Welcome to our newest member who joined Fresno Women's Network in November: Jon S. Morse with Big Picture High School.

December Holiday Luncheon

The December Luncheon found us Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theater again this year. Another good year for the Fresno Women’s Network coming to a close and what better way to celebrate than with 100 (or two) of your closest Networking friends.

This event wouldn’t be as festive as it always is if it weren’t for the generous donations of some of our members. Thank you again to all of you who support the Network as well as our Scholarship and Special Events Committees.

Special Events Raffle Donors

(gifts over $50 in value)

Alicia Hinton, Lavenders Light

Kitty McManus,  Jack Nadel International

Jayne McCallister, London Properties

Karen Bowser, Creative Memories

Caroline Wade, Caroline’s Creations

Nykole Hibbs, Dinner MyWay

Karen Sorensen, Mary Kay Cosmetics

Debbie Milla, Milla Vineyards

Cheryl Hansen-Abshere, Real Goods Solar

Katrina Tonkogolosuk, Marketing Plus

Scholarship Raffle Donors

Alicia Hinton, Lavenders Light

Sandra Lucero-Rodriguez

Heald College

Katrina Tonkogolosuk, Marketing Plus

Nykole Hibbs, Dinner MyWay

Connie Smith, Smith Financial

Joan Meyers, Guarantee Real Estate

Cheryl Hansen-Abshere, Real Goods Solar

Shelie Green, Hampton Inn Suites

Caroline Wade, Caroline’s Creations

Marcy Scheabenland-Paparazzi

Jennifer Wojtas, Orchard Park

Girl Scouts of Central California South

Thank you to all of you who donated and also to all of you who attended our December luncheon and bought raffle tickets. Wishing all of you a wonderful Holiday and the Happiest of New Years. Thanks also to Principal Financial Group, who sponsored our December luncheon.

Hope to see all of you in 2013!

Toy Drive for Angels of Grace

It is that time of year again to pull out your festive outfits and prepare to enjoy a Holiday Event with those you have grown closer to within our Network. Of course the event I am referring to is the Fresno Women's Network Annual Holiday Luncheon at Roger Rocka's. For this special event, we begin our luncheon a little earlier (11am) to make sure that everyone has an opportunity to partake in the merriment.

On the agenda, is a Holiday Concert featuring the Voices United Chorus. Other activities include our Scholarship Raffle and the Annual Special Raffle to support our Special Events Committee. If you can, we ask that you bring a raffle item, if not, please be sure to fill your purse with dollars for raffle tickets.

Another very important event that will take place at tomorrow's luncheon, is the Toy Drive we are having for Angels of Grace. We have supported Angels of Grace all year long as our Community Connection Partner. Please bring a wrapped gift for a child...if you can, bring TWO! If you are unable to attend the Luncheon tomorrow, but would like to donate a gift, please contact one of our Board Members.

I look forward to seeing all of you tomorrow! Happy Holidays!

November Luncheon

The Fresno Women's Network had another great luncheon this month. Our guest speaker was Philip M Flanigan, who discussed the importance of estate planning.

Thank you to all of you who supported our Community Connection, Angels of Grace, by donating fast food gift cards & baby food. We collected over 100 gift cards ($5+), GREAT JOB!

Remember, for our December Luncheon, we are asking everyone to bring a new, wrapped toy for our Toy Drive for Angels of Grace.

Thank you to Finch, Ochletree, Rowland & Shoopman for sponsoring our Buddy Bags and to The Girl Scous, Central California South for sponsoring the luncheon.

Thank you also to all our raffle donors for their continued support of the Scholarship Fund.

Greetings and Happy Fall from the Special Events team!   We are looking forward to seeing you at the special holiday luncheon at Roger Rocka’s on December 11^th.  This event is always entertaining and festive.  Some of the festivities include fantastic, raffle prizes valued at $50-$100. Just think, you can take care of some of your shopping while networking.  Or, maybe the gifts will be so enticing they won’t make it under the tree.  However it works out, please plan get your special raffle tickets and get involved in the excitement of the event and having fun with your friends of the network.  The scholarship committee will also be selling tickets for their raffle as well and those will be valued at $25.    Cheryl Hansen-Abshere, 2012 Special Events Chair

Welcome our Newest Members and those that referred them!

Welcome to our newest members who joined Fresno Women's Network In October: Trish Beebe with Fresno Pacific University (referred by Joanie Joy), Cheryl Koehn Pittman with Senior Care Home Services, Kathleen Smith with Economic Development Corporation (referred by Lee Ann Eager, and Laura A. Sundell with My Sisters Closet.

October Luncheon

The Fresno Women's Network had another great luncheon this month. Our guest speaker was The Networking Motivator (TM) herself, Beth Bridges. Beth shared "The Five Part Networking Success Plan" with luncheon attendees. 

Remember, for our November Luncheon, we are asking everyone to bring in donations of food and formula and fast food gift cards.

Thank you to Vanessia Carpenter of Summit Realty Group for sponsoring our Buddy Bags and one of our Founding Members, St. Agnes Hospital for sponsoring the luncheon.

Thank you also to all our raffle donors for supporting the Scholarship Fund:

Starbucks Gift Card with Mug and Goodies

Katrina Tonkogolosuk - Marketing Plus

Floral Arrangement

Pamela Alexander - Stephen and Bean Funeral Home

Bottle of Fresno State Wine

Shellie Green - Hampton Inn & Suites

1 lb Box of See's Candy

Penny Childers - Second Chances

Holiday Centerpiece

Karen Cahill - AseraCare Hospice

Cute Scarecrow

Debbie Milla - Milla Vineyards

2 Signature Facial

Carolyn Pierce - Facelogic

New Members of Fresno Women's Network!

Welcome to our newest members who joined Fresno Women's Network last month: Kelly Revoir with AAA Travel and Manya Shubin with Celebrating home.

Have You Seen Them?

Have you seen or met any of them? They are some of Fresno Women's Network members who own small businesses and they attend the monthly luncheons and may be actually sitting at your table. Look out for them as they are very obvious and you will be able to identify them by the big round pin they wear that says "SBO - I am a forum member".

These women are inspiring and are out there in our community helping others in a multitude of ways and offering great products and services as they grow and expand theor businesses and follow their dreams.

On Tuesday night I had the opportunity to spend 2 hours over dinner with some of these ladies and they are the "queens" of networking. We talked, laughed, ate and got to know each other a little more personally and found out what current projects they are working on. To give you an idea of what that means we have Caroline Wade and Betty Goertzen working together on the "Build a Gingerbread House" project at Sierra Vista Mall for the holiday season, then there is Dr Treva Lee, our local dentist in the group who is gearing up for Halloween and the candy buy back program and the candy that is collected goes to Operation Gratitude and eventually sent to the troops serving overseas. One of our newest members, Alicia Hinton spoke about her project which is Lavender's Light and is a celebration of survivors and she related some stories that were awe inspiring.

So by now you are asking "who else was there"? Well, two women you know very well were speaking about their businesses and one was Karen Sorensen who everyone knows is a big key to the running of the FWN but, she also has 17 years as a Mary Kay Consultant and can keep us looking young and beautiful. The other is Sandra Rodriguez-Lucero who is  a consultant with Gold Canyon Candles and is also training to make our nails and toes look awesome.

Close your eyes for a moment and imagine this scene, The candle-lit room, on the table a glass of wine supplied by Judy Wood, those lovely mood management oils from Kathy Mendoza, a beauty treatment from Karen all while having Sandra attending to your nails!

We also had a superstar among us in the name of Nykole Hibbs who was a speaker at the recent Central Valley Women's Conference. She and her mom both did the presentation and she was telling us about the change in direction that they want to take their business, Dinner My Way and how her mom was working on a book!

Trish Hughes, one of our new FWN members has started her own travel agency and took us on a short journey to places she has visited around the world and her favorites so if you are looking for something special, she is the one to talk to! Marjorie Donovan and that MedID card that is so invaluable to have for all the important medical information was telling us about a few new directions she has happening to get the card into the right hands.

As for me, I was the moderator for the evening and love seeing the interaction and sharing of ideas between all our group and really enjoy the time spent with these professional women. I have an speaking engagement on October 10th and will be working with the Central Valley Business Incubator at their upcoming Small Business University 2012 and will be presenting "What is the Cloud?" on behalf of Microsoft.

At the FWN  luncheon on Tuesday October 9,  you will hear the guest speaker, Beth Bridges speak about Networking and how important it is to find new avenues to move forward in both your personal and professional lives so also take the chance to spend some time with our SBO members. Maybe you might be interested in joining our group and making the journey forward into the unknown with your own personal cheer squad!

A GREAT SUCCESS! Angels of Grace Birthday Bash

The "Angels of Grace Birthday Party" was a great success; thank you for all of the donations! Our committee would also like to thank each of our Fresno Women's Network members for allowing us to play such fun games which served as a great reminder as to the true meaning of giving back to others. 

 Because of your generosity, we have been able to provide needed clothing and necessities to Angels of Grace to care for our children in their time of need. Angels of Grace ROCKS!!!!

September Luncheon

Wow! We keep topping ourselves month after month - the Fresno Women's Network September Luncheon was no different. At the luncheon, we paid tribute to the tragic events of 9/11, including Gregory Panten singing a beautiful rendition of Lee Greenwood's, "God Bless the USA". There wasn't a dry eye in the house.

The luncheon was also a birthday party of sorts where we gave a helping hand to our Community Connection partner, Angels of Grace, with gifts and donations of clothing, toys and other much needed items to restock their supplies. Thank you to all of you who brought bags of gifts, with our top contributor, Michelle Peterson (Exactly Write) who brought in 15 bags.

Remember, for our October Luncheon, we are asking everyone to bring in donations for children's socks and underwear.

Our guest speaker was Brandi Orth, Fresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters. Aside from discussing the checks and balances of Fresno County's election process, Brandi also touched on recent legislation and the complexity of the election process.

Thank you to Renee Rager of Right at Home for sponsoring our Buddy Bags and Jennie Guadagno for sponsoring the luncheon.

Thank you also to all our raffle donors for supporting the Scholarship Fund:

(2) Tickets to Pasta & Vino

Jayne McCallister - London Properties

Starbucks Gift Card with Mug and Goodies

Katrina Tonkogolosuk - Marketing Plus

Scrapbooking Package (benefiting Make A Wish)

Karen Bowser - Creative Memories

(2) Tickets to Pasta & Vino

Jamie Eropkin - Finch Ocheltree, Rowland and Shoopman CPA

Floral Arrangement

Pamela Alexander - Stephen and Bean Funeral Home

Starbucks Gift Card with Mug

Jennifer Wojtas - Orchard Park Assisted Living and Memory Care

Candle by Gold Canyon

Sandra Rodriguez-Lucerno

Manicure Set

(2) Fellowship Tickets for 9to5 with Christ

Penny Childers - Second Chances

(2) Tickets to Pasta & Vino

Jennie Guadagno

Signature Facial

Carolyn Pierce - Facelogic

NEW MEMBERS - Aug 2012

Please welcome the newest members of Fresno Women's Network, who joined last month:
Karen Brown - WJ Bradley, LLC, referred by Rebecca Light
Cathie Garnier - Elder Paws Senior Dog Rescue, referred by Betty Goertzen
Marie Garringer - MetalMark Climbing + Fitness, referred by Katrina Tonkogolosuk
Trish Hughes - Renewed Travel
Rachel Mohoff - Golden Living Center / AseraCare, referred by Carolyn Watson
Tess Phillips - ASI / Colonial, referred by Christine Jones
Carolyn Pierce - facelogic spa essential skincare - spa

Network at Noon

Thank you to all of you who made this month's Network at Noon an incredible success!

Thank you to all of our trade show participants, sponsors and raffle prize donors:

DISPLAY TABLE SPONSORS:

AAA Travel
ASI / Colonial
Auspice Home Care
Ava Marie's
Casa de Tamales
Conner Insurance Services
Cooking Sensations
Creative Memories (Karen Bowser)
Develop Design Do It

DeVry University
Dumont Printing & Mailing
Exactly Write
Fresno County Federal Credit Union
Girl Scouts Central CA South
Guarantee Real Estate

Heald College
Inspired Ayuveda
Jack Nadel Int'l (Kitty McManus)
Lavenders Light
Law Offices of Debra L. Slaybaugh
Marketing Plus
Mary Kay Cosmetics (Karen Sorensen)
My Thirty-One
New York Life
Nourish Your Soul
Pacific Solar
Piccadilly Inn - Shaw
Saint Agnes Medical Center
SendOut Cards
Smith Financial and Insurance Solutions
Stars and Stripes Products
Take Shape for Life
The Center for Medical Weight Loss
Wine Shop at Home


LUNCH TABLE SPONSORS:

AAA Travel
Milla Vineyards
Juice Plus/Tower Gardens
Shaklee

Join the HUMAN RACE!

Help Support

The Fresno Women's Network

Scholarship Fund

and join the

SUNDAY

September 9, 2012

DOWNTOWN FRESNO

(Fresno's Historic Water Tower)

5K Fun Run & Walk / 10K Timed Race / Festival / Live Entertainment / Food / Arts / Health & More

The Human Race is a fun and healthy way to support the Fresno Women's Network Scholarship Fund. Register to run or walk on behalf of FWN and help us raise mush needed funds to support our Scholarship Fund. Registration is only $20, but there is no minimum fund raising goal, so help us raise as much as you can! Join in for a fun 5K walk or run, challenge yourself with a 10K run, or just come out and support other Network members.

Each year, the Fresno Women's Network awards scholarships to deserving students in our community to assist with the cost of continuing education. All the money raised will go directly to the Fresno Women's Network Scholarship Fund.

Click here to REGISTER TODAY!

PLEASE NOTE: When selecting the organization you are fundraising for, select the Fresno Regional Foundation. As you may remember, the Fresno Regional Foundation manages the Fresno Women's Network Scholarship Fund.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Katrina Tonkogolosuk

559/786-4791

katrinatonko@att.net

Network at Noon Mini Trade Show

What better way to Beat the Heat than to attend the Fresno Women's Network Annual Network at Noon Mini Trade Show! There will be over 30 businesses exhibiting their products/services - just take a look at this impressive line-up:

Display Table Sponsors

AAA Travel

ASI / Colonial

Auspice Home Care

Ava Marie's

Casa de Tamales

Conner Insurance Services

Cooking Sensations / Guarantee Real Estate

Creative Memories (Karen Bowser)

Develop Design Do It

Dumont Printing & Mailing

Exactly Write

Fresno County Federal Credit Union

Girl Scouts Central CA South

Heald College

Inspired Ayuveda

Jack Nadel Int'l (Kitty McManus)

Lavenders Light

Law Offices of Debra L. Slaybaugh

Marketing Plus

Mary Kay Cosmetics (Karen Sorensen)

My Thirty-One

New York Life

Nourish Your Soul

Pacific Solar

Piccadilly Inn - Shaw

Saint Agnes Medical Center

SendOut Cards

Smith Financial and Insurance Solutions

Stars and Stripes Products

Take Shape for Life

The Center for Medical Weight Loss

Wine Shop at Home

Lunch Table Sponsors

AAA Travel

Milla Vineyards

Juice Plus/Tower Gardens

Shaklee

Be sure to join us, Tuesday, August 14, 2012 from 11 am - 1 pm at TorNino's. For more information, or to register for lunch, please click here.

NEW MEMBERS - July 2012

Please welcome these new members who joined Fresno Women's Network last month:
Sibyl Bayona - Piccadilly Inn-Shaw, Karoun Boyadian, Karen Gray - Take Shape for Life, Alicia L. Hinton - Lavenders Light, Richelle Jarrell - Inspired Ayurveda (referred by Regina Leathers), Joanie Joy - Fresno Pacific University, Sherry Stahl - Shaklee (referred by Katie Avila), U.S. Small Business Adminstration

July Luncheon

At our July Luncheon, the Fresno Women’s Network welcomed seasoned speaker, educator and public relations guru, Betsy A. Hays, to discuss “Proven PR Techniques for Personal & Professional Success.” 

Betsy shared her list of public relations life lessons and how these principles can help you in both  personal and professional achievements.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION:

The Fresno Women's Network has partnered with Angels of Grace Foster Family Agency as our 2012 Community Connection Partner

REMINDER: Please bring any of the following items to donate to our next luncheon:

New and/or Gently Used Children's Clothing

Car Seats

Diapers and Wipes

Toys for all ages

Bottles, Formula & Juice Boxes

Cash donations will gladly be accepted as well

Your donations make a big difference for Angels of Grace and their day to day operations helping our children.

A special thank you to our sponsors and all those who donated raffles prizes.

LUNCHEON SPONSOR:

  

BUDDY BAG SPONSOR:

SCHOLARSHIP RAFFLE PRIZES DONATED BY:

Brenda Sears - My ThirtyOne

My ThirtyOne Goodie Bag

Jennifer Wojtas - Orchard Pard Assisted Living

Starbuck's Gift Card and Cup

Janet Taylor - Suites By Marriott

Bottle of Wine

Pam Alexander - Boice Funeral Home

Floral Arrangement

Shelie Green - Hampton Inn

Bottle of Fresno State Wine

Carolyn Pierce - Facelogic

Facelogic Signature Facial

Karen Cahill - AseraCare Hospice

Lovely Floral Centerpiece

Welcome new members who joined in June 2012

Please welcome these new members who joined Fresno Women's Network last month:
Taylan Bennett, Jennifer Hamada-Amdal In-Home Care, Tamar Karkazian, Carole Love (Forbes), Kelly Metz, Debra Morris - Professional Print & Mail, Inc., Liz Sanchez - CASA de TAMALES (referred by Debbie Milla), Katrina Tonkogolosuk - Marketing Plus, Kathryn Torres, Katie Walker

June Luncheon

The June Luncheon was our Annual Scholarship Luncheon, where we awarded educational scholarships to five desrving women. Congratulations to our recipients.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION:

The Fresno Women's Network has partnered with Angels of Grace Foster Family Agency as our 2012 Community Connection Partner

REMINDER: Please bring any of the following items to donate to our next luncheon:

New and/or Gently Used Children's Clothing

Car Seats

Diapers and Wipes

Toys for all ages

Bottles, Formula & Juice Boxes

Cash donations will gladly be accepted as well

Your donations make a big difference for Angels of Grace and their day to day operations helping our children.

A special thank you to our sponsors and all those who donated raffles prizes.

LUNCHEON SPONSOR:

  

BUDDY BAG SPONSOR:

SCHOLARSHIP RAFFLE PRIZES DONATED BY:

Debbi Milla - Milla Vineyards

Wine Tasting for 4

Jennifer Wojtas - Orchard Pard Assisted Living

Gift Bag

Sandra Rodriquez-Lucero - Telemundo

"Coach" Cosmetic Bag

Pam Alexander - Boice Funeral Home

Floral Arrangement

Karen Bowser - Creative Memories

"Simply Said" Book

Shelie Green - Hampton Inn

Bottle of Fresno State Wine

Carolyn Pierce - Facelogic

Facelogic Signature Facial

Kitty McManus - Jack Nadel Int.

Insulated Lunch Bag

Karen Cahill - AseraCare Hospice

Honey Bee Hive

Welcome new members who joined in May 2012

Please welcome these new members who joined Fresno Women's Network last month:
Shann Conner, Conner Insurance Services (referred by Karen Sorensen)
Sandi Fernandes, Fresno Unified School District (referred by Debbie Milla)
Samantha Rogers
Debra L. Slaybaugh, Debra L. Slaybaugh, Attorney at Law (referred by Sheree Willhoite)
Ashley Tran, AAA (referred by Keiko Hatakeda)

May Luncheon

May was another outstanding luncheon with the Fresno Women's Network. Last week we honored all of our Community Benefit Organization members, those in attendance included:

American Heart Association

Evangel Home

Community Food Bank

FUND, Inc.

Girl Scouts of Central California South

Hands On

Hinds Hospice

Sisterhood of Survivors

Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Central Valley

COMMUNITY CONNECTION:

The Fresno Women's Network has partnered with Angels of Grace Foster Family Agency as our 2012 Community Connection Partner

REMINDER: Please bring any of the following items to donate to our next luncheon:

New and/or Gently Used Children's Clothing

Car Seats

Diapers and Wipes

Toys for all ages

Bottles, Formula & Juice Boxes

Cash donations will gladly be accepted as well

Your donations make a big difference for Angels of Grace and their day to day operations helping our children.

A special thank you to our sponsors and all those who donated raffles prizes.

LUNCHEON SPONSOR:

BUDDY BAG SPONSOR:

SCHOLARSHIP RAFFLE PRIZES DONATED BY:

Karen Sorensen - Mary Kay

Mary Kay Gift Basket

Debbi Milla - Milla Vineyards

Yummy BBQ Seasonings

Jenni Panicker - Gilmore, Wood, Vinnard & Magness

$50 Gift Certificate to the Body Shop

Sandra Rodriquez-Lucero - Telemundo

Bottle of Wine & 2 Movie Tickets

Mary Swarts - Send Out Cards

$25 Gift Certificate to Send Out Cards

Renee Rager - Right at Home In Home Care & Assistance

Colorful Garden Stake

Jayne McCallister - London Properties

(2) Travel Mugs

Jennifer Wojtas - Orchard Park Assisted Living

2 Tickets to Pasta & Vino Festivo

 

Marjorie Donovan - MED ID 559

Azalea Plant

Carolyn Pierce - Facelogic

Facelogic Signature Facial
Brenda Sears, My Thirty One Gifts

Gift Bag

Girl Scouts of Central California South 

Totebag of Cookies

Susan G Komen

Tote & T-shirt

 Judy Strickler

Sisterhood of Survivors

Photo album and Azalea