Schedule for 2008-09

Thursday, September 11, 7:15 pm St. Theresa’s Church, Harvard. Topic: The Art of Slowing Down and Cultivating Presence, by Carla Kimball, Public Speaking Presence Coach. Carla incorporates stress management and presencing techniques in helping her clients overcome fears, project more confidence, and cultivate an authentic presence when they speak. She will share tools to help people slow down in a way that will allow them to access their essential natures so they can be more effective leaders, speakers, and human beings.

Thursday, October 16th (3rd week of the month to avoid Yom Kippur)
The Enneagram: A Dynamic Personality System to Understand Yourself and Improving Business Relationships, with Herb Pearce, M.Ed. Look forward to an experience of insight, humor, and personal revelation! Learn how one of nine unique ways of looking at reality is basic to your motivation, thinking, and behavior, how to achieve growth in ways personally suited to your type, and how to communicate well with all types, including those which are a challenge to your own core perspective.

Tuesday, October 28th, 2008 — Fall Luncheon, 12:00 noon — Pre-registration necessary An informal networking and buffet lunch in the relaxing setting of the Fruitlands Museums, Harvard. Advance reservations are required along with a $15 pre-payment (non-refundable after October 24th) payable to Seasonal Specialties. Sign up at a WBN meeting or contact Pat Cochrane directly. Checks MUST be received by mail before Friday, October 19th. Mail to WBN, 11 Partridge Hill Rd, Harvard, MA 01451. Directions
Membership Dues are Due!

Thursday, November 13, 7:00 pm: NOTE EARLY START TIME for these TWO noteworthy events: 7pm -Early Holiday gift display at November’s meeting: Members may display products appropriate for holiday giving so members have a chance to shop early. Pre-reservations for vendors are required. Vendors: Contact Rebecca Bell 978-562-6909 rebecca@athomewithrebecca.com to reserve a space. Everyone: Bring your checkbooks! Take advantage of the time to SEE colleagues’ products and mingle with fellow members.

Thursday, November 13, (following the Vendor Display& Shopping which starts at 7pm) Why you need a USP (Unique Selling Proposition) to Better Communicate Your Products/Services in a Competitive Market, with Jay Wallus, of Street Smart. Turn your business into an extaordinary one through a step-by-step process of developing an even deeper knowledge of your products or services, exactly what sets you apart from all the competition, and how best to communicate that unique position to increase your current level of sales. Jay blends a powerful mix of common sense strategies, out-of-the-box thinking, and high energy to teach you how to get your foot in the door of your best prospects. . .and keep them!

Tonight's Meeting Thursday, December 11th has been postponed until Tomorrow night Decmber 12th because of the weather 7:15 pm. Holiday gathering - Same time Same Place: Come get to know WBN members informally and share information. Bring finger food: a light snack, appetizer, salad or dessert along with your business cards and brochures. It is helpful to know who's coming and what folks are bringing so please RSVP to Pat at: pac1999@email.com .

If you have any questions about postponement please email Joan Finger or Pat Cochrane. Thank you

Directions will be distributed at the November meeting and sent by e-mail to those who RSVP.

Thursday, January 8th 2009 7:15 pm “Business Challenges” Small group discussions addressing the business challenges WBN members face in our small businesses. This meeting is designed to help members get to know each other and gain from others’ experiences and ideas in brainstorming sessions. Facilitated by Sue Jackson of Harvard Art.

For SNOW cancellation info call Renée at 978-456-9600 for the Thursday evening meetings.

Annual Winter Connections Luncheon. Wednesday, February 4th at noon -We’re thrilled that the Healing Garden in Harvard will be house our cozy annual winter connections lunch in their new building, centered on their beautiful 8 acre wooded, garden setting. We’re returning to the “BYOS” format: Bring your own Sandwich/Salad & Beverage, we provide the soup and cookies for dessert. (Facilities available to make tea/coffee.) It’s our beat the doldrums, make connections networking event. Bring a friend, whether she’s in business or not. The cost is a small donation to the Healing Garden: a minimum of $5, payable to the Healing Garden, but sent to WBN member Pam Turci. Reservations and pre-payment required. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Pam at (978) 456-3511 or pturci@verizon.net by Thursday, January 29th. Snow date: Thursday, February 5th. Contributions to the Healing garden are tax-deductible.

Thursday, February 12th - 7:15 pm Business Law &Soup Swap (see below): "Negotiating Skills: An Interactive Exercise." Karen Whitley, Esq. Negotiating is an important factor in any business! This participatory program will include two mock negotiations of a fun business scenario followed by audience discussion comparing and contrasting the negotiation strategies and outcomes as well as examples of their own negotiation successes and disappointments. Also, Karen will give an overview of negotiation skills and guidelines along with particular challenges that a woman faces in becoming a more effective negotiator. Soup Swap (optional participation at February 12th mtg) - Beat the winter doldrums and be nurtured/nurture another WBN member by making and swapping a quart container of soup. A perfect remedy for the home office working lunch. If you choose to participate, bring your soup in a non-returnable container (frozen or not) to the February 12th evening meeting. Label it with your business card and identify the kind of soup. Indicate whether your soup is vegetarian or not. Swaps will be made by random number. If you don’t feel like cooking/participating, come to the meeting anyway! ! It’s our Valentine’s gift to each other.

Thursday, March 12th, 7:15 pm. Roundtable workshops and networking meeting. Participants select their group based on a topic from the list of options. Each table will have a facilitator. Topics and facilitators will be posted before the meeting. (Previous years’ topics have included marketing, time management, organization strategies, home/work balance.) Suggestions for topics are welcome. Contact Deb Oliva, dboliva@charter.net before February 7th with your ideas.

Thursday, April 16th (NOTE: 3rd week of the month to avoid religious holidays) Creating Focus in a Fast Paced World with Life Coach, Sara Reiff Hekking, Overbooked, overstretched, frazzled? Yearning for time to focus on what means most to you? In this seminar we will identify ways to create focus in an overly busy world, review principles to help manage being overly busy, and learn steps to start to do more of what is meaningful to you. Dr. Sarah Reiff-Hekking is a Life and Wellness Coach and Psychologist with more than a decade of experience helping people create and achieve their goals. You can find out more about her at www.TrueFocusCoaching.com

Soothing Spring Luncheon Wednesday, May 6th at noon in the blossoming gardens of “The HEALING GARDEN.”  Once again, it will be a “BYOS” format: Bring your own Sandwich/Salad & Beverage.  There will be opportunity to visit the gardens in bloom, but most likely we’ll dine indoors. Bring a friend, whether she’s in business or not. The cost is a small donation to the Healing Garden: a minimum of $5, payable to the Healing Garden, but sent to WBN member Rosemary Fletcher, PO BOX 3515,  Framingham , MA 01705. Reservations and pre-payment required by mail or at the April WBN meeting.  For more information or to RSVP,please contact Rosemary at (508) 877-1299 or rfletcherphoto@msn.com by Thursday, April 30th (After that, check to see if space is available). Contributions to the Healing garden are tax-deductible. Directions and Parking instructions. The Healing Garden is a non-profit facility that provides support services to women dealing with breast cancer.

Thursday, May 14th, 7:15 pm - How to Get Up on a Down Day with "Margo Cheevers, speaker, trainer, personal coach. Everyone has days when they need extra motivation. Most individuals know that in order to succeed, setting goals is the first step. But many times the journey between setting those goals and achieving them is fraught with frustration. This session will give specific tips on how to maintain your motivation on a daily basis.

Thursday, June 11th Starting time 6:30 pm, Annual Pot Luck dinner - Friendly Crossways Hostel, Littleton County Rd in Harvard. Join us for a year-end celebration of work well done, networking, and a chance to get to know each other better. Bring a food contribution of appetizer, main course, salad, or dessert. Please label your dish with your business card and bring a serving utensil for it. Remember to bring your business cards and brochures for display and distribution as the WBN supply will not be available. RSVP by Tuesday, June 9 to Liz Hawkes: windowsbyliz@charter.net or (978) 456 8358 and let her know if you’re what you’re bringing, or at least if it’s an appetizer, main course, salad, or dessert. WBN members, no charge; Guests, $10. Directions on the directions page of this website.

WBN does not meet during July and August