President's Letter
Dear LWEN Members,
It has been a great year for the Leading Women Express Network! The 2010-2011 Executive Board are winding down and making the final touches to completing their duties before the 2011-2012 Executive Board begins their new year.
The 2010-2011 year has seen a growth in membership, quality programs, members' attending LWEN socials and supporting the Go Red Luncheon. More members are attending ABWA conferences, becoming involved with Women's Instructional Network (WIN) and also shopping other members' businesses.
We have a member who is the Chair of the ABWA Houston Area Council, and a member who is currently serving on the National Board of Directors of ABWA as the National Vice President and is an approved candidate for National President. I have seen new friendships built and members respecting, caring, mentoring and helping each other in many ways. I am so proud to be a member of this organization.
Thank you so much for allowing me to be your President this year and thank you to the 2010-2011 Executive Board for helping make this year run so smoothly.
In LWEN Friendship,
Debbie Waskow
LWEN President, 2010-2011
Dear Members,
Congratulations to our 2012 Top Ten candidate for Leading Women Express Network, Geanna Kincanon!
Each Chapter/Express Network is encouraged to select a Top Ten candidate. The criteria for candidacy are designed to give each member the opportunity to be nominated for this prestigious award based on her accomplishments, both professional and personal. Those members selected as the Top Ten Business Women of ABWA will receive special recognition at ABWA's National Women's Leadership Conference, including a formal introduction and commemorative award at opening session.
Each Top Ten will also compete for the pinnacle honor of the American Business Woman of ABWA at the National Women's Leadership Conference.
Please join me and other LWEN members as we go to Houston to honor Geanna and other members of ABWA at the Houston Area Council's Woman of the Year & Top Ten Recognition Luncheon on June 25 th at 9:30 a.m. at the Junior League of Houston.
In LWEN Friendship,
Debbie Waskow
LWEN President, 2010-2011
Dear Members,
It's almost Spring and the buds are popping out, there are a few tiny blades of green grass in my yard, the oak trees are dusting my truck with yellow pollen, and I'm wanting to go out and enjoy the warmer weather. It is also a great time to reaccess what I want to do for the rest of this year. My first thought is to go on a nice long vacation with my husband to Hawaii, but since that's not happening, I better get to work on completing my goals as President of LWEN and I need the membership's assistance!
I have been so pleased to see so many new members join LWEN and to also see the retention of our seasoned members. The Membership Drives have been very successful and the recent New Member Orientation was a huge success! I saw just as many of our regular members as new members attend and the business cards were being traded like crazy. What I really enjoyed seeing was the seasoned members answering questions for the new members and sharing what LWEN has meant to them. The LWEN goal for
membership is 100 members so please keep that in mind and help our very busy LWEN Board of Directors make their goal of 100 members before August 2011.
Finally, another goal is to have 100% member participation in WIN on www.abwa.org. If you have not signed up, please contact a board member who will be
very happy to assist you. The new Members Visiting Members idea has really picked up speed with one of our
own members going out on her own to do just that, and posting it in our Yahoo Groups mail. Way to go Jen! "Shop ABWA/LWEN First" has members considering their ABWA members' businesses before heading to a non-member or non-local business.
I must thank the LWEN Board of Directors for making my job much easier as we hit our halfway mark of the year. I want to thank our membership for being so involved, asking questions, offering suggestions, and making this organization the best I've ever been involved with. And please - contact a board member if you want to be involved on a committee or if you are interested in becoming a board member. You are all amazing!
Happy Spring!
In LWEN Friendship,
Debbie Waskow
LWEN President, 2010-2011
Dear Members,
Many of my dear friends I've met through LWEN were at events LWEN has sponsored outside of our monthly meetings. We all make an effort to attend the monthly meetings where we have the opportunity to visit with our LWEN sisters. Unfortunately we don't have much time to really get to know each other before I ask everyone to sit down and begin the meeting. Once the meeting is over, we go back to our daily routine and don't usually hear or see our members again until the next month.
Last year, I attended a program at an ABWA conference where the speaker stated that the best way to develop a business relationship with someone is to first develop a bond and friendship with that person. Personally, I am not going to develop a bond with a person just to get business from them, but I understand the idea and like most business owners, I do have friends who support my business.
LWEN extracurricular events are your opportunity to make new friends and business opportunities. Your Executive Board has worked very hard to schedule activities throughout the year in order for members to meet and visit with each other in a casual atmosphere. If you have not attended these social events, you are missing out on an opportunity to make a new friend, and yes, even a possible business relationship or opportunity in the process. Even if you aren't a business owner, you can learn so much from each other through each other's professional experiences and accomplishments.
I would like to share the upcoming events with you. Please put these dates on your calendar and make an effort to come and have a more relaxed opportunity to meet some very fabulous members and possibly your next best friend and/or customer.
- January 19 – Come & Go Luncheon (Social-learn more about your LWEN sisters) 11:30-1:00 - The new Los Cucos Mexican Restaurant on Hwy. 6, Bryan
- February 3 – Spring Membership Drive (Bring a potential new member or meet potential new members) – Location and time to be announced
- March 2 – New Member Orientation (All members are invited and encouraged to attend – I still learn something new)- Location and time to be announced
- April 7 – Spring Membership Social (Social – learn more about your LWEN sisters) – Location and time to be announced
- June 22 – Come and Go Luncheon (Social-make new friends, learn more about each other) – Location and time to be announced
- July 6 – New Member Orientation (All members are invited and encouraged to attend – I still learn something new) – Location and time to be announced
In LWEN Friendship,
Debbie Waskow
LWEN President, 2010-2011
Dear LWEN Members,
When times are tough, it is a natural reaction for many to cut back or stop spending. But, spending wisely can reward you. Joining ABWA and LWEN and renewing once a year, is a great reward to help you and your business or employer during the tough times. As the letter in LWEN's new membership packet states: "For sixty one years the American Business Women's Association has played an integral role in connecting business women nationwide through education, support, programming and networking. At the heart of this organization are exceptionally diverse women with a desire to succeed and a shared personal commitment to help other women achieve the same."
"The Leading Women Express Network is geared toward the busy professional who wants advanced networking, business skills and training opportunities. By being an ABWA/LWEN member, "you'll receive all the benefits of Association membership, plus exclusive Express Network member services such as an online database, Women's Instructional Network (WIN), message forum, networking events, professional development resources and monthly online newsletters to keep you in touch and ahead of the game. Also, if you're a business owner or have an entrepreneurial spirit, you'll be eligible to participate
in ABWA's Company Connection. Other benefits of your membership include: Leading Women Express Network's (LWEN) newsletter and website; bimonthly "Women in Business" magazine; LWEN's membership database; an opportunity to be featured as a Business of the Month; social and professional networking opportunities; advertising opportunities in the LWEN newsletter and on the website; and spring and national leadership conferences." Some of us have read this membership letter before, but it never hurts to be reminded how many benefits we have with our organization, and an invitation
to take advantage of them, especially when "times are tough."
I wish you a profitable year!
Debbie Waskow
President, 2010-2011
Dear LWEN Members,
I am sure, during your membership with LWEN, you have heard about "Best Practices". You have probably heard "we must do it this way or that way because of 'Best Practices'." I have been asked "what is Best Practices" by some of our newer members of LWEN and I thought I would address why Best Practices is so important to our organization.
ABWA states that "Chapters and Express Networks of the American Business Women's Association should consistently strive to reflect "Best Practices" to ensure the strength and vitality of their team and the perpetuation of the Association." There are certain criteria that each chapter and express network must meet in order to receive "Best Practices". LWEN has received Best Practices every year we were eligible - the first year we had not been chartered a full year.
Every year, newly elected officers (the "Board"), create a plan that defines the programs that best meet the needs of their members, within the context of ABWA's Mission. Thus, when considering the what, when, where, how, and cost of their plan initiatives, Best Practices serves as an excellent guidepost.
One of ABWA's recommendations for Best Practices is to set goals for the new year. During the 2010-11 LWEN Board Retreat, one of the goals for the year was for LWEN to obtain 100 or more members of good standing by the end of August, 2011. The goal was not only to prepare ourselves for completing the ABWA Best Practices qualifications, but to also provide networking opportunities to MORE women in our area, and to help them grow both personally and professionally through leadership, education, and local and national recognition, as we have done for ourselves. Personally, my membership has been beneficial in assisting me with obtaining business contacts and new friends, setting my business plans, receiving positive ideas through networking, increasing local recognition of my business and myself, enhancing my leadership skills, and setting my own personal goals. I would like to share that with others as I hope you do!
If every member brings a guest to our next meeting and that guest joins LWEN, we will have met LWEN's membership goal and then some!
If you have any questions about Best Practices or your membership and benefits, please do not hesitate to contact me or any of our board members. I look forward to seeing you and your guest/potential member, at our next monthly meeting!
With warmest regards,
Debbie Waskow
President, 2010-2011 and
Proud member of LWEN
Dear LWEN Members,
My first point of business is to thank you for the opportunity to lead this amazing group of women for the year 2010-2011! I have to admit that being President of LWEN has been on the top of my list of goals since I joined this group. One of the new board members recently asked me what my plan as President will be this year and I thought I would share my answer with you.
My plan is to keep this organization running smoothly, efficiently, and without a lot of bumps in the road. I also plan to follow the leaders before me and exceed the high expectations we all expect from this organization.
My goals are the following:
1. Communicate with the members and always be available to them;
2. Retain LWEN membership through communication, mentoring and leadership;
3. Start a LWEN Sponsor Program: A member who sponsors a new member will be asked to continue mentoring the member throughout the year to insure the new member enjoys all of the opportunities LWEN has available to her. You will hear more about the Sponsor’s Program in the future; and
4. Encourage members to "Shop LWEN Businesses First". In our Membership Interest Survey, 92% of the members who took the survey said they joined LWEN because it appeared an excellent source for generating business. 54% of the members said their highest priority was to grow their business. That is a very important reason why I will be reminding LWEN members to support one another and their businesses. Before you email the membership for a business referral, or to give a business referral to a friend or family member, please check your membership listing on for the Member Business Directory. Another great location to find member and business information, are the member profiles on WIN at where you update your own information!
Finally, our LWEN 2010-2011 Annual Board Retreat was recently held. These dedicated board members spent their time and effort to organize a whole year of meetings, educational programs, finances, educational information, networking opportunities, opportunities to plug your business, insure local and national recognition, continue following ABWA Best Practices, and much, much more. When you see members of the Board with their heads together, it is because they are working for you to make your LWEN year the very best, both personally and professionally. Thanks again, and I look forward to a great year!
Debbie
Debbie Waskow | President 2010-2011
Leading Women Express Network | www.abwalwen.org
Home | National ABWA | ©2010 Leading Women Express Network. Site hosting by GKG.NET of Bryan, TX.
Web design by NealResources.com
