High Plains Chapter

President Vernell Rhodes-Lester

High Plains Chapter was chartered on February 2, 1992 as part of Federally Employed Women’s Rocky Mountain Region. High Plains Chapter was formed to provide east Denver area Federal employees a number of opportunities:

  1. the opportunity to supplement agency training with training at all levels of FEW: local, Regional, and National.
  2. the opportunity to develop leadership, planning, organizing, and delegating skills by serving as a Chapter Officer or Chapter Chairperson.
  3. the opportunity to be part of a local support group, drawing support from that group as well as being a friend and colleague to others.

High Plains Chapter supports the mission of National FEW, a national professional women’s organization established in 1968 in Washington, D.C. FEW

  1. strives to eliminate sex discrimination in the federal government;
  2. enhances opportunities for the career advancement of women;
  3. establishes and maintains with federal agencies, working relationships that advocate the fair application of EEO and personnel laws, policies, procedures, and practices;
  4. improves the quality of life for women by influencing Congressional and Administration actions;
  5. works continually to achieve a unified and diverse membership that values and capitalizes on similarities and differences at all levels of the organization.

FEW has an active Legislative program which includes the development and execution of an Annual Legislative Agenda. FEW also has four focus areas: Compliance, Diversity, Legislative, and Training. The National FEW Web site is www.few.org.

MEETINGS: High Plains Chapter is reformatting its meeting schedule. For more information contact Chapter President Vernell Rhodes-Lester.
Advance your Federal career by increasing your knowledge, skills, and abilities! Become an active participant in High Plains Chapter’s local training and career development program. At each monthly chapter meeting, there is a trainer, consultant, or other guest speaker, discussing a timely career-related topic.

Stay up to date with High Plains Chapter’s quarterly newsletter filled with useful information! High Plains Chapter also has a portable library of training materials – books, cassettes, and videos – which members may borrow.

Also related to a member’s personal training and career development is High Plains Chapter’s Scholarship Program. High Plains Chapter often sponsors at least one delegate to each FEW Rocky Mountain Regional Program and to each FEW National Training Program. Also, each year High Plains Chapter sponsors a delegate to the Colorado Women’s Leadership Coalition’s leadership training for Chapter Officers and Board Members. The High Plains Chapter delegate participates fully in these training programs, and provides a presentation and handouts to the membership after the completion of training.

Advance your Federal career by honing your leadership, planning, organizing, and delegating skills! High Plains Chapter members have the opportunity to develop leadership, planning, organizing, and delegating skills by volunteering to serve as a Chapter Officer or Chapter Chairperson. Chapter Officer positions consist of Chapter President, Chapter Vice-President, Chapter Secretary, and Chapter Treasurer.

Chapter Chairperson positions include, but are not limited to, Awards Chairperson, Compliance Chairperson, Diversity Chairperson, Fund-Raising Chairperson, Legislative Chairperson, Membership and Publicity Chairperson, Newsletter Editor, and Chapter Website Coordinator.

Contribute to Aurora and Denver community activities through participation in FEW! Through various fund-raising activities, High Plains Chapter makes regular donations to the Denver Rescue Mission, a homeless shelter which assists homeless men and homeless families; Family Tree, Inc., which operates a shelter for women and children in domestic violence situations; Warren Village, a nonprofit organization which helps motivated low-income single parents move from public assistance to self-sufficiency; and The Gathering Place, a safe, daytime refuge to women and children living on the streets of Denver. High Plains Chapter has also contributed funds to Canine Companions for Independence, an organization which trains puppies to become companion/service dogs for persons with disabilities; and the Stephanie LeBlanc Fund which assisted a teenager in Aurora, CO, who was badly burned in a terrible accident. High Plains Chapter regularly provides food baskets to needy families at Thanksgiving and in December of each year.

Let High Plains Chapter assist and support you as you advance in your Federal career! You are invited to contact the High Plains Chapter President to obtain additional information!

Chapter President Vernell Rhodes-Lester
Office telephone: 303.370.7561
Office email: Vernell.Rhodes@med.va.gov