From the President: February
Hello, ABWA Sisters!
I hope this letter finds you happy and well!
Our February meeting was another wonderful ABWA occasion, though we had both Jan & Feb business to cover. It was so great to have a room full of us together. We all enjoyed the ice breaker about Love Languages – lots of laughs as we learned about ourselves and each other.
Our speaker, Della Kirkman was very enlightening with the topic of buying existing business, dispelling common myths we often have in mind when it comes to entrepreneurship. If you missed that, please see in this newsletter; there’s a flyer for Shift-N-Gears attached.
March 12 promises to be a great meeting with our awards – Protégé(s) and Woman of the Year being presented, and Michelle Gladieaux will be presenting a Creative Communications workshop. She has authored a book that will be available for purchase after her presentation.
We have an APPROVED CANDIDATE for National Secretary/Treasurer! The Women of Magnitude Express Network is pleased to support Cheryl Schmandt in her campaign for National Board. So buy some hot pink apparel to wear when attending area events with Chery,l and for National Conference Sep 25-28 in Kansas City, where we’ll cast our votes. Way to go, Cheryl!
This opportunity for our league includes some travel expense, so we will be organizing fundraisers soon, and appreciate any and all involvement from our members to make Cheryl’s campaign a successful one, day by day, event by event until the National election.
Regional Conference is March 22-23, held virtually – if you hurry, you can save $50 ($299 vs. $349) with the Early Bird registration completed by Feb. 28. You’ll love it!! And remember, there is a line item in the budget to help offset Conference Attendance. I really encourage you to attend.
Until we meet again, please soak up the Spring in the air!
Bring Your Own Sunshine, Sistas!
Leigh Roberson
Introductions/Ice Breaker: Do you know your love language? Does it correlate between personal and professional life? Gifts, Words of Affirmation, Acts of Service, Physical Touch, Quality Time.
Affirmation is key: repeatedly expressing appreciation and gratitude to others.
Acts of Service are the most preferred language of love, according to the members.
Overall affirmations and acts of service was the most popular.
Acts of service and quality time are prioritized over material gifts
Crystal, a founder of multiple companies, values acts of service and quality time, and Leigh Roberson emphasizes the importance of knowing individuals' love language.
Our meal sponsor was Shirley New with New Accounting.
Has realized that as of last month (January) I joined ABWA for the first time 50 years ago. Left for a while because of life and came back after 15 years so she’s been an ABWA member for 42 straight years.
Shirley discussed her experience as a tax preparer, mentioning her love for the job and the changes she’s made to her business.
Shirley shared her passion for tax preparation and her dedication to her clients. Mentioning her experience.
Shirley gifted a goodie bag to everyone in attendance.
Payday’s = matches the counting taxes
Tissues = for crying if you owe too much
Band Aids = to cover the paper cuts
Pen = to sign your name
Business card.
Our featured presenter was Della Kirkman, CPA with BEE Business Advisory covering “Nitty Gritty of Business Buying/Selling”
Della discussed how women have historically been disadvantaged when it comes to wealth and financial independence. She shared ways to shift that reality.
She highlighted the challenges of traditional career paths, including gender pay gaps and layoffs, and suggests alternative paths such as side gigs or starting a business.
Starting a business can be difficult and risky, with a high failure rate, but suggests there are easier ways to be in business for yourself.
Advocated to buy a small business as a way to achieve financial success and independence, rather than pursuing a large business or entrepreneurial venture.
Buying a small business is not a get-rich-quick scheme, but rather a gradual process of learning and growing as an entrepreneur.
Buying an existing profitable business instead of starting from scratch gets about a 90% success rate and reduced risk.
Various ways to finance a business purchase includes SBA loans, seller financing, earn-outs, and private investors.
She covered a lot of information handed out a flyer with great information and ways to sign up to her free resources to purchasing a business.
For more information see the flyer that was handed out at the meeting.
What we learned from last months – cancelation policy.
When Fort Wayne Community Schools closes due to inclement weather Parkview Field also closes down the property.
If this happens again on an ABWA luncheon day we will still meet but via Zoom.
A new policy covering this will be written up and added to our practices.
Awards SeasonProtégé – year 2, rising stars in our league.
Women of the Year – YOU should apply by 3/1.
Leigh Roberson is our current Women of the year.
Anyone can enter, the Jot form has gone out and can be found on the Facebook page. This is a time where you brag about yourself.
Three outside judges will be given the applications that come in.
Top Ten – See flyer on table for criteria.
National Stage at NWLC 9/25028 in Kansas City
Scholarship 2024 Awards
Update on Applications
Six applications received.
One is complete and ready for review.
One Outright Grant has been received.
Deadline is April 15th.
Who do you know?
Nominating Committee
Upcoming board elections
There is a need for a New VP of Finance in the 2024-2025 year.
The need for the formation of a nominating committee for board positions for the 2024-2025 year.
Comment Cards – We Value and respond to your feedback!
Received a Thank You card from Lexi and Mike for the Christmas gift they were gifted in December. Jaime Wilsey-Heckman read it to the group.
Door Prize Winners
Missy C. (guest)
Haley A.
Christina A.
Shirley N.
Nancy M.
Amy T. (guest)
Becca W.(guest).
Crystal K. (guest)
Are you working to achieve perfect attendance for our monthly meetings in our new league year? Did you know that if you miss a meeting that you can make it up by attending another meeting?
Yes, that's correct! You are welcome to attend another league monthly meeting, a Cardinal Council Crossroads Council meeting or the District V Vice President Luncheon. Per our standing rules as long as the make up meeting contains an educational speaker and you make it up during the current league year (August - July), you are good to go! Even better news .... some leagues have a hybrid option which means you can attend by Zoom! Simply ask for a "make up slip" from the league of the meeting that you attend and present it to our vice president of membership. This year, Christina Adkison is our Vice President of Membership.
Are you always looking for ways to improve your skills or learn new skills? As part of your ABWA membership, you have an online campus with courses that are affordable or free.
Need help in Marketing? Look into “Create and Launch a Website in Canva for free - No Code Needed” or “Story Strategy: How to Write a Brand Narrative that Converts"
For a more detailed list of courses and descriptions check out this course packet.
A printer version copy can be found here.
February’s Free Course
Improvement Kata Essentials - February 1st - 29th, 2024
The Improvement Kata is a pattern of activities that helps us move from a current condition to a target condition in a deliberate way. It's designed to help people strive toward challenges or solve complex problems with solutions that are not obvious. Learn the 4 steps of this pattern and how learners work with a coach to develop scientific thinking skills while solving problems. Login at www.myapexcampus.org under the The School of Lean and register today! (Improvement Kata Essentials is the 15th course listed.)
Don’t know how to access this tool?
You log into your ABWA account. On the left panel click on “APEX Campus - Online Learning”.
Need help simply reach out to the leadership team and we can help you get started.
Training materials are in the works.
Another great tool available to us is Career Connections. You can post your resume, look for jobs or post job openings within your business.
Other resources found here are Career coaching, resume writing and reference testing.
www.careers.abwa.org or access link above.
February 2024
13th11:30 am - 1 pm Monthly Lunchean at Parkview Field Suite Level Lounge
20th5:30 pm ABWA Board Meeting at Tavern at Coventry 24th Night of Hope (Indiana Family Care Center) (See Michelle Crone)
March 2024
2ndInternational Women‘s Day Breakfast - ABWA Table(s) (see Tisha Strasser)
22nd - 23rdABWA Regional Conference (Virtual, check email for registration flyer)
25th7 pm Zoom District 5 Update (see Cheryl Schmandt for log in)
July 2024
12th-13thDVP Luncheon Weekend - Celebrating Cheryl Schmandt, Ann Arbor, MI - COMMITTEE POSTIONS (see Leigh Roberson or Cheryl Schmandt.)
22nd7 pm Zoom District 5 Update (see Cheryl Schmandt for log in)
August 2024
23rd-24thSummer Sizzler (See Shirley New)
September 2024
25th-28thNational Women’s Leadership Conference -- ABWA’s 75th Anniversary Celebration, Kansas City.
November 2024
1st-2ndMake, Bake & Buy - COMMITTEE POSITIONS (See Jaime Wilsey-Heckman)
Contact Info:
2023-2024 Board Members
President - Leigh Roberson. leigh@thegadgetgirlllc.com
President-Elect - Shirley New. newshirley8491@gmail.com
VP of Finance - Cheryl Schmandt. cschmandt123199@gmail.com
VP of Communications - Jaime Wilsey-Heckman. jmwilsey2@gmail.com
VP of Programming - Tishamarie Strasser. bringitpushitownit@gmail.com
VP of Marketing - Michelle Crone. michellecrone@outlook.com
VP of Membership - Christina Adkison. cadkison@mmpcollections.net
ABWA League email: abwawomenofmagnitudeexpnet@gmail.com
