From the PresidentJuly 2010 This is a special time of the year for all of us, as we gather with family and friends to celebrate the Independence of our country. As members of Mid-Day Women's Alliance, we advocate for those freedoms for all women, bridging the gap in pay equity and workplace equality. We have seen great achievements and milestones reached as a result of many women persevering through the years, and for that, we are thankful. Over the course of the year, Mid-Day has gone through some big changes. We have unveiled a new name and a new logo. We have added some great programs such as the mentoring program, and we have made existing programs even better. Our advocacy efforts have reached new heights and we are proud of the impact we have made on women in our community on a financial, personal, and professional level. However, amidst all these changes our organization has taken on, one thing has remained the same -our commitment to develop women's potential through advocacy, mentoring, networking, skill building, and education. Everything Mid-Day does represents a commitment to help women become better, stronger, more independent, and yes, free. If there is an area in your life where you feel you need to develop more, you have joined the right organization. You have a group of women who are here to help you every step of the way. All you have to do is tap into the many benefits Mid-Day has to offer.
To your success, Cassie Schuh and Carrie Garczynski Co-Presidents, Mid-Day Women's Alliance
Lighten up! That’s what summer is all about. Let go of the clutter, clean out the muck and have a little fun. That goes for life too. Fun can have many definitions, but if you really think about it, everything you do should include some fun. Fun is essentially enjoying oneself or the expenditure of time in a manner designed for therapeutic refreshment of one's body or mind.
So, are you having fun? In your work? At home? If so, yahoo! Keep it up! If not, change something! Or have you noticed that you have slowly let go? When things – meetings, conversations, anything really, get too intense and heated people have a tendency to lose interest and dis-engage. Ask yourself what makes you jump out of bed in the morning or what makes you cover your head – you know if you are enjoying yourself or not. For a good and very simple example of this, watch a group of kids playing. It could be ‘house’ or on the playground or tag! As soon as one stops having fun, he/she loses interest in the game and doesn’t want to play anymore. They are always looking for something that fuels their passion and is entertaining to some point.
May 2010 Whether you have been a member with Mid-Day for a long time, or are just beginning with this organization, you will notice that over the last year we have been going through some big changes. The biggest, I think is the name change. What I love about this new beginning is that the WI Women's Alliance is committed to making women's lives "better", through advocacy, education, and personal/professional development. So what do these changes mean for YOU, really? It means that you get a chance to learn, develop, and grow. Just like the tulips and daylilies remind us there is beauty in growth, so too does this organization encourage us to be "better"--better women, better leaders, better professionals...who not only make a difference in other people's lives, but choose to make a difference in their OWN LIVES. How can this organization help make a difference in your own life? By teaching you how to be a leader, mentor, advocate and team player in a safe environment, so you can take those new skills out into the workplace, earn more, and impact your community. I've learned so much being a part of the board of directors with this organization. I've learned valuable lessons in team building, communication, leadership, and even parliamentary procedure and bylaws! I've leaned on others, asked for advice, admitted when I was wrong, cheered others on, and learned how to communicate objectively. So during this phase of "new beginnings", as we enter into another fiscal year with Mid-Day, consider how you would like to grow. Maybe we can help! All you have to do is step-up and allow others to help you along the way. Many Blessings, Cassie Schuh and Carrie Garczynski Co-Presidents, Mid-Day Women's Alliance
April 2010
Lighten up! That’s what spring is all about. Let go of the clutter, clean out the muck and have a little fun. That goes for life too. Fun can have many definitions, but if you really think about it, everything you do should include some fun. Fun is essentially enjoying oneself or the expenditure of time in a manner designed for therapeutic refreshment of one's body or mind. So, are you having fun? In your work? At home? If so, yahoo! Keep it up! If not, change something! Or have you noticed that you have slowly let go? When things – meetings, conversations, anything really, get too intense and heated people have a tendency to lose interest and dis-engage. Ask yourself what makes you jump out of bed in the morning or what makes you cover your head – you know if you are enjoying yourself or not. For a good and very simple example of this, watch a group of kids playing. It could be ‘house’ or on the playground or tag! As soon as one stops having fun, he/she loses interest in the game and doesn’t want to play anymore. They are always looking for something that fuels their passion and is entertaining to some point. In Mid-Day we are also anticipating…changes at the State level with the recommendations of the State Task Force regarding the new name and mission of our organization, and changes within our local organization on developing new programs and improving old ones. We anticipate great changes in our organization, but the one thing that remains true is that everything we do is to help all women aspire and achieve more in their lives. So check out what is happening in this great organization: We have launched our 2010 line-up for the WILD events, Women in Leadership Development. Be sure to attend our March 17th meeting, where the speaker, Bobbie Thompson, will challenge you to take a look at your personal and professional life. We have legislative updates for you to get involved in, and we have begun the planning process for the Golf Outing, which benefits women in our community. We will be launching a new Mentor program in the coming months, so watch for more information on that as well. There are so many new developments for you to anticipate and get involved in. We are also looking for leaders to step up and help serve the organization and community by being a committee chair or fill a position on our board of directors. Anticipation comes before any type of change, and our organization is in the midst of many changes as we enter the spring season and look ahead for 2010...Mid-day’s "in like a lion, out like a lamb" approach for the advancement of all women, personally and professionally. In Gratitude, Cassie Schuh and Carrie Garczynski, Co-Presidents
February 2010 February is known for love…let’s take another twist on this and chat about passion. Not necessarily the passion you share with your loved one, but your passion for life and what you do. Are you living your passion? Are you doing something in your career that you are passionate about and absolutely love to do? If not, why not? Have you ever thought what your purpose in life is or about finding your purpose? Really, it's about finding what you love to do the most, living with zest, searching for what gives your life meaning. It's about being in tune with who you really are and living a life of purpose. Having a purpose in your life is almost like a spiritual experience. Martin Luther King Jr., once said "If a man is called to be a street-sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, 'Here lived a great street-sweeper who did his job well.' " Ahhhh, passion for your job. Here is an excerpt from "Passion At Work" on how one can discover more passion in their career found at www.selfgrowth.com: 1. Putting passion in work: The trick is not just to feel passionately about your job, but to act passionately too. If you act passionately, you won't sit passively through another boring meeting. You can't. You will share that passion with the others in the meeting. Your energy can lift all of them. Even if it doesn't, you will feel better knowing you are doing something to advance the cause in which you believe passionately. 2. Be innovative: To be so involved with your work that once you have determined your goal, be prepared to try different approaches. The method of choice is the method, which will work best, not necessarily the usual method. If the common sense approach does not work, invent a new one. Be adapting and modifying whatever is at hand to solve the problem and to achieve the objective. 3. Self driven and motivated: Its not necessary that we need the organizational environment or the boss’ attitude to drive us or put us down. A person passionate at job can be consistent in his job by his own drive and when situations are bad he continues to work with the same vigor or maybe more. There is no need to search for means of motivation, the work itself is a cause to enjoy it. 4. Sharpen the axe: Once upon a time a very strong woodcutter asks for a job from a timber merchant, and he got it. The pay was really good and so were the work conditions. For that reason, the woodcutter was determined to do his best. His boss gave him an axe and showed him the area where he was supposed to work. The first day, the woodcutter brought 18 trees down. "Congratulations," the boss said. "Go on that way!" Very motivated by the boss’ words, the woodcutter tried harder the next day, but he only could bring down 5 trees. The third day he tried even harder, but he only could bring down 10 trees. Day after day he was bringing down less and less trees. "I must be losing my strength", the woodcutter thought. He went to the boss and apologized, saying that he could not understand what was going on. "When was the last time you sharpened your axe?" the boss asked. "Sharpen? I had no time to sharpen my axe. I have been very busy trying to cut trees..." To get optimal results we need to sharpen our skills consistently. Being adept at our job can help us achieve our targets. Remember, if your candle isn’t burning bright, how will you light anyone else’s fire?! So, what makes you jump out of bed in the morning, excited to get the day rolling and creates a passionate zing in your career? Enjoy a passion-enriched February~
Carrie Garczynski & Cassie Schuh
January 2010 Happy New Year! This is the time of the year where we take a look back at the previous year and become more aware. Aware of what we have achieved, and also aware of what we would have liked to have done better or what we would have like to do more of, perhaps. This is the time where we think of those resolutions…and undeniably the conversations at this time of year turn toward creating our resolutions and sharing them with others. You may have some personal resolutions, or business/career resolutions—what we like to simply call "goals"—that you’ve created. In the past, you may not have achieved all you said you would. Statistically, most people don’t follow through with their New Years Resolutions. So, what is it going to take for you to achieve that resolution once and for all? How are you going to make 2010 your best year yet?At Mid-Day Business and Professional Women, we want you to grow and aspire to be the best you can be. To do so, we focus our efforts on advocacy, efficacy, and professional and personal development for all women, regardless of age or profession. Recently, I was introduced to a great concept called "212 degrees". You may have already heard of it, and this year, I encourage you to think of how you can go the "extra degree" in your personal or professional life. I think it will help you achieve your resolution, and take you from good to great in whatever you aspire to achieve. You can view this short inspirational video at www.212movie.com or www.just212.com . How can we go the extra degree in Mid-Day, in order to help more women succeed in work and life? May this inspire you to go that extra degree…because you do need to sweat the small stuff in order to achieve great things.In Gratitude, Cassie Schuh and Carrie Garczynski Co-Presidents, Mid-Day Business and Professional Women
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