SEPTEMBER
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9-Tuesday, 4:00 PM
25-Thursday, 8:30 AM
30-Tuesday, 5:30 PM
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NAWBO-CI Coffee
NAWBO-CI Coffee
NAWBO-CI Networking Event
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OCTOBER
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9-Thursday, 11:30 AM
14-Tuesday, 3:30 PM
30-Thursday, 8:30 AM
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NAWBO-CI Chapter Lunch Meeting
NAWBO-CI Coffee
NAWBO-CI Coffee
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President's Column
By Natalie Spitzig, ActionCoach
As we begin a new year for the NAWBO Central Iowa chapter, I'm inspired by the level of commitment and effort that many of you are putting forward to ensure that our chapter truly propels women entrepreneurs into economic, social and political spheres of power worldwide. To move our chapter forward, we need that effort — and the involvement of even more of our members — to strengthen this organization by creating a fabulous "team" called NAWBO-CI.
As a business coach, one of my passions is developing strong teams. This year as NAWBO-CI president, I'm inspired to further our culture as a "team" of women business owners who propel each other and our organization to great success. The following keys for developing awesome teams can be applied not only to NAWBO-CI, but to your company, family, church group or anywhere you want success.
The first key: strong leadership. Leadership comes in many forms. Obviously, we have board positions and work groups where participants actively develop leadership skills. As you will read in this newsletter, there are many opportunities for members to gain leadership experience working individually or with an ongoing work group, or by helping out on occasion at our many functions.
The second key: having common goals. We need to be on the same page, working towards the same ideals. For several years NAWBO-CI has worked to strengthen our infrastructure. This year we want to increase our membership and the community awareness of our organization. That will only happen with all of you! Your board's strategic planning session is in September, so watch for more goals to come!
The third key: creating intentional culture (the "Rules of the Game") within the organization. This surrounds who we want to be, how we interact with each other and the business and political community here in central Iowa; it's our identity. I believe NAWBO-CI has a huge opportunity to make a significant impact on members and other WBOs in our communities. And we'll do it while creating a culture of cooperation, communication and FUN that fosters our continued success as business owners.
To move forward, we need the fourth key: an action plan. The strategic direction for the current year will be further developed in September. However, we'll continually set goals and take actions and will propel NAWBO Central Iowa and its members (us!) towards our dreams for our lives and businesses.
The fifth key: supporting risk taking. Your leadership team thinks continuously of ways to enhance your membership in NAWBO-CI. You've seen some of our new programs and events: the Celebrity Server Dinner for Chrysalis Foundation, the annual meeting golf outing, monthly luncheons, the addition of regular coffees, and the new Web site. We love new ideas and are open to ventures that meet our mission and match your needs. It's going to take all of us working together. What risks are you willing to take to help us achieve our mission?
The last key: 100% inclusion / 100% involvement. Leaders cannot expect team members to get involved unless we include them. My commitment to each of you: I will include you through this column and other tools planned and implemented by your leadership team. With "inclusion" comes the expectation that you will be involved. We all know the universal law: We get out of an organization what we put into it. So my question for you is how much success, how many relationships, how much growth do YOU want? And what seeds are you willing to sow for an awesome organization with tremendous people? Let's make this our best year yet!
Wanted: Your Skills and Energy
Team leaders for 2008-2009 are looking for NAWBO-CI members who want to hone skills and contribute their know-how to chapter activities.
Your Membership Team needs individuals to: monitor updates from the national Web site and work with communications (15-30 minutes/month); update prospective member folders (15-30 minutes/month); greet members and set up a registration table at luncheons/evening meetings (30 minutes/month); help with new member luncheons (1 hour/month); send out emails/follow up with prospects (30 minutes/month); and help collate membership roster/booklet with membership chair. At least three individuals are needed to share in tasks. Team members will meet in person for one hour every other month and via phone conference call one hour on the opposite months. Please contact Amy Kolln, Send Out Cards, at 1-515-297-3434 or jakolln@mchsi.com if interested. Amy says, "This is a great way to become involved if you are a new member!"
Your Programs and Communications Teams are seeking individuals to help with communication/public relations activities to spread the word on NAWBO-CI's meetings and programs. Tasks might include writing press releases; emailing press releases and meeting announcements; posting meeting announcements on community Web calendars; keeping Web site updated with meeting information; serving as a liaison between programs team and communications team. Please contact JoAnn Robbins, Farm Bureau Financial Services, at JoAnn.Robbins@fbfs.com or 964-5354, ext. 17 or 240-4101 or Lori Jones, Harbor Grille, lorijones@mchsi.com or 710-8900.
West Bank Seminar for NAWBO-CI
Thanks go out to our corporate partner West Bank for sponsoring an on-target workshop for members! "Marketing Your Business in Tough Economic Times: Finding the Silver Lining" was held August 13 at the bank's 22nd Street building in West Des Moines. NAWBO thanks West Banks' Carol Stone, Kristen Boyles and Katy MacKay, plus Drew McLellan of McLellan Marketing Group. All exercises hit home for the WBOs: developing key customer profiles and messages, tailoring marketing efforts to be narrow and deep rather than wide, and carving out time to make things happen. Each participant left with simple and measurable marketing strategies to being implementing for her business.
NAWBO-CI and National Entrepreneur Week
February 21 to 28, 2009 is National Entrepreneurship Week and your chapter is making plans for NAWBO-CI's involvement. Cherish Anderson, Nanny2Shoes, is spearheading efforts within NAWBO-CI. "To celebrate the third national event, we're looking at bringing in a recognized business speaker and working with other business groups to put together networking opportunities and educational programming," says Cherish. The week is designated to celebrate the heritage of entrepreneurship in America and create lifelong learning opportunities that prepare business leaders for the future.
Members Attend
Women of Influence
NAWBO-CI members purchased an overflowing table at the August 12 Women of Influence awards reception for central Iowa. The event honored 10 women in the community who have made outstanding contributions in a variety of areas. Sarah Grant, owner of Sticks, was recognized as First Bank's Women Business Owner of the Year.
NAWBO-CI members and friends attending included: Cherish Anderson, Nanny2Shoes; Jackie Blanchard, Small Business Administration; Monica Dolezal, BizStarts; Jackie Dollar, Easy Aging; Lori Jones, Harbor Grille; Dawn Lull, CPA; JoAnn Robbins, Farm Bureau Financial Services; Pam Schoffner, P.S. Writes; Natalie Spitzig, ActionCoach; Janet Tingwald, The Coaching Advantage Group; Kathy Towner, Win Communications; and T. Waldman-Williams, TWW Consulting.
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On Hold:
Implementing SBA's Proposed Women Procurement Rule
On July 10 the Senate Appropriations Committee stopped the implementation of the SBA's proposed women's procurement rule. The prohibition on funding to implement the proposed rule was included as part of the consideration of the Financial Services Appropriations Fiscal Year 09, which includes funding for the Small Business Administration. The proposed rule was intended to provide women business owners with new federal procurement opportunities. According to Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP), the leading public policy organization representing WBOs, the proposed rule essentially thwarts the intent of the underlying statute requiring a five percent set aside for women small business owners. WIPP believes it also sets dangerous new legal precedents that could undermine existing set aside programs for women and minorities
Add your Bio and Photo to your NAWBO profile
Take your NAWBO networking to the next level by adding your bio and photo to your online membership profile. You'll stay better connected with friends and make stronger connections with other NAWBO members across the country. Log on now to get started (your user name is your first initial + last name + the last three digits of your member ID number; your password is your member ID number). Don't know your login and password? Fill out this quick form.
Principal Teleclass Update
Here's the schedule for free upcoming teleclasses featuring growth strategies for WBOs sponsored by corporate partner Principal Financial Group. Classes are 12 p.m. Central Time. Visit the business section of Principal's Web site (www.principal.com) and click on education/teleclasses for business owners to register:
September 30 – Why Every Business Owner Should Plan for the Unexpected
October 28 – Make Your Brand a Household Name: Seven Buzz Tactics Money Can't Buy
December 2 – Get Wired into Social Networking: How to Use Sources from LinkdIn to MySpace to Grow Your Business
Conference in Florida for WBOs
"Go for the Greens", a business development conference for women entrepreneurs, is a two-day event that will focus on procurement, matchmaking and educational sessions. A golf tournament for all levels of play is also part of the September 19 and 20 gathering at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. For more information visit www.goforthegreens.com.
National Women's History Museum
"If insects can get their own museum, great women in American history certainly deserve a home of their own," wrote blogger Liz Thompson. And right now, Congress has the opportunity to provide a permanent home for the National Women's History Museum (NWHM) on land adjacent to the National Mall. NWHM members have worked for 11 years to create the first repository for women's history. NWHM needs for Congress to authorize its purchase of this federal property at fair-market value. Rep. Carol B. Maloney (D-NY) introduced House Resolution 6548 in July, but your help is needed. Write, call or email your representative urging passage of this legislation.
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Names in the News
Monica Dolezal, Bizstarts LLC, was selected as the local training provider for the U.S. Small Business Administration's Emerging 200 program, a nationwide program to stimulate the growth of high-potential inner-city businesses. Des Moines is one of 11 cities chosen for the SBA program. The executives who graduate from the 13-week training program will have produced a three-year strategic growth plan with benchmarks and performance targets.
Amy Kolln, Send Out Cards, received the executive level distinction of SOC, making her one of only 40 to earn the designation (and one of only three women to achieve it) this year. Five of Amy's managers were named senior managers.
Molly Lopez, CAE, Association Management Ltd., has been appointed to the Association Management Company (AMC) Section Council for the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) & The Center for Association Leadership. Lopez will serve as editor for the AMC Connections, a quarterly newsletter.
Dawn Lull, CPA, is the new president of the West Des Moines Chapter of American Business Women's Association (ABWA).
Cecelia Munzenmaier, Word Crafter, presented a Plain Talk workshop to Iowa Workforce Development in August. She and Terri Deems, Worklife Design, have partnered to bring language with bottom-line benefits to companies. "You're being plain if your intended audience can understand what you mean right away," said Cecelia. Resources on Plain Language are available at their Web site: http://word-crafter.net/writing-resources/index3.htm
Sandy Renshaw, Purple Wren and Send Out Cards, was named a manager for SOC after recruiting 12 Send Out Cards entrepreneurs and then named a senior manager for recruiting an additional 12 individuals.
NAWBO-CI was in the news! The July 21 business section of the Des Moines Register featured pictures of attendees at the July 10 luncheon meeting. Mike Wagner, president of the White Rabbit Group, spoke on "Owning Your Brand."
New Members
Kathy Anderson
Anderson Edmondson Real Estate Services, LLC
14410 Dellwood Dr.
Urbandale, IA 50323
www.aerealestateservices.com
Kathy@aerealestateservices.com
(515)770-4999
(515) 987-1497 (fax)
Anderson Edmondson Real Estate Services provides leading-edge solutions for real estate problems. The company offers auction services for sellers who need to sell their homes quickly and inexpensively and at what market value is on that day. A menu of regular real estate services also is offered. These start at $495 plus 4.5% and go up from there. Kathy and her partner, Rona Edmondson, have years of real estate experience and are dedicated to helping their clients.
Becci Hall, Personal Financial Assistant
Our Financial Concierge
9642 NW 47th Court
Polk City, IA 50226
www.ofc-itspersonal.com
beccihall@mchsi.com
(515) 208-5706
(888) 853-5805 (fax)
Our Financial Concierge works as a hybrid family office, delivering financially focused resources and solutions to individuals and families. The company works alongside a family's advisors to complete and/or implement their recommendations, and it works to help families better manage their financial life. Our Financial Concierge is an unbiased resource, selling no products and representing no institutions.
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NAWBO-CI Coffee
September 9 - 4:00 p.m.
Hostess: Pam Schoffner, P.S. Writes, Harbor Grille, Polk City
NAWBO-CI Coffee – 8:30 a.m.
September 25 - 8:30 a.m.
Hostess: Phyllis Pearson, attorney, Phyllis Pearson PLC, Caribou Coffee, West Glen Town Center, West Des Moines
NAWBO-CI Quarterly Networking Event
September 30
Hyperion Field Club, 7390 NW Beaver Drive, Johnston
5:30 p.m. – Cocktails; 6:00 p.m – Dinner; 6:30 p.m – Networking
(Cash bar – Please bring cash; credit cards not accepted)
It's a fun evening of getting to know other women business owners with a high-energy networking exercise that's sure to generate both laughs and learning.
Event Sponsor: Available. To learn the benefits and value of being an event sponsor contact JoAnnRobbins@fbfs.com
Event Spotlight: Janet Tingwald, The Coaching Advantage Group
Cost (includes heavy hors d'oeuvres)
$20 Pre-paid Member ($25 at the door)
$25 Non-member (pre-paid or at the door)
NOTE: Non-members registered by a NAWBO member and pre-paid can attend for $20.
Register: www.nawbo-ci.org by September 22 deadline
Chapter Luncheon
October 9 - 11:30 a.m.
Maverick Grille, 3825 121st Street, Urbandale
"Let's Start the Conversation: The Economic Impact for Iowa of Unintended Pregnancies"
Unintended pregnancies among adult women impact lifestyles, education, careers, opportunities and social interaction — not only of the individual, but of the families and communities in which they are a part. Come hear former Iowa First Lady Christie Vilsack speak on this important issue and how it can affect Iowa's small businesses, the workforce and taxpayers. Christie now uses her well-honed community-building skills to bring attention to an issue that talks to all Iowans, regardless of age, gender, educational level or socio-economic status. The Iowa Initiative to Reduce Unwanted Pregnancies focuses on women 18 to 30.
Speaker: Christie Vilsack, executive director, Iowa Initiative to Reduce Unintended Pregnancies
Event Sponsor: Available. To learn the benefits and value of being an event sponsor contact JoAnnRobbins@fbfs.com
Event Spotlight: Sandy Renshaw, Purple Wren
Cost (includes entrée, dessert, beverage, server gratuities)
$20 Pre-paid Member ($25 at the door to those not pre-registered)
$25 Non-member (pre-paid or at the door)
NOTE: Non-members registered by a NAWBO member and pre-paid can attend for $20.
Register: www.nawbo-ci.org by October 6 deadline
NAWBO-CI Coffee
October 14 – 3:30 a.m.
Hostess: Natalie Spitzig, ActionCoach, Caribou Coffee, 3220 Ingersoll
Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
October 25
NOTE: Several members have expressed an interest in taking part in this fundraiser to fight breast cancer. If your life, family or friends have been touched by this disease, would you be willing to coordinate member involvement in this 2008 event? Contact JoAnn Robbins, JoAnnRobbins@fbfs.com to discuss this opportunity to make a difference.
NAWBO-CI Coffee
October 30 – 8:30 a.m.
Hostess: Janet Tingwald, The Coaching Advantage Group, Gateway Market, West Glen
NAWBO-CI Coffee
November 11 – 3:30 p.m.
Hostess: Cherish Anderson, Nanny2Shoes, location TBA.
SAVE THE DATES
November 13 - Chapter Luncheon - Maverick Grille, Urbandale
Event Sponsor: Available. To learn the benefits and value of being an event sponsor contact JoAnnRobbins@fbfs.com
December 9 - NAWBO-CI Holiday Party - Hyperion Field Club, Johnston
Note: No coffees will be held in late November or in December.
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