PWCC Connections Newsletter
June 2018
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Mission

PWCC provides networking connections that support, enrich  and  inspire women to advance professionally and personally.

Goals

PWCC brings professional women together in a variety of  networking venues to share knowledge, experiences, and  resources with other women. Members have access to:

    * Facilitated networking opportunities at monthly speaker luncheons
    * Special member-only events
    * Committee activities
    * Board participation

Tips for Smarter Living: 
Make Summer the Season to Kick Back and Relax



Be good to yourself this summer! Listen to your body as well as your heart! I recently read somewhere that your heart can heal itself; it doesn't need your brain's help to do it. To me, that means lighten up and stop thinking so much...not easy for all of us over- achievers, but a great summer goal!

Summer is also the time of year where our jam-packed schedules tend to give way to a bit more blank space and breathing room. Follow a few quick tips below to maximize your chill time!

1. Get your calendar out and schedule some days off! Even a few ½ days here and there will make you feel like you are getting a well-deserved break. Try spending one of the days just doing nothing!

2. Try a new workout! Try starting your day with a 10 minute HIIT Training workout. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a training technique in which you give all-out, one hundred percent effort through quick, intense bursts of exercise, followed by short, sometimes active, recovery periods. This type of training gets and keeps your heart rate up and burns more fat in less time. Add a walk or bike ride and your summer workouts will be fun and less time consuming. You can go back to the gym in the winter!

3. Nourish your summer skin! Cantaloupe is the melon of choice for beautiful summer skin, according to New York-based dermatologist Nicholas Perricone. "The sweet fruit is rich in antioxidants and delivers a unique hydration to the skin, resulting in a radiant complexion." Facialist Kate Somerville likes watermelon in the summer months. "It can actually boost your SPF by several factors," she says.

4. Try something out of your comfort zone!
Improv? Tennis? Start a book club? Run a 5K? What we fear most about new challenges is that we may fail in the process. But truthfully most of us have the ability to rise to the occasion, overcome hurdles and obstacles, and actually succeed in accomplishing something new and challenging. Your brain will thank you for the distraction!

5. Ditch the grocery store for your local farmer's market!
To me, nothing is more relaxing then walking through the farmer's market, picking out some fun fruits, veggies, breads, and cheeses and feeding my family only that the rest of the day! If you get to know the vendors, many will bring farm raised chickens and eggs for purchase...now you have enough food for two days! All healthy for your family!

Lastly, please remember: Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, bring your own sunshine!

Submitted by:

Debbie Story
Corporate Identity, Inc.
dstory@corpid.com
 

PWCC Blog:  6 Sweet Ways to Treat Yourself this Summer


Half of 2018 is almost over and the 2017/2018 PWCC Season has come to a close.  Now that you have more time on your hand (smile), here are 6 sweet actions that'll help slash stress, boost happiness and improve overall health this Summer.
 
1.  Put Yourself on your Schedule
Look at your schedule and put into practice having some free time for yourself during the day. Set 30 minutes apart for your personal alone time every day: no phones, no computers, no social media. Take the time to do what you like without any distractions.
 

2.  Do Something for the Joy of it

 
Find something you enjoy. Maybe you're artistic and have a talented outlet and you enjoy making jewelry or painting. Maybe you're an avid tennis player and you enjoy physical activity.  Whatever brings you joy, do it! If you don't know what brings you joy, this is a great time to find out by trying new things, getting out of your comfort zone, and learning something different.  Here are a few things to try for the joy of it:
 

       Go to a free music festival in one of the beautiful Chicago parks

       Make potpourri from seasonal flowers

       Catch fireflies

       Do a walking tour of your city

       Blow bubbles (love this one, try it with your kids)

●       Throw a BBQ for friends and family

       Have a water balloon fight

       Play with the kids or the neighbor's kids

       Do an outside workout

       Dance around

 

3.  Laugh Out Loud

 
Chuckling and giggling benefit our mental and physical health, especially when combined with a physical activity. Giving into a case of the funnies can improve our overall quality of life, while getting goofy with other people can help us connect with the people we laugh with and foster our relationships. Watch a funny movie or a comedy on television.  Better yet, have a slumber party with your besties, watch your favorite sitcoms, and get goofy. 

Read on



Networking Tip:  
Summer Networking: Get out there and have fun!
It's almost summer and after this month's luncheon, PWCC is officially on break until the fall. You might be thinking that the summer months aren't a good time for business networking. Everyone's on vacation and traveling with family, and there aren't too many business events to put on your calendar. People just want to chill and put their buttoned up professional networking self on break, right?  

Well yes and that's why summer is actually a great time for networking! People aren't as busy and are more relaxed and open with the warm weather and outdoor activities.   As long as you keep it casual, summer is the perfect time to deepen relationships with your new contacts from the last season and get to meet new people who you wouldn't have otherwise met.

So think outdoors, fun, and getting to know people better, rather than focusing too hard on professional pitches or asks.
  • Take advantage of sponsored outings, picnics and BBQs. Whether it's your client's golf tournament, a fund-raising event with an organization you support, a lakefront cruise with your alumni group . . . don't miss out! It's a great opportunity to get to meet lots of people without the pressure of a formal networking. 
  • Get a group of new contacts together for outdoor happy hour. How about inviting a few of the people you've met this year at PWCC to meet up for a casual drink on the river walk?   Ask them to bring along another friend or colleague and bond over some frozen mango margaritas or ginger mojitos. (Yum!)
  • Get involved in your community. If your summer schedule allows, take some time to help out with events in your neighborhood.   Help plan the block party or volunteer to plant with the garden club or organize a summer movie night in your backyard.   Take time to get to know more about your neighbors, their friends and family members and where there may be a mutual interest or connection.
Trying even one of these suggestions will find you networking in spite of yourself!

Submitted by:

Fiona L. Ray
Founder, Consumer Insights. Qualitative Research. Strategy.
 


June Mentoring Tip: Preparation: A Key to Successful Mentoring


When the collaboration is organized around specific goals, both mentors and mentees profit from a mentorship relationship. To derive the most possible from such a connection, each person should make sure she's organized and prepared for each interaction so that time is used wisely. Establishing and understanding the goals for each interaction and having a clearly-defined agenda for each meeting will help to ensure that each meeting is productive. 
 
Mentees, Mentees, be sure to ask questions that you really do not know the answer to or about an issue with which you need help.  Step out of your comfort zone to ask about ways to grow professionally.  Even if your mentor is not in the same field as you, she may be able to offer business insights that cut across all industries. A mentor is a great resource and sounding board who can also help you build your network and add more valuable connections to your professional toolkit.
 
Mentors ,  become active listeners to better understand your mentee's goals. Help keep mentees focused on their key areas of interest which may include career planning and strategy, raising raise a professional profile, gaining personal confidence, and managing others. Remember that we all have different goals so help your mentee think about moving from her own point A to point B.  
Help keep mentees focused on their key areas of interest which may include career planning and strategy, a professional profile, gaining personal confidence, and/or  managing others.   Remember that feedback is critical to the relationship. If you don't have an answer or suggestion, connect your mentee to additional resources through introductions. Connections count!


Members in the News
Calling all PWCC Members!  
Do you have some news to share?  Do you have a recent accomplishment that you'd like to highlight?  Submit your professional or personal news to admin@pwcc.org for consideration in an upcoming newsletter. It's a great way to share your accomplishments and continue to build and grow your PWCC Connections. 
________________________________________________________________________________

Alyssa Burns, PWCC Past President and owner of Alyssa Burns Communications, is thrilled to be a panelist speaking about crisis public relations for a HRMAC (Human Resources Management Association of Chicago) event, " HR's Critical Role in the Sexual-Harassment Revolution" on June 14 , as well as  presenting "Build Your Brand & Market Yourself to Get More Business" to the Independent Writers of Chicago (IWOC) on June 12.



PWCC extends a big Thank You! to Sophie Evanoff, President of Vanille Patisserie, our last speaker of the 2017-2018 program year and a new PWCC member. 

Sophie's story of pursuing her version of the American Dream -- to own a pastry business -- was inspiring.  Her business has now grown to include four locations: in the Chicago French Market at Olgivy train station and in the Lincoln Park, Lakeview and Hyde Park neighborhoods. And of course we're grateful for the delicious plated dessert she so generously provided. 


Looking Ahead
Upcoming Events!

Our 2018/2019 Luncheon Events Schedule is available here . Mark your calendars and save the dates for these great events. Remember: non-members may only attend one progressive luncheon and one speaker luncheon in any membership year (September - June). So become a PWCC member now !

September 12, 2018  | Luncheon
Susan Santiago, Senior Vice President, Global Select and Franchise Operations, Hyatt Hotels

October 10, 2018 | Luncheon  
Dr. Lauren Streicher, Medical Director of the Northwestern Center for Sexual Medicine and Menopause

October 23, 2018 | Special Event
PWCCs 20th Anniversary Gala: Fall Feté - 5:30 - 8:00 p.m. at the Chicago Athletic Association

Connections & Conversations
All First Timers, Experienced Members and Guests are Welcome.
 
Join us at 11am, prior to every luncheon at the Union League Club, to learn about the Professional Women's Club of Chicago and membership engagement. Ask questions, participate in discussions about PWCC, and network during this brief, 30-minute meeting.
 
Our next Connections & Conversations Event is on Wednesday, September 12 at 11 am


Welcome New Members
 
Please join PWCC in welcoming these new members who joined during May 2018:

Lisa Bradley, Haley & Aldrich
Christina Cade
Jennifer Cohen-Deihl
Edie Ellis, Agent of Change
Kathryn Fleming, Fleming Family Therapy
Meribeth Hearn, University of St. Francis
Angela Larimer, Larimer Law, LLC
Kelly McGonagil, Insperity
Carolyn Moriarity, Segall Bryant & Hamill
Nicole Reeves, Republic Bank

New Members:   Be sure to look for our New Member Ambassadors with their Red Ribbons affixed to their nametags at our next luncheon.  The Ambassadors are keen to help you feel welcome, comfortable, and introduce you to opportunities available within PWCC.

 


PWCC POLICIES
All reservations for the monthly luncheons are requested  no later than 5:00 p.m. the Friday before the luncheon.  

Anyone reserving after Friday, September 7th, at 5:00 p.m. is subject to a $10 late charge and seating availability.  
 
Please help PWCC and the Union League Club make the monthly luncheon experience a great one and reserve on time and observe their dress code policy.