Writers Way North

Last month I attended the first meeting of Writers Way North. The name is a little misleading since we met in Concord, NH, but for some folks “down South”, (you know like in Boston), Concord New Hampshire, may as well be the Canadian border!

Writers Way North is the brain child of Linda Formichelli and Elaine Grant. Both are experienced writers with diverse backgrounds who are looking to share leads and best practices with like minded colleagues.

There were 11 of us at the December meeting held at the lovely home of Linda Formichelli and Eric Martin. There was great food an a lot of laughs. We talked about “Micro Actions” -- the small things that we can all do, with little stress, to further our long-term goals as writers and editors. Linda wrote a blog entry on this very subject in October.

Writer’s Way North is not meant to be a critique group, but rather a way for those seriously engaged in writing to network and learn from each other. The group hopes to meet on a monthly basis with discussions in between via a Google group.

So, have you published at least one piece in a paying market OR started a blog OR worked in a writing/editorial staff position at some point OR have the intention of selling your work, be it fiction or nonfiction? Are you interested in networking with other Northern New England writers? Drop me an email (laughlin at fearlessevents dot com) with WWN Information in the subject and I’ll send you the information.

Our next meeting is a week from tonight (January 10th) a 7pm in Concord, NH we will be discussing goals for our writing. Hope to see you there.

The Ups and Downs of Balancing Work and Family Or, why I didn't make it to the New England Women's Network inaugural event yesterday

I work for myself from home. There are downsides, (no company contribution to health care, no retirement plans and a definite lack of adult conversation during the day). However,this arrangement comes in particularly handy on days like yesterday.

I was really looking forward to the inaugural meeting to the New Engalnd Women’s Network, alas I was not meant to be there. My youngest was not feeling well. I’ll spare you the gory details. It wasn’t strep throat or the flue, but the kind of not feeling well that can be resolved with a little time and effort. He wanted Clifford, water and some privacy.

I answered some email and kept an ear out for any signs of improvement. It didn’t appear the situation was going to be resolved anytime soon. One minute I’d abandoned the cause and was ready to change out of my meeting clothes and the next, all was well. He was back on his feet and back to his normal, high energy, chatterbox self.

We cleaned up and packed up and headed for pre-school. I was basking in the glimmer of hope that I’d make at least the luncheon part of the meeting and maybe squeeze in a little networking at the end. That is until I was sitting completely still on 293 South in Manchester. There was road construction that caused a back up that inched along at a snails pace. With lot of sighing and glaring at my watch, I realized there was no way I was going to make it all the way to Nashua in time to even say hello to the organizers!!

I am sorry I missed the meeting, I heard good things from those who attended. Did you go? What did you think? I understand that a January event is in the works. I’ll post the info when I get it.

At the end of the day, I do what I do, the way I do it so that I can make a reasonable stab at balancing work and family. Sometimes the scales tip more one way than the other, but I feel lucky to be in the situation I’m in.

The New England Women's Network

I love to meet people, but as previously noted, my family commitments don't always allow me time to attend as many networking events as I would like.
I'm excited about the prospect of the New England Women's Network a brand new networking group with the express mission of creating "a powerful, relationship-network that provides dynamic educational and inspiring events and workshops monthly throughout the year with the goals of increasing exposure, leads, and resources."

The New England Women's Business Network will hold their inaugural meeting Thursday December 6th from 11:30 to 2pm at Rivier College in Nashua.

The featured speakers are:
Betsy Meyers, Past Director of the Office of Women's Business Ownership in Washington, D.C. and National Chair of Women for Obama.

Pam Carriere-Oliwa, M.A., CEO of Success Management Center, Success Coach & Writer

Registration is just $25 before December 4th and $30 after the 4th or at the door.

I'm looking forward to attending. If you want to join me, please call Maria 432-0002 to register. Hope to see you there!

Shop for the holidays AND help troubled teens

I don’t know about you, but a tie or some slippers just won’t due for most of the people on my holiday gift list. I’m always looking for something just a little different. I’m also always looking to avoid the mall during the holiday season.

Here’s a great way to do both, AND help a worthy cause. On November 30th and December 1st, GM Roth in Nashua is hosting a Holiday Home Shopping Boutique to benefit the Nashua Pastoral Care Center’s holiday program. Admission is a teenage appropriate gift (i.e. gift cards or a cash donation) and in exchange, you will purveyors of fine jewelry, purses, crystal, floral designers and other artisans. Sounds like the perfect place to find that unique gift you are looking for.

More information can be found on the GM Roth web site.

Hope to see you there!

Leslie, I hardly knew ye

I was skimming my Google Reader this morning when I just about sprayed the iMac in tea.

This post was written by one of the 43 Folders guest bloggers. It was conveying the wisdom of their dear friend Leslie Harpold who passed unexpectedly last December. That’s were the iMac almost got the tea bath. Leslie Harpold? Could it be the same Leslie Harpold I’d tussled with over the name of my web design company in 1996? And if so, she was dead????

A little background, in early 1996, I started a web design company called Fearless Media. My idea was to create websites for small businesses and non-profit organizations. This thing called the Internet was in its infancy and I was on a crusade to share it with people who could benefit the most.

One night in October of that year, I got a call out of the blue. Even though it was after 8pm, I answered the business line. On the other end of the line a woman’s voice peppered me with questions about my company, when did it open, what services did it offer, how many people did I employ and on and on. At first, I answered the questions, but pretty quickly I got a grip and fired back with “Hey, who are you and why do you care?”

It seems she had just started her own company and chosen the name Fearless Media for her company. Except when she went to register the domain, oops, someone else had it . Namely, me.

At first I was all about live and let live. We were chasing different markets. She wanted corporate clients after glitz and interactivity. I wanted small shops interested in conveying their message to the world. It seemed to me we could peacefully co-exist. Yeah, I was young and naive.

We couldn’t. There was confusion in the marketplace and that wasn’t good for either of us.

I filed for and received a trademark on the name. I could prove first use in interstate commerce. Woo Hoo! Cease & desist letters were sent and there was a brief exchange between her and my lawyer. Nothing substantial came of it.

Time passed, and I kept and eye on her site from time to time and then the site wasn’t updated anymore. I knew she was from New York and I had an awful feeling she’d been lost on 9/11. But then the site was updated again. She had new staff, and a new address clear across the country.

By this time, I’d moved on to other interests and decided it wasn’t worth fighting about and I let the trademark lapse.

Frankly, I never gave her much though until today. I spent the remainder of my large mug of tea following links and learning more about this woman who I’d always though of as kind of a fly in my soup.

The one time we spoke, she portrayed herself as just a woman trying to carve out her piece of the American Dream. To read the online accounts of her life, she was a visionary who was widely respected and published and very well regarded. By, friends, enemies and colleagues alike.

In hindsight, I wish I’d gotten to know her better. Odd how trajectories can intersect and people pinball off of one another.

So, hats off to you Leslie Harpold. I’m sorry that our time together was on opposite sides of the table, but thank you for all that you contributed to the Internet Community. May you rest in peace and never run out of cigarettes and Diet Coke.

A Room Full of Independent Business Women

I’ve just walked in the door from the 5th Annual WomenBiz Celebration & Showcase Presented by The Women’s Business Center. This my third time attending the event and I always come away energized and inspired.

First and foremost props to those that made the event such a success. The WBC Board of directors and staff are a vibrant, caring group of women who are truly dedicated to the success of women business owners. Thanks to the event underwriter Citizen’s Bank Foundation and The New Hampshire Business Review for their continued support of women business owners.

The event featured an exhibit of 35 women owned businesses and there was a great variation of products and services. I collected a lot of literature and am looking forward to possibly profiling some of the women I met today.

There was also a delicious lunch and kudos to the C.R. Sparks staff for deftly handling my last minute accommodation for an alternate meal due to a food allergy.

The keynote speaker was Christine Ingemi, the creator of iHearSafe earbuds. iHearsafe earbuds are small in-ear earphones that are designed limit the volume of personal listening devices (i.e. iPods, Gameboys or CD Players) to prevent noise induced hearing loss.

Christine was very down to earth and full of encouragement for other women entrepreneurs. “It takes a village to run a business, don’t be afraid to ask for help.”

Ingemi says one of the greatest impacts of her success is her children’s inspiration. She has 4 kids and she told a story of her oldest daughter’s ambition to start a school newspaper. Instead of whining about the lack of a paper, instead her daughter came home saying ‘I want to do this, how do I do it?’. We should all be so lucky to be such role models to our kids.

The WBC is a must-know organization for any women even thinking of starting a business. They offer classes and resources for women entrepreneurs in all stages of the business development cycle, be sure to visit them at www.womenbiz.org.

Webinar for Women On Retirement

Got an email today from the U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau. They are holding a Webinar on September 28th "Catching on to Retirement". The description in the email reads

Wherever you are in your career, whatever your wage, there is something you can do to plan for retirement. What are the challenges and issues related to retirement planning that women should pay special attention to? What are the solutions to these challenges? What can employers do to help their employees have a secure retirement?

For more information visit www.wiseupwomen.org

I can't attend, but if you do, please let me know how it is.