December 9, 2003December 2002

Don’t forget to bring your gifts for the family we have adopted this Christmas. If you have not signed up to buy a gift, contact Michele Hall to see what is still needed.

We’re bringing Christmas music to you! Not, it’s not too early. Throw your briefcase aside and make a peppermint trail to the December meeting. You’ll catch the spirit when Joyful Heart lifts their voices and your heart. This Christian contemporary group of seven women currently sings at Fayetteville Baptist Church. When the begin singing, you’re bound to feel the joy!

We’ll be fa-la-la-la-la-ing with Jerry and LaVada, who have both sung and played the guitar all their lives, but just recently began performing more, together in coffee shops and various other venues. They do a variety of music for their audiences from country gold to jazz to easy listening.

Join us for all the fun, merriment, and some sweet surprises.

My commitment is to be "the best that I can be" and provide the highest level of professional service to my clients. The professional designations Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR), Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) and Graduate REALTOR® Institute (GRI) have been achieved through in depth education courses and demonstrating required field experience.

The Woman of the Year (WOY) program was designed so every chapter/Express Network® can annually recognize a member who has made notable contributions and outstanding achievements. It’s a great honor for the recipient, a big pat on the back from ABWA members, and community recognition.

Clare Boothe Luce said, "Because I am a woman, I must make unusual efforts to succeed. If I fail, no one will say, "She doesn't have what it takes." They will say, "Women don't have what it takes."

I strongly believe that within our organization, we all strive to succeed for the good of all women. Each of us stands tall with our contributions, many that go unrecognized. Therefore, the selection of WOY is always extremely difficult and this year should be no different.

Please fax, email, call, or tell me in person, who you would like to nominate for Women of the Year, 2004. The deadline for nominations is no later than January 20. For your convenience, there will be nomination forms at the December and January meetings.

To assist you with our pursuit in finding the WOY, please use the following guidelines when making your nominations:

WOY should be:

At the February 2004 meeting we will recognize our McIntosh Charter Chapter Woman of the Year.

Thank you in advance for your contribution in helping find this outstanding woman!

Dianne Leimbach

ABWA Woman of the Year, 2003

Barbara Stevens read the invocation

Program: Dianne Leimbach introduced the speaker Ivory Dorsey. She has written a book called Women, Endorsement, And the Margin of Error. She spoke about women in management and how endorsement makes a difference between success and being unsuccessful. We need to raise the awareness of women in business and gain respect by other people. Take advantage of people who are different from you and learn. Relationships with men are important. Women need to create an open dialogue, offer to help, and be accessible, and maintain empathy to gain endorsement from men. Endorsement makes it easier for men to come to women and work together. Men have a hard time understanding women, and are afraid. They need to make a balance on treatment of their wife, and treatment to female employees. Remember that people have emotions and make decisions based on this. People treat you, as you treat yourself. Walk into a room with confidence, not discomfort. Then others will treat you will respect instead of fear.

October minutes were approved. Treasure minutes were approved.

We are still taking Clothing for the Women’s Success Network. Please see Michelle after the meeting if you would like a receipt.

National Headquarters asked Dorothy Reincke to give Hallene Minter the Emerald Friendship award for bringing in 22 new members. Congratulations Hallene! December 9^th Christmas meeting will be held at the Palmer Course. Directions will be given with the invitations.

Michelle spoke about the new ambassador program and the need for volunteers. Nathalie and Barbara were the meeting Ambassadors.

Enjoy the City Book are $20. $8 of the sale goes to ABWA. Not many books left. Jill Lech had Chick Fila calendars for sale. $1.75 per book goes to ABWA. Next Board meeting is November 20^th. May 5^th is the Golf tournament. Jill Lech spoke about the Shakespeare Mini Series being held at the Shakessphere Tavern. The mini series had a great write up in the AJC. Gwen Griffin reported that we had another call from the Fayette Women Magazine about ABWA.

November 12, 2002

Dianne Leimbach, Membership chair, introduced our guests: Claudette Hunt, Tryfena Richardson, Shannon Kunkle (also joined this evening), and Angela Holiday.

Corporate Sponsor: Starlight International. Sharlene Alexander and Dianne Leimbach spoke on giving the gift of health and why dietary supplements and confining invasive therapy can be important to our overall health and well-being.

Program: Cynthia Braswell introduced our guest speaker, Cynthia InnMan, owner/operator of the Cleveland Avenue Chik-fil-A. She spoke to us about perseverance. Through her own life experiences, she has found persevering (hanging in there) has seen her through to better opportunities, even when she thought differently. We all will have daily struggles. We must know what our core principles, values, and morals are and make sure they coincide with our chosen occupation. Find someone who jumpstarts you. Most of all, don’t give up.

Business Meeting:

Minutes from the last meeting stand approved.

Treasurer’s Report – Correction to Corporate sponsor amount. Should read $250.00, not $25.00. Otherwise stands approved.

Inducted new members Yoly Casablanca, Shirley Manning, Karen Myers, and Shannon Kunkle.

Auditing – audit took place last Thursday by Irene Edwards, will be done quarterly.

Education/Scholarship -- $860 for business skills grant still available. See Maria Cannon for application. Must use funds before July 31, 2003. In order to be eligible, you must apply before your class starts.

Friendship – Our club sent Brenda Nelson Porter gifts for the birth of her baby. Cindy Mann read a thank you card from Brenda. Inside was a picture of the baby.

National Convention – You can still sign up if you are interested in going.

Woman of the Year – Dawn O’Rourke handed out the nomination forms. Fax or e-mail completed forms to Dawn. Will recognize Woman of the Year in February 2003. Dawn will be recognized at the Atlanta Area council meeting in January as the 2002 Woman of the Year for our chapter.

November 18 – Atlanta Area Council meeting, Sloppy Floyd Building, 6:30 pm. Christmas Party

November 19 – Executive Board Meeting, 9:00 am, Michele Hall’s office of Edward Jones. No Board meeting in December.

December 10 – ABWA Christmas party, East Fayette Elementary chorus will perform. Please bring a gift for the family we are sponsoring. Also, bring a raffle prize. Call a board member if you need to know what kind of gift to get.

Sharlene Alexander still needs corporate sponsors for April, May, June, and July 2003. Please call her if interested.

Nettie Horton, Did you know? Please get information forms back to her by e-mail or fax. Let Nettie know if you need a form.

Cindy Mann will start a new job at Equifax on December 1^st.

Liz Geiger quit her job!. Workingat Arnie’s for now.

Connie Clifton said that The Links got a 99 on the health inspection.

Carol Springsteen’s son is looking for a job in the computer field.

Elaine Simon has been nominated for Who’s Who for Executives.

50/50 went to Cindy Mann. She got $49.

Minutes taken and signed by Michele Hall, Secretary.