E-Newsletter, Vol.2, No.4 Professional Women’s Network April, 2000
Stand up and be counted. The U.S. Government would have all its citizens participate in its ten-year census count. The information gleaned from this count is used for a myriad of programs and planning. I, for one, cannot understand the government of the United States needing to know, as part of the head count, if I need help in bathing and how long it takes me to drive to work, and if I have trouble concentrating. (I do - it gets harder and harder to concentrate as the information overload of our modern world encroaches on my three- pound-size brain.)
I guess it’s time for me to take stock and see what is happening in my day-to-day world. How can I improve the quality of my life and ensure the balance that is necessary for enjoyment of life and good mental health? Stress indicators always alert me to the need to do this on a periodic basis. I look around me and see other professional women seemingly with all aspects of their busy lives well under control, but I know that I really have to work at it all the time.
My daughter is in her twenties and I am barely in my fifties (!) and I reflect now on what my game plan was when I was her age. Not too specific. College was during the Beatles White Album phase (Come TO-GETHER! Right Now!), and Kent State. I went to the Woodstock music festival one hot August and that dramatically colored my life from that time on. None of what I envisioned or planned at that time has come to pass in the exact way I thought it would. And, yes, I DO remember the ’70s.
To my delight, I find myself in a profession that is very well suited to my personality and temperament. I love the recruitment field. Our recent speakers have all had a common theme of recognizing opportunities and catching the prevailing wind (I am also a sailing enthusiast), trying one thing in the business world and then another, often through necessity, and finding themselves at the top of their game. I find that I am continually anticipating and relishing the next step of my professional calling. (More about that another time.)
I’ve noticed that my daughter’s generation has a much more concrete plan for everything in life. She set goals early on and has systematically carried out the steps to achieve them, now working and going to graduate school. My son, a few years older than my daughter, told me his life plan to age forty when he was just nineteen. Remarkably, he is on the course that he set for himself. As an electrical engineer in the Silicon Forest west of Portland, Oregon, he keeps me very up-to-speed in the world of high technology.
I’m not sure I would have wanted to go there, back when I was in my twenties. But, the world moves on and so must we. It does seem that what I hear the most from women and what I know to be true for myself is that it’s been the support and efforts of others, the investment of many in our lives that has made the critical difference. Feeling connected to others who know who you are and what you are doing is a very satisfying experience.
We do accomplish a lot in our interaction as a professional women’s organization. The variety of professions and personalities of women who belong to PWN is very stimulating. We do not take the place of your specific industry associations, but, rather, broaden your base of meeting interesting women who have a lot to share and learn from each other, women of all ages. This blend is very special. We connect and contact each other when we have personal needs as well as professional ones. Our directory is invaluable.
I heard Kathy Tugman speak at a Chamber of Commerce sponsored event last year, and just knew she had lots of interesting insights to share with our group. I am thrilled that our Program Chair, Elaine Myers Hammond, has arranged for her to speak at our April Luncheon. Don’t miss this incredible dynamic woman who will address how smart women finish first no matter where they work. Hear her recount how she gained a leadership role in a male-dominated industry. We are in for a treat and, I suspect, will pick up some fascinating tips. I hope to see you there.
Barbara Guss
President
ABOUT PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S NETWORK
The Professional Women’s Network is dedicated to supporting professional and businesswomen in Hawaii, acting on the premise that mutual support is a necessary factor in bringing about personal growth and business success. The Network’s objectives are to promote the exchange of professional ideas and provide an opportunity to share experiences that will help women expand their business position in the Hawaii marketplace. We are committed to providing women in Hawaii with the opportunity to obtain support from other like-minded women in the pursuit of their professional and business goals. We are committed to challenging our members with new ideas and information that will help them attain their business and personal goals.
Membership Information can be obtained by calling 533-4800
YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
|
Barbara
Guss |
President |
|
Rudi
Laarhoven |
Newsletter |
|
Elaine
Myers Hammond |
VP/Programs |
|
Pat Shapiro/Louise
Coward |
Special
Events |
|
Jeanette
Frahm |
Secretary/Historian |
|
Ute
Regan |
Scholarship |
|
Gail
Smith |
Treasurer |
|
Gloria
Affigne |
Past
Pres./Advisor |
|
Bonnie
Lambing |
Arrangements |
|
Beth
Busch |
Past
Pres./Advisor |
|
Jane
Brown |
Membership |
|
Carol
Williams |
Past
Pres./Advisor |
|
Denise
Crosby |
Publicity |
|
Mary
Houghton |
Executive
Director |
by Rudi Laarhoven
Palm Pilot convert GLORIA AFFIGNE (Pepsi-Cola Company) is taking a “real” vacation … a whole week in Maui. It has been more or less ten years since her last vacation. When she took time off work twice before, it was solely for moving purposes. Gloria’s vacation plans included lots of golf. Hopefully, she didn’t get rained out. Talking about moving, BONNIE LAMBING (NIKKEN Independent Distributor) is happy to be downsized. After selling her huge house in Kahala Kua, she is now in smaller, comfortable surroundings in Hawaii Kai. ARLENE KRUPA (Aloha Key & Awards) was moving through air for many hours while PWN members were sitting down for lunch last March 29. She was very excited to be flying to Paris for a holiday with her husband. In March, PAT SHAPIRO, (Pat’s Pics Photography) and her husband, Harry, celebrated her birthday with a one-night vacation at the Ihilani Resort. It was wonderful, especially when the hotel upgraded them to an oceanfront suite with two balconies, his & hers bathrooms, four TVs, five telephones, and tons of amenities. On the way home they drove over the bridge to Ford Island & toured the USS Missouri. It was fascinating to stand on the spot where the Japanese surrender ended WWII. It's a great tour & well worth the time & cost. DR.SALLIE LAU (Herb Wise Inc.)launched her own products called Herb Wise. Some of Sallie’s products are natural medicines that replace synthetic drugs, others are supplements. Sallie advises us to consult her first before taking any drugs or supplements. MARY HOUGHTON (MHC, Inc.) is studying ikebana. She says that working with her instructor, a very elderly Japanese woman, is so-o-o satisfying. We’ll expect to see the results of Mary’s learned art form soon … maybe she’ll bring an arrangement and her teacher to a luncheon. CAROL WILLIAMS (440 International Inc.) is busy helping her daughter with wedding plans for next February. If anyone knows a woman who performs an Hawaiian wedding ceremony (nondenominational), please let Carol know. FLORENCE KELLEY (Hawaii Bahai Community) was in China for the Spring Bud Plan, a program in poor areas to help girls who drop out of school to return. It is hoped to wipe out illiteracy, which is very high among girls in China. For very little money (300 yuan) one can help a girl to receive one year of primary education in 4th grade and above. Ask Florence if you want to now more about it. EMMY LOU RUNYAN (uncommonly common crafts) inspired by the March luncheon speaker, offered some of the following reminders of what life was like before the computer when...
·A keyboard was a piano
·An application was for employment
·If you had a 3 inch floppy you hoped nobody noticed
·Log on was adding wood to the fire
·Cut was something you did with a knife
·Paste was something you did with glue
·A web was a spider’s home
·Memory was something you had in your head
·A virus was the flu.
WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBER:
PAULA ANN W. AILA
Customer Loyalty Manager
Honolulu Cellular
500 Kahelu Avenue
Mililani HI 96789-3938
Bus. Phone 627-8510; Bus. Fax 627-8953
Cel 223-0133
Advertisement
ACHIEVE THE AMERICAN DREAM
Surpass your current earning potential!
Call SERENITY at 531-6405 for more information.
ALERT!: Alex Memorial Scholarship Applications
Deadline for applications: Sunday, April 30, 2000.
PWN members and/or their children … daughters and sons … are eligible and encouraged to apply! Information, fact sheet, and applications are available by calling 531-7656 or e-mailing (uregan@attglobal.net)Scholarship Chair, Ute Regan
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ARE YOU USING YOUR ENTERTAINMENT BOOK?
IF YOU DO, LET US KNOW ABOUT SOME OF THE BENEFITS YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED OR RECOMMENDATIONS YOU CAN MAKE.
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MARCH LUNCHEON SPEAKER RECAP
by Karla Phillips
Our guest speaker at our March luncheon was Alan H. Lam, Founder and President of The Quorum. Alan and his staff call themselves “Computer Technology Facilitators”, which sounds like something we could all use with us at all times! The Quorum’s area of specialty is Palm Pilots, the hand held electronic organizers that are becoming as common as cell phones. The title of Alan’s talk was “Smaller Box, Bigger Potential”.
Alan started with an eye-opening comparison of his old day-planner with his new Palm Vx. It was immediately apparent that if you’re interested in managing your time, information, and business more effectively, a Palm Pilot is an excellent solution. Imagine being able to carry 3,000 names and addresses, 4,0000 events, and 200 pages of text in a tiny box slightly larger than a cassette tape.
The predecessors to Palm Pilots,or PDAs (Personal Data Systems) were larger and had a small flip out keyboard. It was very difficult to type on these tiny keyboards and there was no way to back up or synchronize the data with your desktop computer. With today’s Palms, most data is entered on a standard size keyboard at your desktop computer or laptop and then synchronized, or backed up into your Palm Pilot. For entering data on the go, a stylus allows you to write words right onto the screen that will be recognized (if written properly), or you can tap out letters with the stylus on a keypad on the screen. This information is then later synchronized into your desktop or laptop computer. Alan showed us how two palm pilots and a keyboard accessory could be used to effectively replace your laptop on business trips. Alan has also tested and is implementing wireless technology to integrate Nextel phones with Palm Pilots which will add Internet capability to the Palm systems.
We all tend to feel overwhelmed with “high tech” advances, but Alan explained that the term “high tech” actually means “easy” to the end user. The more highly developed and complex a system becomes, the easier it is for the non-technology savvy person to use it. If all this technology is still a little intimidating to you, Alan and his group will not only help you pick the right Palm Pilot for your needs, but will provide you with all the support you need to get it integrated with your computer system and up and running. In addition, the first Wednesday of every month, The Palm PDA Users Group meets at Cafe Che Pasta,1001 Bishop at 5:30-7:00 pm, for a nominal cost of $5 and validated parking. There you learn how to use the applications and software in your Palm Pilots more effectively. We have no excuses for not getting organized now!
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MAHALO!
Mahalo to Pat Shapiro for using her talents to make us look attractive and for having Sonya there as makeup artist.
If you missed having your member photo taken at the March luncheon … Pat Shapiro is still taking photos … remember, this year the photos are in color and will be posted in our online directory, so it may be time to take a new shot. Pat does wonders for all of us. And, she’s donating 50% of her nominal fee to our Alex Memorial Scholarship fund! Call Pat at 395-1217 to schedule an appointment. You’re too late for picture taking at the luncheon, but never too late to have Pat take your picture by appointment.
Pat’s Pics Photography – photographic portraits – 395-1217
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MEMBERSHIP DRIVE:
There’s power in numbers. If each of us brings a new member to PWN, we’ll double our membership. Bring in four new members and you could win FREE PWN membership in 2001. Bonus drawing : Meet and talk to every speaker at PWN 2001 luncheons. Bonus prize drawing winner will be seated at the head table at every luncheon in 2001.
WARNING TO ALL WOMEN:
BE AWARE OF PAGET’S DISEASE
Paget’s Disease is a rare form of breast cancer, and is on the outside of the breast – on the nipple and areola. It appears as a rash, which later becomes a lesion with a crusty, outer edge.
It can start out as a single red pimple on the areola. One of the biggest problems with Paget’s Disease is that the symptoms appear to be harmless. It is frequently thought to be a skin inflammation or infection, leading to unfortunate delays in detection and care.
Symptoms include:
1. A persistent redness, oozing, and crusting of your nipple causing it to itch and burn.
( One woman reported that her nipple did not itch much or burn, and no oozing was visible, butit did have a crust along the outer edge on one side. )
2. A sore on your nipple that will not heal.
(Hers was on the areola area with a whitish thick-looking area in the center of her nipple.)
3. Usually only one nipple is affected.
How is it diagnosed?
Your doctor will do a physical exam, and should suggest having a mammogram of both breasts done immediately. Even though the redness, oozing and crusting closely resemble dermatitis (inflammation of the skin),your doctor should suspect cancer if the sore is only on one breast. Your doctor should order a biopsy of your sore to confirm what is going they will take a sample of your breast tissue in that area to test for cancer. If the cancer is only in the nipple and not in the breast, your doctor may recommend just removing the nipple and surrounding tissue or suggest radiation treatments. The woman who shared this information had a doctor who didn’t consider Paget’s Disease and tossed it aside as dermatitis. If he had been more aware, perhaps they could have saved her breast and it wouldn't have spread to her lymph nodes and metastasized to her bones, this after receiving mega doses of chemotherapy, 28 treatments of radiation and taking tamoxafin.
This message should be taken seriously and passed on to as many of your women friends and relatives as soon as possible, it could save someone's life.
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2000 MEETING DATES
LAST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH
(April luncheon is on the third Wednesday
so as not to conflict with Easter and Passover)
Apr 19, May 24, Jun 28, Jul 26, Aug 30,
Sept 27, Oct 25, Nov 29, December Holiday Party TBA
APRIL 2000 LUNCHEON SPEAKER
Please join us and welcome Katherine Tugman to our luncheon meeting on April 19th .
Location: Hale Koa Hotel
Date/Time: April 19, 2000 (bring your business cards)
Reservations: Telephone 533-4800 or e-mail pwnhawaii@worldnet.att.net by noon Friday, April 14th. Reservations are required for confirmed seating. No shows are billed. Doors close promptly at noon and reservations may be forfeited if not claimed then.
Menu: Soup: Cream of Watercress
Entrée: Baked Mahimahi Filet with tomato chive beurre blanc on garlic mashed potatoes and mushroom zucchini sauté
Dessert: Tropical Cheesecake
Coffee and Tea is served
Vegetarian: Fruit Plate with Cottage Cheese
Cost: Members: $18 Guests: $25 Validated parking: $2
