Texas Executive Women
The Networker

February, 2008
                                                                                   Volume 6, Number 2

President's Note

News Among Friends

Susannah L. Wong

Mentoring

Birthdays

Meetings

Send email to:

Cay Dickson
Newsletter Editor

Texas Executive Women
PO Box 22593
Houston, 77027
713-473-3222
(TEW voicemail)

Web site:
www.tewhouston.org

  

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

The Board of Directors for Texas Executive Women met on January 28 with several goals for the coming year. We wish to update our website so that it is more user-friendly and presents us to the world as the professional organization we are. Vice President of Communications, Susannah Wong , is working with Beth Williams to accomplish this. Beth has made the most generous of donations to TEW by offering the services of her IT department for this project. This will save us a great deal of money that we can now direct to the mentoring programs and scholarships.

We will also be seeking grants to underwrite our mentoring programs. Unfortunately, our Director at Large, Grants, Caterina Venitucci has had to resign due to health and personal issues. If this is an area in which you have knowledge and an interest in serving, please contact me.

Due to the success of the 2007 WOM luncheon and fundraiser we will have $25,000.00 available for scholarships this year and President-Elect Paula Bohls will be naming her nominating committee to select this year's awardees. If she contacts you, you will have the greatest satisfaction participating in launching our newest stars out into the world.

I personally am grateful to Sheila Manning, Treasurer for once again preparing and presenting our 2008 budget to the board. Her diligence and skill in explaining the numbers to those of us on the board who “don't do numbers” is invaluable. As an example of the Board's balance, we have a brand new Secretary, Diana Morales Taylor to go with all us old timers.

Geraldine Gill, Vice President of Programs is working on some very interesting programs. The speaker she has obtained for February is just the beginning. Forensic Artist, Lois Gibson is very timely, having just worked on the “Baby Grace” homicide. We can look forward to another year of presentations to inform, entertain and inspire us.

Lourdes Cuellar is a relatively new member to TEW and she has the task of Vice President of Membership . I have known Lou for many years; we worked together and survived Tropical Storm Allison in the medical center together. I also know her to be active in several other organizations, so we are really blessed she agreed to serve on our board.

Due to Beth Williams's participation in our website update, she has asked to be released from her position of Vice President of Mentoring . Please consider jumping in. This is one of the really fun positions, with visits to the different mentoring programs at Aldine, Ball and Westbury High Schools during the year. This position is basically a liaison between the different programs and the board. Linda Holt, Florence Kusnetz and Margo Snider coordinate these mentoring programs and we all thank them for their continued commitment to guiding our young ladies.

As in previous years, Margo Snider, Vice President of Special Events is already working on this year's Women on the Move Luncheon for the fall. This is our major fundraising event, and its success is what funds our mentoring and scholarship programs.

Vice President Social Functions Sheridan Scott is in charge of both of our yearly fun social events, the Summer Social in July and the Holiday Social in December. She is exploring the possibility of a private event for TEW at the zoo. Stay tuned for further updates.

Sally Andrews will serve at our Director at Large delegate to the Federation of Houston Professional Women. Director at Large Genora Boykins is the liaison between the membership and the Board of Directors. She will be seeking news from the membership for sharing in our newsletter. Let her know of any accomplishments in your life, be they professional or personal.

Your board is here to serve the TEW organization, please feel welcome to communicate your ideas for programs, goals and ideas that will further TEW mission.

Carolyn Wyly


President

 

 

NEWS AMONG FRIENDS

The board of directors of the Houston Area Women's Center has selected fellow board member Lisa Malosky (WOM 1997) to become the interim president and CEO.

 
 

SUSANNAH L. WONG SAYS...

TEW Website Update Needs Your Help!

  The Board has voted to undertake an effort to update the TEW website. In order to do justice the organization and to project the professional image of TEW, we need YOUR help in making the website the best that it can be.  Please be very generous in sharing your thoughts on the following:

*     What are the best and worst features of the current TEW website?

*     What portion(s) of the current contents would you like to keep or discard?

*     What new features should the ‘new and improved' TEW website include?

*     In perusing other websites, have you come across any that impresses you?  If so, what are the links, and what features in particular should TEW consider emulating?

*     What attracts you to TEW? 

*     What sets TEW apart from other professional organizations?

*     What do you see as the TEW ‘brand'?

*     Other beneficial information to have in our efforts to re-structure the TEW website.

*     Comments and suggestions.

In addition, if you have photos (WOM, mentoring activities, programs, social events, or images that you feel reflect the essence of TEW) that we could use in the website, please send them to Susannah Wong (swong242@swbell.net) with a brief description for each.

It's the Year of the Rat!

             

Lunar New Year, celebrated by the Chinese, the Koreans, the Vietnamese and the Mongolians, begins on Feb. 7, 2008. According to the Chinese Zodiac, it is the Year of the Rat!

The Year of the Rat marks the year 4706 for the Chinese. Chinese months are based on the lunar calendar, with each month beginning on the day of the New Moon. New Year festivities traditionally start on the first day of the month and continue until the fifteenth, when the moon is brightest. New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are celebrated as a family affair, a time of reunion and thanksgiving. Red clothing is preferred during this festive occasion. Red is considered a bright, happy color, sure to bring the wearer a sunny and bright future. Children and unmarried friends, as well as close relatives are given red envelopes containing crisp dollar bills for good fortune. The seventh day of the New Year is also considered the birthday of human beings. Noodles are eaten to promote longevity.

The Vietnamese New Year is called T?t . The Vietnamese and the Chinese share many traditions and customs for New Year. Both prepare for the New Year by cooking special holiday foods and cleaning the house. On T?t, Vietnamese visit their families and temples.  

Those born in rat years (1996, 1984, 1972, 1960, and every 12 years hence) tend to be leaders, pioneers, and conquerors. They are charming, passionate, charismatic, practical and hardworking. William Shakespeare , and Mozart were both born in the year of the rat.

Good Neighbors

Attention, Shoppers: The Randalls Good Neighbors Program can make it easy for you to help earn extra funds for your favorite charity – TEW!  Please head to the Customer Service window and register your Randalls card with ID # 814, and TEW will reap the benefits of your patronage there. 

HAPPY VALENTINES!
I love thee, I love thee,
'Tis all that I can say;
It is my vision in the night,
My dreaming in the day.                   
                    -Thomas Hood

   “Celebrate what you've accomplished, but raise the bar a little higher each time you      succeed.” - Mia Hamm

 
 

TEW MENTORING PROGRAM

Mentoring

Westbury “Career Women of the Future” had a fun Christmas project. The girls made the baskets of fresh fruit, then delivered them to Seniors at JC Hester House.

For valuable insight into these highly successful mentoring programs, watch the 2006 Mentoring Video. Many young women have taken bold steps into their futures that they most likely would not have taken had they not been involved in these programs.

 
   

FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS

 

TEW Birthdays

 

 

02/02

Annie Cater

02/08

Georgianna E. Nichols

01/09

Doris LeFevre-Strain
   02/16    Bonnie Berube

02/16

Barbara Halstead

02/23

Mary Ann Collier

02/23

Andrea Renee' Logans


   

UPCOMING MEETING MEMO

February 12 , 2008 - Forensic Artist LOIS GIBSON
Lois Gibson works for the Houston Police Department and is probably the most respected forensic artist and facial expert in the world. Most recently in the news, you will recognize her as the artist who created the image of Baby Grace. Lois has been awarded with a notation in the Guinness Book of World Records for the highest crime solving rate based on composite sketches.

RSVP by Feburary 8 (Cancellations by Thursday, February 7 WILL NOT BE CHARGED.)

Upcoming Meetings:
March 11 – TBA

All regular meetings are on the second Tuesday of the month at:

The Briar Club
2603 Timmons Ln.
(Westheimer at Timmons)

Time: 5:30 pm - 6:15 p.m. (Check-In, Social)     
6:15 p.m. Speaker & Dinner

TEW Members with RSVP - $30.00
TEW Members without RSVP - $35.00
Nonmembers & Guests- RSVP Required - $35.00

RSVP ASAP to Geraldine Gill
leave message on machine at 713-743-2720,
or email ggill@thecurrentevent.com and
reference TEW in the subject line

** Contact Linda Holt LSHTEW@aol.com for Credit Card payment

**

Please keep us (Linda Holt - lshtew@aol.com and Geraldine Gill - ggill@thecurrentevent.com ) current with your email address.

If you prefer receiving hard copy, please let Geraldine know.