Ventura County Professional Women’s Network
April - June 2007
Promoting the professional and personal growth of Ventura County women through education, mutual support, and sharing of resources
VCPWN
These dates are
closer than they
appear!
Meetings
Calendar
Location:
Wedgewood Banquet Center
5880 Olivas Park Dr. Ventura
Thursday, April 12
Let’s Network!
Thursday, May 10
Special 25th Anniversary Party
Thursday, June 14
Program TBA
Board Installation
Networking begins at 5:30 p.m.
Dinner, with networking continuing
at 6:30
Program 7:15
Adjourn 8:45
VCPWN Board of Directors
Meetings
All members are welcome to attend:
Wednesday, April 25
Wednesday, May 23
Wednesday, June 27
Location:
Cypress Place
1200 Cypress Point Lane
Ventura
6:00 p.m.
Dinner and meeting
My Personal Success
With VCPWN’s
Mentoring Program
Lisa Collier, Custom Embroidery – Ventura
Harbor Village
When I agreed to join VCPWN’s Mentoring
Program I was planning on being a Mentor.
However, at the orientation Mentors outnumbered
Mentees, so I agreed to be mentored. At the time I
did not realize that this decision would change my life
and my business.
A few days later, Pam Vos of Forever Fit called to
let me know that Alison Balter of InfoTechnology Partners was my Mentor. What luck!
The past president of VCPWN was to mentor me. Though I did not know Alison well, I
knew she had a successful computer consulting business.
But I was not prepared to be mentored, what were my goals? How could Alison help
me accomplish anything if I did not know what I wanted? Over the next few days I had
some serious conversations with myself and compiled a list of goals; some simple, some
grandiose, but what the heck–Alison was going to help me!
By using the Mentoring notebook provided by VCPWN, I listed my goals:
• How do I grow my business, not grow my sales, but grow my business? Am I
ready to hire someone and how to find the right person?
• What are the advantages/disadvantages of expanding my business with a
website?
• Should we be looking for larger space?
• Should we be looking at increasing our product line (purchasing heat press
equipment, adding promotional products, etc)?
Then I listed my expectations and what Alison could expect from me:
• Following the notebook’s recommendation of monthly meeting, I would respect
Alison’s time by being prepared with a written list of questions.
• I was not looking for emotional support, but practical business solutions. I
would not be a nuisance with lots of phone calls and emails.
• I would seriously consider all suggestions, and work aggressively to accomplish
the goals we set.
Our first meeting was a scheduled phone call. This is where we laid out the
Mentor/Mentee goals and expectations (I was happy I had prepared for this in advance).
Alison seemed relieved that I recognized her time was valuable and that I promised not
to be a pest. She suggested we tackle each goal at our meetings.
The next meeting was a visit to my Custom Embroidery Shop and lunch where we
tackled the first and biggest goal, how to grow my business? Among other things, we
discussed my fears and hesitations of hiring an employee (I had been disappointed in the
past). She shared the growth story of InfoTechnology Partners and its ups and downs. I
Continued on page 4
Page 2
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VCPWN Focal Points
President’s
Message
My, this board year has been passing
before my eyes quickly. Elections are
almost upon us again and it seems we’ve
barely gotten started. The enthusiasm of
the members and guests make our efforts
so worthwhile as we celebrate what we
have accomplished.
Moving into our silver anniversary
celebration, we have the opportunity to
reflect on all that has been accomplished
by VCPWN and its members. The
organization has evolved, grown with the
times, moved into the age of technology
and remains a vital contributor to the
community. Along the way, some of the
history and traditions have been loosely
April-June 2007
interpreted, either because of necessity or
lack of information. Yet, in spite of these
lapses, the group continues to attract new
members and provide quality programs.
Too, we continue to move forward to keep
up with the ever-changing business world.
Prior to this board year, VCPWN
struggled to regain financial health, and we
were unable to keep some popular events
afloat during that time. Thanks to the
diligence of the board, our members and
supporters, through our silent auctions,
50/50 drawings and selected special
events, we have been able to catch up a bit.
Now that we are on more solid financial
footing, we sincerely hope (and plan!) that
events such as the business conference and
mixers can be revisited in the next year.
With the help of seasoned and past
members,
some of
the
history
can be
rebuilt for
posterity.
One
area I’m
sure we
can all
agree
upon is
CELEBRATING. So let’s get
started……
Shirley Lorraine
www.weekenders.com/shirleyscloset
www.spencerlorraine.com
[email protected]
Mentoring . . . From page 1
Between the Lines
For the past nine years, Carol Leish (Call Me
Capable) has been part of the Focal Points
committee, taking notes, taping talks, and writing
up countless meeting reviews. Now she’s decided
it’s time to take a break, sit back and just enjoy the
meetings, and we can’t blame her. Thank you,
Carol, for all you’ve done over the years, and
especially in the time we’ve worked together.
Carol’s absence from these pages leaves a gap, so if you would like to
write a single review or several, please approach me.
In this issue of Focal Points you’ll see many new advertisers. Not only is
this going to benefit their individual businesses, but the revenue helps
VCPWN, too. When you need a product or service, whether it’s real estate,
insurance, or anything else, we encourage you to turn first to the pages of
your newsletter, then to the VCPWN.org website, which has a listing of all
the members and their businesses.
If you have made changes to your
address or services recently, remember
to update your listing on the web site.
And if you have questions about
A quarterly publication of
navigating the website, you can get help
Ventura County Professional
from our resident computer expert,
Women’s Network
Alison Balter or VCPWN secretary,
EDITOR
Denise Lawrence.
Sheila Lowe: (805) 658-0109
If you have an idea for an article, or
[email protected]
if you’re a new member who hasn’t
ADVERTISING
been profiled yet, contact me:
COORDINATOR
Sheila Lowe, Editor (Handwriting
Susan McRae
Analyst)
[email protected]
[email protected]
MEETING REVIEWER
realized that Custom Embroidery would grow only if
I decided to do it. I knew what needed to be done,
but hearing someone else’s experiences helped me
tremendously. By the next meeting I had set into
motion many of the suggestions we discussed.
Of all meetings, my favorite was the visit to her
business where I saw Alison in her element.
Throughout all of our interactions, Alison listened
well and willingly offered suggestions, practical
solutions and referrals.
It has not been a year, but Custom Embroidery
has taken some small and some large growth steps.
The biggest change has been shifting the way I look
at my business. I have a part-time employee on a
very flexible schedule (it works for him and it works
for me). We leased the office space next to us when
it became available, thereby doubling our working
area and gaining a “show room.” In addition, we
purchased a second embroidery machine. We joke
that now I can work twice as hard. And we now
accept Visa/MasterCard, like the “big guys.”
So much growth happened so quickly that there
has not been enough time to follow through on all of
the suggestions. But I am confident that we will
continue to grow. There is a killer website coming.
Oh, and as far as adding to my product line, for now
we will stick with what we know best–creating
beautiful embroidery on anything.
Thank you, VCPWN, for offering the Mentoring
Program, and Alison Balter for being a guide to me
on our path to success.
[email protected]
April-June 2007
Introducing New Members
Tea Silvestre
As the President and CEO of
Social Good Marketing & Design,
Inc., Tea (pronounced “Tay’ah”)
Silvestre has nearly 20 years of
expertise in the fields of
marketing, public relations and
graphic design. Most recently, she
submitted the winning design for
this year’s California Strawberry
Festival poster. When she’s not
helping her clients “create waves
of positive change,” she is
spending time with her 18-year
old son, Sean (who is a senior at
Oxnard High School) and her
Grandmother, Luisa (who is 87
this year!) in Santa Paula. She also enjoys oil painting, hiking,
and volunteering with her fellow Rotarians. Tea earned her
Bachelor's degree (with honors) from the University of Colorado
at Boulder, and her Certificate of Specialized Studies in
Marketing from the University of California at Davis. In 2001,
she earned the title of Certified Professional Marketer, from the
American Marketing Association.
www.socialgoodmarketing.com
Cynthia Yoshitomi
Cynthia arrived in Ventura County three years ago after
honeymooning in Ventura in 1969. She was born and raised in
Los Angeles and had made several visits to the County through
the years. She currently lives in Port Hueneme, having recently
taken an early retirement from her Campus Ministry position at
UPCOMING
EVENTS
Page 3
.
VCPWN Focal Points
UCLA to fulfill a
dream she had as a
young woman–to open
an international tea
store, where people can
enjoy one another and
have real conversations
over a cup of tea. With
the assistance of
Women’s Economic
Ventures in 2006 she
developed a viable
business plan and
nothing can stop her
now! Cynthia is the
proprietor of Tea by
the Sea--An
International Tea
Experience.
“Did you know that,
after water, tea is the
most consumed
beverage in the world?” she tells us. Her mission is: To create an
international tea experience in an affordable, informal, ethical
and welcoming climate to all.
• To create experiences with tea that will connect the
World’s people to one another.
• To supply high quality international tea at very fair
prices.
• To educate the public, especially children and their
families about the history, romance, fair trade, tea
peoples and the health benefits of tea.
• To support the creativity of the world specialty tea
community.
[email protected]
Call to make reservations: 656-6011
April Meeting
May Meeting
Let’s
Network!
In this
bi-annual
special meeting
there’s no
speaker, but everyone gets a chance to
advertise their business with a
20-second commercial. Create the
most entertaining commercial and you
may win a prize! BBQ Buffet
25th Anniversary!
Meeting Sponsor —Lisa Collier,
Coastal Embroidery
\ Special guests
\ Special price
\ Special events
Dress up and join the
festivities. Learn a little of
the history of your
organization
Page 4
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VCPWN Focal Points
April-June 2007
VCPWN MEMBERS USING MEMBERS SERVICES
JANUARY MEETING
Member
Sue Gary
Marlene Hunau-Herman
Laura Parson
Joyce Sherwood
Shu Ping Li
Deborah Gallant
Martha Jaffe
Pam Voss
Carol Powell
Ingrid Cabral Ward
Lisa Collier
Pam Vos
Sheila Lowe
Carol Powell
Sheila Lowe
Marlene Hunau-Herman
Lisa Collier
Carol Powell
Barbara Marquis
Pam Vos
Barbara Marquis
Laura Parson
Marlene Hunau-Herman
Barbara Marquis
Lisa Ross
Sue Gary
Barbara Marquis
Member Business
used
Promotional Products USA
New Act Travel
Data-Girl Business Services
Brain Gym
Acupuncture
Lifework Coaching
Travel Planner
Forever Fit
Troop Real Estate
Citibank
Custom Embroidery
Forever Fit
The Write Choice!
Troop Real Estate
The Write Choice!
New Act Travel
Custom Embroidery
Troop Real Estate
Marquis Interiors
Forever Fit
Marquis Interiors
Data-Girl Business Services
New Act Travel
Marquis Interiors
Cypress Place
Promotional Products USA
Marquis Interiors
Member
Martha Jaffe
Pam Vos
Mary Ann Zinn
Lisa Collier
Sue Gary
Carrie Sharpshair
Lisa Ross
Laura Parson
Mary Ann Zinn
Marlene Hunau-Herman
Laura Parson
Cynthia Yoshitomi
Sue Gary
Susan McRae
Mary Gabriels
Sue Gary
Mary Ann Zinn
Mary Gabriels
Veronica Daube
Maura Raffensperger
Linda McCarthy
Mary Ann Zinn
Mary Gabriels
Martha Jaffe
Mary Gabriels
Shu Ping Li
Alison Carlson
FEBRUARY MEETING
Anna Kittleson
Aflac
Sue Gary
Shirley Lorraine
Weekenders
Susan McRae
Linda McCarthy
Business Networking Int’l
Mary Gabriels
Carol Leish
Call Me Capable
Lisa Collier
Alison J. Balter
InfoTechnology Partners
Jim Nicholl
Mariah Sareen Ingram
Sareen Aesthetics & Massage
Linda McCarthy
Shirley Lorraine
Weekenders
Pam Vos
Barbara Marquis
Marquis Interiors
Jim Nicholl
Carol Powell
Troop Real Estate
Pam Vos
Mariah Sareen Ingram
Sareen Aesthetics & Massage
Shu Ping Li
Carol Powell
Troop Real Estate
Sue Reynolds
Shirley Lorraine
Weekenders
Lisa Collier
*There was no members using members segment at the March meeting.
Business
Travel Planner
Forever Fit
Mary Ann Zinn Designs
Custom Embroidery
Promotional Products USA
CareNow Foundation
Cypress Place
Data-Girl Business Services
Mary Ann Zinn Designs
New Act Travel
Data-Girl Business Services
Tea by the Sea
Promotional Products USA
SeneGense Lipcolor
Weekenders
Promotional Products USA
Mary Ann Zinn Designs
Weekenders
Oxnard Chamber of Commerce
Organizing Rx
Business Networking International
Mary Ann Zinn Designs
Weekenders
Travel Planner
Weekenders
Acupuncture
Ventura Chamber of Commerce
Promotional Products USA
SeneGense Lipcolor
Weekenders
Custom Embroidery
Nicholl Insurance & Financial
Business Networking Intl.
Forever Fit
Nicholl Insurance & Financial
Forever Fit
Acupuncture
Juice Plus
Custom Embroidery
April-June 2007
Page 5
to the time of my surgery, my mother never
left my side. She stayed with me around
the clock in my hospital room with only a
chair to sleep in and occasionally driving
10 minutes to use the shower at a nearby
friend’s house. After the surgery she single
The recipient of the 2007 Wind Beneath handedly packed up my entire house and
with my dad’s help moved be back home
My Wings Award was Veronica Daube.
so I could recover. She cared for me
Mother of Pearl
through July of 2003 when I had a second
When asked to describe someone who
surgery to have an internal reservoir
has made a difference in my life numerous
formed out of my small intestine. That time
people come to mind, there is however one
I was in the hospital
that rises above the rest–my
for a month and again
mother, Toni Daube.
my mother stayed with
A few years ago my mom
me. Over the next year
went above and beyond the
I was in and out of the
normal graces of motherhood.
hospital due to minor
In April of 2002 I was
complications with the
diagnosed with Ulcerative
growing pouch and
Colitis while away at School
each time my mother
in Northern CA. Despite the
never left my side.
fact that I was in Northern CA
It is important to
and my mom was in Southern
note why my mother stayed with me. At
CA, we spoke on a regular basis.
the time of my surgeries I was 23 and 24
When I wanted to come home for a
years of age. I didn’t need a chaperone,
visit, was too sick to drive and couldn’t
however I did need an advocate. She made
afford a flight, my mom took the train up
sure to treat the nursing staff with respect
north and drove me home and back. When
and gratitude and in return she was able to
she was up here she would stay a few days
have a broader run of the floor to get me
extra and help me with grocery shopping
items such as juice and blankets as I
and anything else she could do to ease the
needed them. She also watched everything
situation. In spite of all my efforts to
the staff did and several times caught
control the disease, I woke up one morning
errors in my
and ended up passed out on the bathroom
medications, errors
floor from the blood loss. My mother who
which if she had not
was on my landline the whole time, kept
caught them could
me talking and on the phone until the
have been severely
Emergency Response Team arrived. As
detrimental to my
soon as they were at my door, my mom
already weakened
hung up and got in the car to drive up
health.
north.
My mother was
Needless to say by the end of the month
and is my advocate,
I had to be rushed into emergency surgery
my motivator, my
to have my colon removed. From that first
strength, and my
time I was rushed to the emergency room
Wind Beneath
My Wings Award
.
VCPWN Focal Points
friend. I can honestly say that I could not
have made it through my illness without
her. Her support gave me the power to
make the best of what could have been a
bad situation. I hope you will honor her
with the Wind Beneath My Wings Award.
It is the least I can do to repay the gift she
has given me. Y
Page 6
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VCPWN Focal Points
Please support our sponsors!
April-June 2007
April-June 2007
Healthy Habits
101
Increase your energy by establishing a
few healthy habits
Pam Vos, Forever Fit
The little orange light comes on in my
dashboard. It’s warning me that I’m almost
out of gas. Being rushed, I try to ignore the
little orange light, but with the potential for
danger by running on empty I cannot go
any further without first re-fueling my car.
Fuel is necessary if we want to get
somewhere. We cannot drive our vehicle
without it. Our bodies are similar in that
they need fuel in order to function, yet
many of us ignore the warning lights and
run on empty.
After being in the fitness industry for
many years I have seen countless women
(and men) drag themselves through the
day. It starts when the alarm clock goes off
in the morning. You roll out of bed with
your eyes half-closed and drag yourself to
the kitchen or local coffee house for a large
cup of coffee (sometimes with an extra
shot). You get to work, and it takes another
hour fumbling at your desk until the
caffeine kicks in. You hurry through your
busy day of work, forgetting to eat lunch.
After errands, children, cleaning and work
you finally make it home and flop on the
couch. Realizing that you forgot to eat
lunch, your stomach begins to growl with
hunger pangs. It’s like that little orange
light on the dashboard flashing all day.
You’ve ignored the warning signs and now
you’re desperate and in danger–your fuel
tank is empty. Too tired to cook, you grab
the nearest junk food and eat as you glare
at the TV. Since it’s been hours since
you’ve eaten, you overeat and end up
feeling horrible.
After living this way on a daily basis for
a long time, it’s no wonder that so many
people are tired, sluggish and overweight.
As a Fitness Instructor and business owner,
I’m often at the club at 5:00 am. You’ll
find me teaching a cardio salsa class at
6pm the same day and energetically
bopping around the club, motivating the
women to move those bodies at all hours in
between. These women are often amazed
at my energy levels during those 12-15
hour days. (I don’t recommend that type of
Page 7
work schedule by the way). If it weren’t
for a few healthy habits I’ve established
along the way, I couldn’t survive.
If you find you are lacking energy, here
are a few easy habits you can begin to
establish that I guarantee will make an
impact on your energy levels. Note: These
are not anything new but often we don’t
realize they effect our energy levels.
Healthy Habit #1. Drink your water!
Incredible as it may seem, keeping
hydrated will help increase your energy
and it is an important catalyst in losing
weight. Consuming an adequate amount of
water benefits the body in the following
ways:
• ·Supplies oxygen and nutrients to
your muscles and organs
• ·Washes out toxic waste
• ·Alleviate fluid retention
• ·Liver functions improve,
increasing the percentage of fat
used for energy purpose
• ·Appetite decreases significantly
• ·Metabolism function improves
I personally experienced the difference
water made in my energy level about 12
years ago when I was booked with
back-to-back private training clients. At the
end of one particular day I was exhausted
and tried to figure out why. I suddenly
realized I’d drunk hardly any water! The
next day I was drinking water all day long
and I perked right up. From then on, I
developed the habit of drinking water.
There are many other signs of
dehydration. I often look at our clients’
hands and give them a little pinch and say
“you’re not drinking much water, are
you?” I see it in their skin. Drink up
ladies–your skin will even look younger.
Healthy Habit #2 Eat 5-6 Meals per
Day. Yippee! Most of us like this one.
Starvation diets are archaic, yet many
women still think they have to starve
themselves to lose weight. Food is energy!
Just as you cannot drive your car without
fuel, your body cannot function without
food. If you don’t eat enough food or you
don’t eat often enough, your metabolism
will slow down to conserve energy and
you’ll be tired.
How many meals you eat each day is
important for a properly functioning
metabolism. Each time you eat a meal or a
snack, you stimulate your metabolism. This
results in an increase in your energy and
burning extra calories. Spreading your
.
VCPWN Focal Points
calories throughout the day (approximately
every 3 hours) is so important to a healthy
lifestyle. You’ll give your body a little
food, let it use it, then give it a little more,
etc.
Heatlhy Habit # 3. Exercise. I often
hear the excuse from women that they are
“too tired” to exercise. Do you know
“why” you are too tired to exercise? (aside
from the fact that you haven’t had enough
water and frequent meals). It’s from lack of
exercise. Many of us sit behind a desk at
the computer all day and the only muscles
that move are the little ones in your
fingers. Strength training will make a huge
difference in your energy levels because it
increases your metabolism.
It takes more calories to maintain
muscle then it does to maintain fat. As
result, you will burn more calories, even
while at rest. And, since your heart is a
muscle and its job is to pump blood to the
other muscles, performing cardio vascular
exercise will give you a boost of energy as
well. If you are sedentary most of the day,
get up and just do a few squats or pushups
on the wall and see if you don’t feel a bit
more invigorated. When I get a bit drowsy
from being at the computer, I pick up the
dumbbells and workout for ten minutes or
so. Ahhhh….perks me right up!
Healthy Habit #4 Sleep. Nothing
drastically kills our energy faster than the
lack of sleep. As a matter of fact, many
studies also report the link between weight
gain and lack of sleep. Sleep is the time
when your body is recharging and cells are
repairing. With so many demands on our
lives we try to cram a lot into a day.
Although you can find much
information on how to sleep better, here
Page 8
.
VCPWN Focal Points
Writers Among Us
Meeting Review by Carol Leish
Since we have a lot of talent within our
membership here at VCPWN, we have started
drawing on and sharing it. At the February
meeting two members, Alison Balter and
Sheila Lowe, shared their own experiences of
becoming authors. Alison focused on
non-fiction and Sheila focused mainly on
fiction.
The founder of Info-Technologies(a CA
based computer consulting firm), Alison is a
trainer and consultant who deals with
Windows application training and
development. She has two children and lives
in Camarillo. We learned that she has written
13 books and is the author of more than 300
internationally marketed training videos.
Alison started her computer business in
1990 and in 1992 became president of a
computer language user group called the
Clipper Group. After writing articles for the
monthly newsletter and public speaking for
awhile, she got a phone call from a magazine
publisher asking her to write some magazine
articles. Soon afterwards, she got a call from
Sam’s Publishing (part of Macmillan), and
they wanted her to write a book.
“But I don’t want to write a book,” Alison
replied. The publisher wasn’t so easily put off,
however, and asked her to think about it over
the weekend and come up with an advance
amount that would start her writing the book.”
She thought long and hard and came up with a
figure that she thought would scare them off.
It didn’t.
Her first book was about Microsoft Access.
“You need to know whether you want an
advance versus royalties over time for writing
a book,” said Alison, who mentioned that she
doesn’t use an agent. She also shared that an
author doesn’t have to pay back the advance if
the book doesn’t sell. “Advances can range
anywhere from $10,000 to $100,000 for the
non-fiction writing that I do.” She spoke about
how it has been difficult to write at times,
since she is writing beta software, which
means it hasn’t yet been released. The up-side
is, she has been invited to Microsoft to try out
new software and “play” with it.
Our other member speaker was Sheila
Lowe, who is both an author and a
handwriting expert. She has written two
editions of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to
Handwriting Analysis (Penguin) and
April-June 2007
Handwriting of the Famous & Infamous
(Metro). Her mystery novel Poison Pen, was
published in March, 2007.
Over the course of her career, Sheila
estimates she has analyzed over 10,000
handwritings and she has worked in the court
system on issues related to handwriting. She
first wanted to write novels when she was
fourteen. “In my career as a handwriting
analyst I wrote technical articles and people
kept encouraging me to write a book. My first
book was published just before I turned 50,
but it was The Complete Idiots Guide to
Handwriting Analysis.
In Poison Pen, a new sleuth–Claudia Rose,
a handwriting expert,” Sheila said. “Claudia is
an ongoing character. In a series you get to
really know a character.” After Poison Pen,
Claudia Rose will be featured in Written in
Blood, which is already completed, and then
in Dead Write.
Sheila came in 3rd out of 97 after
submitting 20 pages of Poison Pen to the
Southwest Writers Conference competition.
As a result, she went to Albuquerque, N.M.
and had dinner with one of the judges, Sarah
Ann Freed an editor at Mysterious Press. “I
loved the characters,” Sarah told her. “They’re
slightly over the top in a Jackie Collins way.”
She then asked to see the rest of the book.
“When I sent her the entire book,” Sheila said.
“Sarah said she didn’t like the characters!”
Sheila believes it’s important for aspiring
writers to get involved in a good critique
group and to go to writer’s conferences, as
well as to read good books about writing.
Some of the books she’s found helpful include
Self Editing for Fiction Writers and Writers
Market.
In fiction writing, she has learned the
importance of understanding conflict, action
and suspense. In addition, studying scene,
structure, dialogue and
point of view were all
vital when it came to
writing Poison Pen. She
joked that there are said
to be three rules to
writing fiction...but
nobody knows what
they are!
Thus, if you have a
book in your brain,
whether it’s nonfiction
or fiction, dream,
dream….and write it!
are a few tips that I implement to get
the most out of my sleep time: A)
No caffeinated beverages late in the
day. B) Take a hot bath with
lavender oil and candles. C) Have a
protein shake so as not to be hungry
at bedtime. D) Make the bedroom
dark–turn off or cover the computer,
close the drapes or blinds, or wear an
eye mask. E) Read the Psalms or
write in a journal. There are also
many natural supplements on the
market which work with your own
body chemistry and don’t have the
side effects of drugs. Stress has an
impact on our sleep so getting plenty
of exercise including deep breathing
practices should help you get a
restful nights sleep.
In summary, if you want to
increase your energy, begin by
applying these few simple habits and
you will soon experience the
benefits.
Pam Vos, CFT is the owner of
Forever Fit! Women’s Personal
Fitness Studio where she’s a
Certified Personal Trainer/Pilates
Instructor and motivational speaker.
Pam Teaches a 12 week “Wellness
Program” on how to establish
healthy habits for a healthy lifestyle.
She was voted one of the Best
Personal Trainers in Ventura County
2006.
www.ForeverFitStudio.com
April-June 2007
Page 9
.
VCPWN Focal Points
Blow Your Horn!
I Shirley Lorraine received well-deserved recognition as
Toastmaster of the Year for Area B-4 Toastmasters for 2006.
In addition, she won a speech contest at both her club and the
Area (multiple club competition) levels.
I Joyce Sherwood was interviewed about Brain Gym on an
internet radio station. The interview is about 14
minutes long, and starts about 5 minutes into the
program. You can listen at www.healthylife.net.
Click on Radio Archives–Robert Ferguson’s
March 7th show.
Spirit of Networking Award
I Carol Powell received the Agent of the Year Award
for the Channel Islands Office during the Troop Real
Estate Annual Awards Luncheon held at the Ronald
Reagan Library on March 15. The winner of this
award is determined
by vote of the
winner’s peers, based
on the agent’s positive
overall contribution to
the office and other
agents. In addition,
Carol will attend
another week of
investor college at
Nouveau Riche
University the first
week of April. She’s
been so impressed
with the excellent real
estate investing
knowledge and
support taught at NRU
that she has decided to
join Nouveau Riche
University in
marketing their college program because this knowledge can
make a tremendous difference in people’s financial lives.
[email protected]
We honored this year’s 2006-2007 Spirit of Networking
Award Winner at our March meeting–Mary Gabriels!
Winning this award is a tremendous honor for the recipient.
Mary received the most votes from the VCPWN
membership to publicly recognize her outstanding efforts in
supporting and promoting the goals of our VCPWN.
Maura Raffensperger announced Mary as the winner and
talked about how Mary has served on the Board of Directors
in the position of Direction of Hospitality for two years.
She read some of the comments submitted by other
members that Mary not only works hard in her Hospitality
position, but that her personal warmth makes each guest feel
welcome. She helps with the Silent Auctions, and attends
the Ventura Chamber of Commerce meeting on behalf of
VCPWN. She always has a smile on her face, and
graciously helps out anywhere she is asked. Mary is a great
representative for VCPWN.
Mary was joined on stage by former Spirit of Networking
Honorees, Maura Raffensperger, Shirley Lorraine, Mary
Ann Zinn, Norma Zuber, Charlotte Werner-Gesling, Sue
Gary, and Nancy Maxwell.
Girls Wanna Have Fun II
Join in the fun at the Sidecar Restaurant in Ventura
May 12, 11:00-1:00. Buffet brunch, vendors, and
for her Day At the Beach event on April 28. Pamela will
meet with ten professional women to envision their future
girltalk. Register by April 15 to receive 5 free raffle
and help bring their dreams to reality. She can be contacted at tickets. Register online at www.vcpwn.org. For
[email protected].
informaton about being a vendor, contact Marlene
Sheila Lowe was bowled over by the large number of
Hunau-Herman: 805-485-7573
I Pamela Nye is offering a 20% discount to VCPWN members
I
VCPWN and Chamber members who attended
her book launch on March 27 at Nona’s
Courtyard Cafe. An article in the Star and a radio
interview also brought some of the public. She
was also quoted in Us Weekly magazine about
Angelina Jolie’s handwriting and appeared on
Fox & Friends on the Fox Channel.
Send “Blow Your Horn” announcements to Focal Points Editor Sheila Lowe at
[email protected], or complete a Blow Your Horn form at one of the VCPWN
meetings. Remember, the articles are for interest items only. If you are interested in
purchasing an advertisement to publicize your business or an event or place a
classified ad, please let us know. It will benefit you and help support Focal Points.
Call Sheila Lowe at (805) 658-0109 or email: [email protected]
Ventura County Professional Women’s Network
Post Office Box 6329
Oxnard, California 93031
(805) 656-6011 www.vcpwn.org
.
Director of Networking, Carol Powell, presents Mary
Gabriels with the Spirit of Networking Award
Spirit of Networking Award
L-R: Maura Raffensperger
Shirley Lorraine
Maryann Zinn
Winner, Mary Gabriels
Norma Zuber
Sue Gary
Nancy Maxwell
Charlotte Gesling
VCPWN 2006 Board of Directors
President
Shirley Lorraine
805-659-5580
10155 Jamestown St., Ventura 93004
Focal Points Editor
Sheila Lowe
805-658-0109
170 Dahlia Way, Ventura 93004
Director of Mentoring
Pam Vos
805-382-4444
1257 Bayside Cir., Oxnard 93035
President-Elect
Lisa Ross
805-650-8000
368 Citadel Ave., Ventura 93003
Director of Public Relations
Open position
Executive Secretary
Denise Lawrence
805-984-5142
2682 N. Victoria Ave, Pt Hueneme 93041
Director of Special Projects
Marlene Hunau-Herman
805-485-7573
2511 Topaz Ct., Oxnard 93030
Director of Membership
Ingrid Cabral Ward
805-485-9122
2072 Olga Street, Oxnard, 93036
Immediate Past President
Alison Balter
805-491-0111
11450 Highridge Ct., Santa Rosa Vlly 93012
Director of Networking
Carol Powell
805-443-5900
1540 Quincy Street, Oxnard 93033
Director of Finance
Mary Sullivan
805-642-9706
636 Colina Vista, Ventura 93003
Member-at-Large
Laureen Lazzaro
805-477-0441
1794 Victoria Ave Suite .A,
Ventura 93003
Director of Hospitality
Mary Gabriels
805-247-1470
236 S. G St., Oxnard 93030
Recording Secretary
Anna Kittleson
805-491-0111
8323 Boise Street, Ventura 93004