Welcome to the December 2007 issue of the monthly newsletter for the National Association of Women Business Owners® (NAWBO®)
San Francisco Bay Area Chapter.

December 2007 News Summary

Member News

–– Welcome New Members!

–– President's Letter from Barbara Mark, Ph.D., NAWBO®-SF President 2007-2008

–– NAWBO®-SF Members in the News

Ideas, Inspiration and Opportunities

–– Capitalizing on Being Woman Owned, by Janet W. Christy

–– Health Tip of the Month from Dr. Linda Berry

–– Nominations due January 10 for the 2008 NAWBO®-SF Leaders and Legends: Women Entrepreneurs of the Year

NAWBO®-SF Events

–– Come Celebrate! Annual Holiday Bazaar at the Omni Hotel in San Francisco - Monday, December 10 (Please note special date is a Monday instead of the usual Thursday.)

–– San Francisco Relationships and Referrals Breakfast Meeting with Jeff Scanlon, Financial Advisor for UBS Financial Services, Inc.: Wednesday, December 19

–– Walnut Creek Relationships and Referrals Breakfast Meeting: Date Change for 2008

–– Marin Relationships and Referrals Breakfast Meeting with Dr. Linda Berry: Tuesday, December 18 in Corte Madera

–– Save the Date! January Dinner Event: The Ultimate Networking Dinner with Ann Tardy of LifeMoxie! Enterprises: Thursday, January 10 in San Francisco

Events with Other Organizations

–– NAWBO® Public Policy Days: February 4, 2008 - February 6, 2008 in Arlington, VA

Welcome to New Members of NAWBO®-SF!

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome the following new members:

Anne Morton, Tap Your Potential, San Francisco

Vijaya Jhothi, Safronya Retreat Spa, San Rafael

Julie Jenanyan, Wine, Women & Shoes, Saint Helena

Elaine Houig, Wine, Women & Shoes, Saint Helena

Madlen Mirjaim, CCG Carpet & Flooring Design Center, Modesto

Linda Hammond, Bay Area Move Management, Sausalito

Cheryl Ebner, Santa Barbara Virtual Assistants, Goleta

Deniz Mater, Savantis Group, San Francisco

Cynthia Foreman, Sweetie Pies, Oakland

Thank you to all of you - we look forward to seeing you at upcoming events, and to the opportunity to grow, thrive, and lead together!

Barbara Mark, Ph.D., NAWBO®-SF President

President's Letter from Barbara Mark, Ph.D.

Greetings Members and Friends,

What a wonderful time of year to access and experience the joy and gratitude for all that we have in our lives. As we near the end of the year, it is a natural time to look at where we are in our businesses and in our lives. It is a time to appreciate and celebrate all the efforts that we and our employees have put into growing and thriving. It is an opportunity to thank all of our customers for the trust that they put in us and our products and services. We have the opportunity to be grateful for all the people in our lives that contribute to our growth, our happiness and our inner and outer abundance in our professional and personal lives. And, of course, it is a great time to begin to plan ahead for next year, to visualize our success and put the strategies for achieving it into place.

I feel blessed by all the many wonderful people in my life: family, friends, colleagues and clients. I am grateful for the many relationships that I have developed through NAWBO® and the opportunity to know and work with such a great group of savvy, smart and highly motivated professionals. I invite you to survey the riches in your lives and feel the warmth that comes from them.

Our NAWBO® chapter is strong and growing. We are looking forward to a great year of programs and meetings. I look forward to seeing you at our Annual Holiday Bazaar coming up on December 10th in the beautiful and festive ballroom of the Omni Hotel. Happy Holidays to you all!

Warm regards,
Barbara Mark, Ph.D.
President NAWBO®-SF

NAWBO®-SF Members in the News

Member Linda Fodrini-Johnson, a JFK University Graduate School of Professional Psychology alumna, was honored November 16 at the Kennedy Laureate Awards celebration, at the Blackhawk Museum in Danville, California. The event not only served to fete Linda and her fellow Laureates, but also doubled as a fundraiser for JFKU’s scholarship fund, which helps make a college education possible for those who otherwise might not afford it.

A resident of Walnut Creek, Linda is the founder and
Executive Director of Eldercare Services, a firm that provides comprehensive geriatric care management services to aging adults and their families. She is a recognized nationally as an expert in care management and the associated needs of the senior population as they age. Fodrini-Johnson is a pioneer in developing programs for individuals with Alzheimer’s dementia. The San Francisco Business Times has, on numerous occasions, honored Eldercare Services as one of the 100 Fastest Growing Businesses and one of the Top 100 Women Owned Businesses in the Bay Area. Fodrini-Johnson is the western chapter president of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers and is an active member of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Pleasant Hill.

Capitalizing on Being Woman Owned, by Janet W. Christy

5 Keys to Making the Most of Being A
Woman Owned Business
by Janet W. Christy
Based on her book
CAPITALIZING ON BEING WOMAN OWNED

In working with women business owners individually and in workshops for the last four years, Janet W Christy developed a practical guide titled Capitalizing On Being Woman Owned to help Women Business Owners use their status to their advantage. Here are five key points from that book.

It’s all about the angles.
Finding the best angle for the situation and using it effectively is vital. Woman Owned Businesses have a built-in angle, which is the fact that they are woman owned. This angle can be used very effectively if a business understands how to leverage it with existing and potential clients/customers. A woman business owner must clarify her business (products, services, territory, prospects) in order to use this or any other marketing angle successfully.

Buyers need Woman Owned Businesses.
Government agencies, education institutions and businesses of all types and sizes have determined that there are real benefits to using Woman Owned companies. Each type of customer/client has its own requirements and methods when it comes to purchasing diversity. Some set goals; some require their subcontractors to use Woman Owned Businesses and many require woman owned certification.

You can never know too much about your customers/clients.
Knowing their existing and potential customers/clients will help woman business owners understand their needs and perceptions and how those relate to the service and/or product provided. This knowledge will assist the owner in knowing how to use the woman-owned status to advantage.

Navigating the maze of resources and opportunities can be frustrating.
Because the Woman-Owned issue has become so important there are programs and guides and classes and certifications and workshops and websites presented by state governments, municipalities, economic development organizations, colleges, chambers of commerce, non-profit organizations and the list goes on. It is much like a person fresh off a diet in a bakery that also serves ice cream; everything looks great, but how do you choose – you will likely end up with a headache from the stress of choosing or a stomach ache from choosing too much, maybe both. This abundance of help points back to two things – owners must clarify their business and know their customers/clients (existing and potential) in order to take advantage of the appropriate assistance.

There are no magic marketing formulas.
Unfortunately woman business owners cannot wave a magic wand – or a marketing plan – over the phone and make prospects call. It takes work to market a business. Having a plan and implementing that plan are essential to the success of a business. However, the plan must be customized for an individual business and its prospects and include ways to leverage the best angle or angles, particularly that of being woman-owned.

About the Author
Janet Christy has spent the majority of her professional career in marketing, sales and public relations positions. Today she uses that experience to help Small, Woman and Minority Owned Businesses maximize and profit from their opportunities. She also works with government agencies on development programs and services for entrepreneurs. In 2003 Janet formed Leverage & Development, LLC, a consulting firm focused on helping Small and Woman/Minority Owned businesses and government/education entities. The firm has several service offerings including marketing research and planning, certification assistance and sales guidance.

www.leverageanddevelopment.com
www.janetchristy.com

Monthly Health Tip from Dr. Linda Berry

Feeling toxic? Finish eating by 8pm so your natural cleansing cycles have a chance to operate instead of being suppressed by digesting food. Learn more here.

Dr. Linda Berry is a Chiropractor, Certified Clinical Nutritionist, Author, Trauma-Healing Specialist, and Meditation Instructor. For a quarter of a century, she's been helping people find their way back ... to when they really felt good! Dr, Berry's book, Internal Cleansing, has been in print for 20+ years. For more information visit her web site www.drlindaberry.com.

2008 NAWBO®-SF Leaders and Legends Nominations Due Now

We are looking for two outstanding women business owners to be honored at our 24th Annual NAWBO®-SF Leaders and Legends: Women Entrepreneurs of the Year awards luncheon on May 2, 2008. A Trailblazer is a seasoned woman business owner (10 years + in business) who has learned how to compete, has created a solid, successful business, and acts as a role model for others. A Rising Star is a new woman business owner (less than 10 years in business) whose business is in the purest entrepreneurial stage - growing, succeeding and prospering.

Please take a moment to think of a woman business owner whom you would like to nominate as a 2008 Woman Entrepreneur of the Year (or nominate yourself).

Click here to download a nomination form.

Nominations must be received by January 10.

For more information, contact Jeff Scanlan at 415.576.2992 or email: [email protected]

December Dinner Meeting: Annual Holiday Bazaar at the Omni Hotel in San Francisco - Monday, December 10

Annual Holiday Bazaar
Monday, December 10 (note special date)
6pm to 9pm
Omni Hotel, 500 California Street
(Valet Parking Available)
$40 members; $65 guests; Register Now!

Just in time for the holiday season, NAWBO®-SF presents the perfect opportunity to find unique, unusual gifts, all while networking with other fabulous women!

This year, we are happy to have the beautiful, festive, and spacious Omni Hotel as a home for our Bazaar, which will also feature a sit down dinner for both vendors and members.

Register now!

NAWBO®-SF monthly dinner events provide exciting opportunities to grow, thrive and lead:

--Socialize and network with other women business owners and professionals
--Learn about opportunities to get involved at the local, state and national level
--Be inspired and educated by our featured speaker(s)
--Engage in stimulating conversations with our monthly "Table Topics"
--And much more to come!

San Francisco Relationships and Referrals Breakfast
Meeting: Wednesday, December 19

NAWBO®-SF - San Francisco Relationships and Referrals Breakfast Meeting
Wednesday, December 19
7:30am to 9:00am
55 2nd Street at Market - Harvest & Rowe
Introductions begin at 7:45 sharp.

Parking is available via Anthony Street, between 1st and 2nd; turn onto Anthony from Mission Street.

December Meeting Topic: Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft with Jeff Scanlon, Financial Advisor for UBS Financial Services, Inc.

The San Francisco Relationships and Referrals Networking Breakfast is NAWBO®-SF's newest venue for building business connections between local women business owners. Meetings are held at 7:30am on the third Wednesday of each month at Harvest & Rowe , 55 2nd Street in San Francisco. Bring business cards and come prepared to meet other women business owners, make friends, exchange ideas, share leads, lend support and recommend resources.

Pre-registration is required as space as limited and our group has been larger these days than ever! We want to ensure that there is enough wonderful food and beverage to satisfy all. The cost, if you register by the Friday before each meeting, is $12 for members and $15 for non-members. After the Friday before each meeting, the price is $15 for members and $18 for non-members.

Please share the word with your friends and colleagues!

Learn more and register online here.

Walnut Creek Relationships and Referrals Breakfast
Meeting: No Meeting in December; New Meeting Day in 2008

NAWBO®-SF - Walnut Creek Relationships and Referrals Breakfast Meeting
NO MEETING IN DECEMBER
7:30am to 9:00am
Il Fornaio, 1430 Mount Diablo Boulevard, Walnut Creek
free parking at rear of building

Please note our new meeting day for 2008: the 3rd Tuesday of each month. We hope to see you in January!

Our morning breakfast meetings provide a comfortable
forum for business women and entrepreneurs to meet
monthly, exchange ideas and discuss business challenges.
The Relationships and Referrals Breakfasts are a dynamic, informative and productive way to spend your breakfast!

Please share the word with your friends and colleagues!

Learn more and register online here.

Marin Relationships and Referrals Breakfast Meeting: Tuesday, December 18 in Corte Madera

NAWBO®-SF - Marin Relationships and Referrals Meeting
Tuesday, December 18
7:30am to 9:00am
Il Fornaio
Corte Madera Town Center, Corte Madera

December Speaker: Dr. Linda Berry

This month, Dr. Linda Berry will be speaking on “How to Find Your Way Back to When You Really Felt Good.” Dr. Linda
Berry is a Chiropractor, Certified Clinical Nutritionist, Author, Trauma-Healing Specialist, and Meditation Instructor. For a quarter of a century, she's been helping people find their way back ... to when they really felt good! Dr, Berry's book, Internal Cleansing, has been in print for 20+ years. For more information about Dr. Berry, click here.

Get your morning off to a great start with our monthly NAWBO®-SF Marin Breakfast Meeting. Our group continues to grow and evolve - become a part of this unique networking opportunity now! Our monthly forum for business women to exchange ideas and discuss business challenges is a dynamic, informative and productive way to spend your breakfast.

· Join a supportive group of business women with similar experiences
· Give and receive professional support, input and advice
· Gain access to a wide array of business resources
· Discover possible collaborations and alliances
· Meet new friends who share common interests and values

Pre-registration is required as space as limited and our group has been larger these days than ever! We want to ensure that there is enough wonderful food and beverage to satisfy all. The cost, if you register by the Friday before each meeting, is $12 for members and $15 for non-members. After the Friday before each meeting, the price is $15 for members and $18 for non-members.

Please share the word with your friends and colleagues!

Learn more and Register online here.

January Dinner Event: The Ultimate Networking Dinner, January 10 in San Francisco

The Ultimate Networking Dinner
with Ann Tardy, CEO, Life Moxie! Enterprises
Thursday, January 10
6:00pm to 9:00pm
Omni Hotel, 500 California Street
(Valet Parking Available)
$40 members; $65 guests; Register Now!

Join us for the ultimate in networking this month -- one of our most popular events! Enjoy cocktails and dinner while you meet other women business owners, hear about what they are up to in their businesses and promote your own
business. You'll get tips on network marketing and have the
opportunity to exchange information with dozens of women
business owners. Moving to different tables between courses, you'll meet a variety of dynamic women whose business offerings may surprise and excite you. Our goal is to release the creative spirit of women and help make things happen. So bring lots of business cards, polish your elevator speech and prepare for a great evening. This is always a sell-out event at NAWBO® - be sure to get your reservation in early!

This year, we are happy to welcome Anne Tardy,
CEO of Life Moxie! Enterprises, speaking on the topic: Take the ‘Work’ out of Networking - Get In, Get Out,
& Get Connected

Discover the secret to engaging people in conversation and you’ll discover the power to open any door of opportunity. Whether you’re talking to strangers or sharing dinner with other NAWBO® members, your ability to master these meetings will take the pain out of networking events. Get ready to master the art of small talk and learn intentionally networking skills that will make every conversation worthwhile. Great openings, great closings, a dose of moxie, and a bit of practice will make you someone that everyone wants to know.

Ann Tardy is the Founder and Chief Catalyst of LifeMoxie! Enterprises, the performance solutions company. Prior to launching LifeMoxie!, Ann was a corporate attorney in Silicon Valley for 12 years representing entrepreneurs, practicing at two of the largest law firms before running the legal department of a public company, and then launching her own law firm. For five of those years, Ann also served as the co-Director of the Entrepreneurial Education program at a girls’ middle school training 12-year-old girls how to start and run businesses.
Ann earned an accounting degree from the University of Illinois, a law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law, a CPA from the State of Illinois, and licenses to practice law in Illinois and California. Ann was honored as an Outstanding Business Woman of the Year by the American Business Women’s Association.

Ann is sought-after by corporations around the country as a speaker and expert on employee engagement and performance issues. Her first book was published this year: LifeMoxie! Ambition on a Mission - 9 Strategies for Taking Life by the Horns.

NAWBO®-SF monthly dinner events provide exciting opportunities to grow, thrive and lead:

Register now!

NAWBO® Public Policy Days: February 4-6 in Arlington, VA

NAWBO® Public Policy Days
Voices: Rising
February 4-6
Ritz Carlton Pentagon City
Arlington, VA

Make your voice heard and increase your advocacy skills by joining NAWBO® for its 2008 Public Policy Days, February 4-6 in Arlington, Virginia at the Ritz Carlton Pentagon City.

Come together with NAWBO® members from across the country to discuss and develop strategies for transforming public policy on the local and national levels.

Highlights

--Keynote remarks from Justice Sandra Day O'Connor
--Keynote remarks from Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, owner of Pace Communications and National Chair of the American Red Cross
--Election night party and PAC fundraiser
--Government contracting hall and opportunity to connect with agency representatives
--Individual and group meetings with lawmakers on Capitol Hill

Learn more and register online here.

Key Dates: Mark Your Calendar

–– December 10: December Dinner Event: Annual Holiday Bazaar at the Omni Hotel in San Francisco (Please note special date is a Monday instead of the usual Thursday.)

–– December 18: Marin Relationships and Referrals Breakfast Meeting in Corte Madera

–– December 19: San Francisco Relationships and Referrals Breakfast Meeting

–– January 10: January Dinner Event: Ultimate Networking at the Omni Hotel in San Francisco

–– January 10: Deadline for Nominations - 2008 Leaders and Legends

Thank you to our Corporate Partners:

The NAWBO®-SF Monthly Newsletter is designed and edited by NAWBO®-SF member
Jennifer Donahue Marketing Communications for Businesses Large and Small

If you would like to submit stories, news, events, or happenings for the next issue of NAWBO®-SF's e-news, please send to the newsletter editor,
Jennifer Donahue, at [email protected] . Copy submission deadline is the 20th of the current month for the next month's newsletter (e-mailed out the first week of the month).

We invite anyone who is not already a member to join NAWBO®-SF. Take advantage of a growing package of member benefits and activities. To find out more, visit our website: www.middleastwomen.org/membership.html.

To subscribe to (or unsubscribe from) this newsletter, contact Wendi Moradian at 415.333.2130, or email: [email protected].

© 2007 The National Association of Women Business Owners® - San Francisco Bay Area Chapter (NAWBO®-SF). All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of NAWBO®-SF is prohibited.