Our September Symposium - We Need You!

We are  thrilled to announce the return of our popular full-day symposium renamed as: 
                             Bringing It to The Table: Taste. Talk. Transform.

Our day-long symposium celebrates all areas of food, wine and hospitality, highlighting the talents and achievements of our members and experts in the industry. Sessions range from thought-provoking discussions about food, facilitated by industry leaders to fun cooking demos from well-known culinary experts.
                          NOW is the time to get involved!!
 Date: Saturday, September 30 - 9 am to 5 pm
Location: National Union Building – 918 F Street NW, an historic building with seven floors of meeting/event space and a full demonstration kitchen
Here's what you need to know: 

• We start at 9 am with a continental breakfast, then a keynote address by a notable woman in the industry (we have had Ellie Krieger, Sara Moulton, Carla Hall, and Pati Jinich in the past).
• The keynote is followed by four concurrent 40 minute breakout sessions, a break, and then four more concurrent sessions.
• Lunch is provided, typically salads, soups, sandwiches, and a dessert extravaganza featuring our pastry chef Dames. 
• The afternoon mirrors the morning with two 40-minute breakout sessions, featuring four options each to choose from.
• Operating concurrently with the programs, is a culinary “garage sale” which displays items donated by Dames to raise funds for scholarships donations include cookbooks, serving dishes, glassware, flatware, pitchers.
• The day concludes around 4 pm with a wine reception.

We need YOU - our chapter members - to get involved. The symposium requires the womanpower of everyone in the chapter. This event goes a long way in helping us achieve our mission of education and philanthropy.
Please select a committee where you can contribute your time and talent by contacting the chair at the email address provided. 

• Sponsorships: your own company can be highlighted by being a sponsor, or vendors you work with. Sponsors can be part of the day’s breakout sessions. We are also looking for a chair of the Sponsorship Committee. Contact Jill Collins at [email protected]

• Catering: Caterers/chefs from our own membership to provide food for the  three parts of the day: breakfast, lunch and the closing wine reception. We have a budget – we will PAY for your catering prowess. This is an important need that we’d like to nail down ASAP, and it’s a great way to highlight your talent and business in front of our chapter and the public. Contact Jill Collins at [email protected]

• Programming:  We need people with great ideas and contacts to pull together interesting and pertinent sessions, the backbone of the event. Sessions in the past have ranged from interactive dumpling-making to panels of food editors talking about how they plan coverage. We want topical issues along with lively conversation throughout the day. Volunteers will also help obtain titles, abstracts, biographical information, and equipment needs from the invited speakers, plus maintain communication with them to confirm logistics. Contact Tambra Raye Stevenson at [email protected]

• Day-Of Volunteers: Volunteers are needed for many positions, including registration, facility guides, session monitors, gift bag stuffing, session food distribution and more. Please contact Marie Steffany at [email protected], using the subject line "lesdamesdc volunteers." Note: Dame volunteers who wish to attend the sessions are afforded half-price tickets and may choose to work either morning or afternoon shifts.