Announcements and Opportunities

NAFE Breakfast a Huge Success! If you were able to attend the Women of Excellence Awards Breakfast on December 4th in New York, we know you had a fabulous, enlightening morning. In the photo, Joan Sheridan LaBarge, Group Publisher – Working Mother Media [left], and Betty Spence, president of NAFE [right], present the Mentorship Award to Marie Meliksetian [center]. Other awardees at the event were: Janet Robinson, Woman of Achievement; Elizabeth Davis. Service to New York City; Jane Poynter, Entrepreneurship; and Darline Jean, Rising Star (USA). Unable to attend were Carla Campbell-Jackson, Community Service and Maja Daraowska, Rising Star (International).

Keynoters Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, husband-and-wife Pulitzer Prize winning writing team and authors of Half the Sky, shared their global experiences with the audience of 200-plus attendees, including several members who traveled all the way from California.

Kristof told about a young Chinese girl whose family lacked the required $13 a year to send her to school – and the New York Times readership response that solved the problem for the girl and many others in her village. WuDunn recounted the story of an uneducated Ugandan woman who ultimately attended an American university, all because a micro-loan allowed her to buy a goat.her family was given a goat by Heifer International.

The speakers stressed the importance of education and economic empowerment for the advancement of women. “Gender discrimination is the central moral challenge of modern times,” concluded Kristof.

See a slidehow of photos from the 2009 NAFE Women of Excellence Awards Breakfast by clicking here.

Interested in nominating an incredible woman for next year’s awards? Click here for more information on the 2010 Women of Excellence program.

Paid Survey for NAFE Members. From the University of Phoenix School of Advanced Studies: NAFE members who are professional or managerial women are invited to participate in two online surveys regarding emotional intelligence (EI) and job stress. Payment is a $25 dollar American Express gift certificate per each Internet survey participant who completes both the Job Stress Survey and the EI survey. Please cut and paste the following link https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MV7THZP into your browser and go to the site to participate. Password is NAFE. Amex gift certificates limited to the first 90 NAFE members who complete the surveys. (Note: This is an outside survey. Email any questions or problems to rk5306@email.phoenix.edu.)

Schedule Change for Next Issue: Issue #164 of NAFE News & Notes will mail on January 7, 2010, three weeks from today. Happy holidays to all NAFE members and their families!

NafeCafe. Meet me at NafeCafé where we can meet via our profiles, connect, and create groups that can work together in regions or across the country.  It’s a secure place for us to share as much information as we want by filing shared materials in drawers, rather than emailing large files. Check it out.  Come enter your profile and connect through NafeCafé. Read more about NafeCafe here or email nafecafe@nafe.com with your questions.

NAFE Discount on Whirlpool Products. Through a special arrangement with Whirlpool, NAFE members can reap big savings on Whirlpool appliances, accessories and other items. You and your family can purchase up to 12 products a year under the VIPLINK program. Sign up for the discount program – just click on the Whirlpool banner at the top of nafe.com.

Want to promote your business? A square display ad (120x120 pixels) in one issue of NAFE News & Notes is just $75.00. Larger skyscraper ads (600x120 pix) are a bargain at $175. Contact newsletter editor Paula Damiano to place your ad.

5 Tips: Office Party Equals Opportunity - for YOU

According to Networking Specialist Ivan Misner, Ph.D.: “The holiday office party is NOT just a place for free food and drinks. It can be the best time to introduce yourself to an executive,” he explains. “Making an impact on the boss can be a real career booster. It opens the door for a raise and even a promotion.” Ivan is founder and chairman of BNI, the world's largest business networking organization – and the author of the #1 bestseller, Masters of Sales and New York Times bestseller, Truth or Delusion?

Here are five tips for making the most of office holiday events:

Be Prepared! Know who you are talking to, what their job role in the company is and what they’ve done this year that has improved the overall performance of the business. Use this info as a way to start a conversation, “Hi Mr. Boss, I was so impressed by the way you handled the Jones Company’s campaign, how did you know that would work?”

Have A Teaser Topic Prepared. We’re approaching the end of the year and every executive wants her company to increase profits and performance in the new year. Have an idea ready that describes how you can improve your sector in the coming year. Don’t give away the goose, set up a meeting to discuss the details.

Don’t Overdo It. Yes, the holiday party is a good time to introduce yourself to the execs but remember, it’s still a party. Don’t act as if you’re in the boardroom giving a presentation. Keep it natural and leave them intrigued.

Don’t Have More than One Drink. It’s a party, but it’s not YOUR party. You don’t want to be stinking of liquor when you approach the higher ups. Remember, the holiday office party should be considered a work event and you should never over do it on alcohol or you could potentially lose your job.

Ready, Set… Meet the Boss. The end game here is to open the door for follow up. You want to connect with the boss after the party, one-on-one. Introducing yourself to the company head executive can be an intimidating experience, so give yourself an informed pep talk. Know your value; make a list of the things you have done for the company over the past year and understand your role in the company’s success. Once you’ve got this down, there’s no reason you shouldn’t feel good about yourself.

Now relax and enjoy the holidays!

• Go to nafe.com to view our ever-expanding Calendar of Events for opportunities around the country. The new Search function makes the Calendar even more useful and accessible.
• Use the Event Submission Form online to let us know about events in your area. Events submitted for the website will also be considered for the NAFE News & Notes– twice the exposure for one listing!

Check the NAFE Calendar of Events for network meetings, workshops and other happenings around the country.

WORDS TO WORK BY

“New Year's Day… now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.”

-Mark Twain