May 2008

Welcome New Members!

Karen Brienzo
Mail Managers, Inc.

Maria Burud
The Zanon Group

Sherry Caffrey
Public Safety Solutions Inc.

Beth Carroll

Melissa Centazzo
Scaramouche Productions/Communication Conundrum, Inc.

Nancy Congdon
The Hearing Care Clinic

Theresa Doby
Style & Spa of Peace

Nancy Franks-Straus
Nancy Franks- Straus Ltd.

Marianne Guinee
Weekenders USA

Clare Hefferren

Judy Hild
Judy Hild M.A. LCPC

Heather Kotlarz
Christian-Roge & Associates, Inc.

Susanne MacDonald
John Hancock Financial Services

Carla Oglesby
CGC Communications

Karolyn Raphael
Winger and Associates, Ltd.

Sherell Slaise
The Carter Ware Group, Inc.

Brandi Van Leeuwen
Schwartz Cooper Chartered

Thanks to our sponsors, Harris N.A., Crain's Chicago Business, American Airlines, Double Take Design and the Achevement Luncheon Committee, the event was a success!

Sandra Schneller, Apex Business Link , was honored as the 2008 Woman Business Owner of the Year and Sharan Tash, The Professional Networker, was honored as the 2008 Member of the Year.

Chocolate Hour Donors
Athena's Silverland Dessert
Chocolate Gourmet
Cyndy's Sweet Treats
Gia Villa, Inc.
Hel's Kitchen Catering
Hershey's Chicago
Katherine Anne Confections
Moonstruck Chocolate Café
Sugar Bliss Cake Boutique
Swirlz Cupcakes
The Bleeding Heart Bakery

Raffle Donors
American Airlines
Amy on Call
Bluegrass Restaurant
CARE
CDL & Associates, Inc.
Chicago Chocolate Tours
Clemens Mailing Service
Erin Mitchell - Author
Five Accessories
Freelife International /GoChi
GMWA Graphic Designs
Hilton Chicago
Hinsdale Furriers
KPConsulting
Marketing Innovators Int'l., Inc.
Mary Kay Cosmetics
MJ Catering
Mormino Landscape Services, Inc
Nielsen Media Research
Right Now Redesign, Inc.
STAPLES

By Deborah Chambers Chima
Chambers Consulting Group, Ltd.

The Value of Membership: Proven Steps to Getting a Return on Your Investment

Lately I have been hearing that some members are questioning the value of their Chicago Area NAWBO membership. I do believe this concern is driven from these members not truly understanding some key principles of business success. As chapter president I am of course concerned about this trend and want to take this opportunity to address it. First, I can honestly state to each of you that there IS business being transacted between our members. I have personally been referred by other members on several occasions and I know of many members who use the services of other chapter members. So why is this dynamic happening for some members and not for others?

Since becoming a business owner, I have validated the principle that in order to reach your goals "you must first give to get." In my previous career the understood principle used to move up the corporate ladder was, 'you take care of me and then I will take care of you." I see a lot of similarity in both principles. In order for people to refer you or want to do business with you, they must first know you. In order to know you they need to be exposed to what you do. Most people do not want to be sold to. They want to have the option of getting to know you to determine if they are interested in what you offer. I have found that within our chapter you must provide some level of value in order to truly penetrate the organization and get beyond the surface of simply belonging. To get closer to your desired revenue goal you need to be willing to offer either a skill, valuable information to the other party, or give up the precious commodity of time in order to be more visible and gain the exposure.

An alarming trend I am hearing is that some of our newer members are leaving because they did not get any business. As a new member, if your strategy is to suddenly grow your sales simply because you have paid to place your name on our membership list, I am afraid you will be disappointed. We have too many members who don't attend our events. To change this trend I believe we must do a better job of helping our new members understand the value and benefits of being a member that go beyond getting an immediate sale. That is certainly not to say that some new members have not gotten business because that would not be true. So how did they do it?

Continued

By Suzanne Voce, McKnight Kurland Baccelli
Lisa Brenner, Bright Ideas

The Knowledge Partner Program is designed to add value by delivering business insight members can apply to their own businesses. The 2008 Knowledge Partner is McKnight Kurland Baccelli and Bright Ideas. Principals from this strategic marketing, branding, communications and design firm will develop information resources, programs and tips on a wide variety of marketing topics throughout the year.

Are there differences in marketing B2C versus B2B?

Tatayana Sorokina
Gail Zelitzky
Valerie Beck
Welsh & Katz, Ltd.
Read what these members are up to!

May 8 Website Rules of the Road
May 21 Mega Networking Progressive Dinner
June 17 Annual Meeting & NAWBO New Year Celebration

Register Now!

June 12-14 National NAWBO 2008 Women's Business Conference in Phoenix, Arizona

If you are a NAWBO member who has launched a new company, product or service within the last 2 years, you are eligible for the Cynthia Bland O'Toole Memorial New Venture Award. Deadline is May 9, 2008. Learn more!

Far South Suburban Leads Group
Join NAWBO's first leads group in the far south suburbs on May 14 (5:30 - 7:30 pm) at Chase Bank, 18301 Dixie Highway in Homewood. Bring a friend. RSVP to Renee Collins, RKC Tax & Financial Services Inc., at 708-646-5665.

Southwest Suburban Leads Group
This is a new leads group that is not yet holding regular meetings. We are looking for new members committed to helping to grow the group and to attending regular meetings in the Bolingbrook area. If you are interested in joining the group, please contact Susan Deal at 630-214-1268 x4148.

The Membership Retention Committee is looking for NAWBO Members to host New Member Orientations during the upcoming year. We are looking for locations both in the City and the Suburbs. The Orientations require a private meeting space available from 7:45 am -10:15 am. The ideal spaces will easily accommodate seating for at least 14 people along with accommodating a PowerPoint presentation. We also ask that the host provide coffee service for about 15 participants. If you have a meeting space and you would like to offer to host an upcoming New Member Orientation, contact Susan Deal.

The third annual NAWBO Black History Month panel, organized by the Diversity Committee, took place in February and featured women who run multi-million dollar businesses sharing their stories and tips. The event was broadcast on CAN-TV, and you can watch a video of it here.

Capital Auto Body & Mechanical Repair at 2838 N Elston Ave, is offering all NAWBO members 10% off on Labor on mechanical service over $100.00. Call Bob at 773-342-3100 with any questions.

10% permanent discount off long term care insurance from O'Malley & Associates and Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. Call (630) 964-6700 for details.

Save up to 26% on shipping from UPS.

May 6 Breaking Down Trade Barriers
The Women's Business Development Center is co- sponsoring an International Trade Workshop titled "Breaking Down Trade Barriers." The workshop will be held from 8:00 am - Noon at 200 E. Randolph Street, Chicago. If you are considering taking your first steps into importing or exporting, you don't want to miss this event. Contact the WBDC for information at 312-853-3477.

May 15 Exporting for Growth Seminar
Exporting for Growth Seminar Presented by NAWBO Corporate Partner UPS in collaboration with the U.S. Commercial Service. This free seminar is geared specifically toward small and mid-size companies. Register

June 5 The Fifth Annual Athena PowerLink S.H.E. Reception Details