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

October 2007 News Summary

Member News

–– Welcome New Members!

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

–– NAWBO®-SF Members: Keep Your Networking Information Current! Check Your Information on Our Roster for Accuracy

Ideas, Inspiration and Opportunities

–– Join the Membership Commitee

–– NAWBO®-SF Needs a Website Update - Submit Your Interest in a Proposal

–– Learn About "Yes on I" A Proposal for the Creation of a Small Business Assistance Center in San Francisco

–– Help Build NAWBO®-SF's Public Policy Task Force and Stay Informed About Important Health Care Issues Locally and Statewide!

–– Annual Update of Key Facts About Women-Owned Businesses Released from the Center for Women’s Business Research

NAWBO®-SF Events

–– October Dinner Event: NAWBO®-SF Welcomes NAWBO®-Silicon Valley and presents -- Use the News to Make More Sales with Jud Walsh, San Francisco Business Times: Thursday, October 11 in San Francisco

–– San Francisco Relationships and Referrals Breakfast Meeting with Susan Shargel, Shargel & Co. Insurance Services: Wednesday, October 17

–– Walnut Creek Relationships and Referrals Breakfast Meeting with Judith Stark, Judith Stark Consulting: Thursday, October 18

–– Brown Bag Lunch with Dr. Linda Berry: Thursday, October 18 in San Rafael

–– Marin Relationships and Referrals Breakfast Meeting with Nina Huebsch of Simplify By Design: Tuesday, October 23 in Corte Madera

–– Save the Date! November Dinner Meeting: Life in the Balance - Mastering the Work-Life Continuum, with Barbara Mark, Ph.D., Full Circle Institute, Thursday, November 8 in San Francisco

–– Save the Date! December Dinner Meeting: Holiday Bazaar at the Omni Hotel in San Francisco - Monday, December 10 (Please note special date is a Monday instead of the usual Thursday.)

Events with Other Organizations

–– San Francisco Walk for Hope to Cure Breast Cancer, Saturday October 13, in San Francisco

Welcome to New Members of NAWBO®-SF!

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

Ms. Melanie Durkee, Studio M, Inc.

Moki Evans, Polaris Meetings Group, LLC

Joan Jovan, JJovan Insurance Services, Inc.

Sherry McKillop, Follow Your Compass

Andrea Nadel, Gourmet Walks

Annie Chan, Mills Womens Leadership Fellow, Mills College

Miriam Hibbert, Hibbert Maritime Services

Michelle Lerman, Lerman Law Partners

Robin Moorad, Imago Associates

Barbara Telle, TASK Transcription Services, Inc.

Dr. Elizabeth Lee-Slass M.D.,APC, Artful Surgery

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.

Fall is in the air in the San Francisco Bay Area and some of us are looking forward to a little bit of warm weather. I am off to the east coast in a couple of weeks for a romp in the Autumn leaves and brisk walks in the “sweater weather” air that is characteristic of New England this time of year.

With the “back to school” energy of September, our various committees have been hard at work enhancing our programs and developing new ones. Our facilitated Mastermind groups
will be starting this month. Keep your eyes open for registration information. Based on the response from our survey, we will have at least two and perhaps three groups in San Francisco in various locations. One group will focus on women business owners with children.

Another program in the works is an outstanding Mentorship Program that will be developed over the winter and launched next year. More to come on that!

A great opportunity for our members is writing articles for our newsletter. If you have some information that you know will benefit other members, please write an article and submit it to our Editor in Chief, Jennifer Donahue. Contact Jennifer for information about optimal subject matter and length. You will gain visibility for your area of expertise, and you will help out a fellow business owner.

Important this fall is a public policy issue addressing the needs of small business. Proposition I would create a distinct Small Business Assistance Center to provide businesses with 100 or fewer fulltime employees with information and assistance on permits and licensing requirements, bidding on government contracts, compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and adoption of “green” and sustainable business practices. The Small Business Assistance Center will be a one-stop shop that will coordinate and centralize information from other City departments for small businesses. For more information, to get involved or to make a donation to the Prop I campaign, please email me or call me at 415.431.9055. I am a member of the steering committee and will be happy to assist you!

The Holiday Season is upon us and we are already in the process of creating our Annual December Holiday Bazaar. Mark your calendars now for Monday, December 10th at the beautiful and spacious Omni Hotel in San Francisco. If you offer a product or a service and would like to have a vendor table, please email Nancy Barrett or Donna Aldrich, co-chairs of our programs committee. This year we will have a lovely sit-down dinner and the opportunity to get that holiday shopping done!

Plan to be at the October 11th dinner meeting when we will be joined by the NAWBO® Silicon Valley Chapter for a great evening of networking and an informative talk by Jud Walsh of the San Francisco Business Times. Jud will be guiding us through the best way to use the SFBT as a business-building tool.

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

Please help us keep our member information up to date and accurate by checking your listing here.

Email Chapter Administrator, Wendi Moradian, to communicate any changes that need to be made to your listing. 

Would you like to get to know more members of NAWBO®-SF?

Would you like to be better known by other NAWBO®-SF members?

Would you like to be able to contribute to NAWBO®-SF?

Would you like to build your business?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, we would love to welcome you and your unique skills and interests as part of our membership committee. We are looking to build a membership committee that supports the growth of NAWBO®-SF with an engaged and active membership. Working on this committee is the fastest way to gain visibility within the organization, and to feel that you are making an immediate positive impact on our chapter's vibrancy.

If you are interested in joining us, or interested in having a conversation about helping us, please contact Kay Robinson or Anna Scott at [email protected]

NAWBO®-SF wishes to redesign and develop our website to better reflect the Chapter's mission and activities, in a simple, easy to use, easy to maintain and appealing format.

If you or your business would like to bid for this work, please submit your request for more information to us, by email, at [email protected]

Preference will be given to NAWBO®-SF members. All bids should cover both design and development work. Ideally, the completed site will be maintainable to the greatest extent possible via a Content Management System.

Small businesses are the backbone of San Francisco’s economy. Small businesses make this a unique and wonderful place to live; they also make this an economically vibrant City.

• Small businesses in San Francisco employ more than 355,000 people.
• More than half of all employees (54%) work at a small business.
• Local small businesses put nearly 2 ½ times the
amount of money back into the local economy when
compared to national chains.
• Small firms give to charity an average of more than 2½ times the
amount per employee than do medium or large firms.
• If small businesses income increased 10% in San Francisco that would
mean the addition of $200 million in economic activity and create 1300
new jobs.

The Mayor and small business leaders have joined together to create
the Small Business Assistance Center. Specifically the Small Business
Assistance Center will:

• Create a one-stop-shop for small businesses dealing with City Government;
• Help small businesses that wish to bid on government contracts and participate in the City purchasing process;
• Make sure small businesses comply with government laws and regulations
• Help small businesses adopt “green” and sustainable business practices.

For more information please visit www.sfsmallbusinessadvocates.org

Help Build the NAWBO®-SF Public Policy Task Force and Get Involved in Important Health Care Issues Locally and Statewide

NAWBO® Public Policy
Health care issues have been the focus of NAWBO®’s public policy initiatives. Here’s an update of what is happening statewide and locally:

California Health Care Update
The state legislature passed the Democratic reform proposal AB 8 on September 10th and Governor Schwarzenegger announced his intention to veto this legislation. A recent survey conducted by NAWBO® California and sponsored by San Francisco’s Shargel
& Co. Insurance Services found that AB 8 is supported by only 26% of our members. The most controversial piece for NAWBO® members is the requirement that
all employers, regardless of size or length of time in business, contribute at least 7.5 % of payroll for employee healthcare. Governor Schwarzenegger intends to call a special session of the legislature to address health reform.

Stay informed and involved. Key websites to review are www.calhealthreform.org (California Health Reform), www.shargel.com (Shargel & Co. Insurance Services) and www.chcf.org (California Health Care Foundation).

Healthy SF Update
In 2006, San Francisco passed the Health Care Security Ordinance (HCSO), which established Healthy San Francisco to provide health coverage for San Francisco’s uninsured residents and workers. It includes a controversial Employer Spending Requirement which is scheduled to become effective January 1st. The employer spending requirement (for employers with employees working in the city of San Francisco) is being challenged in the courts by the Golden Gate Restaurant Association. (Employers with 19 or less employees and non-profits with 49 or fewer employees are not affected.) The next hearing is November 2nd.

For more information visit www.healthysanfrancisco.org (Healthy San Francisco) and www.ggra.org (The Golden Gate Restaurant Association).

Call to Action
It’s time to build NAWBO’s SF Public Policy Task Force! Be a part of developing a health-care reform position for California. This is a high-impact service with a low-time commitment. Work with longtime NAWBO®-SF member and health-care industry expert, Susan Shargel, President of Shargel & Co. Insurance Services.

For more information and to join the task force, email NAWBO®-SF President Barbara Mark, PhD.

The most widely distributed source of facts on women-owned businesses was released in August by the Center for Women’s Business Research. The pocket-sized fold-out contains the top line findings from current research by the Center and is expanded this year to also include facts from related research.

In addition to the number of women-owned firms, the fact card contains the following facts, among others:

--Women-owned firms employ nearly 13 million people and generate $1.9 trillion in sales.

--Between 1997 and 2006, majority women-owned firms (51 percent or more women-owned) grew at twice the rate of all firms (42 percent vs. 24 percent).

--The vast majority (83 percent) of women business owners are personally involved in selecting and purchasing technology for their businesses.

--Women owners of firms with revenues of $1 million or higher embrace financial measurements as management tools and produce more financial reports more often than smaller firms.

--There are 2.4 million firms owned 50 percent or more by women of color in the U.S., employing 1.6 million people and generating nearly $230 billion in sales.

--More than two-thirds (67 percent) of women business owners choose financial products and services based on their relationship and experience with a lender.

To obtain copies of the fact card, email
[email protected] or
call Christopher Clark at 202.638.3060 x 718.

The cost is $70.00 per packet of 100. Discounts are available for the Center’s corporate partners, supporters, and members of women business owner associations.

For further information, contact the Center for Women’s Business Research , 1411 K Street, N.W., Suite 1350, Washington, DC, 20005-3407

On October 11, NAWBO®-SF welcomes
NAWBO®-Silicon Valley and presents:

Use the News to Make More Sales
with Jud Walsh, San Francisco Business Times
Thursday, October 11
6pm to 9pm
Omni Hotel, 500 California Street
(Valet Parking Available)
$40 members; $65 guests; Register Now!

Join us in welcoming the Silicon Valley chapter of NAWBO® to the NAWBO®-SF October Dinner meeting for an exciting evening of networking and business development!

Jud Walsh, Director/Business Development of the San Francisco Business Times, will describe how tapping into a news source such as the San Francisco Business Times, with its weekly collection of leads and other business information, can greatly enhance your sales strategy time.

Learn how to:

-- Find the business information you need to help you achieve your sales goals.

--Recognize sales leads in news stories and features.

--Develop specific actions to warm up cold leads.

--See how each section of the paper is designed to help you grow your business and learn how use the information to support your networking efforts.

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!

Register now!

San Francisco Relationships and Referrals Breakfast
Meeting: Wednesday, October 17

NAWBO®-SF - San Francisco Relationships and Referrals Breakfast Meeting
Wednesday, October 17
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.

October Meeting Speaker: Susan Shargel, Shargel & Co. Insurance Services

Susan Shargel, founder and president of Shargel & Co. Insurance Services, named 2007 Member of the Year by the NAWBO®-SF chapter, is recipient of awards for the quality of her firm’s benefits programs and service. With an undergraduate History degree from Barnard College and an MA in Early Childhood Education, after a brief stint in education, Susan entered the insurance field with Equitable Life Insurance to have more autonomy—breaking ground in an industry then dominated by men. Susan started her firm in 1989, when her daughter was seven. Ever curious and gifted with sales skills, her passion to provide a valuable service has enabled her to weave together business relationships, friendship, community and public policy interests while promoting the success of her business and creating a great work environment for her employees.

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: Thursday, October 18

NAWBO®-SF - Walnut Creek Relationships and Referrals Breakfast Meeting
Thursday, October 18
7:30am to 9:00am
Il Fornaio, 1430 Mount Diablo Boulevard, Walnut Creek
free parking at rear of building

October Meeting Topic:
IT for Everyone
with Judith Stark, Judith Stark Consulting

Our featured member this month is Judith Stark, Judith Stark Consulting, provider of Information Technology (IT) services for small business office systems, computer hardware, networks and access for those with disabilities in the Bay Area. With over 20 years of IT experience, Judith has a proven track record of management in high-tech information technology (IT) companies, large and small business and computer systems development and community service arenas.

For all of us who aren’t IT “whizzes” and who occasionally do battle with our computers, Judith reduces the anxiety factor because she translates technology concepts and terminology into everyday language and relates to your problems regardless of your level of “tech savvy.” Because she works on both the Macintosh and PC platforms, she is well versed in the trade-offs between these products and can help you determine what your options are when it comes to your office automation needs.

So please join us, be prepared to learn answers to some of the questions posed above and to meet a NAWBO® business owner with many other NAWBO® members as her satisfied clients. You’ll also have an opportunity to see us put into practice things we learned from our lively discussion in August about having conversations that “stick” so prospects and colleagues remember you when opportunity knocks. Those boring “elevator speeches” may have to go!

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!

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.

NAWBO®-SF - Brown Bag Lunch
Create Bliss in Your Life and in Your Body
Thursday, October 18
11:30am to 1:00pm
Dr. Linda Berry's Office
1408 Fourth Street, Suite 26
San Rafael

How is it for you living your life in your body? Do you have the joy and happiness that you want? Do you want more? Bliss is a physiologic state created by your mind and your body. But if you’re in physical pain, emotional distress, gastrointestinal upset and have little energy will you feel blissful? NO! Join Dr. Linda Berry for an introductory session on how to remove the obstacles to bliss and how to turn on the internal chemistry that creates joy, happiness, and bliss.

Dr. Linda Berry is a Chiropractor, Certified Clinical Nutritionist, Author, Trauma-Healing Specialist, and Meditation Instructor. Before becoming a chiropractor she was a modern dancer, a purple belt in Karate, and a health coach to her community of artists and students. She's been helping people feel their best for a quarter of a century. Dr, Berry's book, Internal Cleansing, has been in continuous print for 20+ years. Here's what Dr. Berry says about her approach to healing, "I see you as a whole person, not as a collection of symptoms. When you work with me you'll not only feel better, you'll find the way back ... to when you really felt good!"

For more information visit her web site www.drlindaberry.com

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.

Marin Relationships and Referrals Breakfast Meeting: Tuesday, October 23 in Corte Madera

Marin Relationships and Referrals Meeting
Tuesday, October 23
7:30am to 9:00am
Il Fornaio
Corte Madera Town Center, Corte Madera

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.

October Speaker: Nina Huebsch of Simplify By Design

Simplify By Design LLC provides downsizing and move management services for those choosing a new lifestyle in a smaller home. The company also provides accessible design consulting for those choosing to make changes to their environment in order to enjoy living in their homes in the future.

· 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.

NOVEMBER DINNER MEETING
Life in the Balance - Mastering the Work-Life Continuum
with Barbara Mark, Ph.D., Founder of Full Circle Institute and NAWBO-SF President 2007-2008
Thursday, November 8
6pm to 9pm
Omni Hotel, 500 California Street
(Valet Parking Available)
$40 members; $65 guests; Register Now!

DECEMBER DINNER MEETING
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!

If you are interested in reserving table space to display, market and/or sell your products or services, please contact Nancy Barrett [email protected]
More details about vendor opportunities and available space will follow.

San Francisco Walk for Hope to Cure Breast Cancer:
Saturday, October 13

San Francisco Walk for Hope
Saturday, October 13
Justin Herman Plaza, San Francisco
Registration: 7:30am; Walk: 9:00am

Walk for Hope to Cure Breast Cancer is a family-oriented walk and
run fundraising event to support breast cancer research, treatment
and education programs at City of Hope, a National Cancer Center
Institute designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Event Features:
• Scenic 5k leisure walk around the San Francisco Embarcadero and AT&T Park

• Teams of 10 or more can gather before and after the Walk in the Team Pavilion and participate in the Team Pavilion raffle.

• Post-event festival includes Popsicle Kid’s Pavilion, survivor booth, sponsor booths with giveaways and an awards ceremony.

Incentive Prizes:
Raise additional funds and become eligible to win fabulous incentive prizes! For more details, please click here.

For more information on how to become involved:

Contact the City of Hope San Francisco Regional Office
Phone: 800-732-7140 / Email: [email protected]
Or visit www.walk4hope.org

Key Dates: Mark Your Calendar!

–– October 11: October Dinner Event: NAWBO®-SF Welcomes NAWBO®-Silicon Valley and presents -- Use the News to Make More Sales with Jud Walsh, San Francisco Business Times

–– October 13: San Francisco Walk for Hope to Cure Breast Cancer

–– October 17: San Francisco Relationships and Referrals Breakfast Meeting

–– October 18: Walnut Creek Relationships and Referrals Breakfast Meeting

–– October 18: Brown Bag Lunch in San Rafael

–– October 23: Marin Relationships and Referrals Breakfast Meeting in Corte Madera

–– November 8: November Dinner Event: Life in the Balance - Mastering the Work-Life Continuum, with Barbara Mark, Ph.D., Full Circle Institute in San Francisco

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

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.

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