Announcements and Opportunities

Hidden Scholarship Dollars. Thinking of going back to school – but short on funds? In addition to well-known student aid programs, check out some more obscure programs through this article link: Weirdest College Scholarships. For example, funds for studying foreign languages are offered by The Klingon Institute. (No, you don’t have to study Star Trek-eze to qualify.) What’s your height? The Tall Clubs International sponsors a scholarship competition for men who are 6 foot 2 inches or more, and women who stand at least 5 foot 10.

Save the Date. On March 25th, NAFE will honor 2010’s Top Companies for Executive Women at a Gala Awards Luncheon. The event will be held at Cipriani in New York City. The luncheon is open to everyone. A Roundtable (by invitation only) for senior-level women from the winning companies will be held in the morning, preceding the awards event. Click here for more details.

YOUR Local Network. Interested in the activities of the NAFE group in your area? You can find a list of local organizations by clicking on the Networks tab on nafe.com. The list is arranged by state, and includes contact info and website links for each group. Interested in forming a new network? Contact Roxanne Natale, NAFE Member Services Coordinator.

Award Program for NAFE Members. Interested in nominating an incredible NAFE woman for recognition? Click here for more information on the 2010 Women of Excellence program. And be inspired by the 2009 winners here.

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.

Member News

NAFE member Gail Clifford has been named Vice President of Financial Management at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies in Arlington, VA. The Institute is an independent, not-for-profit public policy research organization that “identifies and aggressively shepherds discussion on key science, technology, and national security issues facing our society.”

Barbara Mosinski is associate producer of a new theatrical production, Cutting Den, scheduled for a three-week run in New York City beginning on February 4th. Read a write-up about the creative effort here.

5 Tips... for Creativity and Innovation in Business

One characteristic all business owners must have is creativity. Without it, it’s nearly impossible to stay afloat. This innovative spirit is especially important to the small business owner who does not have the kind of budget that big corporations have. You need to be able to craft new and innovative ways to get the most “bang for your buck;” whether you refurbish old unsuccessful projects into successful ones, cut your costs without cutting corners, and think of new ways to boost your sales.

Adrian Brown’s book “Creativity & Innovation” highlights five characteristics that the author has observed in creative organizations. All of these characteristics are important for large corporations and also for small companies:

• Information is free flowing: Creativity is partially about making new connections: for example, applying a familiar technology to a completely new application

• New ideas are welcomed: It is easy for individuals, and companies, to become stuck in their ways. Habitual behaviors, a rigid adherence to “best practices and groupthink” can all act as barriers to new ideas. Of course, not all ideas are good ideas and you are ultimately responsible to filter the ideas that are bubbling up.

• Good ideas are nurtured: New ideas are delicate and can easily be killed off with an executive shrug or simply a lack of care and attention.

• Risk taking is accepted: Experimentation and innovation involve some failures along the way. Risk taking doesn’t mean being reckless, rather it means understanding the risk/reward relationship and taking calculated risks where the potential rewards are valuable.

• Innovators are rewarded: Creativity is hard to measure and can often be ignored by compensation and reward systems. However, often it is enough to publicly recognize creativity with a simple thank you for a job well done, believe it or not, this sends a powerful message through your organization.

It is important to tap into your own creativity as well as your staff – you may be surprised at the ideas they may have to boost your business!

[This article is courtesy of The Lindenberger Group and its “Creativity & Innovation” program, one of the many professional development courses recently added to The Lindenberger Group’s website through its partnership with MindEdge.]

• 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

“Freedom is never really won -- you earn it and win it in every generation.”

-Coretta Scott King