October 2008
Bylaw Changes—
AWE Needs Your Vote!
By Elaine Eldridge www.yourwordswork.com
Voting season is upon us (at last!), and AWE needs your vote, too. At our regular WIN lunch on Monday, October 27, 2008, we will vote on changes to the AWE bylaws. These changes will affect all of us, so please be sure to attend.
Watch your email (subject line: "Proposed Changes to Bylaws") for a complete description of the entire bylaws and the changes proposed. A side-by-side comparison will make it easy to understand the changes. Please contact Kim Schwamberger or Suzanne Knight if you have any questions. Here is a synopsis of the proposed changes:
- The number of standing committees will change to reflect our current board makeup; these will include Marketing, Programs, Membership, and Sponsorship. Other committees will not be specifically named in the bylaws and will become subcommittees of the major four groups.
- Sponsorship (which will include fundraising) will be added as a new standing committee. The Sponsorship Chair will be a voting member of the AWE Board.
- Bylaw language will be altered so that references to the group will be to "AWE" rather than "the Alliance."
- Allowing for electronic voting for bylaw changes will be added.
- Since we have changed our calendar year for organizational and planning purposes, the dates for the annual meeting and the officers' terms will be altered to reflect those changes. Our fiscal year remains January to December.
- Perhaps most importantly, the bylaws will be amended so that any future changes to the bylaws will require a designated percentage of the entire membership.
Please look over the changes carefully and be prepared to vote at the October 27th luncheon. If you cannot attend, you may send a proxy vote. Explained in further detail below a proxy is simply your vote on a piece of paper with your signature that you have another member bring to the meeting.
AWE Bylaws Section 6: Voting by Proxy: A member entitled to vote at a meeting or to express consent or dissent without a meeting may authorize another person to act for her by proxy. A proxy shall be signed by the member or her authorized agent or representative. A proxy is only valid of the vote taken at the meeting of members for which the proxy was given. A proxy is revocable at the pleasure of the member executing it, except as otherwise provided in Section 421, 422, and 423 of the Nonprofit Corporation Act.
WIN Lunch
Monday, October 27, 2008, 11:30–1:30 pm
Fair Housing Center of West Michigan—20 Hall St. SE, directions...
Technology Strategies—How to
Organize, Automate, and Communicate...
Sponsored by Symplicity Communications, Inc.
October's WIN lunch is special for two reasons: first, we'll vote on the proposed changes to our bylaws; second, we get to learn technology strategies from two of our very own experts, Catherine Lazarock (symplicitycom.com) and Caroline Mues (writebrainthinking.com).
Catherine and Caroline will discuss how they leverage various technologies to stay organized and efficient in their everyday business. You will be given amazing tips for working with Outlook, Excel, and Word that will save you valuable time. Caroline and Catherine will also show us how we can automate processes without having to invest a lot of money.
Finally, our dynamic duo will discuss how to communicate effectively by using online communities such as LinkedIn, Facebook, or MySpace. Don't miss this one if you're still "just thinking" about an online presence to complement your website.
Catherine, a West Michigan native and GVSU grad, founded Symplicity Communications, Inc. with the single goal of making telecommunications "symple" for her clients. Symplicity offers complete technology solutions for most carriers of local, long distance, and internet services as well as phone systems, IT services, cellular services, and network assessments.
Caroline Mues, owner of Write Brain Thinking, leverages online marketing strategies for women- and minority-owned businesses by providing them with compelling online sales copy and web content development. She believes developing trust online is a key factor in creating a successful electronic marketing message.
AWEsome Hour
Monday, October 20, 2008, 5:00–7:30 pm
JDek of the JW Marriott Hotel, 235 Louis Street NW directions...
River view, fresh air, appetizers, and a well-stocked bar . . . what's not to like? Come relax, meet friends, and network at October's AWEsome Hour on the JDek of the JW Marriott Hotel.
The JW Marriott is located at 235 Louis Street NW on the NW corner of Louis Street and Campau Avenue. On-street parking is free after 5:00 p.m. If you'd prefer the ease of valet parking, use the adjacent JW Parking Structure, a short sky walk away from the hotel.
What DO Women Want, Anyway?—
Membership Survey Results
By Elaine Eldridge www.yourwordswork.com
Girls may just want to have fun, but AWE women want to do business. A whopping +90% of the members who responded to June's survey listed "networking/gaining business contacts" as one of their main reasons for joining AWE.
Two-thirds of those responding also listed networking and making business contacts as their primary reason to attend lunches and dinners, and over half joined AWE so they could acquire knowledge to establish or expand their businesses. Over 35% see AWE as a means of boosting sales.
And in case you're wondering whether those AWEsome Hours have you seeing double, don't worry: almost 78% of the survey respondents reported belonging to other business or networking organizations. So you may see familiar faces at other meetings! Why go elsewhere? Same reason-three-quarters of the women who belong to similar business organizations mention networking and gaining business contacts as their primary reason for joining.
Business and networking don't equal dull and boring for AWE members. When asked "What nonbusiness programs or activities would improve your satisfaction with your AWE membership?" almost half (48.9%, to be exact) of the respondents said happy hour networking.
Members' time preferences formed another key survey finding. Two-thirds of us (66.7%) picked the 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. time slot, and almost as many (62.2%) chose 5:30-7:30 p.m. as an equally convenient time.
WIN lunches continue to be popular. Although networking may be the primary reason members attend, over a quarter of the lunch crowd listed "program/speaker" as the primary attraction. Similarly, a large number of respondents (60%) indicated they wanted educational programming on topics such as setting up an LLC, small business taxes, and marketing.
So how do these percentages add up? This year's programming decisions are based on members' time preferences, requests for happy hours, and the continued emphasis on networking and education. AWEsome Hour has replaced some-not all-of the monthly sit-down dinners. We will enjoy dinner at the November membership drive meeting and plan to hold one each quarter. The remaining months will feature AWEsome Hours. Yes, that means some months will have more food than others. But not to worry: WIN lunches will continue as before (fourth Monday of each month), and the Board is hard at work lining up speakers for continued education and inspiration.
Save the Date....
November 17 - Membership Drive - Dinner at EVE in The B.O.B.
January 26, 2009 - AWE Annual Conference
Pathways to Success
JW Marriott Downtown, Grand Rapids.
Join AWE as we celebrate 25 Years!
President's Corner
Have you ever heard the saying "find your passion, make it your career, and you will never work a day in your life"? I wish that for everyone. Some of us have taken our passions and started a business. What is it that sets an entrepreneur apart? We tend to have common traits, such as independence, drive, confidence, and leadership. Okay, I have heard "bossy" a few times, too. But we all know it takes more than adjectives to meet the challenges we confront to be successful entrepreneurs.
Members have shared with me that one of their top reasons for attending AWE events is connecting with women in business. We have a lot to juggle in our lives: careers, families, homes, volunteer activities. Where do you turn during exciting or frustrating situations?
At our meetings and events we hear about company growth, new opportunities, worries about making payroll, or suggestions for specific business concerns. It is reassuring to discuss an issue or share good news with others who can relate to the challenges we face. That's what AWE does: we're about women supporting women through leadership, connections, and education.
I look forward to seeing you at the next meeting.
Sincerely,
Kim Schwamberger
Alliance of Women Entrepreneurs, President
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President's Corner
Kim SchwambergerMembership NewsCongratulations to AWE members who were recognized and nominated for 2008 Athena Awards:
Young Professional Nominees:
Floriza Genautis - Management Business Solutions Jennifer Bystry - Select Bank
Athena Nominees:
Rhoda Kreuzer -Partners In Action
Welcome New and
Renewing MembersSue Rios
West MI Center for Family Health
2008-09 Board MembersKim Schwamberger President Beverly Mapes Vice President Deanna Fridley Secretary Kathy Heintzelman Treasurer Floriza Genautis Programs Coordinator Connie Sweet Marketing Coordinator Suzanne Knight Membership Coordinator 2008 Aligned for Success Submission Deadlines
November - by October 21
December - by November 18
January - by December 16Advertisers, sponsors, member news announcements, and article submissions please email marketing coordinator, Connie Sweet of Connection Graphics. AWE WEST MICHIGAN
MISSION STATEMENT:
To be the premier organization promoting the success of women entrepreneurs through educational resources, leadership development, and networking connections.
Layout and design of Aligned for Success by: Connection Graphics
www.connectiongraphics.com
Picture of JW Marriot located in Grand Rapids, MI
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