Max is Gone

I am pretty sad tonight. Max died today. Max is one of our cats that we had taken in about five years ago. He got along just fine until just recently when he started using the furniture as his litterbox. The vet said there was nothing wrong with him and I had had enough, so I decided that he would become an outside cat, living in the barn/garage at night. We live on 13 acres, but Max stayed close to the large back deck. Steve, my husband, kept threatening to take him to the no-kill pound, but it was full. I didn't really want that, because he would probably not be very happy living there.

This afternoon, our three dogs ganged up on him and killed him. I am really mad. Luckily, I was away and didn't have to see this destruction. Steve was mowing and couldn't get there in time to save him. These same dogs knew Max inside the house, but evidently he was not brave enough to put them in their place and ran from them. A fatal mistake. I feel awful that I put him at risk. He is now buried out in the pet cemetary out in the back forty along with Ginny, Dillon, Jake, Max and a few others. Steve is out in the barn with the dogs. He knows that it is not the night to let those mean animals in the house.

What more can I say, than I am so sorry, Max.

September Meeting

Good afternoon!

I have confirmed Leslie Traill as our guest speaker for this month and I am very excited about her joining us! Leslie is an Astrologer, Meditation Coach, Speaker and Author and I know you'll be enlightened by what she'll have to say! If you are interested in finding out more about Leslie please visit her website at www.leslietraill.com

If you are planning on attending please let me know as soon as possible. So far we have had a great response and don't forget to invite a guest if you know of anyone who might enjoy our group.

Warm regards,
Heather

August 2006 - Meeting Recap

We are well into September now and looking forward to our meeting on Thursday, September 28th! I want to thank everyone for joining us at the August meeting it was a lot of fun. Thank you to Karen Bambrough of Weekenders for the wonderful fashion show, the new Fall line is fantastic! Cassie, Glenda and Heather did a great job in modelling the outfits. If you are interested you can email Karen at kbambrough@hotmail.com.

Special thanks to those of you who brought a door prize they were amazing! Sue Sutcliffe of AWebThatWorks brought mouth watering buttertarts, Alison Brown was kind enough to donate her beautiful artwork, Maria Buragina put together a beautiful christmas basket and Karen Bambrough donated a Weekenders Scarf. Thank you!

Our membership is now at 19! Welcome new members...
Karen Bambrough, Weekenders weekenders.com
Alison Leslie Brown, Artist alisonleslie.com
Susan Steiner, Camp Lots-A-Dogs dogcamp.ca
Bonnie Toms, Bonnie's Lampshades bonnieslampshades.ca

A great time was had by all and the Bonfire made us an excellent lunch of Salmon Shish-kabob and salad.

Hope to see you in September!

Button Jar

In the Friday morning Certified Networker class, we addressed the topic of target market in order to help the students realize the benefit of clearly stating what type of business they are looking for. In doing so they help others to give them the referrals that each student really wants.

Cheryl Nicolaidis, a representative for the women's clothing line Ectetera, had one of those lightbulb moments about halfway through class. She said, "I get it! It is just like me having a giant jar of buttons, and telling everyone I need a button. Then I get frustrated because I didn't want just any button, but I actually wanted a blue button. And then when I get all kinds of blue buttons, I can't figure it out, because really I just want blue buttons with only two holes."

In the four years we have been teaching this course in NW Ohio, that is the best explanation of target market that we've heard yet. I plan to use a jar of buttons from this point forward, when we are delivering that lesson. It is a visual that certainly paints the picture. Thank you, Cheryl. That's why I tell everyone, that even though I have been through this course over 40 times, each time I learn something new or understand a nuance that I didn't before.

What story can you tell to describe an abstract concept?

What Do You Get When You Cross a Letter with Email?

Followup is so important to the networking process.

If you meet a new contact and never communicate with that person again, the networking you are doing is a waste of time. It it so wonderful to receive a note from someone I've just met, and I know the benefit of sending thank you notes and follow- up missives. My challenge up to this point has been finding the time to write those important notes, find the stamps and remember to take the letters to the post office.

Now I am using Sendoutcards.com. It is so great! It automates as much as possible this task without taking the me part out of it. This web-based service allows me to choose a card from over a 1000 designs. I can type a message to be printed inside the card. Because I can choose font color and design, my blue ink message looks very much like I actually wrote it myself (and will even more after I get my own custom font back.) After entering in the contact information of the person I am sending it to, I hit the send button and Sendoutcards.com takes over. The next morning my printed card is sent out via the US Mail, with a real stamp on the envelope. It's so easy that it is almost sinful! A card including postage can be sent for $1.01. Now that's the best and most economical use of marketing dollars available!

Ivan Misner, Chairman of BNI, realized the value of this service and has named Sendoutcards.com a strategic partner of BNI. That's quite an accolade as Misner doesn't partner with just anyone.

Just so you know, Julie Higby (organized@buckeye-express.com) is my representative for Sendoutcards.com. She has put up with all my questions and late evening phone calls when I can't figure something out. I am not so talented in this technology stuff, so probably I have more challenges than others!

Who do you need to send a note to and what do you need to say?

WiN - July Meeting Recap & August Meeting update

Hello Everyone!
Well, we are mid-way into August, and it's time to update you on our upcoming WIN meeting and recap July's meeting. I want to thank everyone who attended the July meeting and let you know that our membership has increased from 10 to 15!

The August meeting will be held again at the Bonfire Restaurant on Thursday, August 31st from 11:15 am to 1:30 pm. Please RSVP via email or phone to confirm your attendance. (Please note that if you have confirmed your attendance but cannot attend, please let me know no later than the day before so that I can inform the restaurant otherwise I will be billed for your meal and will unfortunately have to forward that cost onto you). I am still researching other venues for our lunch meetings. If you have any suggestions please let me know. As our membership grows we can also start looking into having our meetings catered.

Our speaker for the August meeting will be Karen Bambrough of Weekenders. The new Fall line of Weekenders clothing has arrived and Karen will be putting on a small fashion show to "show-off" the great styles and colours of this new collection. You don't want to miss it!

REMINDER 1: Don't forget to pack a small door prize to bring with you as this gives you another opportunity to introduce yourself to the group and pass along a token of you and your business (remember to attached a business card)!

REMINDER 2: If you are a member and are interested in speaking at one of our upcoming meetings, please let me know. Also, if you are interested in a vendor table for the August meeting the cost is $10.00 which gives you a table to "show and tell" and a 5 minute opportunity to talk about you and your business.

REMINDER 3: I am hoping to confirm our September guest speaker, Leslie Traill - Astrologer, Business Coach, Meditation Coach, Speaker and Mentor. Please let me know by the end of this month if you will be attending the September meeting, please invite a friend or co-worker to join us! You can visit Leslie's website at http://www.leslietraill.com.

THE BIGGEST REMINDER: Our first member directory and newsletter will be printed for the September meeting. Send me your business card artwork, a bio of you and your business, an upcoming event... this is free advertising for all WIN members! If you are unsure what to send talk to me at the next meeting. The deadline for submissions is Friday, September 8th.

NEW MEMBERS

Welcome to Sue Sutcliffe of AWebThat Works.com. Sue and her team provides a full line of website services including website development, search engine intelligence and ranking, domain names, hosting, Internet training, coaching and seminars. Sue and I have been working together since early this year and we have built a wonderful working relationship and friendship as a result. Sue and I will be working closely over the months of August and September to bring about the WiN website. www.awebthatworks.com

Welcome to Maria Buragina of Basketworks. Maria provides creative gift ideas for individuals and corporate clients. www.basketworks.ca

Welcome to Gayle Jones of the Lindsay Chamber of Commerce. The Lindsay Chamber of Commerce represents more than 500 businesses and associations in the southern half of the City of Kawartha Lakes and Gayle represents the marketing end of this great organization. Her roll is to help you market your business using the vast resources the Lindsay Chamber of Commerce has to offer. www.lindsaychamber.com

Welcome to Janet O'Mara of Gregory & Associates. Janet was literally "born" into her career of bookeeping. If your bookeeping skills are weak or lacking that level of expertise then take advantage of Janet's years of experience to keep you and your business on track.

Welcome to Joanne Jehu of Faithlife Financial. Joanne can help you to determine your family's financial needs and custom design an insurance and investment program that's just right for you - ensuring a secure future for your loved ones. www.faithlifefinancial.ca/about/district_reps/show_rep.cgi/jjehu

A special "thank you" to Gloria Broad of Mary Kay cosmetics for a wonderful talk about "Attitude and Marketing your Business". We sometimes take for granted the power of positive thinking, so let's think positive, believe in ourselves and use the strength and knowledge of the members of WIN to help achieve our successes!

WiN - June Meeting "The First of Many"!

I hope you enjoyed a nice relaxing long weekend. I wanted to say thank you to everyone who joined us last Thursday at the Bonfire for our first WiN - Women In Networking luncheon. I hope you enjoyed yourself as much as I did. I met a lot of inspiring women some of those who are just venturing into the world of small business for the first time. This is such a great opportunity to meet new women and draw from each others experiences, knowledge and support. I hope you can all make it out to our July meeting to be held again at the Bonfire on Thursday, July 27th, from 11:15am to 1:30pm.

Congratulations and welcome to our new members:
Glenda Ashby - Maid in Canada
Darlene Blades - Gentle Hands Restoration
Gloria Broad - Mary Kay Cosmetics
Heather Chapman - ExcluZiv Marketing
Monica Fowler - Clarica Financial
Barbara Leffering - Quilt•A•Grafix
Katy Martin - Pic•Tur•This
Leslie Orr - Clarica Financial
Rebecca Sniderman - Can Serve Legal Services
Jasminka Vila - Tours By You, Guide Services

Remember... SAVE $10.00 on a yearly membership when you join in July, only $25.00.
Please note: We love our guests as they help grow our membership, but after you have joined us twice as a guest, we ask that you make a decision whether or not you are going to join our group.


Membership includes:
• the opportunity to network with a wonderful group of women
• a 1 minute opportunity to promote yourself and your business
• a 10 min. opportunity to promote yourself and your business as a guest speaker
• the addition of your name and business info into the quarterly membership directory
• the opportunity to advertise in the “WiN”quarterly newsletter
• the opportunity to take part in member to member programs

Extras:
• purchase a vendor table and “show-off” your wares plus have a 5 min. opportunity
to promote yourself and your business - $10.00
• purchase a web page for your business on the WiN website for only $5.00/month
• take part in combined advertising programs

Please reply via email if you would like to register for the July meeting.
"Each One - Reach One", tell a friend, bring a guest!