The 2008 Holiday Extravaganza is just around the corner! We’ve set the stage, planned the luncheon and picked November 19th, 2008 as our date. Don’t forget to mark your calendars and start spreading the word because the only thing missing from the Holiday Extravaganza is you.

This year we’ve pulled out all the stops and invited Jennifer Irwin, co-host of Magic in the Morning on Magic 107.9 to be our official Women In Networking Holiday Extravaganza emcee. In addition to working with Magic 107.9, Jennifer holds a Journalism Degree from the University of Arkansas and is the social editor of Celebrate Arkansas Magazine. She is involved in several non-profit and community organizations and currently serves on the board  of directors for Life Styles, Inc. Please visit the Magic 107.9 website http://www.magic1079.com/pages/magicmornings.html for additional information and some an enlightening look into her life.

Our  guest  speaker  and provider of entertainment this year is Jeanne Champagne. Mrs. Champagne will be demonstrating the significance of dance as a social and physical tool for enhancement of mental and physical connections between two people. Many look at dancing as attainable only if they are at the right weight or if they have the right shoes and proper clothing. These common misconceptions will be debunked through demonstration and she will show us you don’t need a body like a star to step into dancing
at  any  time  of  your  life. If you can walk, you can dance. To help demonstrate we will be welcoming  two couples to the stage to accompany Mrs Champagne and demonstrate their dancing skills allowing us to see what can be learned in only three, simple lessons.

Mrs. Champagne will be inviting couples to attend dancing lessons ranging from  Ballroom to Swing to Latin. One of her main goals is to create a dancing environment that allows couples to come closer together and bring something back into the community that the atomic-age has slowly removed from our lives, a connection between each other. She hopes to make dancing even more appealing by keeping any expenses affordable, even those on a tight budget should be able to take lessons. Dance packages include six one-hour lessons for $99 with a choice of twelve different dances within the Ballroom, Swing or Latin styles.

With each successive year the entertainment and excitement only grows and we hope to see each and every one of you there. The Holiday Extravaganza is the perfect venue for networking or meeting others with similar interests. So get ready for the best event of the year.

———————————————

SUITED FOR SUCCESS SILENT AUCTION

Each  year the Women In Networking Holiday Extravaganza hosts a Silent Auction to benefit Suited For Success and we expect 2008 to be the best auction to date. Please contact Ann Harris by phone 479 696-3909 or by email ann.harris@parkway-bank.com to donate items for the Silent Auction. We hope
that  you  will  take this opportunity to play a role in the future of economically challenged women in our area.

Suited for Success is the Women In Networking vision in action for community enhancement. Suited for Success provides professional clothing and mentoring to economically challenged women as a means to increase confidence and employment potential. Services such as professional development, coaching and training are made available to women in need at no charge.

———————————————

TICKET INFORMATION

2008 Holiday Extravaganza tickets are currently available for purchase until November 10th, 2008. Please remember to keep your tickets in a safe place as they are non-refundable and cannot be replaced. The following is a list of available locations, times and methods for acquiring your tickets.

Receive tickets by mail:*
Send a check payable to “Women In Networking ( WIN )” along with your name
and a return address to:
Women In Networking, P.O. Box 810, Rogers, Arkansas 72756

*All mail purchases must arrive on or before November 10th, 2008 to receive
a ticket on time.

Women In Networking Meetings:
Get your tickets at the final Women In Networking meeting this
October 15th at the Embassy Suites in Rogers
Board Members: Contact any Women In Networking board member to purchase your
tickets

Parkway Bank c/o Ann Harris:
Visit Parkway Bank in Rogers and contact Ann Harris 479 696-3909
3350 Pinnacle Hills Parkway, Rogers, AR 72756

Destinations c/o Sarah Gladstone:
Visit Destinations in Fayetteville and contact Sarah Gladstone 479 582-1900
3849 W. Wedington Drive, Fayetteville, AR 72701

Planning an event can seem very simple; schedule a date and time, locate a venue and invite a few people, but the truth of the matter is that event planning takes a good deal of time and consideration and maintaining a calm and focused approach during the process can make or break you, your company or the event itself.

The reality of the situation is a little more complex; budgeting, setting a date and a potential alternate date, reservation of the event site, acquiring proper permits if necessary, coordinating transportation and parking, print and radio advertising, arranging speakers and alternate speakers, planning the decor, proper vendor space allocation, restroom facility provisions, emergency plans, cleanup, event insurance and don’t forget about hiring staff and security. Just reading this list is enough to overwhelm most of us but keep in mind that event planning is a career field complete with professional training and informative techniques to help us cope and create the best event possible.

This October Women In Networking welcomes Lea Ann Van Winkle-Gisler, President of Southern Hospitality Management Company (SHMC). Ms Van Winkle-Gisler will be presenting an informative how-to on the management of real world event planning. She is a management professional who understands the absolute necessity of outstanding customer service and has been involved in event planning for the last ten years.

Currently, Ms. Van Winkle-Gisler’s company, SHMC produces and manages events throughout Arkansas and the neighboring region. Her signature in the industry is attention to detail and commitment to first class service. Southern Hospitality Management Company is a working example of how effective relational marketing and strong customer service produces a growing, successful business.

Some of Southern Hospitality Management Company’s clients include: The Arkansas Hospitality Association, The Dallas Ft. Worth Area Tourism Council, Clarke Alto, Cox Communications, Pepper Source, The AMP – Arkansas Music Pavilion, The City of Fayetteville Police and Community Resource Departments as well as many others.

We hope you will be able to join us this October for this enlightening presentation and the next event you plan will be a little ahead of the curve.

Sustainability is quickly becoming the word of the day in nearly every aspect of our lives, as businesses grow more and more company leaders and managers are challenged to to address issues that extend beyond the company’s bottom line. Sustainability is “the increase in productivity and/or reduction of consumed resources without compromising product or service quality, competitiveness, or profitability.” This is certainly not an easy task with issues ranging from employee health and safety to global warming and it’s easy to see how quickly overwhelming this topic can become. But what can we do? How can each of us, at home and at work, create a more equal balance between the needs of the people vs. the needs of the planet?

Women In Networking would like to provide some insight into how larger companies, specifically Wal-Mart, are addressing these issues. Janelle Kearsley, Director of Corporate Strategy/Sustainability for Wal-Mart Stores will be providing invaluable information that can help you and your business become more sustainable.

The Wal-Mart Strategy/Sustainability team was established in 2005 as part of a drive to incorporate social and environmental sustainability into its business practices. In her role, Ms. Kearsley is charged with deriving economic value from improved environmental outcomes by: educating associates on how to incorporate sustainability into their businesses; creating tools to enhance network – to – network communications; and communicating the sustainability strategy to internal and external stake-holders.

Tickets are $30 per person and include a plated lunch. Tickets are on sale at several locations:

• Women in Networking Meetings at Embassy Suites in Rogers: Aug 20, Sept 24 and Oct 15.
• By mail. Mail your check to WIN PO Box 810 Rogers, AR 72756. Make sure to include your return address so we can mail you back your ticket(s) and receipt(s).
• Parkway Bank 3350 Pinnacle Hills Parkway Rogers. Contact: Ann Harris. Phone: 479-696-3909.
• Destinations 3849 W. Wedington Drive Fayetteville. Contact: Sarah Gladstone. Phone: 479-582-1900.
• You can also buy tickets from any Board Member.

Ticket sales close Monday, November 10, 2008. If you would like to purchase your tickets via mail your check must be in our PO Box by November 10, 2008.

If you are interested in donating items for the Silent Auction please contact Ann Harris, 479-696-3909 or ann.harris@parkway-bank.com.

Together we can make Holiday Extravaganza a huge success!