Newsletter July 2021

JULY MEETING …July 14, 2021 on ZOOM

Margalit Murray

SUPERVISORY SPECIAL AGENT, FOREIGN SERVICE & DIPLOMATIC SERVICES, US STATE DEPARTMENT

Margalit grew up in Hilo, Hawaii and the Northern Virginia area. She is a graduate of Boston University (B.A. in Political Science and International Relations) and the George Washington University (M.A. International Law and Security). Margalit received the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship to conduct independent research on how women’s roles were influenced by social and political organizations in Kuwait in 2001, arriving there the day before 9/11.

In 2004, Margalit joined the State Department and has served overseas at U.S. embassies in Beirut, Kabul, Tel Aviv and Buenos Aires. Domestically, Margalit served in the Diplomatic Services Washington Field Office and in their Headquarters where she managed federal investigations into human trafficking, visa and passport fraud, sexual assault, child sexual abuse and identify fraud.

Most recently, Margalit served as a legislative affairs liaison representing the Department of State’s policies and priorities to Congress. She has extensive experience working across the inter-agency as well as with foreign partners on U.S. foreign policy goals and programs. She recently completed a Visiting Fellowship (2020-2021) in the Counterterrorism and Public Policy Program at the Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University. Her research at Duke focused on whether the State Department takes enough risk in the conduct of diplomacy to achieve its strategic goals.

Margalit’s next posting will be to serve as the Senior Regional Security Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Montevideo, Uruguay.

4-Minute Special: Paula Wells, TYPE SEVEN

If you know anything about the Enneagram, right beside the number “7” is my picture.  Type Sevens are extroverted, optimistic, versatile, spontaneous (impulsive might be a better word), playful, high-spirited, and practical.  Sevens are constantly seeking new and exciting experiences – BUT, if focused, and not too distracted, they can accomplish a great deal.

Let me explain.

7 states I’ve lived in.  11 houses owned. 27 residences. 4 college degrees. 2 certificates (working on a third and a fourth). 2 children/2 step-children = 4 great kids. 2 husbands (one at a time).  3 tattoos.  0 broken bones.  4 jobs (at the same time). 3 businesses I’ve owned (sold one and might buy another). 3 law licenses (NC, MD, MA).  11 countries and 4 continents visited. 5 professional or civic organization memberships right now. 993 friends on Facebook (really?).  60 years old.  Still working on that 1 book.  God only knows how many bottles of wine.

Someone posted on Facebook today that “It’s okay not to be busy.”  I guess I should look into that.

Right now, I’m very happy being a business owner (Mobility Plus: We sell scooters, wheelchairs, ramps, lifts, and all kinds of things to help people move, age in place, and be safe), a business lawyer, a co-pastor (Second Reformed UCC in Lexington, with my husband), and a part-time adjunct professor for the UNCG graduate accountancy program.

I’m sure you are wondering what hole I’m trying to fill – and I’ve wondered that myself.  But I’m pretty content.  My own spiritual director says I’m the healthiest Type 7 he’s ever known.  Can I do everything well?  Surely not, right?  Jack of all trades and master of none?  Maybe.  But I don’t try to do everything full time.  Maybe I was born for the “gig” economy.

What I’ve learned to do is laugh – at myself, mostly.  I try to take joy in life – to entertain people in our home (featuring my husband’s fantastic cuisine), to find time to travel (the pandemic was torture for me) and to enjoy all the kids, especially now that they’ve grown up and moved away.

My life is lived in jubilant waves of energy, and I sleep well at night.  I adore helping people and being safe space for them. I revel in learning (one of my tattoos is “Ancora Imparo” – which means “I am still learning”).  I play hard, work hard, love hard.

If you know me, you know most of this.  If you don’t, I’d love to know YOU.  Your story will be very interesting to me.  All stories are.  I hope you’ve enjoyed mine.

Save the Date!

Summer/Fall Social!! October 7, 2021 at Susan McDonald’s

MEMBERSHIP REMINDER

Women’s Professional Forum is comprised of professional women who reside or work in Guilford County, North Carolina. WPF members are experienced upper-level management executives, licensed or degreed professionals, business owners, and elected or appointed public officials. Membership is by invitation only. Prospective members interested in joining must be sponsored by three current WPF members.

WPF accepts one class of new members at one time each calendar year. To ensure that the purposes and benefits of WPF membership, and the collegial nature of the organization, continue ongoing, WPF limits its total number of Active members.  Only Active Members and Active Retired members may serve as primary sponsors of applicants and may sponsor or co-sponsor up to two new members in a calendar year. Emeritus members may co-sponsor, i.e., serve as a secondary sponsor to, up to two new members in a calendar year. Supporting members may not serve as a primary or secondary sponsor. A new member may not sponsor an applicant, in either a primary or secondary role, until after she has been an Active member for 24 months. For more information on membership, contact Sue Schwartz, Membership Committee Chair.