Judy Crockett

Judy Crockett
Judy Crockett

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Very Good Looking, Damn Smart Woman's Day

Today is International Very Good Looking, Damn Smart Woman's Day, so please send this message to someone you think fits this description. Please do not send it back to me as I have already received it from a Very Good Looking, Damn Smart Woman! And remember this motto to live by: Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

This was sent in by our personal coach - Camille Kocsis

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Giving Circle On Line Giving

The Women's Empowerment Giving Circle in now online!
Online giving is up and running.
So anyone can now give online at: www.manisteefoundation.org.
Click on About our Funds
Click on WEGC
Follow directions for donation.

Thank you! We are nearing our $5,000 initial endowment.
Please help if you can - any amount - when pooled with the
contributions of others - will make a significant impact.

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

Women's Business

Women's Business

These resources are designed to help women create and run their own businesses.

Center for Empowerment and Economic Development (CEED)
The Center for Empowerment and Economic Development (CEED) provides entrepreneurs and business owners with the technical, financial and professional enrichment support services necessary for business success. CEED offers classes and seminars for entrepreneurs as well as networking opportunities to grow their business.

Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women (GROW)
GROW offers long-term training and counseling and also provides training in economic self-sufficiency and asset building through its Individual Development Account program. GROW is also actively involved in providing training for home-based day-care providers in business management and setting up financial management systems.

Women's Business Development Centers
Each women's business center provides assistance and/or training in finance, management, marketing, procurement and the Internet, as well addressing specialized topics such as home-based businesses, corporate executive downsizing and welfare-to-work.

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

WomanMotorist.com Story


Check out this web site...be an educated consumer.


Established in 1996, WomanMotorist.com is the oldest, and largest, consumer automotive magazine for women. The online publication reaches 1.5 million readers a year – about 200,00 a month.

The site contains thousands of articles, available free-of-charge, including new car reviews for every passenger car and truck sold in the United States. It provides pricing and data for both new and used cars, and entire books on the subjects of new and used car buying. Comprehensive archives of maintenance and safety advice, along with the industry-leading automotive glossary provide every tool car shoppers need to be happy consumers.

For repeat readers, WomanMotorist.com provides travel stories and destination articles, chats on every subject from racing, motorcycling, and RV travel and ownership. Readers can also send their personal automotive questions to the publication editors for expert answers. And for the thousands of subscribers to WomanMotorist.com, they received offers from vendors selling products that are of interest to them.

Women find everything they need to know about being successful automotive consumers, and have fun doing it on WomanMotorist.com. And every bit of it is free.

This information was submitted by Kathleen Lightbody at Crain Communications in Detroit: Kathleen is a member of the Women's netWork

Friday, December 02, 2005

More about Gail and Laughter

Last month at the Network, we 'laughed for no reason' with Gail Robinson. I would like you know a little secret about Gail. She is also an inventor of sorts. Gail has formulated an earth-friendly laundry powder called Moon Works. It is 100% biodegradable and, as the label states, "naturally low suds, brightens, deodorizes, cleans like crazy & rinses with no residue." I can attest, after my fourth load of laundry this morning, that the statement is true. It comes in three varieties: lavender, balsam fir and unscented. The soap is available at Port City Organics, 321 River Street. This is the proverbial win-win-win-win situation: empowering a woman entrepreneur, supporting a local vendor, caring for our beautiful environment, and laughing over the laundry. After all, you'll think of Gail every time you throw in a load.
Take care,
Sharron Lemmer
ha ha ha, ho ho ho, hehehehehehe

Friday, November 11, 2005

More Powerful Women Coverage

November 14 issue of Fortune magazine with Martha Stewart on the front has a special section on the 50 most powerful women in business worldwide and other related articles. Definitely worth picking up.

To your success!
Camille Kocsis

Thursday, November 10, 2005

The Key To Taking Control

The Key To Taking Control
By: Brian Tracy

Set Priorities
Stress management requires that you take complete control over the activities of your daily life. This means that you plan your day, set priorities and work on high value tasks. The indispensable key to time management is concentration, the ability to focus single-mindedly on one thing, the most important thing, and to stay with it until it is 100% complete.

Create Chunks of Time
This is not only the hardest challenge that a manager faces, but the ability to concentrate single-mindedly is probably the rarest single ability in the workplace. Most of our important tasks take large chunks of time. We need to plan and organize our days in such a way that we allocate these chunks of time so that we can do the jobs upon which our success depends.


A Burst of Energy
The wonderful thing about setting priorities and concentrating single-mindedly is that, the very minute that you do these two things, you will begin to feel a tremendous sense of control and well-being. As you work progressively toward the accomplishment of your most important tasks, you will feel a flow of energy and enthusiasm. As you finish something that is relevant and significant to your company and to yourself, you get a burst of energy. Your self-esteem improves. You feel good about yourself. You have a wonderful sense of making measurable progress toward greater successful in your career. You feel like you are making a difference.

On the other hand, working on small tasks or low priority items simply causes you to feel more and more stress. Even if you finish a dozen or a hundred of these minor and irrelevant low value tasks, you get no feeling of satisfaction or accomplishment.

Action Exercises
Now, here are two ideas you can use immediately to concentrate single mindedly on the highest value use of your time.

First, analyze your work before you begin and then ask yourself, “What one thing, if I did it quickly and well, would have the greatest impact on my work?” Whatever it is, go to work on that one item immediately.

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

She's Gotta Have It...Businessweek Investor

JULY 22, 2002

BUSINESSWEEK INVESTOR
By Michelle Conlin


She's Gotta Have "It"
A growing mound of research shows that female execs trounce men in nearly every area of performance. But many lack "executive presence"

She has Everest-size ambitions, a flawless track record, and an uncanny knack for strategy. "I'd love to promote her," the CEO says. "But she just doesn't have `it.' "

"It," in this case, is executive presence, the elusive quality that has over the past year become a major focus in women's leadership development circles. This trait is so important to companies such as Shell Group and J.P. Morgan Chase that they have packed off their high-potential female managers to special seminars to develop "it," lest they wind up adding to an already depressing statistic: Women make up half of management jobs but are still just a sliver--5%--of the executive ranks.

Executive presence goes far beyond banishing the wardrobe of frumpy brown suits and stopping the nail-biting at meetings. It refers to that ability to take hold of a room by making a polished entrance, immediately shaking people's hands, and forging quick, personal connections instead of defaulting to robotic formalism and shrinking into a chair. When leaders with executive presence speak, people listen--because the talk is filled with conviction instead of equivocation. They inspire that I'll-follow-you-anywhere loyalty, conveying an aura of warmth and authenticity to everybody from the receptionist to the CEO.

It makes sense that executive presence is the latest key in unlocking women's advancement. Over the past few years, a growing mound of research has revealed that women executives trounce men in nearly every aspect of performance. But a gender gulf remains in the most crucial area: confidence. And confidence is the secret sauce in executive presence.

It sounds so utterly, self-help simple. But Cynthia Scott, a partner with San Francisco-based executive coaching firm Changeworks, says she's astounded at how often females in danger of being written off for advancement will leave a meeting without having said much--if anything. That makes them come off as passive and unengaged. When they do pipe up, Scott says, they often blow it by using qualifiers such as "perhaps," pronouns such as "we"--and, worst of all, ending the sentence with the inflection of a question, causing people to doubt what they've just said.

As long as men continue to be the primary influence on the corporate culture, the nice-girl, seen-not-heard communication styles women were acculturated with will continue to hurt them the further up the career ladder they go. Recent research by The Leader's Edge, a Philadelphia leadership training firm, found that top females in Corporate America were far less comfortable challenging others than their male colleagues. They were also more guarded in their social interaction--even though speaking frankly to your colleagues becomes ever more important at the executive level. Building social capital is imperative for women. Leaders promote those they like and feel comfortable with.

One of the biggest ways women can improve their "it" is by not winging what they say at meetings. Coaches advise rehearsing what you say beforehand, using your own style of declarative speech without overcompensating by becoming a bully. Learn the art of polite interruption. Warm up the room by telling a quick story. "A lot of communicating is planning ahead," says Leigh Wasson, a managing director at J.P. Morgan who has worked with San Francisco coach Peggy Klaus. In hallways and elevators, open up about your personal life to forge bonds with the senior team--something many women confess feels riskier than burrowing into their work.

Self-promotion is also critical. In shadowing female executives, coaches cringe at how often high achievers dodge opportunities to trumpet themselves, almost as if their achievements will go without saying. "Women need to learn how to brag," says Klaus, who holds boasting seminars at companies such as Pfizer. One strategy: Weave accomplishments into anecdotes. Lighten up on the self-deprecation and pour on more humor.

The best news about confidence is that it's easier to develop than competence--the part of the job senior women usually have licked. Now, they just need to start working on their "it."


Hers columnist Toddi Gutner is on special assignment.


Copyright 2000-2004, by The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. All rights reserved.

Monday, November 07, 2005

Celebrating Women Festival

The Manistee County Convention & Visitors Bureau has announced the appointment of Catherine Zaring as Festival Coordinator for the Celebrating Women Festival for 2006.

Zaring has taken over the reins of the festival entering its second year, following a successful inaugural year in 2005 under the direction of the CVB staff.

“The Celebrating Women Festival offers a truly unique opportunity for Manistee to capitalize upon market specific events planning. We offer some truly interesting entertainment options for women…events that can highlight the special flavor of Manistee County’s diverse communities,” said Zaring.

Catherine Zaring brings to the festival many years of successful experience managing all aspects of festivals and special events in the Chicagoland metropolitan region. Most recently, she chaired the Wizard of Oz Festival in Chesterton, Indiana…a festival that draws almost 100,000 visitors to the small community over a three day period. She is proud of this festival which has grown to the point that visitors come from across the country and even from eight foreign countries.

The Celebrating Women Festival will be held over the first weekend of May stretching from May 3rd through the 7th.

For further information contact the Manistee County Convention & Visitors Bureau -
231-398-9355 or email cvb@manistee.com.

Monday, October 31, 2005

Laughing Matters

With the holiday season in front of us...Laughing Matters...so the speaker for the Thursday, November 17 Women's netWork luncheon is...Gail Robinson.

Gail Robinson spent twenty years as an elementary school teacher. She is the founder of the Montessori Elementary School in Suttons Bay, Michigan. Gail is a registered yoga instructor and Reiki practitioner. She established the first Laughter Club in Northern Michigan modeled after the Laughter Movement of Madan Kataria, MD. As a certified Laughter Yoga Trainer, Gail offers informational presentations.

Get to lunch early if you can - Gail said it is not pretty to eat while participating in this program! Check out her web site at laughingmatters.us

The luncheon will be held at Topo's, Nov. 17 from 11:45-1:30pm. Cost is $10.

If anyone can share information about Gail and the laughing movement - blog it here.

Thursday, October 20, 2005

Women's Empowerment Giving Circle

The Women’s netWork, formed in May 2005, announced today at their regular monthly luncheon the formation of the Manistee County Women’s Empowerment Giving Circle. By the end of the luncheon, after an impressive report, 30% of the start up goal had been reached.
“Giving Circles are a grass roots phenomenon that began in early 2000,” said Judy Ouvry, one of the co-founders of the Women’s netWork. “These groups pool donations in order to make a greater impact on the causes they fund. This giving circle will fund women and girls’ issues in the areas of professional development and leadership.”
Karen Bruchan, executive director of the Manistee County Community Foundation presented the Women’s Empowerment Giving Circle at the luncheon attended by over 50 women.
“This will be a fund at the Manistee County Community Foundation. The mission of this Giving Circle is to encourage and promote the economic self-sufficiency and well-being of women and girls,” said Bruchan. “Grant-making will focus on key areas of growth including education, leadership, political readiness, business incubation, and professional development.”
The Manistee County Women’s Empowerment Giving Circle will have an element not common to giving circles. Women and girls who are awarded grants will also be assigned a mentor to support and guide her along her path of growth and development.
Bruchan noted numerous statistics about the status of women in Michigan, and specifically in Manistee County. According to the Status of Women in Michigan Report done by the Nokomis Foundation, one in ten Michigan women live below the poverty line. Michigan Women had a composite score of C-, earning two thirds of what Michigan men earn for full-time employment.
Locally statistic show that in 2000, over half of all female householder families with children 0-5 were considered to be in poverty. Manistee County women’s median income in 2000 was $3,521 less that the 10-county region.
“We were overwhelmed by the immediate financial support for this endeavor that came forward to start this fund,” said Vanessa Buhs, co-founder of the Women’s netWork. “But we were not surprised. Women give generously when they know there is a need and a solution. This giving circle will be part of the solution.”
For more information about the Women’s Empowerment Giving Circle or to join the Women’s netWork, send an email to manisteewomen@yahoo.com or contact the Manistee County Community Foundation at 231-723-7269.

Wealth for Women Seminar

Join Camille Koscic for the Wealth for Women program November 3-6 at the Portage Point Inn in Onekama.

Six months from now, a small group of committed women who invested their daily coffee money in themselves rather than mochas will be well on their way to having their dreams come true.

If you're not in that group, where will you be in six months? Will it be any closer to anything you want, or will it be the same old stuff?

Right now, call 231-383-0141 to register or to get more detailed information. It
will cost you only $3.99 a day to find out how to get anything you want.

To your success,
Camille Kocsis

P.S. If your life has been so contaminated by the whiners that you're not even sure what your dream is, we'll help you uncover it. You're here for a reason and this is how you can
find out what it is. Call now 231-383-0141.

P.P.S. A recent registrant said when deciding whether or not to spend the money to attend she asked herself this question, “"How valuable would it be to me to really let go of inaccurate and limited ideas about money and wealth and replace them with accurate and expanded ideas?". She decided it was well worth it.

P.P.P.S. How much progress did you make in the last six months toward your dream? Do you think that speeding it up in a big way might be good? Aren't you tired of waiting? Is
your dream worth $3.99 a day? Are you? CALL NOW 231-383-0141

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

Newsweek's When Women Lead

Please read the articles in the Oct 24, 2005 Newsweek -
the entire issue is on line at

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9712125/

When Women Lead
As a growing number of female executives rise to the top,
how will they change the culture of the workplace?

There is a lot to learn in this issue.
We'd love to read your comments....

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Celebrating Women Festival Coordinator Needed

Good Monday to you all! We are again planning the Celebrating Women Festival
and are in need of a Festival Coordinator – we are currently accepting resumes
for this position so please spread the word and get back to me with any ideas you
may have. We also will be having a meeting for all those interested in participating
again this year. If you know of anyone who should receive emails about the festival
please forward their email address to me. And please feel free to forward this
message to anyone who may need it. I will get back to you with a meeting date,
time and place. Sure hope your summer went well.

Best Regards,

Evelyn J

Manistee County CVB
231-398-9355

Becoming a Great Conversationalist

Three Skills To Improve Conversation
By: Brian Tracy


One key to becoming a great conversationalist is to pause before replying. A short pause, of three to five seconds, is a very classy thing to do in a conversation. When you pause, you accomplish three goals simultaneously.

The Benefits of Pausing
First, you avoid running the risk of interrupting if the other person is just catching his or her breath before continuing. Second, you show the other person that you are giving careful consideration to his or her words by not jumping in with your own comments at the earliest opportunity. The third benefit of pausing is that you will actually hear the other person better. His or her words will soak into a deeper level of your mind and you will understand what he or she is saying with greater clarity. By pausing, you mark yourself as a brilliant conversationalist.

Friday, October 14, 2005

10/14/2005 - Ford Names Female V.P

10/14/2005 - Ford Names Female V.P.

DETROIT (AP) - Ford has named its first female executive vice president in 102 years.
56-year-old Anne Stevens will serve as executive vice president and chief operating
officer for the Americas. It's a new position that makes her one of the highest ranking
women in the auto industry. Stevens has previously served as Ford's group
vice president of Canada, Mexico and South America. She joined the company in 1990.
Stevens will be in charge of product development, manufacturing and purchasing
in the Americas. (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Thursday, October 13, 2005

I Can't Believe She Did That!

Meet Nan Mooney, author of I Can't Believe She Did That! Why Women Betray Other Women at Work (St. Martin's Press, ($16.29). http://www.nanmooney.com

Nan addresses a topic that is not an easy one for women to talk about or admit is happening. Please check out her web site and also take the time to take her quiz. What follows was taken from her web site:

I Can’t Believe She Did That! offers a new and compelling perspective on conflict and competition among women in the workplace. Based on real stories from real women, the book provides a provocative social and cultural exploration of the often troubled and painful dynamics that unfold among women on the job.

I wrote I Can’t Believe She Did That! because I wanted to provoke discussion among all women about the conflicts and competition we encounter with one another in our professional relationships. My hope is that working women everywhere — in reading groups, in offices, in networking groups and professional organizations, or just gathering over lunch or drinks — will begin seriously discussing the issues raised in this book. Open communication is a critical first step towards resolving our conflicts and getting on with our professional lives.

Get more information from Nan's web site.

http://www.nanmooney.com

Let's hear your comments, too.

Friday, October 07, 2005

Baker College to offer Forums in Manistee County

Baker College of Cadillac is looking into the viability of
offering a Business Resource Center for area businesses in
Manistee County. We would like to begin by offering a "FREE
Forum" for business owners and managers.

The purpose of the forum is to have an open discussion with
business owners/managers about unique challenges, business-
development needs, common concerns and issues facing
businesses today.

Forums will be held at:
Brethren High School Wednesday October 12 from 7-9 pm

Manistee Benzie Mental Health on Gloseski Drive
Wednesday October 19 from 7-9 pm


Please pass this information on to others who would benefit from
a Business Resource Center - plan to attend the free forum.


Mary Jo

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mary Jo Binkley
Director of Business & Corporate Services
Baker College of Cadillac
Telephone: (231) 876-3128
Fax: (231) 775-8505


Wireless - DO NOT CALL List Information

JUST A REMINDER...In a few weeks, ALL wireless phone numbers are being
released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sales
calls. YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS...

To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone:
(888)382-1222. It is the National DO NOT CALL LIST... It will only take
a minute of your time. It blocks your number for five (5) years.

Tuesday, October 04, 2005

U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce

Joni Purgiel sent this to me. I am passing it on to you. We all need to remember to do business with other women...


Why should your women-owned business be in the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce - Guide to Women Contractors?

Visibility - Opportunity - Reach - Affordability!

The U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce - Guide to Women Contractors provides one convenient, authenticated source for women-owned firms giving buyers "no excuses" to not do business with women business owners.

>>>Details here - http://www.sblink.us/html/uswcc-gov-con-launch.aspx

The Guide to Women Contractors will be printed and distributed to 25,000 buyers and key influencers across the U.S. And, the guide will also be provided online so that all buyers may quickly and easily find your women-owned business by NAICS code, key words, industry, location, etc.

And, by placing your business in the Guide to Women Contractors, you will also be part of the Women in Contracting Opportunity Center where qualified buyers will post opportunities online for women-owned firms who are listed in the Guide to Women Contractors. You will be able to register key industry identifications and keywords so that you receive notification of these opportunities automatically via email.

There are two ways to be in the Guide to Women Contractors and the Opportunity Center:

Option One: Become a "Contracting Member " of the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce and receive full USWCC supporting membership benefits, a directory listing in the Guide to Women Contractors (print and online), and use of the Women in Contracting Opportunity Center. This Contracting Membership is only $395.

>>>To read more about the USWCC Contracting Membership, go here: http://www.sblink.us/html/uswcc-gov-con-launch.aspx#details

Option Two: Purchase a Directory or Display Ad

Directory ads are just $250 and include a text listing in the print and online directory as well as participation in the Women in Contracting Opportunity Center. To purchase a directory ad, go here:

>>>Details here - http://www.sblink.us/html/uswcc-gov-con-launch.aspx

========================================

About the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce - http://www.uswomenschamber.com

The U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce(TM) is the pre-eminent national women's chamber of commerce network whose mission is to develop leaders, accelerate economic growth and provide a community voice for women. The over 300,000 members of the USWCC, a not-for-profit 501(c)6 organization founded in 2001, include supporting members, councils, association members and strategic alliances across the U.S. Creating and representing the next generation of leadership for women, the USWCC is women's connection to influence, education, opportunity and advancement. Its headquarters offices are located in Washington, D.C.

========================================

U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce
http://www.uswomenschamber.com
1201 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20004
888-41-USWCC

Copyright 2005 U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce

Friday, September 30, 2005

Karen Bruchan to speak at October Luncheon

Manistee County Community Foundation Executive Director Karen Bruchan will be the guest speaker at the Thursday, October 20th Women's netWork luncheon at Topo's downtown Manistee. Karen will be announcing an exciting new program that will benefit women and girls. While we would love to give you all the details right here - right now - we won't! You'll need to come to the luncheon to hear the details first hand!
Several women in the network have been quite busy hammering out the details, learning, and sowing seeds to make this program a reality. Those in attendance at the October 20th meeting will be part of the kick off!
Each woman who attends the meeting will receive a little gift to commemorate this new initiative with the Women's netWork. So, be sure to plan to attend - and be sure to invite and bring another woman with you to share in this occasion!

Women's netWork Luncheon
Thursday, October 20, 2005
11:45-1:15 pm
Topo's Restaraunt $10
Downtown Manistee
R.S.V.P. to manisteewomen@yahoo. com

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

“Women and Money" with Camille Kocsis

You are invited to…

“Women and Money”

A workshop to shift your money mindset!

Join me October 1st for a very special workshop for the Manistee Women’s Network Group.

I’ve had several requests to do a short workshop on the principles of shifting your money mindset and so here it is!

In this information packed workshop you will roll up your sleeves and work through the old thought patterns, beliefs and experiences that are holding you back from attracting the kind of success and money you so richly deserve. Find out what is standing in your way and blast through it. (After all it’s hard to look at investing money when you aren’t attracting enough of it to begin with!) Learn the power of the Law of Attraction and how to use it to your advantage instead of against yourself! And there’s lots more. You’ll walk away with tools to apply on a daily basis that will permanently shift how you look at and deal with money and its’ importance in our lives as women. No matter what your financial situation, this class is for you.

This program is different than our Wealth for Women program and lays a great foundation for those of you considering that class in November. This is for all the women in the Network and please invite other women you know to join us! Bring your best friend! Bring a co-worker! Bring your neighbor! The more women we have the more participation there will be and the more learning will take place. This is hands on and FUN! If you have a teenage daughter, wake ‘em up and bring them with you! It will be an important experience they will remember forever.

Join us at Topos in Manistee on Saturday, October 1 from 8 a.m.-12 noon; check in will be at 7:30 and we start promptly at 8. I know we can’t find a time that suits everyone but we decided this was the best time to reach the most women. If you have plans, change them. If you work, change your schedule. If you normally sleep in, set the alarm. I guarantee you’ll be glad you did. You don’t want to miss this program. It MAY NOT be repeated and will fill very fast as we are only charging a $79 tuition for the program. Includes materials and morning munchies. Call immediately to register in order to reserve your spot. Limited seating. We accept checks and credit cards. Deadline for registration 9/27 or sooner if we are filled. Don’t wait as you may miss out!

Do something for YOU. Be there on October 1 and get ready to change your future!

Call TODAY -Successful Living Seminars -Camille Kocsis- 231-882-7337 to register.

p.s. Extra incentive… for those considering attending the Wealth for Women program Nov 3-6 at Portage Point Inn, your $79 fee will go towards the fee for that program… PLUS we have held over the special pricing of $797 through October 1. If you have already registered for Wealth for Women you can attend the October 1 class at NO COST!

Camille Kocsis

Monday, September 19, 2005

City of Manistee Commission Vacancies

Let your voice be heard...We can only make an impact
and bring about positive changes in our communities if
we participate in our processes...if you have an
interest in one of these areas, please apply:

If you are in the city of Manistee, please consider
applying for one of these positions.

Beautification Committee 3 year term
Harbor Commission 3 year term
Planning Commission 3 year term
Tree Commission 3 year term

Applications are available at the City Clerk's office
or online at
www.ci.manistee.mi.us/
Deadline is 5pm Tues Sept 27.

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

CreativeConflictResolution.net

CreativeConflictResolution.net is the newly created web site for
Brethren business owner Wanda K. Joseph.Wanda was the July
speaker for the Women's netWork luncheon about the
role of mediation, training and restorative justice for resolving
issues of conflict and for staff training and workplace
development. Wanda brings many years of professional training
to a variety of situations: neighborhood, workplace, church,
inter-generational, and family disputes.
Visit www.CreativeConflictResolution.net
for more information.
The website was designed and built by Womens’s netWork
member, Dendra Best of deertracks.com, Inc.

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

Susan Sheldon, VP/TO Speaker Sept 15.

Susan Sheldon, Vice President/Trust Officer from
Northwestern Bank
will be speaking at our September
15th meeting.


Susan is the Vice President/Trust Officer of Northwestern
Investment & Trust, Susan has worked as a Trust Officer in
the Traverse City area since 1988. Her background includes
business development, estate planning and investment
management. She has also worked as a tax analyst for the
Northern Trust Company and a probate paralegal for a major
Chicago law firm, McDermott, Will & Emery. An honors
graduate of Grand Valley State University, she is an active
member and past officer of the Zonta Club of Traverse City
as well as the Economic Club of Traverse City.
She hosts WTCM-AM's Everybody's Planning Hour, a weekly
call-in talk radio show. Susan has volunteered her time
for major fund-raising efforts including the Northwestern
Michigan College Great Lakes Campus.

Susan is a very motivated business woman.
She will be sharing her
success and ideas on the working woman.

The luncheon will be held Thursday, Sept 15 from
11:45a - 1:15p at

Topo's downtown Manistee.
Cost is $10 and includes lunch.
RSVP to manisteewomen@yahoo.com

Camille Kocsis Speaker at Aug. 18 Luncheon

Camille Kocsis is a renowned international motivational speaker, master success coach, and seminar facilitator. As President of Successful Living Seminars for over 9 years, she has worked with many organizations to improve their sales, productivity, team work and customer service and with thousands of individuals to improve their personal effectiveness. In the 25 year span of her career she has facilitated seminars and spoken to thousands of individuals around the world from Australia to Canada, Mexico and the States and personally coached hundreds more to achieve what they want most in life.

Successful Living Seminars, is an International Training and Coaching Company dedicated to helping people discover the power within themselves to achieve their full potential. With trainers and coaches in Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada and the USA, Successful Living Seminars is able to reach people of all cultures with their powerful message that “…whatever the mind of man or woman can conceive and believe, it can achieve”.
They provide seminars and workshops, personal and executive coaching, leadership retreats and a variety of personal development products and programs.

If you would like to contact Camille and receive her newsletters and mailing, contact her at:

wellness@netbox.com

Email manisteewomen@yahoo.com if you would like to attend the luncheon.

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

New Network Web Address

We have a new Women's netWork email address. Those in the network will now receive correspondence through the email from manisteewomen@yahoo.com This will keep all our communication together and I hope it reduces spam. Please post information other women in the network may be interested in to that address but let's also be careful not to blast anyone with personal stuff - remember this network is designed for professional development and leadership for businesswomen. Let's try to keep our posts geared toward that end.
You will receive reminders about the luncheons from that address and you should send your RSVP to that email address. Anyone wishing to join the Women's netWork should send an email to that address.

manisteewomen@yahoo.com

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow to Visit

The Women's netWork is pleased to announce that US Senator Debbie Stabenow will be in Manistee Thursday August 11, 2005 to meet with the women in our network. I (Judy Ouvry) had the opportunity to meet with the Senator while at the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Leadership Retreat in Mount Pleasant in July. We spent time talking about the impact the women in the network can make, the energy this group has, and the potential the network has in terms of inflicting influence within the community.
We talked about the need for women to become politically active - run for office- serve on committees - be a volunteer - support other women in office or running for office.
Our network has grown to over 100 women strong since beginning in May, 2005. Over 50 have registered to attend the meeting with Debbie Stabenow August 11. We are very please she is taking the time to meet with the network - I think she realizes the strength and influence and potential of strong, professional, business women when they gather together to make a difference.

See you Thursday!

Tuesday, July 19, 2005

Web Sites of Interest

Below are three web sites that may be of interest.
Please check them out and post your comments.
Hopefully you will find useful information.

http://www.onlinewbc.gov/grantsnotice.html
http://www.growbusiness.org/
http://www.grwrc.org/

If you come across other web sites of interest, please
let the Women's netWork know about them.

Friday, June 10, 2005

First Women's netWork Luncheon

The first monthly luncheon of the Women’s netWork will be held
Thursday June 16, 2005
at Topo’s Restaurant downtown Manistee. All business and professional women interested in networking opportunities and professional development are encouraged to attend. This month's presenters are Vanessa Buhs, owner of Renaissance West and Judy Ouvry, general sales manager of Lake Michigan Broadcasting, Inc. This will be our first opportunity to meet each other and begin networking with one another.

These luncheons will be held the third Thursday of each month. If you have suggestions for speakers and presenters, please call Judy Ouvry at 231-723-9906.

The luncheons will be very informal. The cost is $10 payable to Topo’s. They will provide a buffet lunch of their choice. Of course, you could always order off the menu if you’d like.

We hope you will attend the monthly luncheons and use these opportunities to learn, grow, share, and develop your business skills and savvy.

Thursday, May 12, 2005

Recommended Reading

Books recommended at the recent
Professional Development and Leadership Seminar
by Vanessa Buhs

Books you need in your personal library.

Careers
1. Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office- Lois P. Frankel, Ph.D
Lois P. Frankel, an internationally recognized executive coach who has worked with Fortune 500 companies, reveals why some women roar ahead in their careers while others stagnate. She’s spotted a unique set of behaviors- 101 in all- that women learn in girlhood that sabotage them as adults. Now, in the groundbreaking guide, she helps you eliminate the unconscious mistakes that could be holding you back- and offers invaluable couching tips you can easily incorporate into your social and business skills.

2.
Inventing the Rest of Our Lives – Suzanne Braun Levine
Second adulthood woman are simply not the same people they were, only older; they are changing –both inside and out. From work to love, self-discovery to civic duty, health to economics, Inventing the Rest of our Lives examines every aspect of their lives, offers solutions, and shares stories-sometimes on What matters? What works? What’s next?

3. Women Don’t Ask: Negotiation and Gender Divide – Linda Babcock
Men ask for what they want twice as often as women and initiate negotiation four times more. Several chapters are focused on how to learn how to ASK more often and recognize opportunities.

4. The Naked Truth – A Woman’s Manifesto for Business - Margaret Heffernen
Frankly autobiographical, the author shares many women’s stories in Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies and identifies the four types of women who populate office life, toxic bosses and hostile environments. Good Advice in each chapter.


Finances
1. Secrets of six-figure women – Barbara Stanny
Over 15 million women today are earning annual salaries of $100,000 and more. Author, Barbara Stanny interviewed 150 of them to discover how they managed to break the low-earning cycle that the majority of women are in. Learn tried and true principles for achieving both financial success and personal satisfaction.


Personal Reflection
1. And, one more thing before you Go- Maria Shriver
A small book of wisdom for women leaving high school and stepping out into the world. Maria addresses the wisdom her Mother shared with her and the importance of listening to those who have gone before us.

Tuesday, May 10, 2005

A Network's Beginning

Today is the day.

This afternoon, Manistee, Michigan will inaugurate the Women's netWork...reaching out from Manistee, Michigan to around the world.

As part of the first annual Celebrating Women Festival in Manistee, a professional development and leadership seminar will be held to connect business women in an atmosphere to help them grow and learn and achieve success professionally and financially in the workplace, in the board room, and in the political arena.

Stay tuned. We think you'll like it here.