NAFE Enewsletter

Patricia Duncan (left), Director of Women on the GO (a NAFE local affiliate in Georgia), pictured with author Columbus Copeland (right). Copeland was the speaker at the network’s March luncheon.

Recession Special: Want to promote your business? For NAFE members for a limited time only, a banner or skyscraper ad in one issue of the NAFE E-Newsletter will cost you just $75.00. (Regular rate is $150.00.) Contact newsletter editor Paula Damiano to place your ad. [Note: you must be an active NAFE member to receive this special rate.]

Nafe.com has a new feature! If you haven’t looked at our website in awhile, it’s time for another visit. We’re adding and updating content on a weekly basis to provide useful and timely information for our members. This week’s featured article is on retirement planning – something every women needs! Also planned are more member profiles. If you’ve got an interesting story to tell, send it to us!

Green Calculator. Are you still requesting paper statements and invoices from your bank or credit card company? Still writing paper checks and snail-mailing them? Just a 2% increase in Americans making electronic payments or receiving online statements would save 15,093,962 pounds of paper and 181,128 trees. For a custom calculation of your own carbon footprint, go to PayitGreen.org, click on the "calculator" tab – and follow the directions.

Working Mother Turns 30! In celebration of its 30th birthday, Working Mother magazine will select and honor 30 Working Mothers of the Year. These notable women are being profiled at workingmother.com and in the May 2009 issue of Working Mother magazine. They will be congratulated at a Gala Birthday Luncheon at Cipriani's in Manhattan on May 8th. Click here for further information.

NAFE Discount on Whirlpool Products. Through a special arrangement with Whirlpool, NAFE members can reap big savings on Whirlpool appliances, accessories and other Whirlpool items. You and your family can purchase up to 12 products a year under the VIPLINK program and get substantial savings on everyday retail pricing. Go to the NAFE website to sign up for the discount program – just click on the Whirlpool banner at the top of the NAFE home page.

5 Tips for Being a Great Follower and Leader

This issue’s 5 Tips come from Jeanne Gulbranson, a strategist for a major consulting organization and the author of Be the Horse or the Jockey: 110 Tips and Techniques for Followers…and Leaders. In her 20 years of international experience in business strategies and professional skills training, she has developed the programs for and taught leadership skills to hundreds of business women and men in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Jeanne has also authored multiple white papers, articles and courseware on leadership and related business topics, as well as Pink Leadership: 15 Life Lessons for Leaders.

Sometimes we are the leaders, and sometimes we are the followers. It’s difficult to lead successfully without great followers, but we haven’t paid much attention to enhancing our following skills. Why not? Following – or followership – is just beginning to be recognized as a unique and strategic role. Success as a leader or a professional follower starts with embracing the follower’s role as a significant and desirable achievement. The second step is to understand the “what and how” of the Followership Process:

1. Break Fast out of the Gate. Followers need to have the power to generate speed. When they make that powerful and fast start, they are demonstrating their willingness to follow and their courage to assume responsibility.

2, Run with a Long and Powerful Stride. After starting strong, Followers must persevere. They need to “stay in the race,” which demonstrates their willingness and courage to serve. Followers must preserve and replenish their own strength in resolve and focus to ensure that the finish line is reached.

3, Make Course Corrections as They’re Needed. By calling on their courage to challenge, Followers will signal to their leaders slight direction or speed adjustments that they feel are needed.

4. Go from “What is Possible” to the Reward—the Reality and Acceptance of the Winning Change. Followers are agents of change for themselves, their leaders, and everyone else. Throughout the race, Followers need to help themselves, their leaders, and others to maintain the integrity of the goals and the value of the change at the finish line.

5. Train more Horses and Jockeys! Leaders and professional followers will continue the cycle of success as they work together to enhance their own followership skills and the abilities of those with whom they interact.

What are YOUR views on the current economy? Let the world know what you really think. Connect with others; learn and share. Have YOU blogged today? Visit the NAFE blog page today.

Are You Taking Full Advantage of Your Membership?
Click HERE to view the complete list.

From insurance and business services to discounts on computers, travel, flowers and more, NAFE members are eligible for special savings. Offers change frequently, so keep checking our Member Benefits section to see what’s available.

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

Kennesaw, GA
April 23, 2009
The Siegel Institute for Leadership, Ethics, and Character presents its Annual Phenomenal Women's Conference. The theme of this year's conference is "Women Leading Social Change," a topic which focuses on areas in which women are at the forefront of change. The event includes inspirational keynote speakers, panel discussions and workshops. Learn more by clicking here.

Robbinsville, NJ
May 2, 2009
Attend the Head to Toe Women's EXPO: 'The Ultimate Girl's Day Out." Over 100 exciting vendors, a wellness center with massage & health screenings, the Book Nook featuring local women authors, 30 seminars offered throughout the day and it's all FREE – courtesy of the Mercer County Woman Newspaper. Click here for the full scoop.

Bryn Mawr, PA
May 20, 2009
The Bryn Mawr Film Institute is the venue for “Leadership at the Movies,” presented by The Leader’s Edge and Susannah Cobb. Susannah says, “Movies can often demonstrate realistic leadership situations and reveal a dearth of leadership characteristics (both good and bad!) much more powerfully than facts and statistics.“ Click here for more details.

Irvine, CA
May 21, 2009
The Orange County Business Journal hosts its 15th Annual Women in Business Awards, honoring Orange County outstanding professional women. Meg Whitman, former eBay CEO, is the keynote speaker. Read more here.

Go to the NAFE website 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 E-Newsletter - twice the exposure for one listing!