AWC Des Moines

AWC and WIPP

AWC is a coalition partner with WIPP.  I believe the Elizabeth Dole Young Entrepreneur Scholarship could be a great way for AWC members to reach out within your community to young women communicators who have an entrepreneur spirit and present them this opportunity to gain knowledge to help them grow their business.  Take a moment to look over the qualifications and think of who you would want to see be a part of this class.

 

Sheryl Liddle, AWC National Board Chair 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Community Leaders,

 

Women Impacting Public Policy is pleased to announce the release of the application for the 2008 Elizabeth Dole Young Entrepreneur Scholarship; this year’s application deadline is June 30th.  The Scholarship, established in 2006 honoring Senator Dole as the WIPP Congressional Award Winner, is completing its first program year watching young women business owners grow and thrive in their community.  It has been an exciting and educational process and we are eager to begin the process for the coming program year.

 

We need your help finding the best and the brightest young women entrepreneur community leaders to apply for the next class of the Elizabeth Dole Young Entrepreneur Scholarship.  The scholarship is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to gain knowledge, skills and guidance from successful women business owners – as well as have a chance to receive a cash award to help grow their business!

 

The Elizabeth Dole Young Entrepreneur Scholarship is a bi-partisan effort, established to recognize high potential young women business owners who are leaders in their community, with resources and guidance to excel their businesses and personal success.

 

Here are the qualifications you will be looking for:

• At least 51% woman-owned
• Entrepreneur between the ages of 21-35
• U.S. Citizen
• Business 5 years old or less
• Revenue of $500, 000 or less for service industries OR $1milion or less for manufacturing industries
• The business has capacity to assume more debt
• Owner has a satisfactory personal credit history

If you know someone who might be interested, please forward this email along or use the sample email provided here, likewise program details are also available on WIPP.org:

 

2008 Scholarship Application

2008 Letter of Recommendation Form

Fact Sheet

 

We are also pleased to invite you to join us as a sponsor of this important effort.  Sponsorship opportunities are available for as low as $50.00 and all sponsors will be recognized along with the program and at the 2008 WIPP Annual Conference in Washington, DC.  Sponsorship of the Elizabeth Dole Young Entrepreneur Scholarship sends a powerful message of women business owners helping women business owners.

 

Women Owned Business Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsorship Response Form

 

If you have any questions on the application or sponsorship, please do not hesitate to contact Jason Lalak at the WIPP office at JLalak@wipp.org or via 415-434-4314.  Remember, applications are due June 30th, so there is no time to waste!

 

We look forward to an exciting 2008!

 

 

Kathryn Mahoney

Co-Chair, Elizabeth Dole Young Entrepreneur Scholarship

President and CEO, Political Capitol, Inc.

 

Mary Cantando

Co-Chair, Elizabeth Dole Young Entrepreneur Scholarship

Growth Expert, WomanBusinessOwner.com

 

 

We Decide!

Women Impacting Public Policy Annual Conference

Mayflower Hotel – Washington, DC – September 8-9, 2008

 

Click here for more annual conference information.

 

 

WIPP, Women Impacting Public Policy, Inc. is a national bipartisan public policy organization that advocates for and on behalf of women and minorities in business, strengthening their sphere of influence in the legislative process of our nation, creating economic opportunities and building bridges and alliances to other small business organizations. Through WIPP, our collective voice makes a powerful impact on Capitol Hill and with the Administration.  Click here to read WIPP’s Bipartisan Policy Statement.

 

Learn to Protect Your Identity: Attend "Shred-It Day" at West Bank

Local alliance member Peggy Fleming, Communications Coordinator at West Bank, announced that West Bank is holding "Shred-It Day" on Saturday, June 14 from 8 a.m. to noon. You are invited to bring up to 100 pounds of your identity-sensitive documents for free shredding. There's also a free seminar with tips about the dangers of identity theft.

Read the news release for more information about the event.  Download 2008.04ShredItCI.doc

Chrysalis Update - April 25, 2008

The next Chrysalis Communications and Marketing Committee Meeting meeting will be held Thursday, May 1st at 12:00 noon at the Chrysalis office.  We hope you can join us!  Please RSVP your attendance to Leslie at lgarman@chrysalisfdn.org if you have not already had an opportunity to do so.

Chrysalis Foundation Programming for May 2008

3rd Annual Mother's Day Soiree
Friday, May 9, 2008
Aimee, 432 East Locust, in the East Village (Des Moines)
5:00 - 8:00  p.m.

Come celebrate Mother's Day and all women and girls with a fun soiree at aimee!

Admission $25 with T-shirt; or $15 no T-shirt. All proceeds going to the Chrysalis Foundation. A special 25% discount off aimee stock.
Fees: - $25
Please SECURELY register and pay here.!
Registration Deadline: Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Chrysalis HerStory Celebration - Chrysalis After School 10-Year Anniversary
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Parents Hall at Olmsted Center, Drake University (Des Moines)
4:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Chrysalis After School 10th Year Anniversary! Please join us for this gala event celebrating the work of the young women in the Chrysalis Foundation's signature program building future leaders!
Please register here and plan on joining Chrysalis for this FREE event!

Registration Deadline: Friday, May 9, 2008

Chrysalis Foundation Barnes & Noble BOOKFAIR
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Barnes & Noble, 4550 University Avenue, West Des Moines
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

• Learn about the Chrysalis Foundation After-School program for girls! Create a butterfly card to be sent to a woman or girl who has made a difference in your life!
• Don't miss Story time from 1-1:20 p.m. and from 2-2:20 p.m.
• Please plan on joining us for this FREE event! No registration is required.

   

AWCDSM May Meeting

Our May speaker is Lori Day, President of FocusFirst, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, May 21
LOCATION: United Way Conference Center, Room F
1111 Ninth Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50314
515-246-6639
*The United Way building is located between I235 and University on Ninth Street.

COST:
$20 for members
$25 for nonmembers
Late Registration/at the door $30
Students $15

LUNCH: Catered by In the Bag - Summer Picnic (BBQ sandwich and sides), if
a vegetarian choice is needed please indicate when you RSVP.

HOSTESS: Mary Mendenhall-Core

Upcoming Chrysalis Events

AWC member Leslie Garman, would like to invite AWC members to attend upcoming Chrysalis events. Chrysalis is the “adopted” non-profit partner of our local alliance of AWC.  Below you will see a listing of these opportunities. In particular, Leslie hopes you will join her MONDAY for the Chrysalis “Community Celebration” event which will be held at Moberg Gallery from 5 – 7 pm. To learn more, please contact Leslie Garman at 255-1853 or lgarman@chrysalisfdn.org.

CHRYSALIS COMMUNITY CELEBRATION to honor the "100th BIRTHDAY OF CHRYSALIS FOUNDER, LOUISE NOUN!"
Date: MARCH 31 (NEXT MONDAY!)

Time: 5 - 7 p.m.

Place: Moberg Gallery, 2921   Ingersoll Avenue, Des Moines

Cost: $25 per person

Join the fun!

The celebration will include music from Las Guitarras de Mexico,

food and refreshments, as well as the beautiful artwork of Moberg Gallery.

Please RSVP by Friday, March 28 to info@chrysalisfdn.org or call 255-1853

APRIL EVENTS ALSO INCLUDE: 

APRIL 4 (Friday) Lunch and Learn: "Online Predators: What You Need to Know"
Mike Ferjak, Iowa Department of Justice - Office of Iowa Attorney General
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., Waveland Hall - Plymouth Congregational Church,
4126 Ingersoll Avenue (no charge for event; $10 if you'd like a box lunch)

APRIL 18 (Friday) Lunch and Learn: "Identity Theft…Don't Let It Happen to You"
Susan Kerr, Consumer Protection Division - Office of Iowa Attorney
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., Waveland Hall - Plymouth Congregational Church,
4126 Ingersoll Avenue (no charge for event; $10 if you'd like a box lunch)

APRIL 22 (Tuesday) After Hours Networking: Your Image and Your Future"
Rebecca Esposito, International Trainer and Consultant - Esposito Communications (Austin, Texas)
6-7:30 p.m., Meeting Room #3, Central Library in Downtown Des Moines
(no charge for event; coffee and dessert provided)

Chrysalis Event March 3

CHRYSALIS FOUNDATION PRESENTS

“NETWORKING & NEGOTIATIONS” EVENT

 
Des Moines -- The Chrysalis Foundation will host a free “Networking and Negotiations” event on Monday, March 3^rd from 5:00 – 6:30 pm at Tero International, 1840 North West 118 Street, Suite 107, Clive. 

This event is part of the Chrysalis Business Partner Program. Started in 1999, this program unites local business leaders to support girls who participate in Chrysalis After-School Program.”

“This is first in a series of Chrysalis Business Partner Programs,” says the event’s Chair, Nicole Hinton. “Each program will provide opportunity for networking and strengthening strategic business skills -- all while strengthening the success of the girls and women Chrysalis supports.”

Tero International’s Deb Rinner will give her sought-after presentation on win/win negotiations. Tero is generously donating this presentation because of their interest in a successful business community and in Chrysalis’ mission.

Established in 1989, the Chrysalis Foundation is a Des Moines-based community foundation with a mission to develop strong women and girls in Greater Des Monies through education, grant-making and philanthropy.  100% of all contributed dollars are invested into Chrysalis programs including Community Grants and Chrysalis After-School, the Foundation’s signature program.

The Des Moines Alliance of the Association of Women in Communications supports the Chrysalis Foundation. 

March Meeting Rescheduled

March 26, 2008 is the new date to hear Beth Dalbey, Communications Editor at the Great Ape Trust of Iowa.

Please keep this date free and keep watching for emerging details!

Proposal Affecting the Women’s Procurement Program

 

February 15, 2008

 

There are times when it is important for us as AWC members, as well as women, to raise our voices in protest to policies that could be put in place in Washington, DC.  I believe that this is such a time.  As you may know AWC is a coalition partner with WIPP (Women Impacting Public Policy).  WIPP is a strong voice for women in business and women business owners in Washington, DC.  The Small Business Administration (SBA) is proposing a new rule for the Women’s Procurement Program, which will adversely affect women who own their own business and in the long run could affect women in business.  I would encourage you to let your voice be heard on this matter.  You can find out more about the Women’s Procurement Program that the SBA is proposing by going to www.wipp.org.   

 

Also below is a paragraph from WIPP giving you an update and specific directions for writing a letter to the SBA:

 

Dear WIPP Members and Friends:

 

Our hard work is paying off!  The momentum decrying the SBA’s proposed new rule for the Women’s Procurement Program has grown exponentially.  In the past five weeks, WIPP members have written op-eds, been interviewed and quoted by local and national media, and participated in online podcasts.  Senators and Representatives in Washington have heard our call and, as a result, held Congressional hearings and briefings, circulated ‘Dear Colleague’ letters, and sent SBA Administrator Steve Preston letters lambasting the SBA’s proposed new rule.

 

We have worked hard and seen results but there is still one more task.  It is vital that we each, individually, demand that the SBA withdraw the rule.  Submit your comments to the SBA directly; the official comment period ends February 25.  Do not miss this chance to have your business' voice go on the record.

 

We have posted a sample letter to the SBA on our website.  Please click here and follow the simple instructions; or if you prefer, go directly to the SBA comment section and write your own comments.  Please forward Anna Lubiner at alubiner@wipp.org your comments to the SBA.

 

Do not miss this important opportunity to stand up and be heard.   The deadline for comments is February 25th, so act now!

 

Thank you,

Sheryl Liddle

AWC National Board Chair

Help Support Chrysalis at NAWBO Event

Hey gals, Come have a fun night out with "just us chicks," and help raise funds for the Chrysalis Foundation at the same time!

Leslie Garman and Kathy Towner are both members of NAWBO -- National Association of Women Business Owners, which is sponsoring a "Celebrity Server" event to raise funds for Chrysalis. They thought it would be great visibility (and a great way to show support) if AWC would have a table. Carlyn Crowe has agreed to be a server and invites you to join us at our "Just Us Chicks" AWC table. 

The event is Thursday, February 7 at 6:30 p.m. at the Foxboro Conference Center in Johnston. The meal is coming from Mojos, right next door, and the cost is $35.  There's also a silent auction.  The funds raised will help fund a grant to support entrepreneurship for women in Central Iowa.

Please RSVP to Carlyn at carlyn@netins.net.

2 New Jobs Posted - Jan 19, 2008

Two new communications job listings have been posted on the Des Moines Alliance site! Check them out (see summarized details below) and find other recent listings and links to area employers here.

Measurement Analyst, ITA Group 
Performance Solutions Strategist, ITA Group

Chrysalis Communications Meeting

The next Chrysalis Communications Meeting is January 29th from 4:30 - 6:00 pm at the Chrysalis office. If you would like to be a part of the Des Moines Alliance committee helping with Chrysalis Foundation communications or for more information, contact our membership chair, Leslie Garman at 515-238-1166.

10 New Jobs Posted - Jan 15, 2008

10 new communications job listings have been posted on the Des Moines Alliance site! Check them out (see summarized details below) and find links to area employers here.

Marketing Coordinator, Seneca 
Communications Writer, Gov't Affairs, Planned Parenthood
Reporter / Photographer, Sinclair Broadcast Group
Creative Director, The Integer Group
Advertising Director, The Des Moines Register 
Graphic Design Consultant , Wellmark
Program / Strategic Mgr Extension Communications, ISU 
Communications Specialist, Iowa Farm Bureau
Direct Response - Copy Supervisor, Meredith
Editor, Iowa Bankers Association

RSS Feeds Sped Des Moines Alliance Info

Get the latest Des Moines Alliance site and blog updates delivered to you directly via an RSS feed! It's easy when you click on the RSS feed icon located in the right-hand column!

With an RSS feed, we'll keep you up-to-date on meeting announcements, new job postings and more!

We're using this same RSS technology to post news of site updates directly on our homepage. Just check the upper right hand corner of our homepage to see what's new!For more information on RSS feeds and how it can help you, check out this informative Newsgator Video.

 

               

We've Got You Covered!

Are you a Des Moines Alliance member with news so share? Let me know! Co-site editor Sandy Renshaw and I are always looking for ways to shine light on the efforts of our peers. Just shoot me a quick email at awcweb@mchsi.com.   

-- Brenda Friedrich

In addition to her role as a web editor for the Des Moines Alliance, Brenda Friedrich is also an independent communications consultant and blog author of Enroute 365.

AWC Holiday Party Invitation

Join fellow AWC members on Wednesday, December 12, for holiday fun with a little twist.  We'll meet at Trostel's Dish for a taste of tapas!

Just for fun:  Bring a wrapped gift for the White Elephant Gift  Exchange.  This is the perfect opportunity to "re-gift" without  feeling guilty, or pass along something that you currently have that  you think someone else might like better!  The gift exchange is great  fun and has been a tradition with the AWC holiday party for many years.

When: Wednesday, December 12, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Where: Trostel's Dish,  12851 University Avenue Clive, Section reserved at the back of the restaurant (Just west of the intersection of 60th and University near Java Joe's)

Cost: $20.00 members, $25.00 non-members

RSVP: Please reply by December 7 to Joyce Perkins

Make Mine Wine for the Holidays

Word is out! The holiday edition of Alliance member Barb Rasko's magazine, Make Mine WIne, will soon be available! The new issue features great holiday wine and cheese recommendations and will detail the new Heart of Iowa Wine trail as well as other Central Iowa Wineries. For more information, or to subscribe, read Barb's Nov 21st posting.

Are you a Des Moines Alliance member with news to report for your organization? Let us know! Just send us an email at awcweb.mchsi.com!

New Downloadable Membership Form

We've just added a NEW way for you to register as a member of The Association for Women in Communications! Just download a copy of the application form, fill it out and mail it to AWC.

Why join now? From now until December 31, 2007, it’s a deal, we’re calling it the “just us chicks” special. The application fee and local dues for new members are waived—that’s a savings of $80. Sign up now and AWC membership includes the national and local membership, and for most new members it’s just $99/year. If you own your own business, are a freelancer, consultant or otherwise independent, membership is $84/year.

Easier to register online? That option is also still open to you with a quick click to the registration area of the AWC web site.

Flock with the best chicks around! For more information, visit contact our membership chair, Leslie Garman at 515-238-1166.

Announcing the Des Moines Alliance Blog

Web co-chairs Brenda Friedrich and Sandy Renshaw are in the final stages of rolling out The Association for Women in Communications (AWC) Des Moines Alliance blog.

This is your site, a place where members/communicators can share news and information.

We are currently soliciting you to contribute content for the site. This is a chance to share your areas of expertise and your thoughts with your fellow communicators.

If you are interested in contributing on an ongoing basis, contact us at awcweb@mchsi.com.

We encourage everyone's feedback in establishing topic categories.