Ventura County Professional Women’s Network
VCPWN
Calendar
These dates are
closer than they
appear!
Thursday, October 13
Shift Happens - Bunny Vreeland
Thursday, November 10
The Psychology of Money - Dr. Lexi
Welanetz.
Also at the November meeting, our
Holiday Silent Auction!
December - Dark
Happy Holidays!
General Meeting Location:
Wedgewood Banquet Center
5880 Olivas Park Dr. Ventura
Networking begins at 5:30 p.m.
Dinner/networking continues 6:30
Program 7:15
Adjourn 8:45
VCPWN Board of Directors
Meetings
All members are welcome to attend
board meetings:
Monday, October 24
Monday, November 28
December: Dark
Board Meeting Location:
Courtyard by Marriott
600 East Esplanade Dr., Oxnard
6:00 p.m.
Dinner and meeting
October-December 2005
Farewell to our
beloved friend
Marta…
By Lana Antione
On Sunday, September 18, 2005 Marta
Bohn-Meyer died in an aerobatic plane
crash near Oklahoma City. She was the
chief engineer at NASA’s Dryden Flight
Research Center at Edwards Air Force
Base, California.
I met Marta for the first time when I
was giving a presentation in Palm Springs, California to the WASP (Women
Airforce Service Pilots who flew during WWII).
We hit it off, tossing a few jokes back and forth
with the women and mentors we both admired
and cherished. I knew right away there was
something special about Marta. She was invited
to be a speaker (twice) for VCPWN and thrilled
the audience with her informative and lively
presentations. Pilots from local airports and
several organizations would call to make
reservations at our meeting when they got word
that Marta was going to be in town.
When you first met Marta you might have
thought that she was just a normal, fun-loving
person like anyone else. But she loved to laugh
and play a few practical jokes now and then to
liven things up and keep you on your toes. It
didn’t matter if you were a janitor, executive or
astronaut, she had her own special way of making those around her feel at ease
and she always made it a point to do so. As we got to know each other, it
became obvious that there was much more that was special about Marta.
Marta Bohn-Meyer graduated with a science degree in aeronautical
engineering in 1979. She worked for NASA’s research center in Langley,
Virginia and was later transferred to Dryden Research Center at NASA,
Edwards Air Force Base. On October 3, 1991, Marta became the first female
crew member of NASA (or the U.S. Air Force) to fly the triple sonic (Mach 3)
SR-71 aircraft — often referred to by the rest of the world as the “spy plane”.
Marta was elated.
When asked about her experience she said, “To my dying day, it will always
bring a smile to my face.” She said that it was the most invigorating, toughest
and enjoyable thing she ever did.
Continued on page 7
Page 2
.
VCPWN Focal Points
October-December, 2005
business opportunities for you. In the
process you will make lifetime friends
and learn quite a bit about a variety of
topics. You will also be able to polish
up your networking skills, such as
Where has this year gone? I can’t
your 30-second commercial.
believe that soon we will enter the
I want to thank all of you for your
holiday season.
wonderful
support for all of our silent
This year we have had quite a
auctions.
Through
your contributions
variety of speakers for our general
meetings. I have been receiving a lot of we have been able to bring in money
necessary to run our organization.
positive feedback about the
Thank you both to those of you that
presentations, so if you haven’t been
have provided gifts for the auctions as
making it to the meetings, you are
missing quite a treat. I know that many well those of you who have made
purchases. Thank you also to our
other organizations and events are
meeting sponsors. I appreciate your
competing for your time.
support, and hope that you have
Just remember the support,
found that sponsoring a meeting has
education, and networking
been worthwhile for your business.
opportunities provided by VCPWN.
Several people have been interested
VCPWN is a special organization with
in
attending
our board meetings. We
special benefits. Although not all of
them are tangible, I believe that if you would love to have you! We meet the
4th Monday of each month at 6pm. If
continue building relationships at
VCPWN, they will ultimately result in you would like to come and join in the
President’s
Message
Between the
Lines
After a year of membership in
VCPWN I’m very happy I decided
to take an active part by becoming a
board member.
As a dyed-in-the-wool introvert, I find it much
easier to meet new people when I have an official
role in the group. Maybe some of you feel the same
way. If you do, I strongly recommend volunteering
for a committee, hosting a table at a meeting, or
participating actively in some other way.
That’s a sneaky lead-in for my continued plea for
someone to take on the job of Focal Points advertising
manager. We really need someone to round up some
advertisements (advertisers don’t have to be
members), as this is how we support the newsletter.
You may also want to consider taking out an ad
yourself.
And since I’m making pleas, here’s one more: if
you are a new member, you get introduced at a
meeting and get to tell about your business. But you
also have an opportunity to tell us something
personal about yourself in Focal Points (see page 6). In
100 words or less, tell us what you’d like us to know
about you. We’re waiting!
Your editor, Sheila Lowe
discussion of
the agenda
topics, there is
no need to
contact me first.
If you wish to
be added to the
agenda, please
call me at least
3 days before the board meeting so
that we can talk about what you
want to discuss. For more
information about attending a
board meeting, or to request to be
added to the agenda, call me at
805.491.0111.
In closing, I’d like to wish all of
you a wonderful, lucrative, and
healthy fourth quarter of the year.
Please don’t be a stranger. We’ve
got some great meetings coming up
that you won’t want to miss. I look
forward to seeing you there.
Best regards, Alison Balter
Wind Beneath
My Wings
The winner of this year’s
award will be announced at the
October meeting. You will want
to be there to find out who was voted as that
special person who:
® Motivates you to be your best and never give up
® Is instrumental in supporting you as you reach for
your most lofty personal and career goals
® Inspires you to rise and shine each day
Who will be honored with the 2005 Wind
Beneath My Wings award?
Find out on October 15!
October-December, 2005
seen wearing their cowboy hats
October 8 and 9 at Underwood Farms
Harvest Festival in Thousand Oaks.
Yes, a book of her original poetry and
photographs is in the works.
She and Jim have a long history in
community theater and for 12 years
had a weekly theater review column in
the Ventura County
A woman who
Reporter. As
wears many hats.
journalists, their
Literally. Shirley’s
articles have been
primary focus is that of
published in national
Weekenders’ Fashion
magazines. They have
Coordinator. Since a
won several Southern
forced change from
California Press Club
corporate (read:
awards for their
stressed) life a few years
writing. Shirley was
ago, Shirley has
the editor of Focal
re-invented herself by
Points for 2004-2005.
taking up a challenge
Recently, Shirley
offered by former
has
taken on yet
VCPWN member and
another
career
Fashion Coordinator,
opportunity
that fell
Ruth Bishop.
her
way.
She
is
now
teaching
part
time
Ruth encouraged Shirley to use her
at
Santa
Barbara
Business
College
sense of style, flair for drama and love
Ventura Campus, an endeavor she has
of theatrics and public speaking, to
found that she loves. A Distinguished
begin her own business with
Toastmaster with 20 years’ experience
Weekenders fashions. Leery at first,
and numerous recognitions, Shirley
Shirley has discovered that she truly
takes on each new educational
enjoys the business. “The best part”
says Shirley, “is all of the women I get challenge with gusto and enthusiasm.
As Vice President for VCPWN,
to know on a deeper level, and sharing
Shirley
has the task of locating,
a desire for mixing comfort with style.”
screening
and securing program
Shirley’s “store” is always open and
speakers.
A
6-year member, Shirley
frequently adorns her living room.
has
been
active
on the Board and
One of the unique services Shirley
VCPWN
committees,
feeling that “I
provides is offering her home for
like
to
get
fully
immersed
in whatever
others to host their gatherings,
I’m
doing
so
I
can
do
it
the
best I
enabling them to feel less stressed
possibly
can.”
about having to clean and prepare. “I
These examples provide only a
love doing it, and it’s more relaxing for
snapshot
glimpse into this
all of us” she declares. “The support
multi-layered
and fulfilling life.
and encouragement of VCPWN
Volunteering,
grandchildren,
members made all the difference for
needlework,
social
groups and
me when I decided to take on this new
wonderful
friendships
also add to the
challenge and I thank them for their
array
of
hats
Shirley
likes
to wear.
confidence in me.”
Shirley
Lorraine,
Fashion
Coordinator,
When she’s not showing off her
Weekenders.
wardrobe, Shirley and husband Jim
(805) 659-5580 or (805) 320-4123.
Spencer perform at various venues.
www.weekenders.com/shirleyscloset
They both perform magic and are
Or [email protected]
producing a fundraiser magic show
this October 29 to benefit the local
You,too, may win a Member
Salvation Army corps. She writes and
Profile: Just drop your business
performs original cowboy poetry,
performing alongside her husband’s
card in the basket on the
magical medicine show. They can be
Membership Desk for a drawing.
Member Profile:
Who is Shirley
Lorraine?
Page 3
.
VCPWN Focal Points
Blow Your
Horn
® Another
award for
Gwenlyn
Norton this
summer —
second place
in her class at the Ventura
County Fair Professional
Arts Department. Congrats,
Gwenlyn!
Have you done something you’re
proud of? Taken a great trip that
you’d like to share? We’d love to hear
about it!
Send “Blow Your Horn”
announcements to Sheila Lowe at
[email protected], or
complete a Blow Your Horn form
at one of the VCPWN meetings.
Note: these items are for interest
only. To publicize your business or
an event, you may purchase an
advertisement or place a classified
ad —it will benefit you and help
support Focal Points.
Special Reminder!
The Holiday Season is nearly upon us,
and we’ll be right in the midst of it when
our November meeting arrives.
The November Silent Auction is the
perfect place to shop for your holidays
gifts, and VCPWN will benefit, too. For
informaton, or to
contribute items
to the auction
(you’ll receive a
“charitable
contributions”
letter) contact
Gina Gables:
(805) 523-3432 or email:
[email protected]
Page 4
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VCPWN Focal Points
October-December, 2005
Special Event -- a
Clothing Exchange!
For Women Members of VCPWN
(plus their invited women friends and family) only
Join us for a fabulous day of fun on Saturday, October 15, from 10-3 for a Clothing
Exchange. The Camarillo address will be announced privately to those who register.
Bring women’s, mens, and children’s clothing and
accessories. You will receive two tickets for each
adult woman’s garment, and any adult woman’s
garment you wish to take away will require two
tickets. All garments must be clean and in good
condition.
Accessories will receive one ticket and will require
one ticket to “purchase.” Extra tickets will be
available at $2 each. Tickets are non-transferable.
Any left over clothing will be donated to a charitable
organization dedicated to helping battered women
and their children.
We’ll also have a mini Vendor Fair at this event. Vendors who donate 10% of their proceeds
to VCPWN will receive a free ad in the next email blast. For information or to reserve space
as a vendor, contact Sue Gary: 805-388-9904
UPCOMING
EVENTS
Call to make reservations: 656-6011
Oct General Meeting
Nov General Meeting
Shift Happens!
The Psychology of Money
Bunny Vreeland
Have you ever wondered
if you could be hypnotized?
read this:
Take a deep breath...close
your eyes...get comfortable.
If you can follow simple
instructions such as these,
then you can be hypnotized… and you can use hypnosis to help yourself
Lexi Welanetz, Ph.D.
Bunny Vreeland
Learn to take control of
your financial success and
your future. Dr. Welanetz
will give six psychological
money traps and ten skills
which most directly affect
financial success. How our
unconscious can sabotage
our best efforts.
October-December, 2005
Page 5
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VCPWN Focal Points
Please support our sponsors!
If you would like to help support Focal Points, please contact Sheila Lowe at (805) 658-0109 or [email protected]
CLASSIFIED!
Room for rent in Moorpark Condo-near college.
Full house privs. and laundry, use of comm pool,
Must like dogs $575+util. Avail now
Contact: Gina Gables: (805) 523-3432
YOUR CLASSIFIED AD
OR BUSINESS CARD HERE
For advertising rates see page 6
Be happier and
more successful
Your handwriting reveals your
strengths, potentials, and what
might be holding you back
Find out what your handwriting says about you!
Www.sheilalowe.com (805) 658-0109
Page 6
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VCPWN Focal Points
Meet some
new members
October-December, 2005
voluntary benefits through payroll
deduction. Although my office is
located in Ventura, my territory covers
both Ventura and Santa Barbara
Counties.
Pamela Vos
Pamela Vos is the owner of Forever
Fit,
a women’s exclusive fitness studio.
Liz Ellenberger
With
a passion to help women
My husband, Ken, and I are
improve
the quality of their lives, I
seven-year residents of Ventura and
have
seen
firsthand how adding fitness
we consider it paradise. Our two
and
fun
to
our schedule we can
children and six grand-children
transform
how
women look, feel and
approve. As a retired bi-lingual
perform
on
a
daily
basis. Certified as a
elementary teacher, I found much to
Personal
Trainer,
Pilates
Instructor, I
enjoy about that job, but it seemed to
also
teach
wellness
programs
and am
get more demanding each year. About
currently
pursuing
wellness
coaching
ten years ago I learned about an inner
work called Felt-Sensing, or Focusing. to develop new programs to help
women achieve & maintain healthy
This practice provides an ongoing
invitation for me to find and follow my lifestyles. I live in Oxnard with my
own inner wisdom, which we all have. husband Mike and "furry" children,
Now I spend time sharing Felt-Sensing (Ben, Cookie, & Baby), and have two
with others, writing my memoirs, and wonderful stepchildren (Ryan &
Trisha) and will soon be grandmother
improving my African drumming
to a baby girl in February. Mike is the
skills. We are still making wonderful
owner of a direct mail printing and
discoveries about this area. Finding
mailing business and on our day off
VCPWN may be the latest one!
we enjoy church activities, bike riding,
Anna Kittleson
reading, and just being together.
I’ve been a Ventura resident since
1968. My husband, Kris, & I have two
Several other terrific women and
teenage daughters, Kayla (17 ½) and
men have joined VCPWN since the last
Ariana (16). Favorite activities include issue of Focal Points, and as soon as we
camping in our trailer, gourmet
receive a personal bio from some of
cooking, wine tasting, occasionally golf them, you will see it in these pages.
but just for fun – usually for
If you are a new member, please
fundraisers. In fact, my philanthropic
email a paragraph (100 words or less)
work has really kept me occupied this about yourself to
past month, as I was co-chair for a
[email protected] for the next
fundraiser dinner/auction for 100
issue of Focal Points . The deadline is
attendees. I’ve been employed with
December 1. (Note: to be included in
AFLAC for 4 ½ years, working in the
this column, the information must be
employee benefits arena, offering
personal, not advertising)
Some Good Advice
The best sermons are lived, not preached
You cannot unsay a cruel word
Silence is sometimes the best answer
If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging
Live simply
Love generously
Care deeply
Speak kindly
A quarterly publication of
Ventura County Professional
Women’s Network
EDITOR
Sheila Lowe 658-0109
[email protected]
EDITORIAL STAFF
Diane Achatz . . . . . . . .
Sheri Ann Cate . . . . . . .
Carol Leish . . . . . . . . .
Gwenlyn Norton . . . . . .
Bonnie Warrington. . . . .
Charlotte Werner-Gesling
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.
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.
488-7356
656-9757
988-6160
649-4204
581-0780
483-5736
PRINTER
Signature Graphics
Dorothy Sinjem
WANTED!
ADVERTISING COORDINATOR
Position open - please contact the Editor if
you are interested in joining the staff.
FOCAL POINTS
- ADVERTISING RATES Display Ads
Business Card Size:$65 for 3 issues
Quarter-Page: $65 per issue
“Unclassified” Ads
$15 - up to 20 words
(25 cents each addl’ word)
Insert (8 ½” x 11”)
$65 per issue (you provide; some
restrictions apply)
Ads must be received by the
first of the month preceding
publication (e.g., December 1 for
January-March issue). Display ads
must be camera- ready and exact
size. All ads are subject to editorial
approval. Please include a check
made payable to VCPWN. We also
accept payment by credit card.
Email to: [email protected]
Call for additional
information: (805) 658-0109
October-December, 2005
Page 7
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VCPWN Focal Points
On a list of one to ten,
Marta will be greatly
she felt it was
missed by those who
definitely a one or
experienced her love,
two – and she
friendship and
refused to say
encouragement. Let us carry
(with a twinkle in
on her legacy by helping
her eye) which the others see what it is that’s
other one was.
possible for them.
Marta was a
At her memorial service at
precision pilot for our Edwards AFB, Bob said that
United States Aerobatic
Marta loved flags – she wore
Team, competing around the them on everything – socks,
world
every year. Marta and husband Bob, hats, t-shirts, pins, etc. And, in
spent their weekends and free time building planes and
answer to the question, “is
flying them. They also restored old cars as a hobby. Last
there anything I can I do for
year while relaxing with a favorite beer, Marta revealed
you,” he asked that on
that she had taken only one vacation in her entire career.
Veterans day, November 11,
But she wasn’t that concerned. Her work was her love and
“please find a veteran, shake
gave her great satisfaction—she had plans to retire young
their hand and thank them for
and travel the world.
what they have done for you
Marta was an inspiring role model, particularly for
and for our country.”
young women, encouraging them to enter into technical
Bob asked that instead of
fields. Through her volunteer work with schools and other
flowers or donations to a
groups, she realized that there are few girls who believe
charity each of us think about
they can become pilots
– “And that’s
The WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) have a special phrase they
something we have to
say when a pilot passes on…
work to change,” she
said. Marta spoke of
the wonderful mentors
she had throughout her
schooling and career,
and the very special
our relatives, friends and
place she had for them in her heart. She was worried about loved ones and be sure to tell them every day how much
how she would ever repay them for their support.
we care and “just give them a hug for no good reason.”
Her resolution was to pass on that same generosity and
Remember how important those around you are and put
to help others see the possibilities in their own lives. She
aside petty annoyances that in the end will seem very
believed that it is essential that all young people should
trivial.
have a hobby and be special in their own mind and in other
A friend of Marta’s described her as humble, gentle,
people’s minds. Her advice was to find a hobby you love to inspirational and incredibly dedicated. Marta’s time was
do and then turn it into a profession. She also advised that
cut short, but her influence doesn’t have to be. Marta tried
when opportunity knocks, you should open the door and
to leave the world a better place than she found it. Bob
step through to the other side. Never look back and waste
asks that it be our goal also and to please take the time to
time by saying you made the wrong decision. Learn from
encourage those around you.
your mistakes and keep moving forward.
Marta loved to create quotes and use them in her
presentations. One of her favorite wise sayings: “Your
Attitude Creates Your Altitude.”
She firmly believed that opportunities are brought about
by what she called the Four Rights:
1. the right Time
2. the right Place
3. the right Enthusiasm (attitude) and
4. the right Qualifications (training)
She credits her family and those around her with helping
her to manage those “rights.”
SR-71 Blackbird
“She is not dead, but only flying higher
than she has ever flown before.”
Ventura County Professional Women’s Network
Post Office Box 6329
Oxnard, California 93031
The VCPWN Mission:
Promoting the professional and personal growth of
Ventura County women through education, mutual
support, and sharing of resources
2005-2006 Board of Directors
President
Alison Balter
(805) 491-0111
[email protected]
Director of Membership
Laureen Lazzaro
(805) 477-0441
[email protected]
Director of Public Relations
Carrie Sharpshair
(805) 523-7849
[email protected]
President-Elect
Shirley Lorraine
(805) 659-5580
[email protected]
Executive Secretary
Carrie Sharpshair
(805) 523-8866
[email protected]
Director of Hospitality
Mary Gabriels
(805) 247-1471
[email protected]
Immediate Past President
(Open)
Director of Mentoring
(Open)
Recording Secretary
Susan Gary
(805) 388-9904
[email protected]
Director of Special Projects
Gina Gables
(805) 523-3432
[email protected]
Director of Finance
Lana Antione
(805) 659-3123
[email protected]
Focal Points Editor
Sheila Lowe
(805) 658-0109
[email protected]
Member-At-Large
Don Williams
(805) 339-9360
[email protected]