*Vol 2007 - Issue 9 * *September 2007 * /*Post Office Box 23874 Chattanooga, TN 37422 */ *SEPTEMBER MEETING * *Special Networking Meeting * September's meeting is a special networking event. No speakers! It's a chance to get to know your NAWBO sisters better, learn about their businesses, look for collaborative opportunities, and make connections. To sign up for the event, either email Nesha at Nesha_steele@bsbst.com or try out our new Event Registration section on our Website. Click here to register for lunch or go to www.chanawbo.org and click on Event Registration. Luncheon: *Thursday, September 20 * Sign in: 11:15 AM Lunch: 11:30 AM Location: Mountain City Club 729 Chestnut St Cost $17.00 Register by *Monday, September 17 * Email Nesha_steele@bsbst.com or register online at www.chanawbo.org All reservations must be paid *OUR MISSION STATEMENT* Empower women business owners through education, opportunity and support, to achieve success economically, socially, and politically *NAWBO CHATTANOOGA BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2006-2007 * President - Celeste Friend Immediate Past President - Marj Flemming Vice President - Julie Bestry Secretary - Katrina Chesney Meeting Management - Mary Robertson Treasurer - Deborah Wooten Membership Chair - Julie Bestry Newsletter - Pat Egen Publicity - Deborah Levine Chattanooga NAWBO Website National NAWBO Website Send us your comments and articles: laurel@tbcsolutions.com or click here: Editor Email *President's Column By Celeste Friend* Hello Ladies, There are several items that need to be reviewed this month. * First of all we will form the initial Master Mind group immediately following our general membership meeting on September 20th. This is not the time the group will ordinarily meet, but just a time to compare schedules. Remember, nonmembers can participate in these groups (for a fee). * As a member benefit, we will provide a link from the Chanawbo website to your business website. Please email your website address to Pat at pregen@egenconsulting.com. * If you are interested, Miller & Martin Lawfirm is having a women's business enterprise certification workshop on December 7 in Nashville at Belmont University. There will be 2 sessions - a morning session and an afternoon session. Both sessions will consist of 2 hours of instruction on how to become certified and how this can help your business. It is being put on by the Women's Business Enterprise Council and there will be an hour of panel discussion by WBE's on how certification has helped their businesses in particular. The morning session will include lunch and the afternoon session will include a reception. The cost will be $25 per person. * Please plan to attend the Chamber's Nautilus Awards Ceremony on October 26th at 11:30. Even better, buy a table and take friends or clients. Better still, nominate a deserving businesswoman for one of the awards - it is a tremendous honor to be nominated! * Mary Robertson is putting together the schedule of programs for next year. If you know of a good speaker or have an idea for a pertinent topic, please mention it to her. Have a prosperous month! Celeste ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *HAPPY BIRTHDAY* Deborah Wooten 8/5 Pat Egen 8/29 Marcia Meredith Eason 8/31 Angela Glover 8/29 *Sponsorship Opportunity - 13th Annual Coalition Against Domestic Violence Conference October 25, 2007 * This years event is ?What Children Can?t Tell you,?(How Witnessing Violence Changes Childhood Development)?. This is a very important issue. CEU?s are available for it. Thank you on behalf of the Coalition Against Domestic and Community Violence of Greater Chattanooga Email: cadvchatt@gmail.com Telephone: 423-648-7774 *Why Introverts Can Be Great Networkers **by Ivan Misner (reprinted from entrepreneur.com ) * A common assumption is that a "people person" is the best type of networker. But this isn't necessarily true. Actually, the only people who can't profit from networking or referral marketing are those who don't like people at all. But they aren't likely to be entrepreneurs or involved in sales in the first place. Most entrepreneurs who depend directly on others buying their products or services have at least a certain comfort level in dealing with people. Even if you're not outgoing or gregarious, you can form meaningful relationships and communicate your ideas. A lot of people are like that, and if you are, referral marketing is still one of the best ways to build your business. Often, introverts eliminate themselves from networking because they aren't good at initializing conversations. That's unfortunate, because they're actually better at the part of networking that's more important to the relationship-building process. Networking is a two-part process. First, you have to meet someone new and share information about yourself. The extrovert may be better at this first part of the process. But the introvert is better at the second part--listening to the person he or she just met. The type of networking I recommend can actually be easier for an introvert because extroverts love talking about themselves, while introverts are better at listening and asking questions. A good networker has two ears and one mouth and uses each proportionally. A good networker asks questions and gets to know the other person. And once you know the other person, it's much easier to solve one of their problems or ease one of their concerns. So if you're introverted, stop using that as an excuse not to network. If you're still feeling daunted, there are many techniques you can use to make the process easier. For example, if you feel uncomfortable walking up to total strangers at a chamber mixer, volunteer to be an ambassador for that group. In this role, you are, in effect, a host for the chamber, which makes it easier and more natural for you to greet people and say, "Welcome to our event. My name is [Ivan Misner]. I'm an ambassador for the chamber." Before you know it, the ice is broken, and you're engaged in conversation. Many opportunities to learn the art of networking abound, and often in places you may not have considered. Do you do volunteer work? Volunteering offers a great opportunity for meeting new people, many of whom could be future clients. Other people have become great networkers by joining their children's PTA, coaching in a sports league, working on a fundraiser, or even coordinating or speaking at a political event for a local or national candidate. Networking is a skill that can be learned--no matter your level of gregariousness. If you remain ill-at-ease in environments where you have to mix and mingle or meet new people, take advantage of training seminars and workshops that teach you how to network effectively. You'll find that when you learn ways to handle these situations, you'll become more relaxed and confident in a networking setting. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ /Called the father of modern networking, Dr. Ivan Misner is the Founder of BNI and the senior partner for the Referral Institute . He has written nine books, including his recently released/ New York Times /bestseller, /Truth or Delusion? Busting Networking?s Biggest Myths/./ disclaimer: http://www.bcbst.com/email_disclaimer.shtm