Traveling President Elect Newsletter - April 2009
National Association of Women Business Owners - Chicago Area Chapter
Valerie Beck, President Elect
Hello, NAWBO Sisters!
NAWBO Chicago Past President Hazel King, Linda Forman, yours truly Valerie Beck, and Susanne Moncrieff at the 2009 Achievement Luncheon
Are you feeling optimistic during this 2008-2009 NAWBO year, or could you use a boost? Either way, NAWBO is the place to be. There's a little phrase: "If you're doing great, we need you! If you're not doing so great, you need us!" In other words, when the going gets tough, the tough go to NAWBO, because good things happen to NAWBO members. I hope you are stepping up and reaping the benefits of membership in our great organization.
Toward that end, as your President Elect, I've decided to travel through our large and vibrant Chicago Area Chapter to visit different events, Committee meetings, Special Interest Groups, and Leads Groups, so that I can assist in building connections among groups, help more people get involved and get the benefits of NAWBO,and see the great things YOU are up to!
Every couple of months or so, I report on what's going on and what's coming up, so that we can all stay connected and harmonious as we experience and enjoy NAWBO's mission of promoting women in business economically, politically, and socially - and as we have fun while doing it!
So, below you'll find these quick blurbs:
1. Photos and an update from the annual Achievement Luncheon + Chocolate Hour in April
2. A photo and update from my visit to the North Shore Leads Group in April
3. A photo and update from the Prospective Member Breakfast in April
4. An update from the inaugural Prospective Corporate Partner Breakfast in March
5. A photo and update from the Wellness Event in March
6. An update and photo from the Affiliates Reception in February
7. An update from the Black History Month Panel in February
8. An update and photo from the Diversity Committee New Year's Cocktail Party in January
9. News of upcoming events including the NAWBO National Conference, held in our own Chicago this year from June 24 - 27! I attended the National Conference in Phoenix last year, and it was amazingly fascinating, inspiring, informative,and fun. Please join me at the Conference here in town - we are all going to save tons of money from not having to travel and get a hotel, and we can allmake tons of money with the knowledge and contacts we gain, while building valuable relationships for now and for the long term! Come for the full program, or come to events a la carte. Discounted early bird registration ends today, April 30. Details are at the bottom of this email and on the National site at www.nawbo.org.
I want to visit YOU; please let me know when your group or Committee meets. Have camera and a connections-focused mindset; will travel!
Onward and upward!
Best regards,
Your President Elect,
Valerie
Valerie Beck
Chicago Chocolate Tours President and Founder
www.chicagochocolatetours.com
Author, Speaker, Romance Coach
www.romancearoundthecorner.com
Mary Kay Independent Sales Director
www.marykay.com/vbeck
230 S. Clark Street, Suite 119
Chicago, Illinois 60604
312-929-2939 office
312-925-5377 cell
**NAWBO Chicago2007-2008 Member of the Year, 2008-2010 President Elect**
1. Update on Achievement Luncheon + Chocolate Hour
New member Michelle Redd, Q&A moderator Charisse Witherspoon, Bonnie Mahaffey
If you were among the around 400 of us atthe biggest event of the NAWBO Chicago year this past Tuesday, you know what a blast we had!At our annual Achievement Luncheon, held in the gorgeous gilded Grand Ballroom at the Hilton and sponsored by Harris and Crain's,keynote speaker Elizabeth Vargas of 20/20 did a phenomenal job sharing her story, as did NAWBO Business Owner of the Year Jane Morgan, and NAWBO Member of the Year Cathie Van Wert. Great networkingand great chocolate were enjoyedby all!
Additional Achievement Luncheon photos are at http://www.chicagochocolatetours.com/photo-gallery/nawbo-chicago-achievement-luncheon-and-chocolate-hour-april/.
Oh yes!
2. Update on North Shore Leads Group
Vicki Gerson, Paula Silver, Marcy Gelber, Scott Hershinow
The North Shore Leads Group runs a tight ship! The group's members sharereferrals and help keep each others' businesses thriving, and one member per meeting shares information on her business and a topic of interest. I was impressed with the group's professionality, upbeat energy, and commitment.
For more info on theNorth Shore LeadsGroup, contact Scott Hershinow at .
Yours truly with Sharon Gonsky
3. Update on Prospective Member Breakfast
Breakfast attendees included new members Jennifer Kilby (second from left) and Erica Reynolds (first from right)
If you ever worry about the state of the nation, come to a NAWBO Prospective Member Breakfast (or any NAWBO event, for that matter!) and your faith will be abundantly restored, because you'll meet powerful, passionate women who are doing great things in their businesses and looking for an arena to grow further in influence and success; that arena is NAWBO. To come to the breakfast, you should of course bring a not-yet-member with you!The April breakfast had 16 amazing not-yet-members in attendance at IBM downtown, each of whom had an exciting business and who enjoyed our Chapter President Angelika Coghlan's presentation on what NAWBO has to offer, and 13of whom were moved to join NAWBO before walking out the door. Welcome!
What women business owners do you know who are not-yet-members? You can invite them to the next Prospective Member Breakfast on Tuesday, May 19, at 8 am, at Angelika's office, Catwalk Consulting, at 1821 Walden Office Square, Schaumburg. RSVP at .
4. Update on Prospective Corporate Partner Breakfast
Our Prospective Member Breakfasts are so wonderful that the thought came to mind: why don't we do the same thing for prospective Corporate Partners? Now we do! Our first ever Prospective Corporate Partner breakfast was held at the law firm of Barack Ferrazzano, with 6 prospective Corporate Partners and several new and existing Corporate Partners, who came to learn more about NAWBO. Two new CPs joined NAWBO; more to come!
Who do you know who works at a corporation and should get involved with NAWBO? Invite her or him to the next Prospective Corporate Partner Breakfast on Thursday, May 21, at 8 am, at Barack Ferrazzano, 200 W. Madison, and let our Director of Corporate Affairs Susanne Moncrieff know at . The event is free of charge; you must bring a prospective CP to attend.
5. Update on Wellness Event
Karyn Pettigrew and Linda Zagar show their healty style
Wellness of body, mind, and business was the theme at NAWBO's first ever Wellness Event, sponsored by Sam's Club and Argo Tea, and the Wellness Committee worked incredibly hard to pull off this health-infused event!
6. Update on Affiliates Reception
Yours truly (left)with National City sponsors Kathleen Newrones and Jaime Hung
At this anticipated annual event, 100 attendees from NAWBO and our affiliated organizations ate, drank, and were merry at Maggiano's in the city. The event was sponsored by National City Bank / PNC, and encouraged guests to learn more about NAWBO and about our affiliates, and to network up a storm.
7. Update on Black History Month Panel
Ourfourth annual Black History Month Panel was an elegant and inspirational triumph! 80 attendees heard from 3 ultra-successful panelists share how they did it - how they made it to the top. The panel was moderated by our own Charisse Witherspoon, held at the Barack Ferrazano law firm, and sponsored by the firm and by Sam's Club. The event concluded with a pink rose for every attendee and panelist, to symbolize love for hard working women past, present, and future.Congratulations to the Diversity Committee for organizing this event in high style!
To help organize the next Diversity Committee planned event, the annual “Diversity Equals Dollars” dinner set for July 23, 2009, at 5:30 pm at the East Bank Club with speaker Gloria Castillo, contact Bonnie Mahaffey at .
8. Update on Diversity Committee New Year's Cocktail Party
Bonnie Mahaffey, Olga Romano, not-yet-member, yours truly, not-yet-member, Paulette Peters, Karen Haggerty.Seated: Jessica Merino, Linda Monty
Is it true that the Diversity Committee is also the party committee?The 20 (partying!) attendees at the annual Diversity Committee New Year's Cocktail Partyknow the answer!
For more info on the Diversity Committee, contact Bonnie Mahaffey at .
Having fun and making money!
9. Upcoming NAWBO Events
Will you be at any of these events (also at www.nawbochicago.org):
Thursday, May 7, 8 am: Members Only Breakfast
Come learn more about how to reap the benefits of your NAWBO membership. Barack Ferrazzano law firm, 200 W. Madison, Chicago. Sponsored by American Family Insurance. Free of charge.RSVP to .
Thursday, May 14,noon: Progressive Networking Lunch
Switch tables at each course, meet triple the people.Doubletree Hotel, 1909 Spring Road, Oak Brook. Register at www.nawbochicago.org.
Chapter President Angelika Coghlanat a Prospective Member Breakfast
Tuesday, May 19, 8 am: Prospective Member Breakfast
Know any not-yet-members? Bring them in! And, have you heard the great news: for everyone you recruit into NAWBO, you get $25 off your membership dues. So, bring in 7 people, and your dues are half off. Bring in 14, and your membership is free! The breakfast is free too; please bring a guest to attend. Catwalk Consulting, 1821 Walden Office Square, Schaumburg. RSVP to .
Thursday,May 21,8 am: Prospective Corporate Partner Breakfast
Know any not-yet-Corporate Partner members? Bring them in! Barack Ferrazzano,200 W. Madison,Chicago. Free of charge. Must have a corporate guest to attend. RSVP to , or contact for more info.
Having a ball at the 2008 NAWBO National Conference: NAWBO Chicago Past President Deborah Chambers Chima, NAWBO National Past President Carol Kuc, NAWBO National Board Member Lisa Johnson, NAWBO Chicago Board Member Susanne Moncrieff, and yours truly
Tuesday, June 23 - Saturday, June 27: NAWBO National Women's Business Conference
This is BIG! NAWBO National holds a huge and hugely powerful Conference every year, and this year it's in Chicago, at the Sheraton on the river!
Already registered for the full Conference package? Great; me too, and I will see you there! $555 spent now could reap a lifetime of benefits.
Hesitating? If that's the case, before you tell me you can't afford it, have you considered how you might be able to earn the funds to afford it? Or how the knowledge and connections you gain at the Conference can more than pay for the Conference? I encourage you to attend if at all possible; it will be worth it.
I went to the Conference in Phoenix last year for the first time, and I'm determined to go every year now, because of the value I received in terms of relationships, ideas, and rejuvenation.
If you absolutely feel you can't go to the full Conference this year, I hear you; a compromise solution so that you still reap some benefits could be to buy event tickets a la carte. For example, you could go to the Chicago Chapter-related events, which include the Tuesday "Dine Around" ($60), the Welcome Reception on Wednesday at the Field Museum, ($75, or included in total Conference package), and the Saturday "Stay and Play" ($60). Let's meet and greet, welcome our NAWBO sisters to Chicago from across the country, and show our Chicago pride!
Another Conference opportunity: give 1,000 gifts for the Welcome to Chicago goody bags! Let me know if you'd like to be part of Operation Goody Bag, and let's show off our members like YOU to the whole nation of NAWBO members.
Details and registration are at www.nawbo.org. Early bird registration ends today, April 30. Join me!
Yours truly (right) with new friends from Orlando whom I wouldn't have met if I hadn't gone to the NAWBO Conference last year in Phoenix!
Thursday, July 23: Diversity Equals Dollars dinner
Come hear keynote speaker Gloria Castillo of Chicago United, an organization that brings together CEOs of Fortune 500 companies and other companies for diversity, talk about how diversity of workforce and partners means more dollars in your pocket. East Bank Club, 500 W. Kingsbury, Chicago. Register at www.nawbochicago.org.
P.S. Can't get enough photos of our vibrant Chapter members propelling ourselves forward at our exciting events? Me either! More pictures are at
http://www.chicagochocolatetours.com/photo-gallery/nawbo-events/.
See you soon!