The mission of the American Business Women's Association is to bring together business women of diverse occupations and to provide opportunities for them to help themselves and others to grow personally and professionally through leadership, education, networking support and national recognition.

Dear All Achievers,

Happy Valentine’s Day! This month, we celebrate our 19th anniversary of the Chapter’s founding on 2/14/10. We are encouraged by our Executive Director, Rene’ Street, to embrace this year’s theme, “Celebrate the Success”. Jean will share the letter from Rene’ at tonight’s meeting.

In order to “Celebrate the Success” we must continue to strive to meet our goals of achieving 30 members, continuing to raise funds for scholarships and our MERF program, and support our community project, SPARRC. I am proud to announce we have a new member, Debbie Roser, sponsored by Lori Denny!

I am very encouraged by our Lotto Sales this year as well as our “How to WIN in 2010” fundraiser. We have a nice balance in order to support our scholarship goals – you all deserve a pat on the back! We will discuss at tonight’s meeting the scholarship applicants we wish to present at our March meeting. Once each candidate has spoken at our March meeting, we will vote on our Scholarship Winner(s). The winner(s) will be presented their award(s) at our April Associates Night meeting. The April meeting is the most special of all of our meetings throughout the year. It embodies the Mission of ABWA. Please be thinking of who you would like to invite to share in the April meeting. If your company pays for your membership, your direct supervisor would be a suggested guest. Or, you may want to invite someone you think would like to join our chapter. Please plan to send the contact information of the person you plan to invite to the Membership Committee so that they can send a formal invitation to your associate.

The Membership Committee has planned our Spring Invitation to Membership scheduled for March 24, 2010 from 5:45 PM to 7:30 PM at the Florida Bank off University Parkway. You will hear more about this event at tonight’s meeting. Konstanza Beverly has graciously offered her place of business as well as many of the needed details in order for us to have another successful event. Thank you so much, Konstanza!
I also wish to thank the following Vocational Speakers: February; Jean Lejnar, March; Debbie Roser, April; we will not have a Vocational Speaker due to Associate’s Night, May; Linda McConnell, June; Julie Jefferson, July; Dr. Deborah Goldsmith. This is your time to shine and share with the other chapter members your vocation, background, goals or anything else pertinent to your membership in the chapter. The chapter’s motto is “Leadership through Knowledge” and this is one of our chapter’s ways of realizing our motto.

I know you all will give our President Elect, Jean Lejnar, your full attention this evening. I am sorry I could not attend this month’s meeting. I will be attending my company’s mandatory Annual Sales Meeting February 10 – February 13, 2010. I look forward to hearing about tonight’s meeting upon my return.

Best Regards,
Natalie Vandivier

ABW Day - This is the 60th Anniversary of the American Business Women's Association!! This year's ABW Day (or Founders Day) is especially exciting and will be held at the Holiday Inn Lakewood Ranch on August 14th and 15th. Don't miss out - make your reservations now.

WIN – Women’s Instructional Network is an exciting new learning and communications tool designed just for ABWA. Just $15.00 gives you access to a host of instructional tools. Check out www.abwa.org/win for additional information.

Express Chapter - An express chapter is in work. What is an Express Chapter? This is a chapter different from the traditional chapter in that its purpose is for networking. Busy moms who don't have the time to be a member of a traditional AWBA Chapter but have an interest in networking with other business women. The dues are in support of themselves. You can be a member of a traditional chapter and the Express Chapter. If you join an Express Chapter you are entitled to 10 free modules on line at the ABWA web site.

1) All members will serve as goodwill ambassadors for the American Business Women's Association.
2) Members will not allow their personal beliefs and convictions to interfere with the representation of ABWA's mission.
3) Members will always treat their member colleagues, guests, vendors and sponsors with honesty, respect, fairness, integrity, responsibility, kindness and in good faith.
4) Members will maintain compliance with ABWA National, Chapter and Express Network Bylaws.
5) Members will not use their personal power to advance their personal interests.
6) Members will strive for excellence in their professions by maintaining and enhancing their own business knowledge and skills, and by encouraging the professional development of other members.

Founded in 1949 by Hilary A. Bufton Jr., a Kansas City, Mo., businessman, ABWA has thousands of members in chapters and Express Networks nationwide. The organization provides business training and networking opportunities for women of diverse occupations and backgrounds. ABWA has dedicated more than half a century to women's education and provided workplace skills and career development training for more than 545,000 members.

Post World War II, Mr. Bufton recognized the positive impact women had on the economy. On September 22, 1949, Mr. Bufton and three Kansas City businesswomen incorporated the American Business Women’s Association, and the American workforce was changed forever.


“It was my feeling all women were seeking and deserved equal business opportunities.” He later wrote, “They had gained tremendous business knowledge during World War II, through necessity, and I felt a new organization for all businesswomen was needed. "

The Association celebrates 60 years at the 2009 ABWA National Women's Leadership Conference, Sept. 24 - 26, at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City.