Women’s Independent Press

“ONE IN THREE WOMEN ON THE PLANET WILL BE RAPED
OR BEATEN IN HER LIFETIME”
UN Women, UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women

A startling statistic

World Wide, one in three women will experience some type violence
in their lifetime including battering rape, or assault. According to
UN Women, UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women because it is so prevalent, “violence against women has become as much a pandemic as HIV/AIDS or malaria”. This violence, unfortunately, continues to be minimized by the general public and by the legislators who fail to create and fund programs i.e. the Violence Against Women Act, to eliminate this violence.

Around the world, women and girls and those who loved them joined a campaign on Feb. 14 called One Billion Rising: a movement to bring attention to violence against women and girls through dance. Over 180 countries participated. Organizers of the global campaign, V-Day, a movement founded by Eve Ensler, invited one billion women to walk out, dance, rise up and demand an end to violence, often with flash mobs, including one in Pittsburgh. This movement grew out of that startling statistic: One in three women will be raped or beaten in their lifetime. Watch live One Billion Rising events around the world.
In Pittsburgh, One Billion Rising was organized by LaTasha Mayes, the Executive director of New Voices, Women of Color for Reproductive Rights. More than 500 women girls and men converged on Market Square at noon on February 14, 2013 to lift up their voices and demand an end to violence. It was several hours filled with positive energy lots of good music and dancing.
NPR and Positively Pittsburgh Live promoted the event with limited coverage from some of the independent news sources and no coverage from any of the other radio or TV stations, including the
Post Gazette.

We need to keep the momentum strong. Violence against women is real and all of us are at risk. Be diligent and demand an end to this violence here and around the world. Unless all of us are safe, none of us are.

Media Contact: Amanda Leff Ritchie,
Senior Public Relations Specialist
412-365-1125, aritchie@chatham.edu

The Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship at Chatham University
launches semi-virtual mentoring program for women business owners.

PITTSBURGH (February 12, 2013) … The Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship (CWE) at Chatham University is pleased to announce the successful January 2013 launch of the
CWE MyBoardSM program. This program, funded primarily by the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation with additional support from both the Alcoa Foundation and Bridgeway Capital, matches advanced women business owners with a team, or board,
of experienced mentors. The CWE MyBoard program will help women entrepreneurs build capacity, gain confidence, and access capital, giving them the tools they need to take their businesses to the next level.

The program serves women business owners who need assistance with all areas of business development: from going through their first SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats)
analysis, to developing inventory control systems and implementing effective social media strategies.
Designed with a virtual meeting capability, the program accommodates long-distance participation and busy schedules.

The launch of this blended virtual/in-person program complements current CWE product offerings and provides key means for women business owners in greater Pittsburgh region to reach the elusive $1M dollar sales mark.

For more information about this program, visit www.chatham.edu/cwe/myboard or call 412-365-1384.

About the Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship
The mission of the Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship is to educate, create economic opportunities, and foster entrepreneurial thinking for women entrepreneurs, women in business, and students. CWE provides opportunities for women entrepreneurs in all stages of businesses to start and grow their companies by utilizing Chatham resources, programs, and expertise. CWE programming is also designed to teach regional businesswomen how to think and act entrepreneurially by focusing on innovation and creativity in the workplace. CWE also offers specific programs for both undergraduate and graduate students that help develop the skills needed to become successful businesswomen.

Founded in 2005, CWE has expanded its reach throughout Southwestern PA to help an increasing number of businesswomen learn, network, connect, and achieve their business goals. Current and initial funding for CWE provided by the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, with additional support provided by the Alcoa Foundation. Initial funding for CWE was also provided by the Lois Tack Thompson Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation. For more information about programs offered by CWE call 412-365-1253 or visit www.chatham.edu/cwe.

About Chatham University
Chatham University, founded in 1869, is located in the vibrant Shadyside neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pa. Preparing students from around the world, Chatham’s enrollment throughout the past decade was the fastest growing in the Pittsburgh region. With enrollment of over 2,300 students and consisting of an undergraduate women’s college and co-educational graduate and online programs, Chatham has consistently been ranked among the top master’s level institutions in the Northeast by U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review. Offering challenging academics and innovative programming in the fields of sustainability and the environment, health and lab sciences, creative and liberal arts, and business and entrepreneurship, a Chatham education is designed to meet the needs of tomorrow’s economy, today.

For more information, call 412-365-1139 or visit www.chatham.edu

www.Web.com and NAWBO survey reveals the primary factors impacting women business owners

WASHINGTON, D.C. – February 11, 2013 – A national survey of women business owners (WBOs) conducted by [3]Web.com Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: WWWW) and the [4]National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) found a pervasive sense of economic optimism, including a prediction by most WBOs (85 percent) that more women will become entrepreneurs in 2013 than in past years. WBOs also plan to invest more (38 percent) or the same (54 percent) in hiring this year than they did in 2012 – a positive sign for the economy.

2013, the Year of the Female Entrepreneur
The State of Women-Owned Businesses survey found that the large
majority of WBOs were optimistic about their business’ overall
performance (81 percent) for the year ahead. They were also
optimistic, though slightly less so, about the broader economic
outlook (74 percent) in 2013.

“The 2013 State of Women-Owned Businesses Survey reveals that even in these tough economic times, women entrepreneurs are optimistic about business opportunities for the year ahead,” said NAWBO President & CEO, Diane L. Tomb. “This survey informs us of the challenges and opportunities facing NAWBO members as well as women business owners in general. At NAWBO we will strive to address these issues on behalf of all women entrepreneurs.”

The survey also uncovered serious challenges facing WBOs, including the need to reach new customers. Web.com and NAWBO developed the survey to better understand the state of women entrepreneurship, including: women business owners’ (WBO) motivations for starting their businesses, what business challenges they face, what and how micro- and macroeconomic factors impact their businesses, what investment plans they have for the year ahead and what public policy issues are of greatest concern.

What Keeps Women Business Owners Up at Night?
With regard to public policy matters, the top four issues on the
minds of WBOs are: the state of the economy (57 percent), health
insurance cost and affordability (40 percent), business tax issues
(36 percent), and access to a quality workforce (36 percent). Though two in five WBOs said that health insurance costs and affordability are important issues to them, many (71 percent) feel that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) will have no impact upon the way they do business.

Financing Options to Meet Business Capital Needs
More than three quarters (78 percent) of WBOs did not seek a new or extended line of credit in the past year. Of these 78 percent, more than half (68 percent) indicated they did not want additional credit in the first place, and the others (32 percent) did not think they could get credit if they tried. Most WBOs financed their businesses through credit cards (45 percent), business earnings (40 percent), or private sources such as personal savings or contributions from family or friends (37 percent).

Who Should Become an Entrepreneur?
Survey respondents assert that women start their own businesses for a variety of reasons, including: having a vision for a business idea or a passion for solving a specific industry problem, wanting
control or a more flexible work-life balance, and being in the right
place at the right time. When asked the biggest motivation for
starting their business, the most common answer was that they were following their vision (28 percent), followed by finding an idea
that allowed them to become an entrepreneur (21 percent). The survey found that the most important traits for running a successful
business are to have a passion for an idea to have a vision
to succeed long-term after the business is launched and a
willingness and attitude to fail before you succeed and to take
risks.

Finding New Customers through Online Investments and Social Media
Marketing
When asked what they see as their biggest challenge to running their business in 2013, nearly two in five (39 percent) of WBOs said that it was gaining new customers. To gain customers, nearly three quarters (73 percent) of WBOs plan to invest more in marketing in 2013. Specifically, they will invest in social media marketing (36 percent) and search engine optimization (SEO) (36 percent). This is not surprising, as nearly half (44 percent) predict that social media and SEO are the future of small business marketing.
Conversely, WBOs anticipated that traditional outreach approaches,
including print and direct mail (1.6 percent), online advertising
(4.4 percent) and email marketing (6.2 percent), will have less
impact on small business marketing in the future.

When considering what marketing tactics currently have the greatest impact on a business’ bottom line, more than half (52 percent) of respondents indicated that website design and maintenance was very important, followed by social media marketing and SEO (38 percent) and email marketing (25 percent). And WBOs indicated that LinkedIn (27 percent) is the most valuable social media platform to them, followed by Facebook (26 percent), YouTube (18 percent) and Twitter (17 percent).

“Women business owners are laser focused on reaching new customers, and their strategy for doing so is focused on improving their businesses’ online presence,” said www.Web.com executive vice president and chief people officer, Roseann Duran. “This is great news for time-strapped consumers, as they can expect to have an improved and more socially engaged online experience with many of their favorite businesses in 2013.”

The State of Women-Owned Businesses Survey Infographic
For full survey results and to view and share the 2013 State of
Women-Owned Businesses infographic, visit www.web.com/community.

Methodology
The survey was conducted online within 552 NAWBO members between December 14, 2012 and January 4, 2013. For complete survey methodology, please contact Lab42 at info@lab42.com.

About www.Web.com
Web.com Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: WWWW) is a leading provider of online marketing for small businesses. Web.com meets the needs of small businesses anywhere along their lifecycle by offering a full range of online services and support, including domain name registration services, website design, logo design, search engine optimization, search engine marketing and local sales leads, email marketing,

general contractor leads, franchise and homeowner association
websites, shopping cart software, eCommerce website design and call center services. For more information on the company, please visit http://www.web.com.

About NAWBO®
Founded in 1975, NAWBO is the voice of America’s more than 10
million women-owned businesses. By representing the interests of
women entrepreneurs across various industries from state capitols to our nation’s capitol, NAWBO strives to advocate on behalf of women business owners on matters of public policy as well as develop programs to navigate women entrepreneurs through the various stages of business growth and provide networking opportunities where members can share best practices. Learn more at www.nawbo.org

11490 Perry Highway, Wexford, PA 15090 (behind Hub Cap City)
www.ecyclingrecycling.com Hours: Mon - Fri 10-5 Sat 9 –12

If I can’t throw my old television or old computer
out in the trash, what am I supposed to do
with these items?

Pennsylvania’s Covered Device Recycling Act, passed in 2010, enacts a ban on the disposal of elec-
tronic items, giving new responsibilities to individual consumers and small businesses.

The reason behind instituting electronic recycling is to prevent toxic and valuable materials from being
landfilled or shipped abroad where their use and disposal may pose a danger to the environment.

List of Recyclables we accept. .

. Desktop and Notebook PCs and servers
. Computer Mice & Keyboards
. Printers and Copiers
. Televisions
. Monitors
. Small Kitchen Appliances (Mixers, Toasters)
. Stereo Equipment (including car stereos)
. Laser and Multifunction Scanners
. Video Game Consoles
. Electronic Cables
. Microwaves
. Fax Machines
. DVD players
. Cell Phones, Telephones, and Phone Systems
. Zip Drives, PDAs, VCRs

Items that have a fee associated with them:

. Lamps: fluorescent lighting, incandescent, halogen, mercury vapor,
HIDS
. CDs, DVDs, Floppy Disks, Magnetic Tapes ( VHS, Cassette, DAT,
LTO)
. Freon-containing Appliances ( small A/C units, Dehumidifiers)
. Household Batteries: Lithium Ion, NiCAD, NiHM, Alkalines

WE CAN HELP. . . Opening February 9, 2013, FREE Electronic Recycling

January 23, 2013

News Release
Media contact:
Kary L. Coleman, Director of Media Relations,
724-830-1069 (work)
724-825-8505 (cell) / coleman@setonhill.edu

GREENSBURG, Pa—Seton Hill University’s E-Magnify women’s business center is pleased to announce a new partnership with PowerLink. Through a strategic alliance, PowerLink programs will now be offered exclusively by E-Magnify.

“PowerLink complements the services already offered by E-Magnify, such as business counseling, education and training and mentoring programs, including ATHENA PowerLink and the Women Presidents’ Organization,” said Jayne Huston, director, Seton Hill University’s E-Magnify. “Our alliance will be a great advantage to all of our clients who will now have the opportunity to participate in exciting new programs.”

Kathleen Sarniak, chief executive officer of Jeanette Specialty Glass and JSG Oceana added, “For more than 20 years, PowerLink and E-Magnify have been the recognized leaders in the western Pennsylvania women’s entrepreneurial community. This strong new alliance is a tremendous advantage for women-owned businesses in the region.” Sarniak is a founding member of the Greensburg Women Presidents’ Organization offered through E-Magnify and is currently serving as an advisor on one of PowerLink’s Advisory Panels in Allegheny County.

Lee Ann Munger will lead PowerLink for E-Magnify from a satellite office at the Riverside Center for Innovation on the northside of Pittsburgh. She is charged with continuing to direct the program’s strategic plan and working to integrate PowerLink with E-Magnify successfully.

“After two great years at the University of Pittsburgh’s Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence, PowerLink is returning to its roots as an organization that focuses exclusively on women entrepreneurs,” said Munger.

Founded in Pittsburgh, PA in 1991, PowerLink is a unique and proven resource for advancing women-owned businesses.

The PowerLink Advisory Panel Program is a core program and provides women business owners with a high level panel of business advisors. The customized Advisory Panels are composed of volunteer business professionals who are carefully chosen to meet the specific needs of the company. PowerLink maintains a database of approximately 400 professionals who have served on the Advisory Panels. These individuals are highly experienced in their fields and represent some of the top firms in the region

Since 1991, PowerLink has provided Advisory Panels to more than 200 women business owners. PowerLink has worked with firms in virtually every businesses category ranging from printing to technology to manufacturing. Recent survey data reveals that annual revenues increased 46 percent and number of employees increased 22 percent as compared with the PowerLink baseline. Additional PowerLink programs which will be offered through E-Magnify include: PowerLink Protegee, an advisory program for earlier stage companies; WBE SuperPanel, an advisory program specifically for WBE (Women’s Business Enterprise)-certified businesses; Financial Boot Camp, an intensive one day finance workshop specifically for business owners; PowerHour Lunch, a monthly lunch series on topics of interest to women business owners; CEO Circles, a peer-to-peer advisory program for PowerLink alumni;. PowerBuild, an experiential leadership development program for corporate managers and executives; Connect the Dots, PowerLink’s annual event uniting the entire PowerLink community.

For more information, about PowerLink programs, contact Munger at 724-552-4388.

Seton Hill University’s E-Magnify® women’s business center program provides business counseling, education/training and mentoring services to help women start and grow their businesses. Since its inception in 1991, E-Magnify has reached thousands of women through its initiatives and has distinguished itself as a leading

As with men, the most common heart attack symptom in women is chest pain or discomfort. However it’s important to note that women are more likely to experience the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain. If you think you are having a heart attack, call 911, don’t try to drive yourself to the hospital, try to stay calm as you wait for the emergency responders.

Symptoms of a heart attack might include:

- Shortness of breath
- Pain in the abdomen, back, jaw or throat
- A general sensation of uneasiness-just feeling sick
- Unexplained anxiety
- Palpitations, cold sweat or paleness
- Chest discomfort, lasting more than a few minutes or recurring
- Chest discomfort, with light headedness
- Fainting, sweating, nausea or shortness of breath

By Patricia Thibault
Social Security District Manager in Pittsburgh, PA

With the addition of 35 new Compassionate Allowances conditions involving cancers and rare diseases, there are now a total of 200 disabling conditions that qualify for Social Security’s expedited disability process. The Compassionate Allowances initiative fast-tracks disability decisions to ensure that Americans with the most serious disabilities receive their benefit decisions within days instead of months or years.

In addition to increasing the list of eligible conditions, the agency has achieved another milestone. Since October 2008, nearly 200,000 people with severe disabilities nationwide have been quickly approved using the expedited process.

Compassionate Allowances allow us to quickly identify diseases and other medical conditions that, by definition, meet Social Security’s standards for disability benefits. These conditions primarily include certain cancers, adult brain disorders, and a number of rare disorders that affect children.

Compassionate Allowances permit Social Security to target the most clearly disabled individuals for medical approvals based on objective medical information that we can obtain quickly. Using the Compassionate Allowances criteria, most cases can be medically approved in less than two weeks. Compassionate Allowances conditions are added as a result of information received at public outreach hearings, comments from the Social Security and Disability Determination Service communities, input from medical and scientific experts, and research from the National Institutes of Health. We also consider which conditions are most likely to meet our current definition of disability.

For more information about Compassionate Allowances, including a full list of qualifying conditions, please visit www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances.

by Sally Broff
www.score.org
www.pittsburgh.score.org

Here are some quick and easy tips to help you create a balance between your work and personal lives. None of them are new or rocket science, but all are things we easily forget in our zeal to grow our businesses.
1. At work, sort through your to-do pile every morning and make a stack of any item that you can touch once and complete. Tackle this pile first. You will be surprised by how having accomplished something at the beginning of each day sets the tone to get more things done as the day progresses, allowing you to leave with a clear conscience and enjoy your personal time more.
2. Set measurable goals for your business growth or the level of success you wish to achieve this year. Each goal must have a time frame in order to be considered a goal and not a wish. Learn to limit the time you spend on your business to just enough to achieve these goals. Remember that doubling your goal is not a positive if it causes you to give up too much of your personal life. You must look at this set of goals on a routine basis and adjust them to the reality of what you have already achieved. Replace those you have completed with new ones to continue the process. You will find that if you stop this exercise, it becomes very easy to fall back into the trap of high achievement outranking all other goals in your life.
3. The corollary to #2 is to set measurable goals for your personal life as well. Give this list the same priority as the business list. You must also monitor your progress against this list or you won’t achieve the balance you are striving to create.
4. Choose a time each day when you turn off all your electronics and have some quiet time. When you do this depends on your personal situation. If you have a family, create a time before dinner when the family gathers to share their day. Keep your electronics off through dinner. When I was growing up, my Dad returned home from work at 5:30 every evening and “libated” (had a drink). My siblings and I were expected to be home by 5:30 and share time with Dad and then have a family meal. We had lively discussions and ate a lovingly prepared home-cooked meal. None of us grew up thinking we took second place to Dad’s jewelry business. If you are one of those who tweets and answers emails until you turn out the light, take an hour before bedtime and put your phone, PDA, and laptop away. You’ll be surprised at how much better you sleep when your brain has some time to decompress before you go to sleep, and how much more refreshed you are in the morning, ready to hit those business-related goals.
5. Schedule time for yourself, your family, and your friends with the same priority that you schedule your work. Date nights work well for young married couples. If you are single or your kids are grown, sign up for a class that will help you learn a new hobby or skill. Take a weekly yoga or exercise class that requires you to be somewhere at a given time. Find a TV program that will be a weekly commitment for you to watch with your children. It is not what you do that is important, but that you create a routine that teaches you to turn off your “work brain” and think about yourself.
6. Multi-task your errands. If you have children, take one child with you each time you go out to run a list of errands. It enables you to spend some one-on-one time with your children and lets them know they are important to you while accomplishing items on your to-do list.
7. Take short breaks. My business/life partner and I once went into the city for a baseball game, taking a hotel room for the night. We left work at noon and returned at noon the next day, but it seemed like we were gone a much longer time. Just the change in scenery for twenty-four hours along with a different focus gave as much refreshment as a much longer trip. Schedule a weekend with a friend or friends a short distance from your home town. You’ll be amazed at what it does for your outlook.
Remember that you are not trying to put your work life after your personal life, but to create a balance so that some day when you retire you will not look back on your working years and ask where your life has gone. It’s going to take practice to achieve your goal of balance, so don’t get discouraged if at mid-year you look at your two lists of goals and find you are doing better at the work list. Keep trying and adjusting the balance point until you are satisfied with the result!
Sally Broff – Mentor, SCORE San Diego
Sally worked for over 35 years in the US electronics industry. Her expertise includes working with manufacturers’ representatives, start-ups and the import side of international trade. She has volunteered with the San Diego chapter of SCORE for more than five years.
www.SanDiego.SCORE.org | Facebook | LinkedIn | More from Sally

All programs begin at 12:15 at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Downtown & Business, 612 Smithfield Street, Downtown. They are free and open to the public.

February 7 Getting Started With eBooks and eReaders
Scott Pyle, Reference Librarian
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Downtown & Business

Mr. Pyle will discuss the basics of eBooks and eReaders, the differences between a Nook and a Kindle, and how to use the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s Overdrive service, which loans eBooks to customers free of charge. He will also demonstrate the process of finding and checking out an eBook from the Library’s website.

February 14 How to Appeal Your Property Assessment
Kenneth H. Behrend and Barbara Ernsberger, Esq.
Behrend & Ernsberger, P.C., Attorneys at Law

Kenneth R. Behrend, former member of the Board of Property Assessment, will discuss the assessment and appeal process. This successful program, presented in 2012, returns along with new insights based on last years’ experience. You will come away with strategies to present a successful appeal of your property assessment.

February 21 How to File Your Taxes Online Using an IRS eFile Provider
Diana Smith, Tax Specialist
Internal Revenue Service, Pittsburgh Office

You don’t have to be a tax expert to use an IRS eFile program. 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 your questions and walk you through the entire process.

February 28 Employment Resources for Jobs in the Pittsburgh Area
Eric Pferdekamper, Site Administrator
Pennsylvania CareerLink, Downtown Pittsburgh Office

Local employers may be looking for your skills! Discover how Pennsylvania CareerLink can help you maximize your chances of gaining employment. Has it been a while since you’ve updated your resume? How are your interviewing skills? Are you thinking about changing professions? Mr. Pferdekamper will discuss the many services and classes offered by CareerLink that will help you make your job search more effective.

By Yvonne Phillips

Chinese New Year starts on February 10, 2013 and lasts for 15 days. This is China’s most colorful and important event of the year. This year it is named “The Year of Water Snake.” There are a total of 12 animals and they rotate throughout the years. There are many activities that happen during this time. On the first night of the celebration, there are fireworks to let go of the old and bring in the new, just like we do here in the USA. Also, on this night, they open all the windows and all of the doors in the house to allow the old year to go out! They have large parades and the lion dancing sways back and forth to the beat of the drummers. On the 5th day of the New year is the Chinese Lantern Festival and it is very colorful and beautiful. You will see paper lanterns made of the animal of the year and also large lanterns that are displayed in their parades.

1. Clean your house well in advance of the New Year. Do not sweep or clean on New Year’s day or it will represent you sending your wealth out the door. All brooms need to hidden and not visible.

2. Wear red since it is believed to be a happy color and symbolizes a bright future.

3. Give red envelopes filed with crisp dollar bills to children.

4. Decorate your home with nuts and sweets on a beautiful tray. You can also add chocolate gold coins to this mix as well.

5. Entertain your friends and laugh and enjoy the evening.

6. Open every door and every window on the stroke of midnight to let out the old year.

7. Clear your mind of “clutter” this day and keep your thoughts bright and optimistic for the coming New Year.

8. Don’t scold your children or cry on this day, for if you do, it will symbolize how your coming year will play out for you.

9. Postpone washing your hair this day as you will be washing out your good luck.

10. Display large bowls of oranges on the tables to give to your friends and family as gifts.

Lillian Too has shared her traditions with students and followers of Feng Shui during her training sessions. She has told them that early in the morning of the New Year, she brings in a truck full of oranges and she rolls them from the front door straight through her whole house. She is creating her own luck by following this ancient tradition.

Author: Yvonne Phillips
Yvonnephillips1@aol.com
www.fengshuipublications.com
www.fengshuiabc1.com
Posted by Yvonne Phillips