President

Michele Colicci

Michele’s Waxing Essentials723-1569

President eleCt

Veronika Freeman

dotcalm / dotcalm domains733-3411

treasurer

Collette aurand

Black River Bookkeeping, LLC831-2721

reCording seCretary

gina trzepacz-timpano

Yorkville Memorials736-1781

CorresPonding seCretary

linda Fake,allied Member,asid

Uniquely Yours429-3911

iMMediate Past President

Julie steele

Gustafson and Co.697-2345

our MeMbers at large

tricia badgley

Women’s Business Centerof NYS

733-9848

barbara dougherty

O’Hair Unisex Salon737-1244

Caroline levitt, esq.

Levitt & Gordon, Esqs.724-2194

Executive Board (9/09 - 6/11)

The Meeting Schedule for the Rest of the Year:

“Get to Know Us”...Come and learn all about the MVBWN, Meet the Officers,Committee Chairs, Get Involved, Find Out What’s in it for YOU at our September 15, 2010Dinner Meeting at Delta Lake Inn, 8524 Fish Hatchery Road, Rome, NY 13440. We are inRome not only to try this great new restaurant but to encourage Rome Women BusinessOwners to join us and get a $5 discount off their dinner price.

Think about interning with either a board member or committee chair to see what’sinvolved and attend a board meeting to see what goes on and how much fun we have. Getinvolved, network with us and get the most out of your membership.

There are three kinds of women: those women that always get involved, those womenthat never get involved, and those women that say what the heck let’s get involved! Why notbe one of those what the heck women and get involved in your network!

Networking and registration start at 6:00 pm. Dinner will be a fresh garden salad, dinnerrolls and butter, choice of Grilled Bourbon Steak with mushrooms, onions and peppers; orChicken Francaise with garlic mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, and Bread Pudding fordessert. Reservations are required and must be made by Thursday, September 9th by call-ing or emailing Olga Grandinette at 794-1554 or olga.grand@yahoo.com

October 20 — Valley ViewNovember 17 — Ventura'sJanuary 19 — The Blue Flag Room

February 17 — The Albany Street CaféMarch 16 — Allee'sApril 20 — The Franklin, Rome

What the heck is the MVBWN? What do they do?

I would like to express my deep appreciation to every person who was involved in making our June event AnEvening of Glamour & Goodness with guest of honor DonnaKratzenberg-Grippe a huge success. The extensive planningand hard work by our fund chairwoman, Laurie Ann Dowellmade this whole event spectacular.

The decorating was fit for a glamorous Hollywood star allplanned and implemented by Linda Fake. Linda, your creativity is amazing, thank you.

A special thank you to Maria Moriarty of Valentino’s for herbeautiful presentation of wonderful appetizers, pasta’s and chef

carved roast beef. This isn’t the first time Maria has put on a delicious spread for our mem-bers. We’ve had a few dinner meetings with her over the past few years.

Thank you to everyone who brought amazing baskets filled with everything from Italianproducts, beauty & skincare, games, outdoor planters and great gift certificates from somany businesses in our greater Mohawk Valley. We really are a talented group of womenwho know how to put on a fun party. There are so many people that I’d like to mention indi-vidually, you all know who you are, so thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I’d like to celebrate our other two stars of the evening, Olga Grandinette and Laurie AnnDowell, each winning the $500 endowment award given to a worthy member or membersof the MVBWN. Congratulations and I know you both have started the process ofputting your award money to good use to further enhance your businesses.

The board is generating many ideas for our fall year and we’d like everyone to be a partof our programs coming up. Stay tuned for our newsletters and please if you would like tojoin for the 2010-2011 year, earlier is better or you can wait for our September 15th dinnermeeting.

I have a second year to fulfill and I would love all of you to be part of this great organi-zation for 2010-2011.

Enjoy the rest of the summer!

Michele Colicci, President

From Our President, Michele Colicci

©2010 dotcalm

What have you been up to this summer?

Well, some of our members enjoyed a

riverboat cruise aboard the Hiawatha, on

the Susquehanna River in Williamsport,

Pennsylvania! Carol Buczek (Tours By

Design) was joined by Barb Dougherty

and Betty Able Jellencich on TBDs second

journey to the PA region for her signature

tour of regional sweets and crafts!

Dinner Chair

olga grandinette

Remax Reality Results724-7069

DireCtory Chair

Veronika Freeman

dotcalm / dotcalm domains733-3411

enDowment Committee Chair

sharon st. JohnMV Small Business

Development Center792-7547

FunDraising team

laurie dowell - chair

Buffer Zone Nail Salon724-2769Collette aurand

Black River Bookkeeping, LLC831-2721

linda Fake, allied Member, asid

Uniquely Yours429-3911 Mary Moore

ShipRite Parcel, Copy&More797-2898

historian

Julie steele

Gustafson and Co.697-2345

membership Chair

Collette aurand

Black River Bookkeeping, LLC831-2721

ASSISTED BY:Julie darling

Alzheimer’s Association/CNY617-4025

newsletter Chair

Veronika Freeman

dotcalm / dotcalm domains733-3411

programming Chair

donna rebisz

Women’s Business Centerof NY

733-9848

website Chair

Veronika Freeman

dotcalm / dotcalm domains733-3411

Committee Chairs

Member News...Member News...Member News...

July/August Birthdays of Our Network MembersSharon St. John – 7/1

Chiara Kingwater – 7/3

JoAnna Rae Corso – 7/5

Laurie Ann Dowell – 7/16

Kim Jones – 7/17

Carol Buczek – 7/23

Betty Abel Jellencich – 7/30

Marilyn Arndt – 8/3

Maria Moriarty – 8/4

Cheryl LaFayette – 8/10

MaryBeth Young – 8/16

Cathy Conklin – 8/23

Benefit for Kathy ZitoMVBWN Member & Friend to Many Cancer Survivors

Sunday, August 15, 4 to 10pmSickenberger Lane on Varick Street

ONLY $20

50/50 • Door Prizes & Raffles • Bands/DJ

Cash Bar (Free Beer on Tap) • Great Chesterfield’s Food

For more details contact Danielle Zito at 507-1704

Donations still being accepted, call Danielle for pick-up.

august 26, thursday - Marie ’s Handcrafted Jewelr y Annual Summer Sale,12N to 6pm at the Jewish Community Center, 2310 Oneida St. Repeat customersreceive 10% off total purchase!

august 31, tuesday - Business After Hours, GLDC & EDGE, 5:30-7:30 pm, at the newEDGE office, 584 Phoenix Drive, Rome, NY 13441, $5 Members, $10 Non-Members.Join us for a summer picnic of hotdogs, hamburgers, cold refreshments and live musicfrom Gravity! RSVP 337-1700 by August 26, make checks payable to Rome AreaChamber of Commerce, mail to chamber:139 W. Dominick St, Rome

september 23, thursday - Women Ties Annual “Inspiring Success” Retreat, see pg 4 for ad

Upcoming Member and Community Events

One of the Board’s goals this summer is to define each Board Membersand Committee Chairperson’s positions. Some of these have not be updatedsince the network was formed!We anticipate that this will clarify the duties of each position and help

those who wish to volunteer to understand what is required of them.If there is something you have a question or comment about, or something

you’d like to see the network do/accomplish/participate in - please let usknow! We’d like to be able to include those in our goals for the upcoming yearand assign the appropriate person to each task to make it happen.Send Michele or Veronika an email today; we’ll bring your ideas to our Sept.

Board Meeting - which, by the way, anyone can attend!

Wonder what the Network’s Board does over the summer?

Meaning

You must find your own strengths and put them towork in the service of an inspiring purpose. Meaningenables people to push themselves to the limit. If youfind and stick with your strengths in a job, you’ll be hap-pier and more productive.

Managing energy

You need to know where your energy comesfrom, where it goes, and what you can do to

manage it. Today’s executives work longhours, and many women come home to

a “second shift” managing house-hold tasks. “We’ve found thatwork-life balance is a myth – sothe only hope women have is to

balance their energy flows,” theconsultants observe. “Thismeans basing your priorities on

the activities that energize you,both at work and at home, and

actively managing your resources to avoid dipping intoreserves.” Identify the conditions and situations thatreplenish your energy, and space out your energy- sappingtasks through the day instead of bundling them all into asingle morning or afternoon.

From boomerdivanation.org according to a study conducted byMcKinsey & Company, to be successful as a woman in business,you need to have these five important attributes.

How to be a Successful Woman in Business

Connecting

You must identify who can help you grow,build stronger relationships, and increaseyour sense of belonging. People withstrong networks and good mentorsenjoy more promotions, higher pay,and greater career satisfaction. Theyfeel a sense of belonging, whichmakes their lives more meaningful.“The leaders we interviewed alsotalked about the importance of hav-ing individual relationships with seniorcolleagues willing to go beyond the roleof mentor – someone willing to stick outhis or her own neck to create opportunity for,or help, a protégé,” the consultants say. Sincewomen who promote their interests vigorously are seen asaggressive, unco-operative and selfish, such sponsors arevital for female leaders to get ahead.

engaging

You must find your own voice,becoming self-reliant and confi-

dent by accepting opportunitiesand the inherent risks theybring, as well as collaboratingwith others. Hard luck won’tnecessarily bring its ownrewards so women must createtheir own luck, taking ownership

of opportunities. It starts byfinding your voice – making sure

after you learn enough aboutissues and situations that you also

speak out. The women interviewed forthe study also accept risk as part of

opportunity, and are willing to take sharp career detourswhen necessary.

Positive Framing

You must adopt a more construc-tive way to view your world,expand your horizons, and gain theresilience to move ahead evenwhen bad things happen. Thatdoesn’t mean being unrealistic.Optimists, research shows, are notafraid to frame the world as it is,because they are confident they canmanage its challenges and leadtheir team to action. The key isself-awareness. If a meeting goesbadly, for example, limit yourthoughts to the temporary and spe-cific impact, keep your thoughtsimpersonal, and move on.

We had over 125 in attendance, we raised a goodly amount ofmonies, both for our MVBWN Endowment Award and Donna's twocharities! I would like to thank Linda Fake of Uniquely Yours andCollette Aurand of Black River Bookkeeping for being both my rightand left hands during the planning and preparation of this event,ladies you two are awesome! You gave our MVBWN a lot of yourtime, creativity and good natured spirit, thank you, thank you!

I would also like to thank all who helped prep the day before theevent and those that helped out that evening! I would like to thankMaria Moriarty of Valentino's; what a great location, good food and abeautiful atmosphere! Thank you, Madame President, for allowing meto run wild with this event and all your help. I would like to thank allthe members of our MVBWN who donated items, time, and energyin making this evening a successful event.

Laurie Ann Dowell, MVBWN Fundraising Chair

I would like to thank the MVBWN EndowmentCommittee for naming me as one of the 2010Endowment Award Recipients!

By receiving this award of $500 I was able offset thecost of a piece of equipment that will help me to remaincompetitive, safety conscious and current as a Nail Tech.I was truly surprised and quite thrilled!

I have already purchased the equipment and have beenputting it to good use! I purchased a Pedicute, a portablepedicure spa style foot bath that uses disposable liners sothere is not a chance of spreading any type of diseasefrom client to client. Having the Pedicute will help me tomaintain the sanitation standards and practices that myclientele have come to expect and deserve!

Thank you again! Laurie Ann Dowell, Buffer Zone Nail Salon

I would like to take this opportunity to thank theEndowment Committee for all the work they do and thetough decisions they have to make to choose a memberthey feel deserves the be awarded the $500 Endowment.

I was so pleased and happy to be chosen. My husbandwas so proud and glad he able to be present to see mebeing honored.

I have made good use of the award, being a real estateagent with Remax Realty Results is a wonderful career,but it does have expenses as do many other businesses.With the market not as strong as it was in the past theincome has dropped but there are still many fees andcosts to run my business, so the money was definitely agreat help.

Again, Thank You,Olga Grandinette, Remax Realty Results

An Evening of Glamour & Goodness“A Red Carpet Affair”

Honoring Donna Kratzenberg-Grippewas a great success!

The Winners of the 2010 Endowment Awards

What is daysteps? How is it different fromother day planners in the market today?

in a broad sense, daysteps is a lifestyle. it is the

personal desire to become more accepting of life

right now while achieving life balance, self-improve-

ment, and personal fulfillment. it is the process of

making these changes part of a daily routine and

integrating them one day at a time, one step at a

time.

our first product–the daysteps Personal lifestyle

Planner–helps women do this. this planner is differ-

ent because it combines lifestyle, appointment-track-

ing, and goal-setting features. it encompasses many

key aspects of life and is designed to motivate the

user to become the person she wants to be; to feel

calm and capable about carrying out daily activities

and reaching intentions. its unique features–monthly

priorities; nutrition, water, sleep, and fitness trackers;

‘Clear your Head’ pages; and ‘Fill your Heart’ sec-

tions–help bring inspiration and balance into her life.

Who is the target market of this product?

our ideal customers are women who both run a

household and have significant other responsibilities

(a home business, for example). she would like to

achieve better life balance and move toward fulfilling

her life dreams, as well as become more satisfied and

accepting of where her life is right now.

Why should women use the daysteps planner?How does this planner empower women?

Women should use the daysteps planner because,

unlike other planners, it addresses many aspects of

life they are involved in (their feelings, personal

goals, and household activities, for example). yet, it

is flexible enough that each woman can “make it her

own” by using each section as she prefers.

it empowers women by giving them tangible ways

to move toward their own goals on their own terms

each day. We recognize that each woman has a

unique set of values that should define her personal

vision of success. We consciously put together the

planner to take this into account. We avoid the typi-

cally stressful, “more is better” mentality to goal

achievement and organization. instead, this planner

nurtures each woman’s value system to help move

her toward peace, fulfillment, and balance.

you can read the rest of the article at

WomenHomebusiness.com.

Daysteps: A Planner System for Women, By Women...by Isabel Isidro a successful business often starts with a gem of an idea. but to succeed in

the marketplace today, given the competition and the economic realities, it

typically “takes a village” to implement and nurture that idea.

Kelly Wagner was looking for a dayplanner that can inspire her and give her

confidence to pursue her goals and life’s daily activities. However, she was

unable to find the right product in the market. realizing that other women

may be seeking the same tool as her, she decided to create her own dayplan-

ning system that will address the needs of women looking for balance in

their lives while trying to achieve personal growth and fulfillment. she had

an idea of the kind of dayplanning system that will address her needs.

instead of pursuing her idea alone, Kelly gathered three friends to help bring her

idea into reality and translate it to a successful business. bobette Kyle is an internet

marketing expert; laura thake is a graphic designer, while Cecilia george was a

long-time stay at home mom who have just returned to the work force as an office

manager. With the women’s different talents and abilities she values, Kelly knew she

has the right team working together. thus, the daysteps planning system was born.

WomenHomebusiness.com talked with the women of daysteps on how the idea

came about and the challenges they are facing as they build the business. learn from

this dynamic group of women:Kelly & Laura

"Is running your business like a man hurting you?" Thisis a question Alexis Martin Neely asked a roomful ofwomen entrepreneurs last week in Los Angeles. Alexis isthe founder and CEO of the Family Wealth PlanningInstitute, a business strategist and a go-to legal expert formany television news shows. She also was the host of theinaugural "Powerful Feminine Leadership" event held, notin a typical hotel conference room, but rather at a WestLos Angeles yoga studio called Hub.

It's no secret that women have had to play a certaingame to make it in the businessworld, i.e. be the bitchy boss,dress down their femininity,or abide by the rules of ahierarchical structure. Today,however, women are runningtheir own businesses inincreasing numbers and aremaking their own rules.According to the Center forWomen's Business Research,women-owned businesses com-prise 40 percent of all privatelyheld companies in the U.S. andwomen entrepreneurs are amongthe fastest growing groups ofbusiness owners. Compare this toour mother's time when, in 1970, womencontributed 2-6 percent of the family income. Now thetypical working wife brings home 42.2 percent of theincome, and four in 10 mothers--many of them singlemothers--are the primary breadwinners in their families.

While women are clearly making great strides in thebusiness world, there is a sense of disconnect and lack ofsatisfaction going on for many women. In other words,even though they may have a huge track record of accom-plishments, they don't necessarily feel good inside.

Take Alexis, for example. She is a mother of two andhas run several successful, lucrative businesses. In her firstbusiness, a law firm, she hit a million bucks of revenueand said the money was great, but ... "I was doing busi-ness like a man, and it hurt ... a lot."

It's a provocative statement, and in an interview with meshe explained. She ran her law firm "like a man" becauseeverything she learned about business was from men.First through her dad, and then through the mentors ather law firm. "I was constantly focused on the competi-tion of it all and trying to get ahead -- always trying to be

more ... always more." She explained that she was completelydisconnected from her body and that all of her decisionswere made from her mind and intellect. "I was constantlylooking outside myself for the answers," she said. "I neverreally knew if I moving in the right direction."

Alexis knew she had to examine her life. There was adivorce to contend with and an unsettling numbness inher body that left her feeling disconnected from herself.With the guidance of a coach, she realized she needed to

take better care of herself.

One day Alexis went to ayoga class and started feelingagain in her body "in a bigway," as she put it. "What Ilearned is that all of my poweris in my body," she said. Shethen vowed to lead her secondbusiness more like a woman.Within 18 months, her businesshit the seven-figure mark, she

says.

What does leading a business likea woman really mean? What does itlook like?

"First and foremost, being a power-ful feminine business leader means knowing

how to tap into the only divining rod or crystal any of usever need for all of our answers -- our bodies," saidAlexis in our interview. Wanting to give the PowerfulFeminine Leadership attendees an experience of this,Alexis invited renowned Tantrika Charu Morgan to leadthe group of us women entrepreneurs in some femininemovement and meditation. Charu, sensing this group ofwomen was ready to 'drop in' deeply, gave us our firstinstruction: "Relax your vagina," she said. While therewere a few giggles, those passed quickly and the invitationto relax in this way was welcomed by all. We hip swirled,shook our bodies loose, and danced our unique expres-sion. "If women aren't fully embodied, it is difficult forthem to access their true source of power," says Charu.

Are You a Woman Doing Business Like a Man?

In 1970, women contributed 2-6 percent ofthe family income. Now the typical workingwife brings home 42.2 percent of the income,and four in ten mothers--many of them singlemothers--are the primary breadwinners intheir families.

Feminine leadership, however, is not just about feelinggroovy inside. Nor is it just about sitting around in a cir-cle all day talking, sharing ideas and visions. It's aboutdropping into that deeper part of ourselves, finding a wayto communicate our message in a clear, concise way, andconnecting with the support systems we need for ourbusiness to thrive.

For a woman in business, the GO, GO, GO attitude ofcompetition and comparison runs the risk of burn outand undernourishment. While these elements are neces-sary to keep us driven, focused, and moving forward,bringing to business the feminine elements of asking,receiving, intuition, appreciation and collaboration willserve us well. We need both.

Alexis admitted that she was a bit nervous about puttingon this kind of event. I interpreted that to mean this wasbecause it was more raw and vulnerable than your typical"women in business" event. I think, however, it is thisvulnerability and authenticity that makes for a greatfemale leader.

Are You a Woman Doing Business Like a Man?"There is a sweet spot for women in business that

allows us to bring the most powerful qualities of thedivine feminine to our leadership while maintainingenough masculine energy to move things forward."

- Alexis Martin Neely

To learn more about Alexis and her Powerful FeminineLeadership Mastermind and Mentorship, visit her website:www.powerfulfeminineleader.com.

To learn more about Charu and her Tantra course offer-ings, visit www.embodytantra.com

Tabby Biddle, M.S. Ed., is a writer, editor and reporterwho specializes in women's issues and amplifying thevoices of women changemakers. She works with womenentrepreneurs, women's organizations and aspiring non-fiction writers to help them get their message out. Youcan also follow her on Twitter.

Interested in These Women? Here’s How to Find Out More...

The key is women coming together. From this, womenfrom the corporate culture of focus and drive can learnto soften and connect with their core truth. On the flipside, those of us who are operating from intuitive callings,and at the same time have big visions of successful busi-nesses, can learn from the corporate experience of theother women.

I think the true power of feminine leadership comesfrom women learning from each other.

mailing aDDress

mVbwn

po box 512

new hartForD, ny 13413

www.mVbwn.org

We're th

e network

for women-ow

ned businesses in the

Mohawk V

alley!

General M

ember

Informatio

n

As a new member of the network, you are entitled to a name tag,membership certificate, and you’ll have your business informationprinted into our annual directory as well as on our website.

You will also be able to apply for our annual endowment fund. If you need a new, magnetic name tag, please contact our

membership chair, Collette Aurand at 831-2721.

Check your business listing at

W W W . M V B WN.ORG

It’s YOUR website!

Don’t forget...As a member, you can bring items to sell/display to each

meeting (there are designated tables for items) - and anyone

can donate an item for the “Split the Pot” drawing! Bothgood ways for people to get to know you and your business.

We give a $25 Guest Speaker Coupon that is

redeemable at any MVBWN business; the Network will

reimburse you when it’s redeemed. This is the Network's

way of showing our appreciation to our presenters.

Did you knowbeing a member of MVBWN

allows you to attend many of the

Mohawk Valley Chamber events

at the chamber member price!You can save over $100/yr!

Members can purchase a full page ad in

the newsletter for $20, 1/2 page for $15 or a

business card sized ad for $10.

Contact Veronika for details!