Women’s Independent Press

By Sanna Carapellotti

It’s early 2012 and you realize that it’s time to do something about the holiday indulging. Maybe it was oneof those seasons of too much drink and too many glittery consumptions.

You consider meal plans, work out trainers and elastic waist pants. With a deep sigh, you still feel lastyears ‘holiday love’ draped around your middle. If you are bemoaning the seasonal excesses and neededweight loss- STOP!

Direct your mind toward your goals using words and images to empower yourself. Remember these
three super powered strategies to reclaim your self-control around food and begin the new year thinner -
in mind!

1. Develop a Personal Eating Philosophy (P.E.P.).
This core tenet defines your actions and could protect you from unnecessary eating. P.E.P. is your self-
talk for all food related decisions and also offers a chance for contemplation when you feel the impulsiveurge to grab food.

Keep your P.E.P. simple, meaningful and personal. I am not referring to a flimsy rant, such as, “I’m noteating.” “I’m not eating.” Choose words that feel right and true for you so you stay decisive.

“I decide.” “I have enough.” “I stop now.”

Think your P.E.P. when someone approaches you with food and when it’s time to eat.

2. Imagine Being Thinner Now
Pull down an imaginary movie screen in front of you. Construct an image of yourself fitting comfortably
into clothing that currently fit too tight. See yourself thinner. Breathe in the joy of accomplishment. Behaveas if you have already achieved your goals, i.e. walk taller, be happier, and eat less. Visualize this imageseveral times a day.

3. Visualize Ultimate Discipline
Mentally rehearse yourself being disciplined in a high risk environment, even if it’s the family room.

Get clear on how you will respond to cues (someone’s guilt trip, the chips in the pantry). Visualize yourselfbehaving with an authority that supports your goals. Imagine how you will think and act through every
moment while in the hot spot. Plan, then visualize, your evening on the way home from work or on the
way to an event.

To experience the feel of ultimate discipline, breathe in your P.E.P., create images of yourself thinner andthen visualize a mental and behavioral strategy to stay attentive and empowered during times ofchallenge.

Applied mind power strengthens your goals. Practice these three super powered strategies to create thechange you want as you step into the new year!

Sanna Carapellotti, MS CHtPittsburgh Advanced Hypnotherapy412.344.2272 sanna@pahyp.com

AnnaMarie Petrarca Gire

How did the crab contact the shrimp? Called him on his shell phone….Okay, maybe not so funny

Laugh:
Make the spontaneous sounds and movements of the face and body that are the instinctive expressions of lively amusement and sometimes also of contempt or derision

My day isn’t compete without a real LAUGH, caused by some off handed remark from a friend or a TV show or something that causes me to laugh out loud. Seinfeld does that for me, I laugh before the characters say their lines, I love that show. Sometimes when I am not in such a good mood, I seek out people who make me laugh; my friend Linda in Kentucky, my husband in Illinois, his humor is dry and sometimes dark, but very funny. I watched a commercial a few months ago, a parody of the beer commercial with the man who is perfect, Dos Equis ), he says “stay thirsty my friend” The Puss and Boots movie trailer was of the kitty leaning on one side and says with a glass of milk in hand/paw, “stay furry my friend’ I still laugh when I think of that.

My friend Linda and I went to movie, Signs. It made me laugh so hard that I had to leave the theater; the lines were so banal that I lost control, laughing so hard that my stomach hurt and soda was coming out of my nose. I can’t think of a single line that caused that reaction, but I still laugh when I talk about Signs with Linda.

When I was younger, laughing at me was not so easy. Youth can be a time of insecurity, so I kept those funny moments buried. Then one day I thought of them and they were funny and I found myself sharing the stories and people laughed, not at me but with me.
One such story had me searching for a dress in the east end of Pittsburgh when I was around 22 or 23. I walked into the store looked around looked up and noticed a woman who seemed to resemble me, so I said, “ we look a lot alike” she didn’t answer, so I looked harder and said, we’re wearing the same clothes, and to my embarrassment realized I was having a conversation with my image in the mirror. The sales clerk came over and said, “ May I help you”, I said “no” and scooted out of that store as fast as I could, never to return.

I have a bird, Sal and she has a book coming out soon. Her stories are funny and a bit strange.
For instance:
Chapter 3
“The Thermostat”
“A small device used to regulate the temperature in one’s home or business”
For Sal, the thermostat became a wonderland for destruction. Sal loved the thermostat, landing on it whenever the opportunity arose, which it did, often. I would catch him right away, and remove his curious little body from the device.
But the more he was removed, the more attractive it was. Sal would be perched on the curtain rod, look longingly at the thermostat and swoop down, trying hard to see if it could be destroyed in one quick movement. But, my quick response saved the thermostat from certain destruction.

That changed when Dave decided not to put Sal in a safe place when he left the house. One day, I returned home from work and the house was unusually hot. I went to check the thermostat and found most of it scattered on the dining room floor. Sal was clucking away on his perch in the hall looking very innocent. I attempted to turn it down, but it wouldn’t move; it just sat there while the house became hotter and hotter. The mercury had also been bitten into, so I was sure that Sal had done himself in, but he never suffered any ill effects from the mercury. (Sometimes, Sal seems to truly be a Super Bird.)

I couldn’t turn the thermostat down and for some inexplicable reason called his former owner,
Debbie, and said quite frantically, because by now I was sure the house would explode from the heat:
“WHAT should I do?
She said quite calmly, with a hint of a smile in her voice,” Maybe you should call a plumber.” Now why didn’t I think of that?
So I hung up. It was now about 90 degrees in the house so I called the plumber in my somewhat controlled voice. A woman answered and I explained the dilemma. “MY bird ate my thermostat” There was dead silence for a moment, and then she repeated what I had said, cheerfully and with a little disbelief and asked if I wanted someone to come out right away. Hmmm, right now, or later, when the house had melted away?

So the repairperson came, and he said with a smile, “the bird ate the thermostat”- and he said it again, and again. Funny for him. Sal was now in big trouble. I would watch him very closely, but he had Dave on his side, and so we continued to play games, me watching Sal, and Sal waiting for that special moment, the moment when I wasn’t looking. Of course, it happened again, but Sal was not near the thermostat and the thermostat was not working but I figured Sal was guilty. Who or what else would do that but the little darling? Once again, I called the repair shop and once again talked with the same woman who with the same bemused voice, said, “So the bird ate the thermostat?” This was starting to look like a habit, so I asked the repairperson to protect the thermostat with a plastic box. Now Sal had a real surface to land on, but the thermostat was safe. Or so I thought. Eventually, Sal figured a way to dismantle the box, but the thermostat stayed intact, Sal had better things to do…..

There is nothing better or more therapeutic than a good solid laugh, better than any therapy and sure to make you feel good. So find that funny friend or movie or book and laugh laugh laugh. You will feel better, sleep better and work better.

Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) announced today that its Board of Governors has voted to suspend the 2012 season to permit the League to focus on the resolution of certain pending legal issues and the challenges that now face the League as a result of its ongoing dispute with a former owner.

“We are proud of what the League has accomplished in the first three seasons, but we do recognize the necessity to resolve our existing legal and operational issues so that we can continue to support and grow WPS the right way,” said Sky Blue FC Owner
Thomas Hofstetter. “This was a very difficult decision, but one we as owners feel is the best business decision for the League at this time.”

The Board voted on Monday morning to suspend the 2012 season. Over the last year the league has faced significant challenges, including a lengthy and expensive legal battle with a former owner. The litigation has diverted resources from investment in the
league and has forced the Board to take action, suspending the 2012 season in order to address the legal issues head-on before moving forward with competition.

“We firmly believe there is a place in the global sports landscape for Women’s Professional Soccer”
said WPS CEO Jennifer O’Sullivan. “Making the decision to suspend the 2012 season was a difficult and painful one, but it is necessary to take the time to address current issues and solidify our business
in order to provide appropriate support needed to achieve the League’s long-term goals. Those that take part in our League - players, partners and fans - deserve the best, and that is what we are taking the time to ensure we deliver when we resume play in 2013 and beyond.”

WPS has established its plans to return to play in 2013, and all five owners of the League’s existing teams - Atlanta Beat, Boston Breakers, Philadelphia Independence, Sky Blue FC and Western New York Flash - will remain active with the CEO, Jennifer O’Sullivan, in the governance of WPS throughout the current year.

“We are deeply grateful to our fans and partners for the tremendous support they have shown for WPS,
our players and the sport,” added O’Sullivan. “With our supporters and athletes in mind, we are committed to complete the hard work necessary to resume play in 2013 and reestablish WPS as the premiere women’s professional soccer league in the world.”

By Janet Attard
www.pittsburghscore.org

You bit the bullet. You set up a Web site because new prospects and existing customers kept asking you for your Web site address. Then, too, there were all those stories you kept hearing about small companies bringing in significant business through their Web sites. So, you paid a Web developer thousands of dollars to put your business on the Web, or spent countless hours of your own time learning enough about the Web and about html to put up the site yourself.

But your site’s been up a couple of months and you haven’t gotten a single sale you can trace to the Web site. What happened? What’s wrong? What do you need to do to make your Web site start bringing you business? Here are several tips that will help you fine tune your site to make it a more effective marketing tool.

Make Sure Your Site Looks Professional
Take a hard, cold look at your site—or ask a friend who will be brutally honest to look at the site. Does it look professional? Are the graphics professional-quality and clear? Are the fonts, font sizes, and font colors used in a consistent way? Or does your site include design flaws like these that immediately mark it as an amateur production:

Photos that are squeezed or stretched out of proportion

Multiple elements on the page that are blinking, bouncing, scrolling or turning in circles

Multiple styles of type used for headlines and body copy

Colored background graphics or textures that make it difficult to read the type

Background graphics that are inappropriate for the content of the site (eg.: bubbles on a site selling bookkeeping services)

Text blocks that are out of alignment

First impressions matter on the Web, just as they do anywhere else. And, the first impression your site makes should be one of professionalism and appropriateness for the markets you serve.

Don’t Use the Name of Your Company as the Web page Title
Every Web page has a windows-style title bar. The title that appears in that title bar is determined by what you include in the title “tag” in the html code for the page. You or your Web site designer may want to make the name of your company the title of the page.

That’s not a good idea, however, unless the name of your business includes a descriptive term that someone looking for your services would search for to find what you sell. The reason: Search engines place heavy emphasis on the words in the title bar. Like the text on your page, the closer the text in the title bar matches the term a Web surfer is searching for, the higher your site will rank when the results of the search are displayed. So, if your company name is non-descriptive and little known, leave it out of the title page, or put it at the end of the title.

Don’t Let Your Home Page Be a Flash Presentation
Flash is a technology that allows you to put animated presentations and demos on the Web. Designers love it because it shows off their multimedia skills, to say nothing of increasing the amount they can charge for the site. Business owners often think it makes their site look impressive and make their businesses appear to be on the cutting edge.

But, Flash presentations can make your Web page take a long time to load. Search engines don’t pick them up, and they often annoy visitors who come to your site for product information or facts in a hurry, not entertainment. If you have a product or service that benefits from an animated demonstration, make that one of the choices on your home page (e.g.: “Watch a demo.”) Don’t make the Flash presentation the entire home page. And if your products or services don’t need an animated demo, don’t use the technology at all.

Focus the Home Page & Product Pages on Your Customers’ Interests, Not Yours
You’re proud of your business and your accomplishments. (As you should be.) So, it’s tempting to write a lengthy description of your business accomplishments and run it on your home page with a big photo of yourself, your building and/or your employees, saying, “We’re here to serve you.” But prospects and customers aren’t coming to your site to learn about all the great things you’ve accomplished. They’re coming to your site to find out what you sell and how it will help them.

Get their attention with benefits-oriented headline and text. The headline should make clear what you do and suggest a benefit. For example, “Fast, accurate transcription for Monroe County Medical Offices and Hospitals,” or “Phone systems that grow with your business.”

Don’t toss out that company information, though. After you interest the customer in your products or services, they may want to know more about your company before deciding to do business with you. So, if the purpose of your Web site is to sell your product or services, make the company information a link off your home page, not the focal point of the home page.

Avoid a Cluttered Look
If you sell multiple products, you want them all to be found. And if you are being billed by the number of “pages” on your Web site, you may want to keep costs down. But don’t try to squeeze dozens of images or product descriptions on a single page. The page will look cluttered and make it difficult for visitors to find the products or information they want.

Instead, put small photos of a few of your best-sellers or most representative products on the home page, and then have links to other products in your catalog. Break up the links into logical categories. For instance, if you sell sandals, you might have categories for women’s sandals, men’s sandals, and children’s sandals. If you sell footwear, you might have pages for men’s footwear, women’s footwear and children’s footwear, and then break down each of those pages into categories such as sneakers, shoes and sandals.

Minimize Graphic Sizes to Make Sure Your Pages Load Quickly
Photos and other graphic images make your pages look appealing and help illustrate what you sell. So, they are important to include. But don’t let the size of graphics slow down your Web site. In most cases, images should be thumbnail size—no more than 1 to 1 1/2 inches in size. If a larger image is needed to properly display an item, then you can add a link that says “Click here to see a larger image.” That way big images that take a long time to display will only be displayed by people who really need to see a bigger picture.

Be Sure You’ve Included Important Supporting Information
To turn Web surfers into customers, you’ll want to provide enough supporting information about what you sell to make them feel comfortable buying from you. If you sell software, for instance, you’ll need information about what platform the software uses, compatibility with other products, system requirements and links to press reviews, if any. If you sell graphic design services, the “supporting information” you need should include a portfolio of work you’ve done. If you provide consulting services, it would be a good idea to include case studies describing client problems, what you did to solve them and how they benefited as a result. (Be sure to get the client’s permission before using their name in this way on your site.) A page with testimonials from satisfied customers is beneficial as well.

Make Sure It’s Easy to Place an Order
Imagine how annoyed you’d be if you ran into the supermarket to pick up a container of milk, and couldn’t find the checkout counter? Web site visitors are no different. They will get annoyed if they have to scroll up and down or side to side to find a place to order from you. Avoid the problem by keeping pages short and including a buy now button or link in the same location on every page. A good location is just below the text that describes any product or service.

Be Sure Your Contact Information is Easy to Find
Customers not only want to know what you sell and who you are, they want to know how to reach you. They may have questions about the merchandise you are selling, want to know who they can contact if there is a problem with their order, or prefer talking to a “real person” instead of ordering online. Avoid losing sales by including your phone number, store location (if you have one) and phone number on every page.

Share Links With Other Businesses in Your Community
The tips above will help you get found in search engines and help make your pages more appealing to potential customers. But even in the Internet age, business still has as much to do with who you know as what you do. So talk to business owners who sell different products and services than you do, but serve the same market. Help get each others’ pages found by swapping links and giving each other referrals.

By Patricia Thibault
Social Security District Manager in Pittsburgh, PA

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, making this a popular time of year for proclamations of love. Such displays of affection can be as simple and sweet as a heart with a “be mine” message, or as life altering as a vow before the altar.
If you happen to be a newlywed who is head over heels in love, you may not be focused on things such as taxes or Social Security, but you should be. If you plan to exchange your maiden name for a married name — including hyphenated names such as Smith-Jones — be sure you let us know.
Telling us about your name change shortly after your marriage will help us accurately keep track of your earnings and will ensure that you and your family get the Social Security retirement, disability, and survivors coverage you’re entitled to. Also, if the Internal Revenue Service and Social Security records do not show the same name and Social Security number, your Federal income tax refund could be delayed.
If you continue to use your maiden name consistently throughout your working years, you do not need to contact us. However, if you decide to change your name at a later time, you should let us know so that we can update your Social Security record and send you a Social Security card with your new name.
There’s no need to pay someone else to mail in the information for you. Changing your name with Social Security is a quick, easy, and free service. Just go online to www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber, learn what documents you need, and click on “Fill Out and Print an application (Form SS-5).” You also can call us at 1-800-772-1213 to obtain the form. We will need the completed application along with a marriage certificate or divorce decree verifying your old and new names. If you were born outside the United States, you also need proof of your U.S. citizenship or proof that you are lawfully living in the U.S. You can bring or mail these documents to us.
You may be focused on the one you love, and we don’t blame you. But if you like us (we hope you do) please click on the Facebook icon at our homepage and “like” us on Facebook. Also, you can follow us on Twitter too. Look for our Facebook and Twitter icons at www.socialsecurity.gov. We share information daily that can help you and all your Valentines.
Happy Valentine’s Day from Social Security.

February 2012
All programs are held on Thursdays at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Downtown & Business, 612 Smithfield St., Downtown. They begin at 12:15 pm and are free and open to the public.

February 2 How To File Your Taxes Online Using an IRS e-File Provider
Diana Smith, Tax Specialist
Internal Revenue Service, Pittsburgh Office

There are many advantages to e-filing. The forms you need appear on the screen, the possibility of calculation errors is minimized, and refunds can be deposited directly into your bank account in as little as two weeks. Ms. Smith will be here to answer questions and walk us through the entire process.

February 9 Federal Tax Credits – Which Ones Can You Claim?
Patrick N. Price, Tax Specialist
Internal Revenue Service, Pittsburgh Office

Federal tax credits can be confusing because there are many rules and requirements for each one. Eligibility depends on several factors, such as if the taxpayer has children, is a parent of a college student or owns a home. The basics of each credit will be explained so you can determine which credits apply to you.

February 16 Downsizing Your Home – Not Your Lifestyle
Jill Yesko, Certified Professional Organizer
Discover Organizing Inc.

Ms. Yesko will review the entire moving process, including how to say goodbye to items no longer needed. She’ll provide take-home checklists, space planning ideas for your new home, and how to engage family members in the process.

February 23 How to File a Property Assessment Tax Appeal
Kenneth R. Behrend, Esquire, Senior Partner
Behrend & Ernsberger, P.C.

Mr. Behrend, an attorney and former member of the Board of Assessment of Allegheny County, will discuss and review the steps required for a successful appeal of your real estate assessment.

February 1 - Large Group Healing Circle - Take a break from your busy schedule and join me for a group healing circle. You might be amazed at how much more intense your response to the healing energies of Reiki can be when you combine your energy with the energies of all who participate in this larger group circle. There is a synergy that happens when a larger group gathers that often intensifies the experience of everyone present. Experience the Native American channeling combined with the vibrations of the drum for a powerful whole body experience, and be open to hands on healing and messages from your angels and guides as the circle progresses. Each circle is different, so don’t stay away just because you’ve experienced one before. And the response to Reiki is cumulative, so the more you receive, the more change you experience! Call or email early to reserve your space. And please bring a notebook or journal! - 6:30 – 8 PM – Cost: An Offering from Your Heart - Please note: The healing attunements scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 4 are completely filled at this point. If you would like, I can add your name to the waiting list in case of cancellations. I do already have 4 names on the list, just to let you know - visit http://www.the-place-for-reiki.com/ for additional class information

Women and War: Women and Peace and Pittsburgh Playback Theatre
-February 4th 6:00 pm
Personal accounts from four women who have lived or spent time in war zones, and
their search for peace. Followed by Pittsburgh Playback Theatre and a chance for the
audience to reflect on the exhibit and the stories through the creativity of the Playback actors.
Light refreshments will be served at 6pm.

Lessons Learned from Iraq with Peter Lems –
February 11th 3:00 pm
Presentation by Peter Lems, American Friends Service Committee Program Director
for Iraq and Afghanistan. He will look at the impact of the troop withdrawal from Iraq,
our responsibilities, and lessons learned for the peace movement. How can we use
these lessons to speed up the removal of US troops and bases from Afghanistan?

For more details on these events go to our website at www.windowsandmirrors.org

_______________________

February 7 - The Rivers of Resources : www.BuildingBridgesforBusiness.org
– Our monthly Tweetchat, #smallbizpgh, on www.twitter.com provides a subject matter expert who will answer your questions

Another Pittsburgh FIRST.

It is the perfect forum to:

• Consult with subject matter experts
• Ask and get your questions answered for free
• Ask and get your answers from your home
• Build relationships

Linda Handley
Join us on TWITTER for a FREE EVENT 02.7.2012 Rivers of Resource
www.buildingbridgesforbusiness.org
Twitter: @bridges4biz and @lindahandleyinc
https://www.facebook.com/BuildingBridgesForBusiness
412 475 9010

Other dates:
March 13, 2012
April 17, 2012
May 15, 2012
July 10, 2012
September 11, 2012
November 13, 2012

South Hills Chamber Events

2/8 Monthly Luncheon at Andora’s Restaurant-Doors open at 11:30 A.M., lunch at noon,
speakers at 12:30 p.m.-K & J Travel-“Traveling in 2012 on a Shoestring” Cost #20
2/27 Monday Madness After Hours at Andora’s Restaurant from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Cost $5.00 Cash bar-$2.00 off on selected drinks.
Bring a friend.
Reservations must be made 2 days before the event and cancellations
1 day before the event by calling 412-306-8090 or e-mail connie@shchamber.org

Brown Bag Lunch
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
12:00 – 1:00pm
Speaker: Jennifer Reissaus, MAS, Advertising Specialties Alliance
Topic:Free Technology Tools for Better Engagement, Efficiency & and Cost Control
Think you can’t afford the coolest technology tools for your business?
Join us to learn how you can get and use free and affordable programs
that increase your productivity for less money.

Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania
1650 Main Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15215
FREE
RSVP: 412.782.5344 x 209 or volunteersofamerica@voapa.org

February 8 - The Power of Forgiveness - Moving forward can be difficult enough, but when we find ourselves stuck in unforgiveness , it can be almost impossible. This workshop will give you additional insights into the power of forgiveness, including research findings that document the benefits of forgiveness for your overall health and well-being. It may also help you open the door to forgiveness in your own life, not only forgiveness of others, but of yourself also. A group healing circle will follow, to assist you in moving out of the past, and into the power of forgiveness 7 – 9:30 PM - Cost: $35 – visit http://www.the-place-for-reiki.com/ for additional class information

February 8 - Helping Women Helps the World: Leslie Braksick, PhD, MPH
11:30 AM – Fairmont Pittsburgh – please join us for a lecture series that
brings women together to meet and be inspired by the personal stories
of some of the community. Our second speaker is Leslie W. Braksick, PhD,
MPH, is a nationally known consultant. Please join us for a lecture series that brings
women together to hear the personal stories of some of the most dynamic leaders in our community,
executive coach, and author who co-founded the Pittsburgh-based company. Leslie is also
deeply involved in civic and community activities where she serves on the board of several
organizations, including the Children’s Hospital Foundation, Princeton Theological Seminary,
and Imani Christian Academy. https://bethlehemhaven.ejoinme.org/?tabid=319876

February 9 - Pittsburgh Magazine and Fifth Third Bank invite you to
Fashion with Compassion
Benefiting the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women - 6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Fairmont Pittsburgh, downtown
 - Tickets are $45 each or two for $80 - 100 % of proceeds benefit Go Red for Women - The event features a strolling fashion show with models from The Docherty Agency, live music by The Kevin Howard Duo, hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, fashion retailers and more - For tickets, contact Wendy McCabe at the American Heart Association, 412-208-3559 or wendy.mccabe@heart.org

February 9 - 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm: WRITING GRANT PROPOSALS FOR WRAP
Free Webinar sponsored by the Copeland Center for Wellness & Recovery – to register visit http://copelandcenter.com/blog/2012/01/03/webinar-writing-grant-proposals-for-wrap/?utm_source=HeartSource&utm_campaign=HeartSource-Jan2012-Intro+Blog+%26+WRAP+Webinar&utm_medium=email  

February 9 - Clever Connections Networking Event: Waterfront - from 6-8pm at First Commonwealth Bank, Waterfront, 500 E. Waterfront Drive, Homestead - Special Guest Speaker: Jayne Huston, Director of 
Seton Hill University’s E-Magnify - Topic: Developing Young Leaders - Event Benefits: The STARR Program, a two day leadership development course for teenage girls - Pittsburgh Professional Women partners with First Commonwealth Bank for an evening of networking, leadership and fundraising for a good cause.
www.pittsburghprofessionalwomen.net

Brentwood Baldwin Whitehall Chamber of Commerce
Women’s Networking Luncheon
Friday, February 10, 2012
Salvatore’s
5001 Curry Road, Pittsburgh, 15236
Guest Speaker
Lindsey Smith, Health Coach and Motivational Speaker, Author: Junk Foods & Junk Moods: Stop Craving and Start Living:
Visit her website: www.TheRealYouNutrition.com

Lunch for Chamber Members - $15 - Bring a friend!
Lunch for Non-Members - $18
Display Table—$10
Please make a reservation by contacting our secretary:
Mary Dilla at secretary@bbwchamber.com 412-884-1233

February 13 - Please join Executive Women’s Council for an evening of networking, tours AND receive a professional headshot (selection will be made from an online gallery) for your professional use - 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. - This event will provide a great way for you to spend time with your colleagues from EWC and receive or update your professional business headshots. Whether it is a non-profit, a corporation, or a small business, professional photographs of the key people within the organization helps others get to know who they are going to do business with. So, please join us and you are invited to bring prospective members as your guests but the event will not be open to the public. We ask you to register yourself and your guests by Feb. 10th. Cost is $50 per member and $60 per guest.

Photographer: Anita Buzzy-Prentis, Buzzy Photography
Make Up: Donna Meshenko, Senior Sales Director, Mary Kay Cosmetics

Refreshments and light hors d’oeuvres will be served. Tours of the Urban Pathways School will be offered. FREE PARKING behind the school. To register: https://ewcgp.memberclicks.net/index.php?option=com_mc&view=formlogin&form=113847&return=L2luZGV4LnBocD9vcHRpb249Y29tX21jJnZpZXc9bWMmbWNpZD1mb3JtXzExMzg0Nz9zZXJ2SWQ9Mzg4NSZvcHRpb249Y29tX21jJnZpZXc9bWMmbWNpZD1mb3JtXzExMzg0Nw== Email for additional information: ewcpittsburgh@gmail.com

Krannert Center Youth Series Presents
Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem
Tu-We, Feb 14-15, 2012, at 12:30pm

$4.50
This Valentine’s Day, fall in love with the funky, fiddle-based grooves of
Rani Arbo and her audaciously talented team of roots practitioners in two
public performances of the Center’s popular Youth Series, normally offered
only to school groups. The magical mayhem of Rani and her collaborators
earned a 2010 Parents’ Choice Award and is sure to warm your heart with
a rousing, joyous mix of dance-along songs.
Buy tickets now!
www.KrannertCenter.com
217/333-6280 or 800/KCPATIX
500 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana (Ticket Office hours: 10am-6pm every day)
Learn more about the Krannert Center Youth Series at youth.KrannertCenter.com

February 15, 6 pm to 8pm

You are cordially invited to join us for a fabulous evening of Networking as
PSE hosts it’s 2nd Annual Red Velvet Social in one of the city’s finest hotels,
The Renaissance!
Meander freely in the regal lobby and enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres provided byBraddock’s American Brasserie as you mingle and network with hundreds of established business owners, entrepreneurs, and other Pittsburgh Professionals.
Come prepared for the Chinese Auction and plan to bring plenty of business cards as you mingle on the Red Carpet Staircase with your signature drink for the evening, our “Red Velvetini.”
Don’t forget to add a splash of RED to your attire!
This event will close at the first 300 registrants.
Don’t miss it! Early Bird Pricing will soon be over
www.pittsburghsocialexchange.com

Jewish Family &Children’s Service is participating in an
“International Happy Hour” hosted by Global Solutions Pittsburgh
and Amizade Global Service Learning on Feb 16, from 6-8PM
at the Walnut Grill in Shadyside. If you’re interested in learning
more about international issues affecting the Pittsburgh area and
the organizations (like JF&CS) that deal with them,
Please join us.
www.globalsolutionspgh.org

February 16 - Business Leads Exchange Networking Group TM Presents a Lunch & Learn - Eating Smart While Meeting - Whether you are at a family dinner, meeting with a client for breakfast or running errands with only time for fast food, we all face many food challenges every day. Should I have the pancakes? Is the salad my best option? Who am I kidding I don’t have time to eat! - Join Tina Nobers from CMN Nutrition Group for an interactive hour where you will learn how to overcome any food challenge you may face - You will walk away from this lunch and learn with the knowledge of how to make better, healthier choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the best foods to choose at a restaurant and what to eat on days you can’t seem to find the time to eat - Atria’s Restaurant and Tavern, 12980 Perry Highway Wexford - Please RSVP and pay by February 14 - 11:30am - 1:30pm - $18.00 - (If paid by Feb, 14th) $20.00 after space permitting. Prepaid with credit card www.blxnetworking.com

February 17 - 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm: PLANNING MEETING - Forming a Southwestern PA Chapter of the Grant Professionals Association (GPA) to request information, visit http://heartresources.net/contact/?utm_source=HeartSource&utm_campaign=HeartSource-Jan2012-Intro+Blog+%26+WRAP+Webinar&utm_medium=email

February 23 - 11:00 am to 2pm - RHONDA BRITTEN Teaches Fearless Business Strategies - Professional Women and Men - Who Want to Overcome Common Business Fears - 11:00am Discussion from 11:00-12:00 Lunch from 12-12:30, Workshop from 12:30-2 - LeMont Restaurant, 1114 Grandview Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15211 Valet Parking is just $6 - Registration: $49 for Pittsburgh Professional Women Members and $79 for non members, includes lunch and workshop – to register: http://www.pittsburghprofessionalwomen.net/index.html 

February 27 - 9:30 am - 3:30 pm: BASIC PROPOSAL WRITING - Grant training seminar presented by Katherine F.H. Heart, sponsored by the Foundation Center-Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – visit http://heartresources.net/training/?utm_source=HeartSource&utm_campaign=HeartSource-Jan2012-Intro+Blog+%26+WRAP+Webinar&utm_medium=email for more details

Save the Date

March 1 - MWDBE Governmental Committee - 11th Annual Conference - The MWDBE Governmental Committee is preparing for its 11th Annual Conference for Minority, Women, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises. The Conference is from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the IBEW Conference Center. The theme of each conference is Business Opportunities for MWDBE. Also, a Trade Fair with more than 25 government purchasing agents. This Conference gives each MWDBE the opportunity to market its business to government purchasing agents and other agencies at one time. Find out what bidding opportunities are available and coming up for you, and how to do business with government authorities and other agencies. The conference is free with breakfast and ample free parking around the IBEW Conference Center.

March 7 - Celebrate & Sharewould like to remind you to mark your calendars for the7th Annual Women of Achievement Awards Dinner “A Celebration of Women’s History Month” on from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Omni William Penn Grand Ballroom in downtown Pittsburgh. This gathering of a veritable ‘who’s who’ in Pittsburgh will honor 23 prominent Women of Achievement from our region and will benefit a worthy cause, Cribs for Kids® National Infant Safe Sleep Initiative.

If you or your company is interested in joining event Sponsor and Chairman, DA Stephen A. Zappala, Jr., as a sponsor of the awards dinner; purchasing tickets or a table; or placing an acknowledgement ad in the event program book, please respond to this e-mail, call Heather Glaser at 412-322-5680 ext. 5, complete the attached sponsor form and fax to (412)322-5686, or view information on the Cribs for Kids National Infant Safe Sleep website: http://cribsforkids.org/event-calendar/.

If you have any questions, please contact Heather Glaser at 412-322 5680 ext. 5 or hglaser@cribsforkids.org. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you at this event to honor our Women of Achievement who have contributed so greatly to the city of Pittsburgh and surrounding communities.

April 4 - Pittsburgh Entrepreneur Conference & Honoring Extraordinary Women Awards Luncheon - Presented by the WSBA - 9:30 - 3:00 pm - Clarion Hotel and Conference Center, 401 Holiday Drive Pittsburgh - The event includes a full day of education, networking and our signature Honoring Extraordinary Women Awards Luncheon. The award luncheon will recognize business women that have been nominated for the following awards. Nomination forms are available at WSBAfounder@gmail.com - This year’s programs will offer “Hands On” interaction with the presenters. Attendees that bring their laptop or mobile devices will be able to try the techniques that are being presented. Event Pricing: This full service package includes lunch with open networking, 4 education sessions, awards ceramony, access to the exhibitors. Pre registered Cost: $38.00 At door registration Cost: $48.00 Premier Member Cost: $35.00 - Interested parties for speaker opportunities, sponsorship, or exhibit tables should contact Wadria Taylor, WSBA Event Director, at Style & Steel Event Planning - 412 208 0249, or by sending an email to events@styleandsteel.net.