Although the female membership increase rate has remained stagnant around 1 to 2 percent per year, Castellano views this as a consistent positive increase that will continue to grow as women are given more recognition. The Association has to continue doing what we are doing, we have to keep recognizing female achievements as well as male, she said. Although more women were active in most areas of governance, results show the nominating committee suffered a drop in female participation. From 1992 to 1997 there was a 6.3 percent decrease in female participation. 1992 had a participation level of 14.3 percent compared to 8 percent in 1997, which was still higher than 1987s level of 3.7 percent.
Further study is needed to determine why there was such a large drop off.
Without the study we wouldnt have detected this drop, but we know that it exists and we can make attempts to correct it, she said. One recommendation, made by the committee to address this drop, would be to increase eligibility periods of participation for women. The current eligibility period is two years for section officers, committee chairs, and House delegates, which the committee is seeking to increase to five years. By increasing the eligibility period we are opened up to a larger pool of potential people. With more women eligible more will participate, she said.