Call for Nominations

President's Message - Changes, Challenges and Courage

Nominations Now Being Accepted For NAWBO Chicago Board

Upcoming Events

Members in the News

Standouts

Member Mondays Continue

A New Member's Perspective-NAWBO Advisory Board

Grant Opportunity

ConnectingPoints

Become a New Member Liaison

Leads Groups

Connections Corner, by Mary Bresnahan

Woman Business Owner of the Year and Member of the Year Awards

Nominations for two of the Chapter's most prestigious awards, the Woman Business Owner of the Year and Member of the Year are now being accepted. Both awards will be presented at the Annual Achievement Luncheon held in the spring of 2006. Take a moment to review the award criteria -- and consider nominating yourself or someone you know to receive this honor. All NAWBO Chicago individual business owner members are eligible. Award applications are due February 17. Contact the Chapter office at 312.322.0990 or info@nawbochicago.org with questions.

Everyone faces changes and challenges in their business throughout the year. Everyone. Yet, while change and challenge are virtually part of everyone's life, and everyone's business, they are two things that most of us find stressful. Why? For many, change and challenge are perceived to be "negative" things -- too difficult, or too much. Oftentimes it is easier to avoid it altogether. Yet quite frankly, if and when we stand up to take on the things we thought we would never be able to face or be able to do, there is a feeling of invincibility as we work our way through them. That is a great and positive feeling.

January marks the halfway point on the NAWBO calendar. On July 1, 2006 a new board of directors will take office. There will be some familiar faces on that board, but in order to have a healthy, forward moving organization, there must be some new faces at the boardroom table as well.

Serving in a NAWBO Chapter leadership role requires a commitment of time, talent, resources and money. But ask anyone who has ever sat on the NAWBO Chicago board and she will tell you that the benefits greatly outweigh the demands. Current and past leaders speak of the increased exposure for themselves and their businesses, new leadership skills they have developed, long-lasting friendships and business relationships they have formed, and most importantly, the satisfaction they have gained from the good work they have done to help make the Chicago area a better place for women entrepreneurs.

Take a moment to look at the board nomination sheet. Do you have some ideas on how the Chapter can better serve members and women business owners in general? Now is the time for you to do something about it. You can effect change. Throw your hat in the ring. Fill out the enclosed nomination form and fax it to the office.

January 12 - NAWBO Book Series Seminar: Taking An Idea to Market
4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
$40 members/$55 non-members
Offices of Welsh & Katz, 120 S. Riverside Plaza

January 24 - Mega Networking Progressive Dinner
6:00 - 8:30 pm
Prairie Rock Brewing Company
1385 N. Meacham Road, Schaumburg
Members $40 / Non-members $60

February 8 - Step up to the Plate – and Proclaim Your Clout
12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
$50 individual ticket/$400 table of 10
Inn @ 835
835 South Second Street, Springfield
RSVP by email at NAWBOSPI2806@aol.com

February 9 & 10
Interested in Corporate Board service? The Boardroom Bound development program, The Pipeline Seminar, is an intensive 2-day program that is designed to jump-start a prospective candidate’s preparation and equip him/her with the tools and the insights to conduct a successful appointment campaign. Hone your corporate governance skills and prepare your strategy for a corporate board seat. Foley & Lardner LLP, 321 Clark Street, Chicago. For more information go to www.boardroombound.biz or call Cindy Burrell at 847-205-5334.

February 16 - Diversity Committee Speakers Series
A panel discussion for Black History Month titled "How We Did It: Successful Black Women Share Their Stories."
Downtown Chicago Location TBD
5:30 p.m.

February 19-21
National NAWBO Public Policy Days
Arlington Virginia
Call NAWBO HQ or log on to www.nawbo.org for details.

February 28 - Affiliates Reception
5:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Maggiano’s Little Italy
111 W. Grand Ave, Chicago
$40 members/$60 non-members

Susan Fignar, Pur*sue Inc., was featured in the December 2005 – January 2006 issue of Lake Magazine’s article "Presents with Presence". The article covers personal shoppers: Stress Stoppers for the Holidays and Beyond.

Gail Zelitzky, Silver-Robins Consulting, was selected as the Small Business Seminar speaker for the Chicago Public Library. Gail presented an interactive workshop on “Effective Sales Strategies” at the Chicago Public Library Harold Washington Library Center October 20 and November 3 and again at the Sulzer Regional Library on November 22 and 29. She will present an interactive workshop entitled “Effective Selling Strategies” on January 19 at the Harold Washington Regional Library.

Kudos to the Diversity Committee for its excellent job on the Diversity Holiday Party!

The new Member Mondays program has thus far been very well received. Every Monday at 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Kara Cenar and/or Michele Katz are available at the Welsh & Katz offices at 120 S. Riverside Plaza, 22nd Floor, in Chicago to answer questions about NAWBO.
Suburban locations have been added to Member Mondays, led by Linda McCabe. The first is January 9at Smith Barney, 111 South Pfingsten Rd., Suite 200, Deerfield, (847) 480-5430. The second is January 16 at Starbucks, Streets of Woodfield, 601 North Martingale Road, Schaumburg, (847) 605- 0476.
These are informal, open forums to discuss any NAWBO matters including membership, programs and benefits, and attendance is free to all current and prospective members. To register, contact the NAWBO office at 312-322- 0990 or info@nawbochicago.org by noon on the previous Friday.

By Caryl Derenfeld

As an owner of a niche business dealing with senior citizens and offering them an opportunity to share their stories, I love to talk and I love to listen. Prior to starting my company, my real business experience was limited. Although I know my product well, and could handle the day to day operations of billing, marketing and presenting programs, contemplating the issues of trademark, raising funds and incorporation was something very new to me. I recognized I could really use some help in deciding where to start. Then I was given the gift of attending a NAWBO prospective member meeting. Timing is everything.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is offering grants to entrepreneurs who are developing products related to homeland security. The grant program is administered through DCEO’s Homeland Security Market Development Bureau. Go to www.hsmd.illinois.gov for details.

Interested in making a connection? Looking for insights on growing your business? Then check out the next Connecting Point session in your area on February 15th at 4:00 p.m.

One of NAWBO’s greatest strengths lies in its diverse membership of women with a variety of interpersonal talents and skills. Relationship development among NAWBO members increases that strength.

To foster this development, the Membership Retention Committee seeks GREAT members to serve as “New Member Liaisons,” providing pertinent information about NAWBO activities within our region. If you believe that NABWO is a great organization and want to show how welcoming we are to our new members, this is an opportunity to contribute to the success of NAWBO, as you guide a new member through all we have to offer.

Interested? Contact Anita Kraus at 847-480-5430 or by email at anita.d.kraus@smithbarney.com for all the details.

Leads Groups are a great way to network and give and receive business referrals at no cost. Now is the opportunity to join one of four leads groups in the suburbs. Contact the person listed in your area for more information:

North Shore - 1st and 3rd Tuesday
One Northfield Plaza, Northfield
Call Sharan Tash - 847-571-0338

Buffalo Grove - 2nd and 4th Thursday
Buffalo Restaurant - will be moving soon
Lake Cook and Arlington Heights Roads, Buffalo Grove
Call Nicole Shea - 773-320-5877

(NEW) Schaumburg - 1st and 3rd Thursday (Starting January 19th)
Slender Lady
520 W. Wise Road, Schaumburg
Call Tina Dunn - 847-923-5239

Downers Grove - Bi-monthly
Call Sandie Hord- 630-694-4424