 |
| |
This Month's Issue...
Quick Links
Sign-up Now!
E-mail Address:
Privacy Statement
The Greater Nashua Business and Professional Women respect the privacy of our members and will not allow email information to be purchased or used for commercial reasons.
|
|
|
| |
|
| Dear BPW Colleagues, |
| |
 Thank you to all who attended our first meeting of the year on September 20th. A special thank you to the Committee Chairs for putting together such an informative meeting showing the benefits of membership with our Organization. I also want to thank Tammy Leocata for her work with the Installation of Officers Ceremony, and Susan Dugdale for volunteering to take on the responsibilities of Secretary.
I have been a member of Nashua BPW since it first started seven years ago. I have served as Secretary, two terms as President (this is my 3rd) and many years as Chair of the Program Committee in between my Presidency. Through this organization I have met some of the most incredible women of my adult life. Some have become very close friends; others have inspired and mentored me. Beyond these benefits, the Organization has offered a forum through the newsletter to advertise my business and share articles that are helpful to our readers, participate in the Nashua Chamber, provide direction and inspiration to other women in their professions, showcase my business through sponsoring monthly meetings and through advertising in the newsletter. In addition, I am part of a National Organization advocating to improve the status of women in the working world.
My mother did not work outside the home, as I think may be true for many of my generation. We have an incredible opportunity, and responsibility, to change the way the business environment sees and treats women in the workforce. Not only are we doing this for our peers, and ourselves but for our daughters and future generations.
I challenge each one of you to "share the wealth" of what this Organization can offer to you, your business, your friends and other women in the community, by spreading the word about Nashua BPW. New brochures will be available at the next meeting, and I would ask that each of you take several and hand them out, hang them in a public place, or put some in your reception area so others can have the opportunity to join. I challenge each of you to bring 1 guest to the next meeting, so they can see for themselves what we have to offer. To encourage this, the Board has decided to offer to members and their guest a meeting cost of just $25 for both people. Non- members who come alone will still be charged $26. So, grab a guest and bring them on October 18th at 11:15 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. I look forward to seeing you there.
Respectfully Submitted,
Susan Weidner Cooke, President
|
|
| Notes from the Secretary |
| |
The Greater Nashua BPW Board met on September 25th. The following decisions were made:
- The Nashua chapter brochure will be updated and upgraded with nicer paper and colors
- New Name Badges will be produced and Membership pins ordered for all members
- For October and November, the chapter will offer special luncheon pricing to members bringing guests. Members alone will be $16, a member and their 1st guest will be $25, additional guests will be $12 each, and non-members who are not a guest of a member will be $26.
Other discussion topics included:
- The annual budget which is still under construction
- The program committee and the October program
- Updates to the website and newsletter deadlines
Copies of the full meeting minutes are available. Please contact susan@caesarsbrook.com.
Susan Dugdale, Recording Secretary
|
|
| Community Service Committee |
| |
Purpose: To help Nashua BPW to make a meaningful contribution to our Community. This contribution can be "in kind" or financial.
What we are doing know:
Scholarship & Mentoring Program
- Looking for program applicants & mentors- Deadline for scholarship applicants and Mentors has been extended-October 15!
- Shaping the guidelines to create a beneficial program for all involved
"Potential" Future Tasks
Fundraising/Volunteer
- Plan a yearly event benefiting a local charity
- Collect donations for Holiday toy drive
- Coordinate volunteer efforts for BPW members to help local charity
Next Meeting:
Friday October 5th- For details contact Jackie - community@bpwnashua.org
Jacqueline Clancy Event Coordinator Nashua Pastoral Care Center 7 Concord Street Nashua, NH 03064 603-886-2866 x13
|
|
| BPW/Greater Nashua Advertising Opportunities |
| |
Gold
Members Only
Cost: $175
Only 3 Gold Packages available per year. Available on a First come, first served basis.
Package Includes:
- Business Card Ad which will appear in one of the top 3 business card spots on the Newsletter - for 10 months (full year of newsletters)
- There will also be a banner ad placed between articles in the newsletter.
- When either the business card ad or the banner ad is clicked, it will go to our web site, on the Business Forum Page. On that page, the same Banner Ad, with an additional 50 word description and a URL link to client's web site, will appear in one of the top 3 spots. The web site banner ad and text will appear for 12 months with an expiration date.
Electronic Media to be supplied by the client:
- Business card: PDF, JPG or GIF of Dimensions: 350 pixels W x 225 pixels H
- Banner Ad: PDF, JPG or GIF of Dimensions: 600 pixels W x 200 pixels H
- 50 Word Description sent in an UNFORMATTED email to Tammy NO ATTACHMENTS, PLEASE
Silver
Members & Non-Members
Cost: $100
Unlimited Amount
Package Includes:
- Business Card Ad which will appear on the newsletter in the right column, along side the articles, starting in the 4th position, in the Newsletter - for 10 months (full year of newsletters)
- When either the business card ad is clicked, it will go to the Business Forum page of our web site. The ad, with an additional 50 word description and a URL link to client's web site, will appear. The web site ad and text will appear for 12 months with an expiration date.
Electronic Media to be supplied by the client:
- Business card: PDF, JPG or GIF of Dimensions: 350 pixels W x 225 pixels H
- 50 Word Description sent in an UNFORMATTED email to Tammy NO ATTACHMENTS, PLEASE.
Sponsor
(media package only - for full meeting sponsor information, see Tammy)
Members & Non-Members
Cost: $50
10 per year, based on meeting schedule.
Package Includes
- On our web site, under the Sponsor Spotlight section, there will be a banner ad with an additional 50 word description and a URL link to client's web site. The web site ad and text will appear for 1 month with an expiration date.
Electronic Media to be supplied by the client:
- Banner Ad: PDF, JPG or GIF of Dimensions: 600 pixels W x 200 pixels H
- 50 Word Description sent in an UNFORMATTED email to Tammy NO ATTACHMENTS, PLEASE
CONTACT INFO:
Tammy Leocata
Leo & Associates Corporate Communications Specialists
All the tools you need to build business relationships.
20 Trafalgar Square, Ste. 300
Nashua, NH 03063
603-595-2658
www.leoandassociates.com
tammy@leoandassociates.com
|
|
| ARTICLES: From Member |
| |
Susan Weidner-Cooke:
Creating a Personal Safety Net
The disappearance of some traditional safety nets from both the public and private sector has forced the American public to shoulder more of the burden for their financial well being. Today, many people realize that because the government and employers are less able to provide financial security, they must create their own personal safety net.
To do so, individuals need and want help identifying and addressing the risks within their control. However, financial products are getting more complicated, so people are looking for help in navigating through the maze of choices in order to make the best decisions for their circumstances.
And who better to explain those needs than a financial services representative? Based on MetLife's consumer research, individuals eventually see agents as collaborators, but the road is a long one. The worst part of the process is getting started. Many people have feelings of unease, worry or concern. But those same people report feeling better than expected during the process and positive feelings of security, relief and satisfaction immediately following meetings with financial services representative. And feelings get even more positive with the passage of time. Rather than feeling buyer's remorse, these individuals feel that meeting with a financial services representative was the right thing to do.
Isolating the need to collaborate with a financial services representative is an important first step. Close to follow should be the realization that good insurance coverage can improve an individual's quality of life. Most people associate insurance coverage with benefits for one's family more strongly than with benefits for themselves (especially true with women and established families) -- taking care of one's family is the most important emotional end benefit.
Constructing a personal safety net requires thinking, in broad terms, about the life events that could trigger financial adversity and taking the requisite steps to prepare for those uncertainties. While it is impossible to predict all of life's uncertainties, it's possible to group them into a few common categories. They include:
Morbidity Risk - In our low-savings, high-debt society, medical expenses for an acute injury or illness fall outside the reach of many Americans. Moreover, a chronic disability requiring long-term care could be financially devastating. There are many insurance solutions that can help defray the cost of medical and dental emergencies.
Mortality Risk - Life insurance allows an individual to insure against premature death. It is viewed by many as the foundation of their family's safety net. Without life insurance, the premature death of a primary breadwinner can be financially devastating. However, in 2004, one third of adults still carried no life insurance at all, similar to the 30 percent of adults without coverage in 1960, according to the Life Insurance Marketing Research Association. Regardless of your current financial situation, life insurance should be an integral part of your personal safety net.
Longevity Risk - First the good news: people are living longer than ever thanks to modern advances in healthcare and medicine. But as pensions are replaced by personal savings plans such as 401(k)s and IRAs, and Social Security lingers on the brink of a boomer overload, outliving one's savings is more possible than ever. Most insurers offer solutions to help individuals maintain an income stream after they retire. Deferred annuities, for example, can be a great tool for one's portfolio, as they enable people to save money now, on a tax-deferred basis, for use down the road. Immediate annuities, on the other hand, allow an individual to immediately receive a guaranteed stream of income for as long as he or she lives. Individuals should work closely with their advisors and insurers to develop a customized income plan for retirement.
Both fisherman and tightrope walkers can testify to the importance of a strong net; a weak net could mean significant losses for both. Similarly a financial safety net is only as strong as the company that provides it. Individuals should make sure that they are working with a strong, stable insurer that can guarantee coverage when it counts.
Now, more than ever, insurers are in the position to help offset the erosion of traditional social support structures by leveraging vast asset pools and economies of scale. Most people should consult their insurer and financial services representative to develop a portfolio that will prepare them for both the possibilities and uncertainties they face throughout their lives - the "ifs" in life.
Guarantees apply to certain insurance and annuity products (not securities, variable or investment advisory products) and are subject to product terms, exclusions and limitations and the insurer's claims- paying ability and financial strength. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, New York, NY 10166. MetLife Investors USA Insurance Company, Irvine, CA 92614. First MetLife Investors Insurance Company, New York, NY 10166 (NY Only)] MetLife, Inc.
L0608EQVF(exp1207)ENT-LD
From Member Judit Price:
Finding that job starts with motivation
y job has its positive and negative aspects. Seeing clients succeed gives me great job satisfaction. But a source of disappointment is encountering clients that are simply not motivated. I have noted innumerable times the importance of self-motivation. In fact, it should be unnecessary to even discuss a topic that is so self-evident.
When I meet people who have education, good skills, solid work experience and genuine value, yet have a laid-back attitude, an attitude of "I'll do It tomorrow", I find that discouraging, and know I have a real challenge in helping these people regain their motivation.
The truth is nothing puts your self-esteem on the line than a job search. You may have self-doubt on a daily basis. Hiring managers want cheerful, positive people. They have enough of the other kind in-house. Consequently, if you are not motivated and that lack of motivation is visible, one ounce of self-doubt can lose you a ton of money.
One of the first clues to poor motivation is procrastination. Here, you have no one to blame but yourself. It would be wrong to assume that doing something a little later is OK, as long as it's done and done right. Unfortunately, there is a trap here. For many, procrastination can easily lead to a type of "crisis living." All the problems resulting from a lack of meaningful employment tend to get worse over time.
For example if it takes three weeks to update a resume, instead of one, the other issues, financial, social, family, etc. just get two weeks older. And that's bad. String out procrastination over four months or six months or a year and a crisis of some sort becomes a distinct possibility.
I want to be clear on one point. Being motivated does not necessarily translate into immediate success and economic issues aside, visible motivation can help your overall situation. Motivation is infectious. When those around you understand the pressures, but see how you pursue your goals with vigor and determination, that can generate a mood of hope and support, affecting everything. By the same token, when the effort is clearly not there, it both obvious and depressing for you as well as those around you.
Procrastination can inevitably result in lost opportunities, inept approaches to your whole campaign, and very slow or no progress. Procrastination should never be confused with planning. Many people are simply very deliberate, approaching a job search much as they would a work project. Careful planning, identifying resources, lengthy research and other steps may be normal and natural. Comparing that to people who have a more immediate and aggressive approach does not imply procrastination, as long as you set reasonable deadlines and meet those deadlines.
Even taking time off to think and get your inspiration back is fine. But let us be honest. We know our degree of motivation. We know the Difference between planning and goofing off.
The second clue to a lack of motivation is letting other control your job search. There is no doubt when others do the job of searching for you, you are putting your worst foot forward. And the reason is obvious. Only you can sell yourself. Only you have the information and background and motivation to communicate your professional, organizational and personal qualifications. No matter how well meaning others may be, they do not have the self-interest you have.
For example, if a hiring manager looked at your resume' and rejects you without at least a phone interview your chances at an opportunity become much worse. If however, your friends can sponsor you for a meeting or conversation, resume' deficiencies can be overcome. Since only you can present a complete picture of skills and experiences, your talent, chemistry and personality could counter a negative perception.
Obviously, in many cases you have no choice, resume or nothing. But that Is not always the situation. Frequently a sponsor can get you a few words with a hiring manager. You want sponsorship, but you must present your qualifications yourself, whenever possible.
So what does all this mean? Clearly, if you procrastinate, taking longer To move forward, you are in trouble. If you rely on others to sell you, rather than just sponsor you, that's definitely a problem. I am amazed at how many people have what appears to be a positive conversation with a recruiter. Then they sit back with the expectation or hope the recruiter will soon call back with that interview appointment. Or, they don't understand why the recruiter doesn't return their phone call.
What this means is: Take stock, be honest with yourself and take charge.
Richard Price
Embaworld
(978)-256-0482
Richard@embaworld.com
|
|
| Call For Sponsors |
| |
We are also lining up sponsors for next year. For just $50, you will receive:
- 1 free lunch on the day of the Sponsorship
- 5 minutes to speak about your business to the entire group
- Half of a table to put products/brochures etc. about you and your business
- Notice of your sponsorship in the BPW newsletter
- Opportunity at the meeting to hand out information, products, samples, etc. to the attendees
- If desired, a chance to raffle off a product/service or gift certificate, etc. with the proceeds to benefit Nashua BPW
If you are interested in a sponsorship, please contact next year's Program Committee Chair, Pam Richardson, at cpaclement@yahoo.com., and we will work to match up your business with an appropriate meeting and topic/speaker.
Looking forward to seeing you !
Sincerely,
Lopa Shroff
www.shroffdesigns.com
Communications Committee Chair
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| Our Sponsors |
|
|
|
|