New Events Coming Up

Nomination forms for the third annual Manistee County ATHENA Award are now available at the Chamber office and on the website at http://www.manisteecountychamber.com/ATHENANominationForm2007.htm. The deadline is March 31 to nominate someone who has impacted Manistee County by demonstrating excellence, creativity and initiative in their business or profession; providing valuable service to improve the quality of life for others in Manistee County ; and assisting Manistee County women in reaching their full leadership potential. The ATHENA Award program, part of the Celebrating Women Festival, will be held at noon on Wednesday, May 9 at noon at the Manistee Golf and Country Club. In this photo, 2006 keynote speaker Lyn Myers, former head of General Motors’ Pontiac-GMC Division, admires the ATHENA sculpture received by Betty Noteware.


Make plans now to get together for the second annual LUNAFEST to be held Saturday May 12th as part of the Celebrating Women Festival. Check out all the films online that will be shown during this film festival. The festival will be held at the Ramsdell Theater. Tickets will be $25. Jo Hall from Ron Ringel Real Estate is this year's Chair.

MARCH LUNCHEON: Camille Kocsis will host the March 15th Women's netWork luncheon at the Tuscan Grille from 11:15 - 1:15. She will be talking about the "Laws of Attraction" and she will get us prepared to view the DVD "The Secret" The netWork will host a free showing of "The Secret" on Friday evening, March 23rd at the United Methodist Church on First Street in Manistee. This will be a family event...not for women only!

More details about all these events will follow.

Be your best - -

Salute to Andrea Parhamovich

A heroic American woman who worked to expand democracy in Iraq was killed in Baghdad last week. Andrea Parhamovich, a 28-year-old from Ohio who traveled to Iraq to work for the National Democratic Institute (NDI), had just finished leading a training seminar for Sunni politicians, when her armed convoy was ambushed. She and three bodyguards were killed. Andi, as she was known by her friends and colleagues, will be remembered for her idealism, bravery, and positive spirit.

We bring you her story because in a matter of months, Andi was slated to take on the new role of training Iraqi women to increase their political involvement. A tragedy like Andi's makes us realize how much we take for granted when we talk about gender-parity and advancing women's leadership in America. Andi risked her life doing work that we talk about every week.

Last summer, several Iraqi government officials who were in the US to learn about democracy, came to our office. Out of a group of eight, there was one woman, and we learned that during the legislators' three-week visit to the states, not a single meeting had focused on women. Halfway through the trip, she requested a tutorial on women's leadership, which led the group to The White House Project. Over the course of an afternoon we presented the case for women's leadership to a largely skeptical audience. Although quotas in Iraq now guarantee women's involvement in government, in the years since the Gulf War, women had very few rights at all. At the table sat one very brave woman who epitomized what it means to step up and lead.

Andi worked so that Iraqi women like the one that came to our office could lead in her community and in her life. Here and abroad, work is underway to change the status quo so that women can have a greater stake in government. The White House Project would like to honor Andi by bringing you her story, and by reminding you how important it is for women to lead—both because we have the freedom to do so, and because strong women, as consensus-builders, collaborators, and listeners, are much needed during a time of war.

We admire Andi's belief that she could create change in such a violent and unstable environment. We hope you will remember her fearlessness and courage as a young woman leader.

Sincerely,
The White House Project

Denise Anne Taylor to Speak January 18 2007

Happy New Year!
The Women's netWork is busy lining up incredible speakers for 2007.

Jan 18th 2007 11:30 - 2:00pm Tuscan Grille Downtown Manistee $10
Yes! This is longer than usual! Mark your calendar now.

Speaker:
Denise Anne Taylor/CEO/Owner
Competitive Advantage, Inc.
www.passportforsuccess.com
Sponsored in full by Members Credit Union THANK YOU!!!!!

Professional Development Skills-Business Etiquette
"Your bottom-line is a result of your frontline...who is on your frontline?

Business etiquette is simply another tool that will empower an individual
to move with ease and confidence in any business setting.
An excellent program for anyone looking to set herself apart from the competition.

Learning outcomes from this speaker:
1. Project a more professional image
2. Offer more refined customer service
3. Communicate more effectively
4. Project increased confidence in business situations

Overview:
1. Refine you business communication skills
2. Demonstrate appropriate business behaviors
3. Conversations skills
4. Non verbal/eye contact
5. Total Quality Issues in the business arena
6. How to make an entrance and work the room
7. The fine art of the handshake

Thank you MEMBERS CREDIT UNION for sponsoring this speaker.
What a great way for the netWork to kick off the new year!

See you on the 18th
RSVP to manisteewomen@yahoo.com