NetworkWomen.org
PO Box 1640
Bend, OR 97709
(541) 388-9787 |
Here are some of our fabulous member benefits!
Your
membership in NEW will bring many benefits to you. You are now part of
an enthusiastic group of women who are potential customers, mentors,
cheerleaders and friends. Expect to gain enthusiasm, visibility,
business development, and leadership training.
Boost Your Energy:
10 months out of each year, you are invited to the general membership
meeting. This is better than a java jolt. The energy in the room is
palpable and will boost your own energy and leave you feeling pumped
for success.
See and Be Seen:
At each meeting you will have the opportunity to make your business
visible to as many as 100 members and guests through a variety of
means. Your business will be highlighted to the entire room when you
join as a new member, when you give a showcase presentation, and when
you donate to the Pot of Gold raffle. Even though you won’t always have
the spotlight on you, at every meeting you will have the opportunity to
talk to 7 other women at your table about your business and learn about
theirs as well as to participate in discussions related to the program
that are designed to help you get to know each other as well as share
ideas. In the early part of the meeting you can circulate freely and
meet as many women as you have the energy to meet, letting them know
about your business.
Your visibility doesn’t end with the
meeting. You get to toot your horn through placement on our website
(which has been attracting 518 unique visitors each month!);
advertising on our website, quarterly newsletter and monthly E-zine;
and participating in our Speakers’ Bureau. Once you join NEW you are
invited to a new member orientation luncheon where you will be given
tips on how to make your membership work for you while getting to know
other new members in a small group setting. You can enhance your
visibility by joining a leadership team and, of course, you can always
invite one or more members for coffee or lunch each month and get
acquainted. We also create various events throughout the year and draw
on NEW members to be the presenters and showcasers so there is added
visibility for you when the event is something your business fits into.
Grow Your Business:
Businesses grow through exposure to customers, and you will definitely
get that exposure through your membership, but they also grow because
the businesswoman tries new approaches and expands her skill set. Every
meeting that you attend will include specific tips for enhancing your
professional skills. Many of the programs will be focused directly on
business skills such as marketing or networking. Sometimes, programs
are led by our own members (potentially you?); other times by
professional speakers who bring value to our members. Additionally, we
will periodically offer trainings in certain areas with experts in
business.
Discounts/Prizes:
As a member of NEW, you are eligible for discounts that are offered by
members for members. You can also win fabulous prizes at the meeting
through Pot of Gold.Once a month we feature one of our members in our
spotlight. This include an article describing their business and
services in the e-newsletter and their profile placed on our website
homepage.
You’re Not Alone:
Perhaps one of the biggest pitfalls of self-employment is the isolation
you can experience, if you work from home. Whether you’re missing face
to face social experiences or trying to solve the host of challenges
that come your way, like figuring out how to solve a computer issue or
finding out whether a problem requires an attorney, it can be daunting
to know where to turn. NEW will help you solve that problem because our
membership includes such a wide range of experts to rely on as well as
all these business owners who may have already figured out the answer
to whatever issue you’re facing. Whether you log on to our website, or
turn to the people at your table at the membership meeting, or pick up
the phone and call someone you met there, you’ll probably find the help
you need through your NEW contacts.
Lead the Way: As a business proprietor, you have to be a leader. Yet many of us have
not received any training in leadership. NEW offers you that training.
A Board of Directors leads NEW. Each of those directors has a team of
people who help to set the course of our organization and do the work
necessary to deliver all these benefits. Every member is welcomed,
though never required, to join a team. There are positions that have
quite a bit of involvement and others that take minimal commitment each
month. You could choose a team where you have expertise to share or
pick one in an area that you’d like to grow your skills. After being on
the team, you may decide you’d like to be part of the Board and have
even more experience with leadership. You are welcome to run for a
position and we will provide the training you need to do a good job.
Leadership in NEW is an exciting opportunity because we are a group of
women that are committed to empowering and supporting one another. We
genuinely like each other and have fun being together. Although there
are occasional bumps in the process as we learn to work with disparate
styles, we learn a lot about leading through eliminating conflict.
Synergy:
While there are the many specific benefits described so far, perhaps
the greatest benefit cannot be measured. There is a synergy that comes
when people link together that benefits them individually and
collectively. Even our world becomes a better place in ways that we
can’t necessarily predict in advance. Margaret Mead once said, “A small
group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it’s the
only thing that ever has.” As we join together as members of NEW, we
create a powerful feminine force to influence our business community,
our cities and our world.
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