CHAPTER NEWS »             PRESIDENT | MEETING | EVENT SUCCESS | HOST A COFFEE
                                                      CONTRACTING INFO | PUBLIC POLICY | BOOKS | E-WEEK

MEMBER NEWS »                   IN THE NEWS | NEW MEMBER

NATIONAL NEWS »               TELECLASS | NAWBO LIBRATY | SBA PROGRAM UPDATE

UPCOMING EVENTS »              COFFEES | LUNCHEONS | QUARTERLY EVENING MEETING

Calendar at a Glance:

March in NAWBO's Membership Month
We all know them: women business owners who could be lending their voice and building relationships as members of NAWBO-CI. We all can ask them a simple question: Can you join me on March 25 at the quarterly meeting of NAWBO-CI? Your guests can attend for NAWBO member prices that night, and save $25 on a NAWBO membership if they join during March.

NAWBO chapters across the nation are participating in NAWBO's 2008 national membership campaign—The Power of Numbers. With more members in every chapter, NAWBO could have an even greater impact on the social, political and economic landscape of the United States. With your help, NAWBO-CI can contribute to bringing record numbers of WBO into the NAWBO family.

"Struttin' Your Stuff" will be presented by March speaker Miriam Tyson, special projects manager for the Innovation and Commercialization Division of the Iowa Department of Economic Development. Tyson will share the tenants of leadership she aspires to achieve in every aspect of her professional and personal life. These include striving for excellence and consistency, respecting others in every interaction, and being comfortable in all that we do as women. Tyson's impressive background includes serving as president of the Communications Workers of America-Local 7108 and as a senior advisor to the transition team of Culver and Judge as they took Iowa's top leadership positions.

As part of the March membership campaign, NAWBO-CI will offer prizes on March 25 for the WBO(s) who bring the most guests to that meeting, the member(s) who have brought the most guests through the year, and from all new members present or joining at the March 25th meeting.

Success for Celebrity Server Event
NAWBO-CI's February 7th Celebrity Server event netted $7,900 for Chrysalis Foundation's entrepreneurship educational programs. Recipient of the evening's "golden fork" award was server and NAWBO-CI member Laura Bernstein, VisionPoint Productions, who raised $870 in tips. "It was a great experience, not only because the Chrysalis Foundation does work that is personally important to me, but the opportunity to work with other local leaders is rewarding," said Laura. The Chrysalis Foundation's mission is to develop strong women and girls in Greater Des Moines through education, grant making and philanthropy.

Eleven servers waited tables with approximately 100 diners who, in addition to purchasing event tickets, came forth with funds throughout the meal to get their silverware, water, salads, entrees, desserts and a variety of "services."

Celebrity servers had table themes and costumes. Since a "chrysalis" is the pupa stage of a butterfly's life, Pat Boddy, Polk County Conservation Board director, dressed as a butterfly and collected her tips in a butterfly net. Using a scouting theme, Chris Coleman, president of the Better Business Bureau of Greater Des Moines, and Mark Barkley, division director of Robert Half Management Resources, set up a tent and campfire ring—minus real fire—surrounded by camping stools. Judy Benson, owner of Curves for Women in West Des Moines and Waukee, dressed as a French maid and set up a table inspired by France.

Dinner guests paid celebrity servers for everything from singing the "Guacamole" song and demonstrating the "downward facing dog" yoga pose to doing a cartwheel, dancing to the "Chicken Dance" song and kissing another server's wife.

"We would like to extend our most sincere thanks to all NAWBO-CI members who made this event possible," says Leslie Garman, development and communications director of the Chrysalis Foundation. "There was such energy in the room! Comments like, ‘this is the most fun I've ever had at a fund-raising event' were ringing in our ears."

The auction, which was conducted by Daugherty Auction Service and raised half off the evenings proceeds, included such items as dinners cooked by Ann Merkley of Principle Financial Group, R. J. Hernandez (former owner of Raul's) and In-the-Bag corporate cuisine; a night child care package and $100 savings bond; Anna Gaskell artwork; chocolate, wine, jewelry, home accessories and spa products.

The Des Moines Register featured photos of the event on February 11 in the Business section and online.

Coffee Hosts Needed
Members, would you volunteer to host a coffee for NAWBO-CI? The only obligation of the host is to pick the location, pass around a sign-up sheet for attendees, get the conversation started and seek the involvement of every woman who is present. You can pick a theme and invite a speaker if you choose, or simply see what pressing concerns other WBOs want to discuss. While dates are preset, coffees are only held when a hostess is identified.

Tuesday afternoon (3:30 – 4:30 p.m.) coffees - Available host dates are May 13, June 10, July 8, August 12, September 9, October 14 and November 11.

Thursday mornings (8:30 – 9:30 a.m.) coffees – Available host dates are April 24, May 29, June 26, July 24, August 28, September 25, October 30, November 27. If you would host, please contact pam@schoffner.com or 965-8850.

Need More WBO Contracting Info?
If you missed NAWBO-CI's recent programs on government contracting and Iowa's Targeted Small Business program, here's another opportunity. An informational program on the TSB program—as well as IRS payroll taxes—is scheduled for April 30, 1-3 p.m. in Building 7 on the DMACC campus in Ankeny. David Bogaczyk and Mary Montgomery will address government contracting and the TSB program: Kristie Matrie, will present IRS - payroll taxes. Register for this free seminar by sending name, business name, address and email to Jackie Blanchard, SBA, Room 749, Federal Building, 210 Walnut, Des Moines, IA 50309; fax to 515-284-4572; or email Jackie.blanchard@sba.gov.

Who, me? Talk about public policy?
By Margie Munoz, Munoz Productions
Yes, you! You've probably already gone way outside your comfort zone to start a business, make sales calls, write a business plan, pay taxes and make decisions about contracts, leases, health insurance, production and office equipment. You know about budgets, hiring employees and the importance to your bottom line, so why not talk to those who make the rules and regulations that impact it? And through NAWBO-CI, we can go together to meetings with our elected representatives and their staff members!

From March 17 to March 28, NAWBO members across the country will be speaking with their members of Congress in their home districts. Who knows what impact nine thousand voices can have when members from a wide range of businesses discuss laws and regulations with their elected representatives! Four key areas have been identified: affordable health care, government procurement, taxes and equitable tax treatment, and access to capital.

Go to http://nawbo.org/section_131.cfm. Listed are "7 Steps to Advocacy," telling you how to prepare for a visit to your members of Congress. The process is clearly explained and easy to follow. There are links to help you find your elected leaders and learn more about NAWBO's public policy positions. We need to start now with our calls; legislator calendars fill up quickly. You can schedule a visit on your own, or call another chapter member for a joint visit. Several local members are already planning to schedule visits together to the offices of Senators Grassley and Harkin in the downtown Federal Building and Representative Boswell at 300 E. Locust.

If you're not able to visit your elected leaders, then commit to sending your comments via e-mail. Information will be sent to you from NAWBO-CI with tips about what to include in an effective message to a legislator and links to make the process easy and pain-free.

Cindy Helgason and Margie Munoz are available to answer questions, You can reach them at Cindy@Soapourri.com and Margie@MunozProductions.com.

Top 5 Tips...Business-Building Books
By Christine Hegstad, MAP Professional Development
Whether you're preparing to launch a new business or want to enhance an existing one, few sources offer as much diverse information and versatility as well-written books. Below you'll find five that have impacted your fellow NAWBO-CI members.

1. The Power of Positive Thinking (Norman Vincent Peale). A terrific classic to keep on hand. So much of our happiness is based on how we think about things, and this book provides wonderful techniques for framing thoughts and self-talk.

2. Attracting Perfect Customers (Stacey Hall & Jan Brogniez). A must-read with a fresh perspective for branding and claiming your niche. You'll find specific exercises to not only identify your perfect customer, but equally important, to uncover who you/your business needs to be in order to attract that perfect customer.

3. Feel The Fear…and Do It Anyway (Susan Jeffers, Ph.D.). Chock-full of practical techniques to work through virtually any type of fear. Even if you don't feel held back by fear, you may be surprised at the role fear secretly plays in your business and your life (i.e., difficulty making decisions). An enjoyable-to-read educational tool.

4. Eat Pray Love (Elizabeth Gilbert). A beautifully crafted memoir about making difficult choices, taking risks, and trust – and women business owners need all the input we can get on these topics! The author is highly successful by most standards but filled with questions, confusion and angst. She takes a year to get in touch with herself while traveling to three different countries, and the story is deep with all she learns and experiences.

5. Money Talks (Alan Weiss). A terrific guide to help you earn what you're worth. While it focuses on the speaking and consulting industries, the tips and reinforcements really apply across the board.

Special thanks to our contributors: Melissa Warner (warner.melissa@principal.com), Janet Tingwald (www.coachingadvantagegroup.com), Pam Schoffner (pam@schoffner.com) and Christi Hegstad (www.meaning-and-purpose.com).

NEXT ISSUE: Top 5 Tips For Balance! Share up to five tips that help you navigate your business, family, friends, volunteer commitments and other responsibilities. Please send your tips to Christi@meaning-and-purpose.com by March 10, 2008. Also include a brief blurb about you and your business.

Entrepreneurship Week
NAWBO-CI went to work to get Entrepreneurship Week USA declared in Iowa for February 23 to March 1. The governor made it official with a State of Iowa Executive Department Proclamation (shown at right)—our second annual! During that week NAWBO-CI's Kathy Towner, WinCommunications, held one of the chapter's regular monthly coffees with a focus on Iowa's Targeted Small Business program. We also supported a special Feb. 26th morning coffee at the ISU Mid-Iowa Small Business Development Center in Urbandale. Sherry Shafer, center director (and also one of the founders of NAWBO-CI), shared information on self-employment and business growth. In the months ahead members will be learning about many more opportunities to grow and show your entrepreneurial spirit through business involvement with area college students in classroom speaking opportunities, as judges of business contests and as mentors to students.

TOP

Names in the News
Christine Hegstad, MAP Professional Development, has been published several times this year. She contributed tips to reduce stress and incidence of dreaming about work for a January 14 Des Moines Register article, "Keep (Your) Dream Job at Work" and provided a self-assessment tool for professionals to evaluate their career paths for the paper's business section on January 30. On February 4, Christi's guest editorial, "When a woman starts a business..." appeared in the Business Record. One of the powerful points Christi made was that women should connect through groups such as NAWBO-CI.

Margie Munoz, Munoz Productions, attended NAWBO's Public Policy Days in early February in Washington, D.C. "Over 200 NAWBO members were there," said Margie. "Many went to the offices of home state senators and representatives on Capitol Hill, sharing their thoughts and experiences involving NAWBO's public policy issues. These were procurement of federal contracts for women-owned businesses, health insurance, taxes on small business, and immigration. At the top of the list was frustration with the SBA's proposal that the Women's Procurement Program will include only four industries. NAWBO members pointed out the miniscule impact this would have helping the federal government reach its five percent business contracting goal with women owned businesses. Those attending asked their congressmen and congresswomen to reject this proposal, and direct the SBA to go 'back to the drawing board'." (see story later in this newsletter)

NOTE: Send news about your honors, achievements, successes, and community visibility to pam@schoffner.com for inclusion in this newsletter.

New Member
Karen Jackson
Premium Designs LLC
9712 NW 47th Ct
Polk City, Iowa 50226
515-490-2391
fax-515-984-6921
www.premiumdesignsllc.com
kajxnil@mchsi.com

Premium Designs LLC provides "one-of-a-kind" specialty items using graphic design, custom artwork and digital photography. Its equipment prints high-quality images on various media, including tile artwork, plaques, cutting boards, T-shirts, handbags, mugs, coasters and mouse pads. The customized artwork and designs digitally imprinted on tile can be incorporated right into the walls and floors of homes and businesses. Tile murals featuring personal photographs and graphic designs are also available.

TOP

Principal Teleclass Topics
Here's the schedule for free teleclasses featuring growth strategies for WBOs sponsored by corporate partner Principal Financial Group. Classes are 12 p.m. Central Time. Visit the Women in Business section of Principal's Web site to register (www.principal.com).

March 25 – One Company's Award-Winning Equation: Employee Financial Fitness + Physical Fitness = Fiscal Fitness
April 29 – A Woman Business Owner's Multi-Million Dollar Success Story: Do What You Love, the Money Will Follow – Kim Kleeman
May 27 – A Discussion with the Author of "The Girls' Guide to Building A Million-Dollar Business" – Susan Wilson Solovic
June 24 – Why It's So Hard to Find Good Employees – But Easy to Keep Them Once They are Happy
July 29 – Blogging to Boost Your Bottom Line: Four Approaches to Make Money through Blogs
August 26 – Five Things Every Business Owner Should Ask Her Financial Advisor Today*
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

NAWBO's Library
Looking for insights on running, marketing and growing your business? Head to NAWBO's online article library to read advice and ideas. New articles are added each month, so check back often! Start reading now.

Controversy over Set-Aside Program for
Women-Owned Small Businesses
The SBA announced its long-awaited Women's Procurement Program in late December and WBOs expected it to make great strides toward enabling the federal government to reach its women-owned business-contracting goal of five percent. The government has failed to reach that goal for a decade and opponents to the SBA's proposed rule say the new proposal will do nothing to improve that outcome because only four of hundreds of possible industries would benefit. The narrow criteria for inclusion are women-owned firms engaged in national security and international affairs; coating, engraving, heat treating, and allied activities; household and institutional furniture and kitchen cabinet manufacturing; and other motor vehicle dealers.

Nydia M. Valázquez, chair of the House Small Business Committee, contends that the SBA stalled repeatedly in implementing the Equity in Contracting for Women Act of 2000, which was intended to assist the many industries where women were unfairly prevented from securing federal contracts. "There are more than 10 million women-owned small businesses across the nation, and their needs cannot be ignored by government." said Velázquez. "Seven years is a long time to wait for implementation, especially when the result is a proposed program that shuts out most of the entrepreneurs it was specifically designed to help."

On January 16 the House Small Business Committee heard testimony from SBA Administrator Steven Preston and from Elizabeth Papez of the U.S. Department of Justice. The Committee strongly urged the Administration to go back to the drawing board to craft a rule that accurately reflects the face of American small businesses. During the hearing, Preston admitted that the SBA will not meet the goal this year and that his agency's proposal would not result in a significant increase in contracts to women's entrepreneurs. Chairwoman Velazquez pointed out that for the goal to be met, the 1,247 businesses designated as under-represented and eligible to participate in the program each would have to receive a contract worth nearly $4.4 million—ten times the average amount for a small firm's contract.

"It is important to make distinctions about what the data actually represent."

SBA contracted with RAND Corporation, which specializes in government studies, to perform an analysis of under-representation of women-owned small businesses. The study analyzed 140 contracting categories in which it had sufficient survey samples. According to the SBA, "It is important to make distinctions about what the data actually represent. The frequently cited statistic that more than one-fourth of American businesses are women-owned is correct, but this includes all women-owned businesses, combining small, medium, and large-sized firms throughout the U.S. economy."

Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP), the nation's largest bipartisan women's business group, spoke out against a Small Business Administration proposed rule, saying it reduced federal contracts protected status for women-owned businesses to only four of over 2,300 business categories.

"While Washington was quiet this holiday season, the SBA was working to deliver a lump of coal to women business owners," said Barbara Kasoff, president of WIPP. "This proposed rule demonstrates that women business owners are not important to this administration nor the political process. It is a drastic step backwards in chipping away at the little progress that women made over the past seven years to gain a mere five percent of federal contracts, while half of all privately held companies have a woman owner."

In defending the proposed program, SBA states that RAND's analysis shows that when women-owned small businesses compete for contracts, they do well. They say prime contracting dollars increased from $4.6 billion in 2000 to $11.6 billion in 2006. When the program is implemented, there will be increased access to contracts in the four categories in which disparity was determined and women-owned small businesses have the same right they have always had to compete for federal contracts. SBA notes that those registered in the Central Contracting Registration (CCR) System are competing successfully for federal contracts.

Seven Democratic senators, who wrote a letter to the administration in early February that was critical of the plan, also believe the SBA's proposal to require federal agencies to show discrimination in procurement practices before establishing a set-aside program would severely limit the money targeted at female-owned businesses.

NOTE: The SBA is expected to release the final rule in late February, so when this newsletter is distributed, new information may be or soon be available.

TOP

Thank You to the NAWBO-CI Corporate Partners:

TOP