June's President Message

We are thankful...we are listening

The heat is on and summer is finally here! I hope you are staying cool and your summer includes vacation plans.

June is the month when we honor those chosen to receive scholarships from our organization. Thanks to our scholarship committee (chaired by Jennifer Wojtas) that reviewed the applicants.  As it is every year, they had a hard decision selecting the recipients and we are excited to get to know the students at the luncheon.

A big thank you goes to all of the generous donations of raffle prizes and to all of you who bought tickets!  Tuesday, you will be able to see how your generosity benefits others.  Please join us in celebrating our 2013 scholarship honorees; they are amazing ladies and an inspiration to all of us.

The Fresno Women’s Network has been conducting a telephone survey of our current members to see how we are doing and how we can improve. We have a committed group of board members and committee chairs who are working hard for you and want to hear what you have to say. Thanks to all who have participated in this survey.  I challenge you to take the steps you can to make your membership and this organization a better one.

Be sure to check out our online calendar. There are so many exciting networking opportunities coming up that you don’t want to miss!Do you have a story about how your FWN membership has benefited you? Please contact me at president@fresnowomensnetwork.org or call me at 559-307-9981. I would love to share your story.

Be sure to register for the June luncheon on our website - you are running out of time!  Registration #25 wins a Starbucks card and #68 receives raffle tickets.

New members who joined in May 2013

Welcome to our newest members who joined Fresno Women's Network in May 2013:  Laura Anderson with Guarantee Real Estate, Stephanie Copner with Retirement Plan Consultants, Terri L. Downs with Action Insurance Agency, Kara Enos with Shaklee Health & Wellness (referred by Rebecca Light) and Karen Franz with 93.7 Kiss Country.  Are you interested in joining Fresno Women's Network? Click HERE for information.

May's Annual Nonprofit Showcase Luncheon

It is always exciting to hear about what is going on with our nonprofits in the network. Last Tuesday at our monthly luncheon we were able to hear from Patty Craven, Director of Membership and Information Technology of Girl Scouts of Central California South; Jill McCartney, Community Development Coordinator with Hinds Hospice; Gerre Brenneman, Executive Director of Evangel Home; and Kathleen Smith, Investor Relations Manager of the Economic Development Corporation.

 

We are glad these ladies took the time to share about their organizations and their current and upcoming needs. Luncheon attendees were then able to go to the organization's booths to ask more questions or find out how they could get involved.

Jayne, our 2013 President,  announced a couple of prize winners at the luncheon. In her April President's Message she mentioned giving out 5 raffle tickets for the 57th person who registered online for the luncheon and a Starbucks card for the 39th person who registered online. The winner of the raffle tickets was Margarie Donavon with MedID559 and the winner of the Starbucks card was Doreen Dunn with Volt Workplace Solutions. It pays to register for your lunch and to keep your eyes out for special little incentives!

 

A big thank you to our luncheon and gift sponsors. So many of the following names are people/companies that continue to give every luncheon.

Luncheon Sponsor
Katie Avila, New York Life

The Buddy Bag Sponsor

Judy Strickland, Juice Plus

Scholarship Raffle

Sandra Rodriguez-Lucero, The Perfect 10 Nails by Sandra

Girl Scouts of Central California South

Pamela Alexander, Stephens & Bean Funeral Chapel

Lisa Rinehart, Principal Financial Group

Alicia Hinton, Lavender's Light

Jayne McCallister, Fresno Women's Network 

Kelly Fitzgerald, Sequoia Sandwich Shop

Michelle Peacock, Heald College

Shellie Green, Fresno State University

Kitty McManus, Jack Nadal International

Debbie Milla, Milla Vineyards

Karen Bowser, Creative Memories

Shelie Green, Hampton Inn & Suites

Lisa Serman, Fresno Memorial Gardens

President's Message for May

April Showers Bring May Flowers.  How is your Network Garden Growing?

Before the flowers can grow, they need to be planted, nurtured, and watered. Building relationships is like growing a beautiful flower garden. It is remarkable to see your relationships grow into lasting friendships.

The Fresno Women’s Network has provided me this opportunity. Awhile ago, I realized that just showing up and handing out my business card was not true networking. I learned that it was really about building relationships.  My involvement in a committee provided me with even many more opportunities. Working with so many talented, creative ladies is an honor.

Your involvement on a committee is an opportunity to develop new, positive relationships in your life and business. You can make a positive difference in another member’s life. And, most importantly, you can have some FUN!!

My network garden is so beautiful, not only in the spring but all year long. There is still a lot more room to plant.

Remember this is your Network and we want to provide you with a positive and memorable experience and your input is very important and we welcome your suggestions for improvement. Please fill out the evaluation slips at the luncheon. They are on every table.  If you want to get involved and don’t know where to start, or have any suggestions for improvement or programs you can always contact me by email president@fresnowomensnetwork.org or by phone at 559- 307-9981

All of our committees have been hard at work planning some very exciting luncheon speakers, mixers, and other events that you don’t want to miss. Check out the calendar on our website and plan ahead.

Remember to register for the luncheon online at our website.  Registration # 39 wins a Starbucks card and # 57 receives 5 free raffle tickets!

Can’t wait to see you at lunch!

FWN New Members who joined in April 2013

Welcome to Karen Nishimura with Premier Valley Bank, who joined Fresno Women's Network in April 2013.  Also welcome Wendy Niles with Radisson Hotel (referred by Karen Sorensen) and Jill Parker with Heald College. Are you interested in joining Fresno Women's Network? Click HERE for information.

April Luncheon

Our luncheon speaker for April was Larry Powell, Superintendent for the Fresno County Schools. Mr. Powell was an engaging speaker and encouraged all of us to inspire kids to be positive about education. He stated that if parents feel good about school then their children are more likely to have a positive experience in school. He also talked about the mentoring programs in court and community schools in Fresno County and stressed that education doesn't just happen in school it happens throughout life and how one great adult or mentor in a child's life can make a huge difference in their future.

Although Larry Powell was discouraging about the focus that has been put on high test scores in our national schools; he also pointed out what we are doing well in the United States as far as education. We have done a great job in fostering creativity in our schools and mentioned that the United States is number 1 in exporting patents as opposed to China that is number 1 in exporting toys. He also pointed out that 90% of all engineers in the world are educated here in the United States. We are honored that Superintendent Powell was able to fit us into his busy schedule so that we could have a peek into education in Fresno and nationwide.

Luncheon Sponsor
Fresno Pacific University

The Buddy Bag Sponsor

 Sandra Rodriguez-Lucero, Gold Canyon and The Perfect 10

Scholarship Raffle

Karen Bowser, Creative Memories

Shelie Green, Hampton Inn & Suites

Pamela Alexander, Stephens & Bean

Debbie Milla, Milla Vineyards

Kellie Fitzpatrick, Sequoia Sandwich

 Jayne McAllister, London Properties

 Jennifer Wojtas, Orchard Park Assisted Living

Carole Laval, Laval & Associates

Sandra Rodriguez-Lucero, The Perfect 10

 Carolyn Pierce, Facelogic

Kitty McManus, Jack Nadal, Inc.

FWN New Members who joined in March 2013

Welcome to our newest members who joined Fresno Women's Network in March 2013.

Therese Lynn Corchado with Norton Chiropractic Wellness Center, Alison Haugan (referred by Richelle Jarrell), Shelly Keyser with Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite, Barbara Krikorian with Mystique Medical Spa & Wellness Center, Toni MacDonald with Automatic Body, Lauren Nickerson with Hinds Hospice K(referred by Karen Bowser), Keirsten Quest with MaxPotentials, Cindy Lea Sambueso with Simply Inspired Healing, Nina Sensenbaugh with Guarantee (referred by Karen Brown), Wendy Yribarren with Yribarren Family Family Vineyards.

Are you interested in joining Fresno Women's Network? Click HERE for information.