Archive for April, 2009
WOAMTEC - Winter Springs Chapter walks to Cure Cystic Fibrosis
They we were few, but it only takes a few to make a BIG difference, especially when it comes to raising awareness and money for a good cause. Over the past several months, the Winter Springs, FL WOAMTEC chapter has been raising money to support the “WOAMTEC Walkers” team participating in the Annual UCF Great Strides walk to raise money the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Led by WOAMTEC Executive Director Jennifer Lee, the 5 member team included Wanda Ivonne Gutierrez, Jean Bruckert, Mary Lou Caskey and husband Keith Caskey. The team walked the 5K course around the University of Central Florida campus in just under an hour and somehow they picked up a 6th participant at the very end. “Little Evan helped us cross the finish line, he was so excited for every team”, stated Lee.
Total money raised by the walkers and the other chapter members was just over $700.
Thank fully, donations are still pouring in!
Click here to donate to the team - Great job Walkers!
by Kathy Ryan,
Pinnacle Coaching Group
So many good business leaders today sabotage their own success without even knowing it. At a time when you should be showing that you are indispensable to your organization, leaders are allowing negative attitudes and behaviors to detract from their effectiveness. It’s time to stop damaging your career and to start investing in your own success!
Here are three catastrophic mistakes leaders make that sabotage their success and how to avoid them:
- Being Arrogant- No one wants to work for a leader who is arrogant. You cannot be an effective leader, if you don’t respect others or believe that you are better than the people working for you. Adopting a “don’t question me” attitude is a sure path to failure. Cultivating the quality of humility will allow you to remain open to feedback and to take responsibility for your actions, even when you have made a mistake. Your willingness to admit your imperfections to your staff will actually bring you closer to them. The truth is; they already know you are not perfect.
- Over Promising and Under Delivering- There is no quicker way to undermine the relationship you have with your team than failing to follow through on your commitments.Most of the time leaders who fall into this trap genuinely mean well when they make a promise, but factors such as poor time management, lack of personal discipline or overall disorganization leave them falling short. In the end it doesn’t matter that you meant well, the message you give your employees is that you don’t care about them. Actually, you should “Under Promise and Over Deliver”, so you make sure that you deliver on every promise you make. If you have any hesitation at all about your ability to do so, do not make the commitment.
- Becoming Stagnant- Many leaders believe that once they get the title, they no longer have to put effort into growing their skills. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is essential in today’s business environment that you continue to increase your knowledge and skills. A team can only go as high as the skill level of the leader. If you stop growing and learning, you will not only eventually stall the forward momentum of your team, but you will find that team members who are making their personal growth a priority are passing you by. Make learning a life-long endeavor. Not only will you reap the rewards, but those you lead and mentor along the way will benefit as well.
Kathy Ryan WOAMTEC's Celebration Chapter Director
Even the most experienced leader has probably either made some of these mistakes or seen them undermine someone else’s success.The good news is that now that you are aware of them, you can correct your behavior immediately or avoid falling into any of these traps entirely, which will put you well on your way to becoming a leader worth following.
Bella Collina Golf and Country Club
Several dozen Lake County business women bounded together this past Wednesday to share their business needs and ideas and to gain financial advice from a Panel of Experts from Colonial Bank!
WOAMTEC networking Chapter Director, Debra Lampe believes, “As the world turns and many of us hear different suggestions, rumors’ and opportunities on the news and radio, that can lead to confusion.” So she brought together a panel of experts at the beautiful Bella Collina Golf and Country Club.
Debra offered Lake County business women the opportunity to hear directly from the Professionals themselves on
3 VERY IMPORTANT TOPICS today:
- Business Banking
- Investments
- Mortgages
Colonial Bank Panel included: Christina Bornstein –Vice President/Business Banker of Colonial Bank (South Lake County), Melva Austin- Assistant Vice President Associate Financial Consultant, Reba Perrick- Vice President & Residential Manager for Mortgage Department
Lake County WOAMTEC Chapter Members
The luncheon was a great success! Women made successful business contacts through successful networking, conducted business transactions and learned a lot from one another. In times like these…coming together to offer support, knowledge, and encouragement goes a long way!
Lake County Business women are proving it! Visit the WOAMTEC events page for more information on a business building event in your area.
Another WOAMTEC WOMEN was in the news and can answer that question for you! Kudos goes to WOAMTEC’s Daytona Chapter Director, Inez Bracy for her excellent interview on Fox News Channel 4 recently (South Florida area) Click HERE to watch Inez in action!
Inez talked about how women over 50 should not look at themselves as “competing” with the younger crowd, for positions in the workforce…but it’s like they are “completing” a need for the employer!
The Inez Bracy Company is a Lifestyle Transitions Coach and motivational speaker working with Boomer Women to create the life they desire and deserve for the rest of their life. Inez’ clients say she helps them gain clarity and focus helping them to create a new normal, a life of fullness and joy.
Great Job Inez!
The Power of Positive
In the children’s fable The Sky is Falling, Chicken Little believes the sky is falling down because an acorn falls on her head. She goes on a quest to get help. The basic moral of the story is: Do not be a chicken. Have courage.
That’s our encouragement for today. Don’t be a chicken. It is easy to become tired and weary, especially when we are bombarded with real world issues and the negativity that dominates our news.
Yes, we are in a recession. Yes, money is tight. But it’s going to get better. If you can’t believe that, then what’s the point? Home ownership is still glorious and it’s still a luxury that renters don’t enjoy. It’s also an investment in your future. Jobs may be in short supply but you still have opportunities not available to a vast portion of the world. Your 401(k) may be diminishing, but at least you have one. Having hope and remaining positive is often a matter of choice. Either you chose to believe in and plan for the future or you allow others to do it for you.
Here’s your challenge:
Don’t give up. Don’t wait for the sky to fall. Be bold and courageous. Make a decision to strategize for a better tomorrow. Be a WOAMTEC woman, A women of confidence!
By Linda Parvin Hutchinson,
Realtor® and Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist,
Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty
Debary Chapter opens with a full house!
Andi Whitten, WOAMTEC Executive Director for the Debary, Florida chapter and her two Ambassadors, Kelly Becks and Mari McCoy have been talking with women in the Debary area about launching a WOAMTEC chapter for just a few weeks; their hard work paid off! Close to 30 women flocked to the Debary Golf and Country Club, Thursday April 2, 2009 to learn more about the WOAMTEC networking group and why it has become the premier women’s networking group in Central Florida.
As members, who had joined before the launch, were being introduced guests were realizing the importance of becoming a member and were literally filling out the applications during the meeting so they could lock in their categories. “I have been waiting for a WOAMTEC chapter to open in this area…so glad to be a part of this awesome group of women!” stated one guest.
FEMA asks for WOAMTEC’S Help
Comments
A President’s Message
by Kathleen Hawkins
WOAMTEC's Allison D'Anna steps in to rescue FEMA
After seeing our Confident Women Magazine and specifically the article on Orlando’s Chief of Police, Val Demings, a FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) representative contacted us for copies of the magazine to distribute at an upcoming seminar.
WOAMTEC was honored to help. We had a great conversation and made a positive connection and of course, I offered to help with anything they needed. Well just a short week later, they called with an immediate need and WOAMTEC came to their rescue!
A speaker they had scheduled for Women’s History Month had to cancel with just a few days notice and they needed to find a replacement. FAST.
Where do you go when you need to find a sharp, professional, confident, female speaker…who can talk on any topic? WOAMTEC, that’s where you go!
The challenge- needing a speaker to speak specifically on a topic they had promoted in just 3 days! Seminar Title,
” Women Taking the Lead to Save our Planet.”
Well luckily….Winter Park WOAMTEC Executive Director and Owner of Simply Well Chiropractic, Allison D’Anna stepped in to save the day. Allison has been a key activist in the Earth Day celebration at Lake Eola for the last 4 years. The Earth day Festival is a Festival with over 10,000 attendees striving to make a difference in our world to save our planet.
Way to go Allison! We are proud of you!
Thanks for being a wonderful part of our team and stepping up to save the day of a Federal Agency who has been tasked with disaster mitigation preparedness, response and recovery. Now that is an example of coming together to help the community and save the day and our planet at the same time.
