Women In Business Network Luncheon

On November 9, 2007, over 30 professional women gathered at the Women in Business Network (WIBN) holiday luncheon and silent auction. The WIBN luncheon is produced by Business Connection Network (BCN), a group that was founded by Corrinda Campbell. According to Corrinda (or Cori, as her friends call her), the WIBN luncheon was started because the largest amount of people who live below the poverty level are women under the age of 65. The luncheon is a wonderful networking opportunity – there is time both before and after the luncheon to network, and each participant gets to introduce themselves and their company during lunch. There are no membership fees to belong to BCN – you just pay for the events you want to attend. I’ve met so many great women through these luncheons – Shelley Mesh of Mary Kay, Rebecca Saltman of A Foot in The Door Productions, Kristine Wells of RBizness, Dana Lynch of Elements of Image and Pam Pressel of Capabilities, just to name a few. Many of the women who attend own their own businesses, and it is an excellent opportunity to meet new women, share resources and support one another. And yes, there are some brave men who attend as well. Douglas Martine of Blacktie Colorado is a terrific supporter of the WIBN luncheons and is not afraid to sit at a table full of women!

The November luncheon offered a silent auction to benefit Community Shares and I had the opportunity to speak about inspired philanthropy and what Community Shares does. The auction raised $840 for Community Shares, and it was the largest amount raised from a WIBN silent auction so far. There have been various ways that nonprofits have been chosen to be the beneficiary – in 2005, the luncheon attendees voted which nonprofit organization out of 4 should be the recipient. I remember this well because there were at least 2 Community Shares member nonprofit agencies as choices -- The Gathering Place and The Adoption Exchange. It was at the luncheon in 2005 that I met Brenda Roush, the Vice President of Development for The Gathering Place, and I am so grateful to know her. Brenda is amazing – maybe that’s another blog entirely.

In the photo are Lisa Specht, who is a mortgage broker and a yoga instructor, who donated 2 monthly passes to Corepower Yoga to the auction; me, wearing a hand-made shawl donated by Morning Dove Designs that I purchased; and Andi Pearson (my mom!), with Primerica Financial Services, who donated a Silpada Designs sterling silver necklace to the auction.

Many thanks to everyone who participated in the luncheon – and many many thanks to Corrinda Campbell!

- Mary Snyders