Learn About United Way’s Impact on the Harrisonburg/Rockingham County Community

Women’s Forum (formerly Working Women’s Forum) will meet Thursday, June 12, from 12 noon – 1pm at the Holiday Inn, 1400 E. Market Street, Harrisonburg. The luncheon speaker will be Beth Bland, Development Director for United Way.

Bland will give a brief history of the local United Way, and then will focus on the agency’s community impact. Her talk will include how United Way invests the money donated to it and the programs United Way helps to fund.

Beth Bland joined the United Way in August 2007 after being employed at Rockingham Memorial Hospital for 22 years. She spent her last eight years at RMH coordinating the Lifeline and Senior Advantage programs. Prior to joining the United Way, Beth was very active in senior issues, serving as President of the ElderAlliance, Chair of the Education workgroup producing Season’s Plus (a publication for seniors and caregivers), co-host of Issues in Aging (a monthly radio show with Jim Britt, WSVA), and as a volunteer for the United Way Community Investment Team: Enriching the Lives of Older Adults. She now spends her days advancing the common good and working to make lasting changes in our community. She says, “I believe that if you reach out a hand to one, you influence the condition of all.”

The meeting is open to the public, but reservations are required no later than Tuesday, June 10. The cost to attend, which includes lunch and the program, is $20 guests/$15 members.

To reserve, email Lois Carter Fay at LCF@MarketingIdeaShop.com, call 540.820.3840 or register online: Members: http://tinyurl.com/2hqqgk / Guests: http://tinyurl.com/2fjsay.

About Women’s Forum: The Women’s Forum is a women’s networking group for women entrepreneurs, business managers, nonprofit leaders and ambitious women who strive for a better life, both at work and home.

For more information contact:
Lois Carter Fay, APR
Executive Director
Women’s Forum
1950 Buttonwood Court
Harrisonburg, VA 22802
Tel: +1 540 820 3840
Email: LCF@MarketingIdeaShop.com

~Lois

Summer is almost over and it’s time to get back in the swing of things. This month’s meeting is a Focused Networking event, designed to help you reconnect with other members and friends and meet new ones.

We’ll also have a discussion about what topics and presentations interest you, so come prepared to tell us who you’d like to present programs and what you’d like to hear about. Bring names and phone numbers, too! We are always trying to make Women’s Forum better, and you can help by providing ideas. No committees, no obligations. Just your ideas during the meeting. That’s pretty easy, isn’t it?

So bring plenty of business cards, flyers, marketing materials, etc. Come prepared to tell everyone who you are and “everything” you do in 60 seconds or less (30 seconds is even better!). Bring your friends and business associates, too! They want to meet new people and expand their businesses and friendships, don’t you agree?

RSVP by Tuesday, Sept. 11, noon:
lcarterfay@gmail.com or 540.820.3840

Women’s Forum Meeting
Thursday, September 13
11:45 am - 1:00 pm

Spotswood Country Club
Harrisonburg, VA

$15 Members
$20 Guests

~Lois

I will be out of town for the next meeting (August 9) and Holley Watts and Anne Stephens will be running the meeting. Our speaker will be Karen Barnes, Community Resource Center, “Introducing the Community Resource Center.”

Please respond no later than Monday, August 6, to let me know if you can attend. I’m leaving town August 7 and will need to call in the attendance early.

Date: Thursday, August 9
Time: 11:45-1:00
Location: Spotswood Country Club, Harrisonburg
Speaker: Karen Barnes
Topic: Introducing the Community Resource Center

Member: $15
Guest: $20

RSVP by 8/6: 540.820.3840 or lcf@marketingideashop.com

~Lois

Now’s the time to reserve for our July 12 meeting!

The July 12 meeting of Women’s Forum will feature Brenda Black, CTP, Tourism Manager for Harrisonburg Tourism & Visitor Services. She will discuss “Fun Things To Do In And Around Harrisonburg,” introducing us to some new ideas and a few old favorites. Learn about Friday on the Square (Harrisonburg), Jazz in the Park (Staunton), local and regional museums and hiking opportunities, as well as what events are coming up in the next few weeks.

Women’s Forum Monthly Meeting
Thursday, July 12
12N-1PM

Brenda Black, CTP, Tourism Manager
Harrisonburg Tourism & Visitor Services
“Fun Things To Do In & Around Harrisonburg”

Meet the WF Member: Margo McIntire

Members: $15
Guests: $20

Please reserve by July 10, noon:
Reserve online: Click on above blue link
Call Lois: 540.820.3840
Email Lois: lcf @ marketingideashop.com

~Lois

Attending Women’s Forum has gotten just a wee bit more expensive as of July 1. The rates at the Spotswood Country Club have gone up, which means our fee for attending must go up.

Members will now pay: $15 per meeting
Guests will now pay: $20 per meeting

But the meals and atmosphere are delightful! Join us July 12. More on the meeting later.

~Lois

Because JMU’s annual Employee Appreciation Day is Thursday, May 10, we are POSTPONING our Women’s Forum Meeting one week.

Next meeting:
Thursday, May 17
12N-1P
Spotswood Country Club
$12 Members/$15 Guests

Speaker: Deb Bullis, Program Coordinator, Hand-in-Hand Resource Mothers Program

The Hand-in-Hand Resource Mothers Program is a mentoring program for pregnant and parenting teens from early pregnancy until the baby’s first birthday. Its mission is to improve birth outcomes for teens and their babies.

Why are we having this program (since most of us aren’t teenagers)?
After the teenage mother in Harrisonburg abandoned her newborn in January and the baby died, I thought it was important for everyone to know about this amazing program that’s helping teens in the Harrisonburg-Rockingham area.

Our speaker, Deb Bullis, has a Bachelor of Science in Health Education from Western Michigan University. She’s been in the position for the past 10 years and has seen the Hand-in-Hand program grow from 10 teens in 1997 to 57 enrolled last year (over 102 touched in 2006)! Deb got involved with the program after doing a few years of homebound teaching for the county schools. Most of the students she taught were teens that had just delivered their babies. She saw a lot of very unprepared teens that just needed a little guidance and support.

“When this position became available, it seemed like a perfect fit and it has been! I love my job!” says Deb.

We’ll also have a 5-7 minute member introduction by Linda Elliott.

To register, email Lois at lcf@marketingideashop.com or call 540.820.3840.

Or be brave! Use the online registration and prepay for your meeting. It’s very easy. Just click on the link below and follow the prompt to do it through a secure shopping cart.

Members: $12
Guests: $15

~Lois

Please put these dates on your calendar right now. Don’t miss the meetings. We want to see you, and we know you want to see us!

Thursday, May 17
(Note change in date)
Deb Bullis presents “RMH Hand-in-Hand Resource Mothers”
Meet the WF Member: Linda Elliott

Thursday, June 14
Brandi Simmons, Carlson-Wagonlit Travel Agency
“Penny-saving Travel Tips”
Meet the WF Member: Lois Carter Fay

Thursday, July 12
Brenda Black, CTP, Tourism Manager
Harrisonburg Tourism & Visitor Services
“Fun Things To Do In & Around Harrisonburg”
Meet the WF Member: Margo McIntire

Thursday, August 9
Karen Barnes, Community Resource Center
“Introducing the Community Resource Center”
Meet the WF Member: TBD

Thursday, September 13
No Speaker
Focused Networking Event/Member Drive

Thursday, October 11
Patty May and tentatively Dawn Womack
“Learn About Toastmasters”
Meet the WF Member: TBD

Thursday, November 8
TBD Speaker
“Safety Tips for Women”
(Tentative)
Meet the WF Member: TBD

Thursday, December 13
“Holiday Social & White Elephant Exchange”

~Lois

This week’s meeting will be a fun one! One of my goals with Women’s Forum is to help everyone get to know one another better. So this month, I’m beginning something new. And we’ll start the new program off with a bang and then continue it every month with volunteers.

Meet the Women’s Forum Members:

Several members have agreed to give a 5-minute presentation on themselves. This month we’ll hear from:

Milla Sue Wisecarver
Holley Watts
Tina Updike
Lois Carter Fay

I’ll have a sign-up sheet available on Thursday so you can volunteer for one of our future meetings.

Women’s Forum Meeting
Thurs, April 12
12-1 pm
Spotswood Country Club, Harrisonburg

Members: $12
Guests: $15

Please let me know by Tuesday, April 10, if you can make it. I hope to see you there!

lcf@marketingideashop.com or 540.820.3840

~Lois

Eliza Hoover, a local activist, lawyer and artist, will be our speaker this month to tell us all about the Peace Pole project. Valley Friends Meeting in Dayton recently put one up. Learn what it is, how they chose the languages, and how you can participate in the process.

Date: Thursday, March 8
Time: Registration, 11:45AM; Lunch and program, 12N-1PM
Where: Spotswood Country Club, Harrisonburg
Fee: $12 Members/$15 Guests

Please reserve no later than Tuesday, March 6, noon.

lcf@marketingideashop.com or 540.820.3840

~Lois

Your Best Self: Health Awareness for Women
Director Women’s Health & Family BirthPlace at RMH

Great Opportunities Exist: Women are not just small men, and we need to recognize and care for ourselves with this in mind.

Teresa Yoder will review common health steps women can take for improvement and to feel better physically. She will also discuss the common health screenings and when they are recommended. She will spend some special time encouraging those at the meeting to celebrate life passages with health awareness and pride in life accomplishments.

Teresa is a breast cancer survivor (2004) and she will share a bit of her story as a way to encourage others to take good care of themselves.

Details of the Meeting:

Thursday, February 8, 2007
12N - 1:00 PM
Spotswood Country Club
1980 Country Club Road
Harrisonburg, VA

Menu:
Roast Pork Loin with Hunter’s Sauce
Roasted Red Potatoes
Green Beans
Salad Bar
Dessert Bar
Beverages

Please RSVP to Lois at 540.820.3840 or make your reservation online.

Members: $12
Guests: $15

~Lois