Announcements and Opportunities

Ernst & Young Business Competition. Are you (or do you know) a woman entrepreneur with big plans, and the vision and passion for growing? If so, nominate that outstanding entrepreneur for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneurial Winning Women program. Winners will be connected “with the advisors, resources and insights they need to accelerate the growth of their businesses.” Deadline is June 30, 2010. Click here for further information: www.ey.com/us/winningwomen.

Grants for Women’s Projects. The WHO Foundation (Women Helping Others) supports grass-roots nonprofits serving the overlooked needs of women and children. Grants up to $40,000 will be awarded. Specific projects and programs addressing health and social service needs are priorities. Deadline is September 7, 2010. Click here for full details: http://www.whofoundation.org/Funding/Who_funding.asp.

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

Sad news from Pat Whitney, NAFE Northeast Regional Coordinator:
“It is with deepest sorrow that I write this letter announcing the death of Nancy Carmichael, former President of Boston Women’s Network (BWN). In September 2006 Nancy Carmichael was appointed President of BWN (formerly Boston NAFE), one of the first networks to become part of what is now an international network of women's organizations in 1974. At that time, BWN was struggling with its identity and its dwindling membership numbers. Nancy grew the network by changing its focus to business and financial topics, creating innovative ways for women to connect at the meetings, and implementing technology-based systems to automate BWN’s processes to follow the Green movement in our current environment. …
After a lengthy, difficult treatment regimen, it appeared that Nancy had won her battle with breast cancer. Then in December of 2009 came the horrible news that Nancy had AML, a type of leukemia caused by the chemotherapy treatments for her breast cancer.”

Nancy passed away on May 23, 2010. Her family requests donations to the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Nancy’s memory: http://www.avonwalk.org/.

5 Tips… for Mentoring Teenage Girls with Courage
by Sandra Ford Walston

Sandra Ford Walston is known as The Courage Expert and innovator of StuckThinking™. She is an Organizational Effectiveness Consultant, trainer and a courage coach. She can be reached at Sandra@SandraWalston.com or visit www.sandrawalston.com. Her tips on mentoring teenagers are applicable to women of all ages:

1. Teenage girls are encouraged to support other girls for their individuality. Teenagers have a big problem supporting each other’s unique personalities. Conformity, the courage killer, is more the required standard of acceptance. Girls frequently taunt or ostracize each other if they declare their originality.
What can the mentor do? Advocate a new behavior such as “Now is the time for females to stop gossiping, backbiting and slandering other females.” Sabotage and betrayal will never advance teenage girls, and grudges only keep us pedaling in the same spot (even when we go to work).
2. Girls learn to exhibit their courage at a young age when they communicate openly and demonstrate supportive behaviors. Unfortunately, young girls are unskilled at speaking directly much less being able to express exactly what they think. How teenage girls demonstrate communication skills starts in grammar school, witnessing their parents and their community leaders.
What can the mentor do? Support the teens’ growth by demonstrating how to speak directly without manipulation—an obstacle to everyday courage.
3. Girls demonstrate courage when they comfortably express their accomplishments and when they are openly complimentary to peers. Speaking up to share experiences, such as getting an A on a paper or genuinely complimenting another girl for her unique courage is often considered boasting or bragging, so girls are uncomfortable (and lack support) to express their accomplishments. Tooting one’s horn is a courage paradox—damned if you do, and damned if you don’t!
What can the mentor do? Share the stepping stones of your success and how you used your everyday courage to achieve success.
4. Girls outgrow and courageously overcome the need to gossip or start rumors about each other. Gossip and rumors do not end when you “grow up” and start a career. These negative practices only end when we hold ourselves 100% accountable for the affect we have on others.
What can the mentor do? Be an example of courage by confessing when you gossiped and let teens know what it felt like when it was done to you, and why these behaviors against each other need to end. Practice encouragement rather then discouragement.
5. Girls rarely bully each other. Girls do bully each other. Then, they grow up and bully people at work, especially their own gender. Dr. Gary Namie started The Workplace Bullying & Trauma Institute. He told me, “Fifty-eight percent of bullies are women, and of that 58% percent, approximately 87% are women bullying women such as not returning a smile or giving the ‘evil eye’.”
What can the mentor do? Discuss why women would mistreat their own gender and extract the belief system around woman’s inhumanity to woman.

New profile posted! Learn all about your fellow business women on nafe.com under Member Profiles. WalMart’s Dottie Mattison is currently featured, as well as Vikki Pryor, Robbie Motter and Teriilee Harrison. Click here: http://www.nafe.com/web?service=vpage/268.

Know another outstanding NAFE member you’d like to see profiled on nafe.com? Send details to NAFE News & Notes editor Paula Damiano at pauladamiano@hotmail.com.

Upcoming Events

For a complete list of events, see our online Calendar!

Brooklyn, NY
June 22, 2010
WORKSHOP IN BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES PRESENTS “A BUSINESS OF YOUR OWN” – Is it for you? Join us as we discuss how to turn your idea into a profitable business - The pros and cons of being your own boss - The 3 traits you need to be a successful entrepreneur - What you need in your Business Plan to ensure success. More details here: http://www.nafe.com/web?service=direct/1/ViewCalendarPage/
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Redmond, WA
June 24, 2010
The purpose of the Women’s Wealth Book Club (WWBC) is to bring high-achieving women together in discussion, learning, and networking. Members are professionals, executives, and business owners who are life-long learners. Click the link to get the list of books till the end of the year. Cost is $10, all of which can be used towards food. Go here to learn more: http://www.nafe.com/web?service=direct/1/ViewCalendarPage/
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New York, NY
March 30, 2011
Save the date! NAFE’s Top Companies for Executive Women annual event will be held again at the famed Cipriani’s in Manhattan. Stay tuned for more information.

• 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.