To help women take that first step in becoming more involved in policy issues that affect their community, the Women in Public Life organization at Southeast Missouri State University and the Sue Shear Institute for Women in Public Life at the University of Missouri-St. Louis will co-host "The Inside Scoop on Appointments to Public Boards and Commissions" from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday.

A panel of appointment officials will share their expertise of the selection process, including qualifications of appointees and how public policy is affected by decisions of boards and commissions. Panelists will include Chris Brown, director of the Boards and Commissions Office of the Governor; Marilyn Williams, director of the Division of Professional Registration, Missouri Department of Economic Development; Kathy Swan, member of the Governor's Business Education Roundtable; Bekki Cook, member of the Southern Growth Policy Board; and Vivian Eveloff, director of the Sue Shear Institute for Women in Public Life.

Tuesday's session will be held in the University Center Ballroom. Cost for the program is $15, which includes lunch. Southeast's University Center is at the corner of Henderson Street and Normal Avenue.

For information or to register for the "Inside Scoop," call Dr. Ginny Moore, WIPL faculty sponsor, at 986-6121 or the Sue Shear Institute at (314) 516-6623.

For more information about the Sue Shear Institute, visit www.umsl.edu/~iwpl. For more information about Southeast's Women in Public Life, visit www5.semo. edu/wipl.