of members
- Active participation, including attendance at a minimum of three Forum events each year, whether monthly programs, small group dinners, special events, or social gatherings.
- Participation in Forum community service initiatives.
- A completed online profile at utahwomensforum.org, which strengthens our network of communication.
- Annual dues, currently set at $125.
Who may nominate, and when
The Membership Committee sets the schedule for accepting nominations and announces it by email, in the newsletter, and at member meetings. For 2026–2027, the deadlines are November 1, 2026 and May 1, 2027.
Forum members may nominate one woman during any period that nominations are open. A nominator must have been a member of the Forum for at least one year. A new member’s first year is devoted to her own integration into the Forum, which prepares her to coach and support the members she later nominates.
Before you nominate
Nominations are transparent. Tell your nominee that you are nominating her, and give her an overview of the Forum’s purpose, activities, and expectations. She should attend at least one program meeting, luncheon or evening program, so she can decide whether membership would benefit her.
What a complete nomination includes
- The completed nomination form, including two Forum members who know the nominee and are willing to speak to her qualifications. If you cannot provide two references, explain why other Forum members do not know her.
- Your nomination letter, maximum 500 words, addressing the five points listed in Section IV of the form.
- The nominee’s essay, maximum 500 words, addressing how she has supported the advancement of women and why she wishes to join the Forum.
- The nominee’s resume.
- A short bio of the nominee and a photo, if available.
How to submit your nomination
- Download the nomination form.
- Complete the form, including your nomination letter and the nominee’s essay.
- Save the completed form as a PDF.
- Email the form to Membership Committee Co-Chairs Kate Conyers, conyers.kate@gmail.com, and Michele Christiansen Forster, mmchristiansen@utcourts.gov, copying utahwomensforum@gmail.com. Attach the nominee’s resume, her bio, and her photo, if available.
- Use the subject line: Nomination — [Nominee First and Last Name]
- Submit by the November 1, 2026 or May 1, 2027 deadline.
The Membership Committee Co-Chairs will notify you of the outcome of the review. You then notify your nominee. New members receive a letter and welcome packet from the Forum.
Mentoring your new member
As her nominator, you serve as her buddy through her first year. Accompany her to events, make introductions, and check in periodically to gauge her engagement. These small steps help her feel welcome and comfortable in the Forum.
Please also introduce her at the first member meeting following her acceptance and again at the summer social.
Questions
Contact Membership Committee Co-Chairs Kate Conyers, conyers.kate@gmail.com, or Michele Christiansen Forster, mmchristiansen@utcourts.gov.
Thank you for investing your time to nominate a new member of the Utah Women’s Forum.