E-Newsletter, Vol.2, No.5 Professional Women’s Network May 2000

Next Luncheon Wednesday, May 24th

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and I am aghast at the sight of a terrorized six-year-old child being taken screaming from his relatives’ home in a pre-dawn raid by U.S. Marshals in our United States of America. Why didn’t they bring a court order to the door in the daylight hours? Why did these government agents use a battering ram to break down the door, brandish machine guns, and wear masks and goggles? It’s very unsettling to me. I don’t know what the psychological effect is on poor Elian Gonzalez, but I know what the psychological effect has been on me. Just devastating. It’s not even an issue for me right now regarding the father’s rights versus the Miami relatives’ rights. Never mind that he was whisked away on a plane to the loving arms of his long-suffering father. I am chilled still at what I saw that was so reminiscent of a fascist state. That is my problem with this resolution of how the father was reunited with his son.

This child exploded onto our corporate consciousness last Thanksgiving as a miracle child, lifted from the shark-infested waters off Miami by fishermen. One of these same fishermen was holding Elian, terrified, hiding in a closet when the Agents took the child out of his arms at gunpoint. Does anybody see the tragic irony in this? It’s funny what you notice when your mind is bending to believe what it is seeing. I noted with fascination that the closet was very organized and orderly, in stark contrast to the event happening and the surreal events of the past five months.

I am very proud to be an American. America is unique. People literally risk their lives to get to this country. “The Rule of Law”, both sides are yelling. A court appointment would have been preferable to what the world saw played out on TV this past Easter weekend. It’s hard for me to accept that this happened in America. I am still in shock. I can only hope and pray that we never see the likes of this again. Ah, well, there’s nothing I can do to change what has happened.

I am relieved that, so far, the angry crowds in Miami have demonstrated without much violence. The Miami police officers have shown much restraint. This is a hard situation. I hope that restraint continues to prevail. It has been reported how deeply the Little Havana community feels about Elian and issues of freedom. They are obviously a very proud and deeply passionate people who have demonstrated that they are law-abiding citizens of this country exercising their right to demonstrate peacefully. Watching this drama unfold has caused me to think much lately on the wonderful freedom this country offers.

I hope that is true.

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

2000 MEETING DATES

LAST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH

May 24, Jun 28, Jul 26, Aug 30,

Sept 27, Oct 25, Nov 29, December Holiday Party TBA

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ACHIEVE THE AMERICAN DREAM

Surpass your current earning potential!

Call SERENITY at 531-6405 for more information.

by Rudi Laarhoven

JUDITH DORSEY’s (JS Services, Inc.) office is located in the Interstate Building, the one that made the news with Honolulu’s worst high-rise fire on April 1^st. Her offices were without lights and the ceilings were water-damaged. The computers worked because the power outlets were unaffected so Judith had to continue working. However, the elevators did not work, which gave Judith reason to maintain a great fitness program. Despite the fire and damages, Judith’s company was able to meet all customer payroll deadlines, etc. DENISE F. CROSBY (May We Help?) our Publicity Director, announced at our April luncheon that she had just celebrated her first year in business as the very happy owner of Honolulu's friendliest collection agency, May We Help?, She is looking for more independent contractors with really friendly voices and access to e-mail to work part-time from home doing collection phone calls.  Denise can be reached at 545-5615 or by e-mail to maywehelp@lava.net.  Can we help? Denise's company has also been accepted into membership of the Honolulu Executives Association, which permits only one member per business category and will be representing the collection agency industry in Hawaii - joining the ranks of other PWN members' companies, including JS Services, Inc. (Judith Dorsey), Aloha Key & Awards (Arlene Krupa) and Computer Training Academy (Rudi Laarhoven). SUSAN AIU (Susan Aiu Astrology) was on KCCN (and KSSK) debating the topic of the fluctuating stock market. She will be at the Psychic Fair on May 21^st at Maunakea Marketplace in Chinatown from 9am to 3pm. It is a good place to get a mini reading done, at least. Another local celebrity is Dr. SALLIE LAU, (Herb Wise, Inc.)who was on a radio show with Bob Hogue, April 20. VICKI von STROHEIM-SEAY (Staffing Partners) needed a photograph in a hurry for the Miss Hawaii Program because she is on the judge’s panel. She was saved by a PWN member, PAT SHAPIRO (Pat’s Pics Photography), who took her picture. It is the best one ever taken of Vicki, everyone tells her. Also a judge, but not needing a program picture is RUDI LAARHOVEN (Computer Training Academy) who as a non-Filipino with in-depth knowledge of the arts and culture of the Philippines, has been asked to judge the parade at the Filipino Fiesta, Saturday, May 13. UTE REGAN (Account Executive) warns us that if you are planning to go to London, take a lot of money with you. She was there in April for a couple of weeks and was shocked by the pound sterling prices. Ute is now on her way for business to a more affordable American $ destination, Vermont. JANE BROWN’s (Automation Management Consultants, LLC) husband, Leroy, has recovered from his hip replacement and is back to work. If your company needs help with networking … computer networking, that is … Leroy and Jane have the solutions. KARRAN UHR (UHR Design) is looking forward to her two-minute talk at our June luncheon. She will be bringing a guest who is very successful at creating a web site business. Congratulations to LOUISE COWARD (Fashions and Furnishings by Louise) whose 5^th grandchild was born April 11. She now has four grandsons and one granddaughter. CAROL WILLIAMS (440 International) and her husband, John, celebrated their 36^th wedding anniversary, April 17^th. They enjoyed a tiki-torch-lit, romantic dinner for two at the Chart House at Haiku Gardens. MARY HOUGHTON (MHC, Inc.) is marching every time a death in our community is caused by domestic violence. The marchers are made up of the family of the deceased person and other interested members of the community. Excluding children, there were eighteen such deaths last year. It would be wonderful to say that there won’t be another March, but we know that won’t happen, so please join Mary in this noble cause. LAURA ESZES (Twin Worlds), BARBARA GUSS (Adecco), and JUDITH DORSEY (JS Services, Employers Simplified Payroll) all had booths at the annual trade show “Small Business on the Move, 2000”, May 3. We hope you all stopped by to say, “Aloha.”

WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBER

KAREN R. TASHIMA

Attorney/Director

Torkildson, Katz, Fonseca, Jaffa, Moore, Hetherington

700 Bishop Street, 15^th Floor

Honolulu HI 96813

Bus. Phone 523-6000; Bus. Fax 523-6001

Email: krt@torkildson.com

Web: www.torkildson.com

APRIL PWN MIXER CANCELLATION PARTY

The April 27^th PWN Networking Mixer was cancelled due to lack of sufficient registration.  Apparently, there was a conflict that evening with the Merrie Monarch Festival (in Hilo and on TV) and the ‘Sting’ Concert at the Blaisdell.

LOUISE COWARD decided to host a party anyhow. Anyone who showed up at her daughter's gallery, Artmosphere, was welcomed with much aloha. BARBARA GUSS (Adecco) and LAURA ESZES (Twinworlds) along with Louise’s other guests enjoyed a delightful Cancellation Party with wine and pupu.  The atmosphere at Artmosphere was invigorating, and all had a wonderful opportunity to do some one-on-one networking.  Barbara said that each one of Louise's guests who Barbara had invited to Small Business on the Move's May 2^nd Pre-Opening, showed up! 

Networking works!

And you all missed a wonderful party!

Try not to miss this one….

PWN Sunset Cruise Set for Friday, June 2nd

Sail into summer and network, too,
with PWN members & guests. We're going for a

Sunset Cruise on the catamaran Na Hoku

departing at

5:30 pm., Friday, June 2^nd from the beach at the

Sheraton Moana Surfrider in Waikiki.

Check-in time is 5:15P.M. at the
Moana's beach bar.

This PWN pau hana event includes a 1-1/2 hour sail, light pupu menu (supplied by your special events committee) and lots of time for relaxation & good conversation. Delicious mai tais & soft drinks can be purchased onboard for $1, beer for $2. This is "bare-bones" sailing, so exchange those business clothes for something more casual. Be prepared to get your feet wet -- entrance to the boat is through the water.

Parking for the sail is not validated, however if you decide to have dinner or drinks at the Moana Surfrider, you can valet park there for $4.50 or self-park at the Princess Kaiulani for $2 (max. 3 hours); these options both require validation.

Send checks payable to PWN
P.O. Box 37052, Honolulu, HI 96837

or bring to the May 24 meeting.

Please RSVP as soon as possible so we can be sure to reserve enough space
on the boat.

Final head count for boat is due Friday, May 26th.

ARE YOU USING YOUR ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS?

“I use at least one coupon per week for food to take home or to go out for dinner. Kobe restaurant was a worthwhile visit, I thought”

-Rudi Laarhoven-

If you have a benefit or recommendation to share in this Entertainment Book section, e-mail Rudi: rlaarhoven@cta.net

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THE MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE NEEDS YOUR HELP!

Our GOAL for 2000: 30 NEW members

Why is it so important to increase our membership?

1. We will have a greater opportunity for a more diversified network of resources.
2. We will be able to keep or even lower our costs for lunches and social activities.
3. PWN gets an opportunity to bring in prominent speakers from the Mainland.

How can we reach and EXCEED our GOAL?

1. Each current member of PWN can bring in one (1) new member.
2. Members are encouraged to e-mail Jane Brown, Membership Chair (please no phone calls) with Name, Company Name, Phone number of anyone they think would like to be invited to our lunch meetings. They can be friends, work associates, or names of women from the newspaper who have recently been promoted, etc. Please, always include a phone number or e-mail address and not just the name of the person to be contacted.

SUPPORT PWN---SPONSOR NEW MEMBERS!!

MAY PLANETS ON PARADE

by Susan Aiu

The lineup of seven planets in Taurus is the news of the day. Not only will they be in line by longitude, but also they will all be north of the ecliptic. If the Taureans can handle it, it should be good for them.

The Scorpio are a bit put out … watch Cayetano and Prince Charles. Over in Aquarius we have the weirdoes, Uranus and Neptune, both standing still at this point, and making a square or 90 degree relationship to the Taurus crowd. This is called STRESS. See if you can't make it work positively for you, and just get things done. These are all fixed signs and plod along. On May 13^th, Saturn will square Uranus and on the 28^th, it will conjunct with Jupiter. Both of these timings may make the stock market go crazy. Like a roller coaster ride, just hang onto your seats and in another month, all the planets in Taurus will have moved into Gemini making nice trines to Uranus. We don't get as much done under this nice aspect, but it sure feels better.

We are also keeping an eye on what the hard aspect will do with the solar flares, which tend to make earth's plasma accelerate. More volcanic and earth movements are in store. We are also watching three areas of eclipse paths where all sorts of pilikia can and are happening. Last summer's Aug 11 path through Europe is still active. The next two occur just above Antartica and can set more icebergs floating away. Mother Earth is reeling, and you may reel with Her. The best way out is to empower the FEMALES in the world and be ready to run things.

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APRIL LUNCHEON SPEAKER RECAP

by Gloria Affigne

Katherine Tugman says her favorite affirmation is one by Winston Churchill, “Never, never, never, never give up”, and it appears to have served her well. She is a very determined woman who has succeeded in the male-dominated steel business, despite, as she puts it, knowing nothing about steel or running a company when she first became president of Tugman Fasteners. She shared with us some of the characteristics and qualities that helped her succeed as well as some of the tools she used.

Among those characteristics, first and foremost is:

Determination & persistence. Never, never, never, never give up! Followed by:

1. Block the naysayers. Don’t let other people tell you, “you can’t”.

2. Maintain optimism. Success is about having a positive attitude.

3. Be flexible. Don’t be afraid to change direction.

4. Don’t be afraid to show you don’t know. Just be willing to go and find the answers. This is how you learn.

Some of the tools Katherine uses are:

1. Reading. Reading is her favorite learning tool.

2. Seminars and classes. More learning tools.

3. Mentors. Find someone who is where you want to be and learn how they did it.

4. Set goals and write them down. Then share them with you family & friends.

5. Affirmations. “Never, never, never, never give up!”

Katherine can be an inspiration to all of us. She has shown that determination and the willingness to constantly learn are the keys to success in any field.

MAY 2000 LUNCHEON SPEAKER

by Barbara Guss

Join us at the May PWN luncheon when our speaker will be Margery Bronster, former Attorney General for the State of Hawaii from 1995 until May 1999. As we all know, her term as Attorney General really heated up with her investigation of the Bishop Estate Trustees in that very high profile case, and ended with her not being reconfirmed by the Hawaii Legislature as State Attorney General in Governor Cayetano’s second term. Many of us have heard the rumors that she may be tapped to run for public office on a ticket with Linda Lingle. Is this one of the next steps in her exciting career? We can anticipate a thoughtful speech and lively discussion that will provoke us all to consider the challenges of public service in a highly charged public arena.

Ms. Bronster studied Chinese and History at Brown University and received her law degree (with honors) from Columbia University School of Law; then practiced law for six years in New York, specializing in commercial litigation, antitrust and international law. She continued her practice in Hawaii at the law firm of Carlsmith Ball et al. until 1994, when Governor Cayetano appointed her as the first woman to serve a full term as Attorney General.

During her tenure as Attorney General, she chaired the Governor's Committee on Crime, the Law Enforcement Coalition, the Stop Violence Against Women Planning Committee and sat on numerous other boards and committees. The Bishop Estate case was significant, but not the only important matter that she dealt with as Attorney General.

Bronster sued the tobacco industry, resulting in a $1.3 billion settlement for the State; and pursued oil companies for alleged overcharges at the pump. In 1998, she received the Tommy Holmes award for her work combating sex assault. Hawaii Woman Lawyers recognized her as the Woman Lawyer of the Year, and she received the Kelly-Wyman award as outstanding Attorney General from at the Nat’l Assoc. of Attorneys General.

In December 1999, Ms. Bronster became a partner in the law firm of Bronster Crabtree & Hoshibata. We hope that you are able to come hear this very gutsy, smart woman share some of her war stories, tell us what she’s been up to since leaving the Governor’s cabinet, and encourage us all to stand up to the plate and face challenges that sometimes surprise us in life.

Location: Hale Koa Hotel

Date/Time: May 24, 2000 (bring your business cards)

Registration and Networking @ 11:30 am

Reservations: Call 533-4800 by noon Friday, May19th. Reservations are required for confirmed seating. No shows are billed. Doors close promptly at noon; reservations may be forfeited if not claimed then.

Menu: Soup: Tomato Dill Bisque

Entrée: Sautéed Pork loin cutlet with sun dried tomato and mushroom caper sauce on mashed potatoes

Vegetarian: Veggie Chow Min

Dessert: Chocolate Cream Pie
Coffee and Tea are served

Cost: Members: $18 Guests: $25 Validated parking: $2