SOUTHFIELD – The Michigan Council of Women in Technology Foundation’s March symposium, held at Lawrence Technological University, was an attempt by the organization to reach out to college women, and help the group’s core membership, made up of professional women.

The symposium was also part of an effort to increase the number of women working in technology. A MCWTF study released in September documented a decrease in the number of women working in technology-related professions. The study showed that women made up 32 percent of the tech workforce in 2004, down from 41 percent in 1996. And MCWTF President Rosemary Bayer believes the percentage is even lower now.

?Only 20 percent of the technology workforce is female,? Bayer said. ?The number of women in technology is too small. So, anything we can do to do support the community is good. And, we also want to encourage younger women to stay in technology fields.?

She also said this kind of encouragement is needed because the tech field can be a lonely place for women.

?We feel so alone,? she said. ?Those of us who go to meetings find that we are one woman among 20 men. We just have to identify what we could call ?the secret sauce? to grow that number. And we do seem to be close. In a few years we have formed a group of 400 members. This is about building a community of people who have similar interests.?

An example of the need for the MCWTF forum was expressed by one of the symposium panelists who said she found herself working in a ?heaven for white, middle-aged men,? she decided to form her own business.

Bayer also said that the MCWTF decided to hold the forum because of the state of the economy, and the state of technology, but especially because of the state of women in technology.

?The economy kind of brings everything to the forefront of everyone?s mind,? she said. ?But, our driving force is the women.?

The panel topics presented at the symposium were developed through a survey of the MCWTF membership. Networking and mentoring were at the top of everyone?s list. Developing resumes and job searching followed.

Another symposium, Role Models and Career Stories, also was well attended. The audience for a three-member panel included professional women, women who are between jobs and one high school student. The panelists, Blue Cross Blue Shield Vice President Patricia Amaranth, iDesign and Planning founding principal Laura Clary AIA, and Arvin Mentor Director Roxanne Hayes, all agreed that women must speak up for themselves in the work place.

?When you speak from a position of power, you demonstrate that you know more than they (men) do,? said Hayes. ?And when you do that, the whole male-female thing will just disappear.?

One problem identified by several members of the audience is the troubled Michigan economy. They said that because so many people have lost their jobs, many professional women no longer find themselves in professional surroundings. The panelists agreed because of the slow economy, the power of networking has become even more important.

This story was written by Mitechnews.Com staff writer Rod Kackley, who covers Southeast Michigan. If you have story ideas for Kackley, you can email him at [email protected]