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| Vol 2008 - Issue 10 | October 2008 |
Post Office Box 23874 Chattanooga, TN 37422
OCTOBER LUNCH MEETING, October 16
Mastermind Meeting - Successfully Navigating Economic Downtowns
Now that the evidence is pretty strong that we’re headed for an economic slowdown [or already in one], how does your business successfully navigate the downturns? What should you cut back on? What mistakes should you avoid making? What aspects of your business should you really be focusing on? What are others doing to cut back and save?
Come join a lively Mastermind Group discussion on successfully navigating economic downturns. During this open forum, participants share resources and tips while gaining support and practical feedback from local women business owners.
OCTOBER AFTER HOURS MEETING, October 23
Are the Parties Listening to Women Business Owners?
Representatives from the Republican and Democratic parties of Hamilton County will be speaking at the Walden Club from 6:30-9:00 pm. You will have a chance to ask questions. Drinks and light food will be available. We are inviting members of other local women's groups to attend, so there will be great networking too. Profit from the event will be donated to Girl's Inc. Please invite your friends.
To sign up for the events, use our Event Registration section on our website. Click here to register for lunch or go to www.chanawbo.org and click on Event Registration.
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Luncheon:
Thursday, October 16 After Hours : Thursday, October 23 Register online at www.chanawbo.org |
| OUR
MISSION STATEMENT Empower women business owners through education, opportunity and support, to achieve success economically, socially, and politically |
NAWBO
CHATTANOOGA
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2007-2008 President
- Robyn Cummings |
Send us your comments and articles:
laurel@tbcsolutions.com or click here: Editor Email
President's
Column
By Robyn Cummings
Hello Everyone,
It is officially fall and that means a time of change. Your Chattanooga NAWBO chapter is changing as well. Remember we have changed the lunch reservation e-mail to Tina Player at info@tpeventsplanning.com.
We have started our monthly evening gatherings. September’s evening Meet & Greet was held at the Walden Club. It was a wonderful evening full of good conversation, wine & cheese, and a relaxing atmosphere. October’s evening gathering is going to be held Thursday, October 23, 2008, from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. at the Walden Club. Representatives from the Democratic and Republican parties will be there to give a 20 minute presentation on where their party stands. The floor will then be opened for questions and answers. Don’t miss this opportunity to ask each party your burning questions regarding women and business. Preregistration and payment will be required as seating is limited.
If you would like to be the host of a future evening gathering, please contact Katrina Chesney at katrina@portablehands.com or myself at robyn@rctans.info. This really is a great opportunity to promote your business.
Change is also happening with the regular monthly luncheon. In an effort to help members offset the meeting cost and to help promote our members’ businesses, we are opening sponsorship of the luncheon to members. There are two sponsorship levels Gold and Silver. This is a great opportunity to educate the membership on your company's industry or services. We will also be opening luncheon sponsorship to outside groups/vendors, but preference will be given to members wishing to sponsor. If you are interested in sponsoring a luncheon or know of a company that would be an appropriate sponsor, please contact Katrina Chesney or myself.
The Christmas party will have a slight change as well. This year we are going to be honoring our outstanding members. An awards committee has been created and awards criteria is being developed. Once this is put together we will distribute it to all members and will be asking for nominations for the different categories.
These changes to your Chattanooga NAWBO Chapter will hopefully bring you the information and benefits you expect as a member. However, it is up to you to benefit from them. I encourage all of you to take full participation in these changes!
Sincerely,
Robyn M. Cummings
President
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NAWBO Spotlight on Tina Player You can be the next NAWBO Spotlight. It's easy. Send Laurel a bio (picture optional). Don't forget, all local members can get a list of members and their contact information from the Member Portal section of the website. All you have to do is contact me at laurel@tbcsolutions.com for your user name and password. |
Tina spent many years coordinating conventions and conferences for the U.S. Postal Service. After 15 years in the management field and many requests to coordinate events for others, she decided to launch her own company, TP Events. Tina has planned weddings, holiday parties, corporate retreats, and many other personal and corporate events. Her ultimate goal is to provide quality service to each client to ensure that everyone leaves with fond memories of the event. Tina is well known for the Moms and Babes luncheons held at The Chattanoogan for a year and a half. Her motto is "create and inspire your moment in time". Tina was featured in the Hamilton County Herald in August. Mastermind Meetings
reprinted from evancarmichael.com
Mastermind meetings involve a group of entrepreneurs, preferably from different sectors, getting together on a regular basis to discuss their business, issues, and challenges and share best practices, advice and skills. Mastermind meetings started when Napolean Hill created the concept and documented it in his book Think and Grow Rich. He called the concept Mastermind Alliance and discussed how joining forces with other like-minded individuals can help achieve both those individual's goals and objectives.
Since then Mastermind meetings have quickly gained popularity. They are a great deal less expensive than retaining a private business coach and allow entrepreneurs to network, build contacts and use the resources and skills of a group as opposed to one sole mentor or coach. Think about how many contacts you have personally and professionally. Now consider an average mastermind group which has anywhere from four to twelve participants. Multiply your contacts by that amount and you can see that attending Mastermind meetings can really open your contact and networking circle and give you the opportunity to get first hand referrals. For example, if you are just starting your business and require an accountant, you may be lucky enough to get several great referrals from your group members, directing you to accountants that they have personally used as well as their network of contacts.
There is definitely an accountability factor to attending a regular Mastermind meeting monthly or bi-weekly. Completing your goals when someone is waiting and expecting to hear the outcome becomes a priority for many entrepreneurs. They don't want to seem unorganized or lazy in front of others and they want to celebrate their successes. It is a great motivator to have that sense of accountability.
NAWBO Corporate Sponsor Program:
This program will raise some operating funds and subsidize the scholarship program. Although NAWBO is not a tax-exempt entity, your business may be able to write it off as an advertising expense – talk with your accountant concerning your particular situation. The sponsorship levels and benefits are as follows:
NAWBO Corporate Partner Program
Gold Partner $3000
- Money is used for our scholarship program.
- nvitation for your representative to participate in monthly luncheon meetings and all special events
- Listing as a corporate partner in any NAWBO mailings, including monthly newsletters
- Recognition/advertisement on Chattanooga NAWBO website
- Complimentary NAWBO Membership Directory Space for your literature at monthly luncheon meeting
- Opportunity to be the featured speaker at one monthly meeting, including press release
- Attractive trophy/plaque for sponsor’s office
- Quarterly, skirted table available at monthly luncheon meeting for tabletop exhibit
- Free one page ad in NAWBO on-line newsletter four times a year
- Sponsorship of one special event annually with recognition in email list to all invitees
- Verbal recognition at the Nautilus Awards as a NAWBO Corporate Partner who contributed to the NAWBO scholarship fund
Silver Partner $2000
- Money is used for our scholarship program.
- Invitation for your representative to participate in monthly luncheon meetings and all special events
- Listing as a corporate partner in any NAWBO mailings, including monthly newsletters
- Recognition/advertisement on Chattanooga NAWBO website
- Complimentary NAWBO Membership Directory Space for your literature at monthly luncheon meeting
- Opportunity to be the featured speaker at one monthly meeting, including press release
- Quarterly, skirted table available at monthly luncheon meeting for tabletop exhibit
- Free one page ad in NAWBO on-line newsletter four times a year
Bronze Partner $1000
- Money is used for our scholarship program.
- Invitation for your representative to participate in monthly luncheon meetings and all special events Listing as a corporate partner in any NAWBO mailings, including monthly newsletters Recognition/advertisement on Chattanooga NAWBO website Complimentary NAWBO Membership Directory Space for your literature at monthly luncheon meeting
- Opportunity to be the featured speaker at one monthly meeting, including press release
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Lunch provided for two (2) sponsor representatives at monthly luncheon meeting.
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Full lunch meeting presentation. This will allow you to explain/demonstrate your business to the membership, or you can discuss any other business issue deemed appropriate for women business owners. Non member sponsors must present an educational topic and may not sell their products or services.
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Table for information brochures, etc., of sponsor’s services/products.
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Link on website and that month’s newsletter distributed to approximately 100 recipients.
Lunch Silver Sponsor $250
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Lunch provided for one (1) sponsor representative at monthly luncheon meeting.
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Allotted 10 minutes of meeting time to advertise company.
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Table for information brochures, etc., of sponsor’s services/products.
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Link on website and that month’s newsletter distributed to approximately 100 recipients.