A BIG thanks to Kathy Rowe of Merrill Lynch for her incredibly informative presentation at the January 2012 WBN luncheon held at Corporate Alliance in Provo.

We laughed (see financial comic above), we cried (have you heard of the “debt snowball”??) and we all enjoyed her simple and very valuable tips to put together a sound financial plan including:

1) Get out of debt

2) Save

3) Invest for the long term

Learning that statistically, “95% of all women will at some point in their lives be solely responsible for their personal and family’s financial decisions”, was a real eye-opener.

Check out Kathy’s full presentation and whitepaper to access the fantastic information and helpful tips for putting together your financial strategy:

Whitepaper: What Women Need to Really Help With Retirement Savings

Thanks again to Landmark II Catering for performing a feat of amazingness when we were surprised with almost double our expected attendance!*

*Don’t forget to register Tuesday before noon prior to our monthly luncheons. As the WBN attendance grows (hooray!), we can’t have our enthusiasm and excitement come at the cost of the premature graying of hair of Landmark employees. It just wouldn’t be right. Thanks in advance!

The silent auction included a wide variety of items and we witnessed some good-spirited nudging as the competition heated up in the last few minutes. The funds raised from this event support the WBN’s scholarship program; attendees may feel confident they have helped other young women to pursue business-related education and careers.  The end result of the auctions resulted in adequate funding for the remainder of the 2011-2012 scholarship program and 2012-2013 scholarship program cycle, too!

Jessica Egbert, WBN Chair, found herself a little emotional as she acknowledged the volunteer service of the 2011 WBN Board and the organizations’ growth this year.  Some of those Board members will continue on in 2012 with Michele Bates as Chair.  Attendees applauded in appreciation for the service these ladies have given throughout the year.

The recipients of the Small Business Development Grant were also announced at the Holiday Luncheon.  Designed to facilitate the growth of small, female-owned or -employed businesses in Utah Valley through the WBN’s three-fold mission, this grant helped us to meet some up-and-coming small businesses in the area.  Two very different businesses stood out among the applications, presenting organized and well thought out business plans.

• Copper Pi is a software development and publishing company focused on creating children’s book applications for the iPad.  They want to bring book publishing into the 21st century.
• Black Sheep Cafe is cafe with an artist’s gallery. The full-service cafe serves flavorful dishes influenced by Southwestern Native American cuisine and cooked using contemporary techniques.

As we come to the end of 2011, the WBN Board thanks the individuals and organizations who supported the WBN through a very successful year.  Attendance at WBN events continues to increase, as does blog hits.  The WBN has created new programs this year (beyond the scholarship program), including the Small Business Development Grant program and the Utah Valley Women’s Business Conference. The Conference provided essential education to businesswomen and students of all ages – and, it set the stage for a continued tradition which will be valuable to our community.  Going into 2012, we hope to continue supporting the WBN mission and fulfilling the needs of Utah Valley businesswomen!

For 2012, a prepayment discount is available if you want to prepay for your luncheons.  Included in the prepayment package are nine regular monthly luncheons ($15 each) and the holiday luncheon ($25) in December (excluded are the May combined conference with the North Utah County Women in Business and the October Utah Valley Women’s Business Conference). The total cost would normally be $160, but those who prepay by January 10th will only have to pay $150. To take advantage of this offer, call the Chamber office at 801.851.2555.

We sincerely thank our sponsors and donors, below.  We could not fund our scholarship program without both their and your support.  We encourage you to learn more about what they do (in addition to how they support our community)!

Held in the Garden Room at Thanksgiving Point, the event features not only the silent auction and networking activities, but also a delicious meal in a festive holiday environment.  Each attendee also receives a special gift from one of our generous table sponsors!  We’ve started collecting the gifts and they’re impressive!  The silent auction items include a variety of items which will be excellent holiday gifts – such as a money tree, gift cards, themed gift baskets, classy purses, Jimmer Fredette autographed basketballs and posters, hotel nights, legal services, beauty and wellness products, limited edition artwork, professional development opportunities, et cetera!

The Luncheon is $25 and is limited to the first 120 registrants.  Because this is a popular event, we encourage you to register early online.  Registration will close on Monday, December 5.  Bring a friend, your appetite, your wallet, and your gift list!

We sincerely thank our sponsors and donors, below.  We could not fund our scholarship program without both their and your support.  We encourage you to learn more about what they do (in addition to how they support our community)!  Then, come to the luncheon and place your bids!

If you have any questions about the luncheon or registration, email wbn@thechamber.org or contact the Chamber directly at 801.851.2555.

The Luncheon is $25 and is limited to the first 120 registrants.  Because this is a popular event, we encourage you to register early online.  Registration will close on Monday, December 5.  This is a great opportunity to bring a friend to introduce to other businesswomen, the Chamber, and the WBN.    Bring your friend, appetite, credit cards, and holiday shopping list - we look forward to seeing you next month!

Table Sponsorship and Silent Auction Donations

If you’re interested in sponsoring a table (9 gifts of minimum $15 each), we have only one of the 15 slots still available.  We have four of 30 slots available for silent auction donations (minimum $50), too.  We will be collecting donations through the end of November.  All donors will be listed online in early December and in print at the luncheon.  If you are interested in donating, email wbn@thechamber.org.