MAY
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8-Thursday, 11:30 AM
13-Tuesday, 3:30 PM
14-Wednesday, 8:30 AM
29-Thursday, 8:30 AM
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NAWBO-CI Chapter Lunch Meeting
NAWBO-CI Coffee
NAWBO-CI HR Coffee
NAWBO-CI Coffee
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JUNE
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10-Tuesday, 3:30 PM
24-Tuesday, 11:30 AM
26-Thursday, 8:30 AM
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NAWBO-CI Coffee
NAWBO-CI Chapter Annual Meeting
NAWBO-CI Coffee
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President's Column
By Janet Tingwald, The Coaching Advantage Group
As I sit at the computer writing my last column as your NAWBO-CI president, my feelings are bittersweet. There is so much to say about my experience the past two years.
When I was first approached about becoming president, I was hesitant to take the position. How much time would it take? Had I been a member long enough? What could I offer? My decision two years ago was not due to a driving passion for NAWBO, but for two reasons: the challenge and the public exposure. And, I want to tell you that I received both and so much more.
What happened? I actually got to know this organization, understand its value and realize all that NAWBO represents. In attending the national conference, I met the women who drive this organization at a national level, saw the power we have as a collective voice, and took in many amazing things that women are doing in the world! Who wouldn't want to be part of all that?
Locally, I had the opportunity to represent the chapter in several different situations. And as Ted Williams tells us, it's not who you know that's important, but who knows you. I've met people whose paths may not have otherwise crossed mine and found myself in business environments that were not typical or familiar for me. As a result, I have stretched my comfort zone and grown my confidence.
And, I got to be part of the amazing group of women that makes up our present board. I take little credit for where we are as they have been committed, accountable, and courageous in taking our vision for our chapter's future and making it happen. They have enrolled others in their passion and developed supportive teams of women. In getting others involved, many hands have made quick work! I have a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for each of them, and I thank them for staying true to their commitment.
I deepened relationships with other NAWBO members and made new friends. Now, I find myself with a greatly expanded circle of support, contacts, champions, people who I admire, and people who inspire me.
Recently I heard a speaker at Drake University who shared seven trends being used to make strategic predictions through the year 2025. The trends could be summed up in two words: promise and peril. It is up to us. The same is true for our NAWBO chapter. We are on the verge of great promise and for those getting involved at this time, there are many opportunities to have a huge impact. We are also on the verge of great peril. If members do not get involved, we will lose momentum and not continue to grow. Each of us is responsible for what happens. I know it may be a cliché, but you will get out of this organization what you put into it.
As we move into our 2008-2009 operating year, we have several positions available on the board. I encourage you to look at a way for you to get more involved. Could you make this an opportunity to give your experience to an organization that truly is a voice for each and every one of us who are women business owners? What would you be able to develop in yourself by serving? Whatever your level of involvement, I promise you will not be sorry for choosing to make this contribution to your personal and professional growth. And, like me, you may find yourself quite passionate about NAWBO too. It has been my pleasure to serve you.
P.S. To Pam Schoffner, thank you for taking my thoughts these last two years and making them into sentences!
New Human Relations Coffees
On April 7 NAWBO-CI held its first coffee focused on human relations issues faced by WBOs with multiple employees. Facilitated by Laura Bernstein at VisionPoint Productions, the coffee provided an opportunity to discuss employee retention issues. These included flex time and job sharing, employee benefits, training and incentive programs, bringing kids—and even pets—to work, and overall work culture.
Attendee Lori Jones of The Harbor Grille at Saylorville Lake Marina, said, "I was struck by the culture of Laura's business, which cultivates creativity, autonomy and teamwork. As I toured the facility, I was impressed with the unique personal themes in each office, and the hallways and common areas included motivating posters and snippets of information reinforcing company goals." Lori hopes that a discussion of alternative or low-cost recruiting methods takes place at the May HR coffee meeting.
While future discussion topics for the HR coffees are oriented for businesses of 5 or more employees, anyone interested is encouraged to attend this sharing session to address issues, problems and solutions regarding human resources challenges. The next coffee is May 14, 8:30 to 10 a.m. at VisionPoint, 1985 NW 94th Street, Suite C, Urbandale (approximately one block south of Hickman Road).
Free Set of Business Books to WBO Making Referral
Do you know a fellow woman business owner (WBO) who might benefit from networking, learning and growing through a membership in NAWBO-CI? If so, encourage her to join and you'll take a set of three business books back to your office when she becomes a member.
The books are: "Money Matters," by Molly Tschida Brennan, which details how to position your business for growth; "Tapping Your Inner Entrepreneur," by Diane Sears, which spells out how to make the move from employee to business owner; and "Taking an Idea to Market," by Molly Tschida Brennan, which is a "how to" for turning your vision into a successful business venture.
If you know a WBO who could benefit from our network of local members, prospective members and corporate partners—and a national network of over 9,000 members—please bring her to a meeting and encourage her to visit www.nawbo-ci.org or contact info@nawbo-ci.org for more information.
Coffee Hostesses Needed
Would you hostess an upcoming NAWBO-CI coffee? Pick from the available dates (below) and express your interest to Pam Schoffner, pam@schoffner.com. The only obligations: picking a location, passing around a sign-up sheet (for names, business names and email addresses), getting the conversation started and encouraging everyone to share their key ideas, exchange information and present their challenges so that others can brainstorm with them for solutions.
Available: June 10 - 3:30 PM, June 26 - 8:30 AM, July 8 - 3:30 PM, July 24 - 8:30 AM, August 12 - 3:30 PM, and August 28 - 8:30 AM
Thanks to the women who have hosted NAWBO-CI coffees to date in 2008: JoAnn Robbins, Farm Bureau Financial Services; Margie Munoz, Munoz Productions; Michelle Durand Adams, E-Market Solutions; Kathy Towner, WinCommunications; Cherish Anderson, Nanny2Shoes; Amy Kolln, Send Out Cards; Natalie Spitzig, ActionCOACH; and Phyllis Pearson, Phyllis Pearson, PLC.
March Winners at NAWBO-CI
Prizes were awarded at the March chapter meeting for those most involved in introducing women business owners to NAWBO. We thank all members for there efforts to enhance our collective power. March—NAWBO's membership month—may be over, but keep referring and bringing WBOs to NAWBO-CI events. The more members we have, the greater our chapter resources.
Cherish Anderson, Nanny2Shoes, was recognized for bringing the most guests to the March meeting, and Janet Tingwald, The Coaching Advantage Group, was honored for bringing the most guests during the past year. Each received a gift certificate to The Spa at West Glen and a bag of pampering spa goodies. Every member who brought at least one guest to a NAWBO meeting during the past year received a free set of business books.
Top 5 Tips for Balance
By Christine Hegstad, MAP Professional Development
Between running your business, caring for your family, volunteering, and meeting life's myriad responsibilities, you may at times find yourself forgetting to come up for air. As Dr. Cheryl Child reminded us at our February luncheon, self-care is essential for our health and well-being. Here are five tips for balance during even your busiest days:
- Schedule important priorities into your planner first. Without this strategy, your days may become overrun by "the small stuff," leaving you little time and energy for what matters most.
- Evaluate your (and your family's) activities. Which do you neither need nor want to continue? Which take up the most time with the least benefit? Use these questions as starting points for decreasing an overbooked schedule.
- Smile! It's hard for anger or tension to build when you are smiling. In addition, smiling attracts positive energy, relaxes the body, and makes us feel better about nearly anything. Smile when you're driving, typing, talking on the telephone, watering plants...whenever!
- Declutter your space. Surprisingly, decreasing physical clutter (a.k.a. excess "stuff") leads to lightened mental and life clutter, too — leaving you well-balanced all-around.
- Practice self-care daily. Eat colorfully and nutritiously, get adequate sleep, walk with a friend, and indulge in a little "something extra" from time to time.
Special thanks to Pam Schoffner and Christi Hegstad (www.meaning-and-purpose.com) for their contributions.
NEXT ISSUE: How do you set — and stick to — your fees/prices? Please send your tips to Christi@meaning-and-purpose.com by June 1, 2008. Also include a brief blurb about you and your business.
WBO B2B Reception
First Bank will host a Business-2-Business reception on June 26 at its West Glen office, 5625 Mills Civic Parkway. This 5 to 7 p.m. networking opportunity also will give business owners a chance to learn more about the Women of Influence nominations. The Business Record will be doing a short presentation on the criteria for nominating a person as a Woman of Influence. First Bank has a short presentation on the criteria of the First Bank Woman Business Owner of the Year Award which is presented at the same time as the Women of Influence Reception. This year's Women of Influence Reception is August 12, 2008. Please mark your calendars and be part of this opportunity to meet other women business owners and past winners of the Women of Influence award. For the June 26 reception, RSVP to Deb Heller, 273-8911.
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Names in the News
Natalie Spitzig, ActionCOACH, was featured in the April 10 Des Moines Register/Ankeny edition. The Q&A article shared Natalie's business background, services, fees, reasons for starting her business, and various aspects of business coaching.
Christine Hegstad, Ph.D., MAP Professional Development, captured the first paragraph of the March 19 NAWBO Weekly Digest. She provided an article on eight simple strategies to ensure that an educational or networking conference is positive and purposeful for you as a WBO. Her strategies include things to do before the conference, while you're there, and as the conference ends. The article, "Conferences: Attend & Prosper," is now in the article library on the NAWBO web site (member resources tab).
Please send news about you and your business (appointments, awards, honors, special happenings, new product announcements, speaking engagements, etc.) to pam@schoffner.com for inclusion in this newsletter.
New Members
Dr. Sara Michael
Dr. Stacy Reinhart
The Hearing Clinic
1000 73rd Street, Ste. 17
Windsor Heights, IA 50311-1321
515-440-3323
515-440-0344 (fax)
www.thehearingcenter-dsm.com
ears@thehearingcenter-dsm.com
Drs. Sara Michael and Stacy Reinhart grew up in central Iowa and partnered to open The Hearing Clinic in 2008. Their audiology practice specializes in overall hearing health care and helps patients find the best solution for their communication needs. Sara earned degrees at ISU and Southwest Missouri State before earning her Doctor of Audiology degree from the University in Florida. A graduate of UNI and the University of South Dakota, Stacy attended Pennsylvania College of Audiology for her doctoral degree. The Hearing Clinic provides evaluations and services for hearing rehabilitation as well as hearing loss prevention. These include comprehensive hearing evaluations, hearing device consultation and fitting, hearing device maintenance and repairs, custom-made hearing protection devices, and ear pieces for cell phones and MP3 players.
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2008 Women's Business Conference
Learn from WBOs around the country at NAWBO's annual conference, "Together: Rising," at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoenix, June 12 to 14. The one-of-a-kind annual gathering features the wit and wisdom of Laura Liswood, co-founder of the Council of Women World Leaders and the White House Project; Rita Davenport, president of Arbonne International and author of Making Time, Making Money; Nely Galan, executive producer of "The Swan" and cast member of "The Apprentice: Celebrity Edition;" and Oren Harai, author, management expert and former consultant to The Tom Peters Group. Member full registration fee before May 12 is $475 and the discounted sleeping room rate is $199 (reserve by May 12). To learn more or register for the conference and lodging online, visit www.nawbo.org/wbc2008.
Upcoming Principal Teleclasses
The next two free teleclasses of Principal Financial Group will be held at 12 p.m. Central Time. Visit the Women in Business section of Principal's Web site (www.principal.com) to register for: May 27 – A discussion with the author of "The Girls' Guide to Building A Million-Dollar Business" – Susan Wilson Solovic, or June 24 – Why It's So Hard to Find Good Employees – But Easy to Keep Them Once They are Happy
Small Business Health Options (SHOP) Act Introduced
In early April, bipartisan senators introduced legislation to establish small business pooling that offers a tax credit for business owners who provide health insurance. The group had worked for 15 months to draft the Small Business Health Options (SHOP) Act (S.2795) to make health care more "affordable, predictable, and accessible." The legislation covers small employers (up to 100 employees) and also self-employed individuals. Small businesses would have a choice of private health plans as they band together and form a nationwide pool. Numerous groups are now analyzing the plan, including Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP). According to WIPP, small businesses with 10 or fewer employees would receive an annual tax credit of up to $1,000 per employee ($2000 for family coverage) if they pay up to 60 percent of their employees' premiums. WIPP says the bill would make illegal insurance ratings based on health status and claims. Sponsors believe this would eliminate the consequences on rates and accessibility on a small business when one employee becomes seriously ill. WIPP will arrange a briefing by Congressional staff members involved in the drafting of the bill due to its complexity. Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), and Norm Coleman (R-MN) lead the push to solve the small business health care crisis. The bill had been referred to the Senate's Committee on Finance as this newsletter was finalized.
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NAWBO-CI Chapter Lunch Meeting
May 8, 11:30 AM
Maverick Grille, 3825 121st Street, Urbandale
"Customers, Vendors, Bankruptcy and You"
Anita Shodeen, Beving, Swanson & Forest, P.C.
Economic turmoil impacts everyone's business. Learn what every business owner needs to know about such issues as dealing with the bankruptcy of customers and vendors. Speaker Anita Shodeen received her J.D. from Drake University in 1985 and is a partner in the law firm of Beving, Swanson & Forest, P.C. Her primary area of practice includes bankruptcy and commercial law. She has been involved in numerous bankruptcy proceedings as a trustee, an attorney for debtor(s) or an attorney for various creditor interests. Come hear the advice this fellow in the American College of Bankruptcy has for WBO in today's economy.
Event Sponsor: Available. To learn the benefits and value of being an event sponsor contact JoAnnRobbins@fbfs.com
Event Spotlight: JoAnn Robbins, Farm Bureau Financial Services
Cost (includes entrée, dessert, beverage, server gratuities):
$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 May 5 deadline.
NAWBO-CI Coffee
May 13 - 3:30 PM. Grounds for Celebration, 2645 Beaver Avenue, Des Moines
Hostess: Sandy Renshaw, Purple Wren
Human Relations Coffee
May 14 - 8:30 AM
(designed for those with five or more employees, but all are welcome)
VisionPoint, 1985 NW 94th Street, Suite C, Urbandale
(approximately one block south of Hickman Road)
NAWBO-CI Coffee
May 29, 8:30 AM
Grounds for Celebration, 2645 Beaver Avenue, Des Moines
Hostess: Pam Schoffner, P.S. Writes
NAWBO-CI Coffee
June 10, 3:30 PM
Location TBD
NAWBO-CI Annual Business Meeting, Golf and Yoga
June 24, 5:30 PM
Hyperion Field Club, Johnston
Plans TBA. If you are interested in the golfing event, contact Amy Kolln at jakolln@mchsi.com ASAP.
NAWBO-CI Coffee
June 26, 8:30 a.m.
Location TBD
For a complete 2008 calendar for NAWBO-CI, visit www.nawbo-ci.com
National Meetings
2008 NAWBO Women's Business Conference
Together: Rising, June 12-14, Phoenix, AZ
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