New to town?

So the house is spinning and the tornado is turning and before you know it you have landed in a strange place in search of your own personal OZ. You have no one you know except for a few munchkins you’ve met along the streets and you find yourself going into a spin as the twister continues. What’s a Dorothy to do?

Somewhat frantically – but not in an obsessive compulsive disorder kind of way – you tap your ruby red slippers together and are doing your best to land on your feet and find new venues to support your networking needs.

As you venture through the field of poppies out into the great networking unknown, you discover there are many characters within your inner landscape to help you on your journey. You will learn that:

• As the Scarecrow, you will use your brain to ensure you are asking the right questions to support you in landing in the right group to call home.
• As the Lion, you have to muster up the courage to get out and explore new groups.
• As the Tin Man, it is always helpful to lead with your heart so that you are happy with your choice.

If you stay away from the wicked witch (i.e. the wrong groups for your needs) you will find, as Dorothy did, that you have ended up in the Land of Oz where you will be curled, polished, stuffed and showered with gifts from the networking wizard.

I certainly felt like Dorothy when the tornado picked me up from my beloved Bay Area of 25 years and landed me smack dab in LA. I sang the “There-is-NO-place-like-home” blues for weeks. Although I had several networking bases that I loved, nurtured and had served for many years in the Bay Area, no matter how many times I clicked my heels, I still felt like I was a million miles away from my personal OZ.

After a few years of following the Yellow Brick Road, I found my OZ again at eWomenNetwork LA.

I have been a member of this netmiracle for years and was very active in the San Jose Chapter headed by the #1 Director Kristy Rogers.  When I first plopped down from the twister there was no chapter in LA, until the Good Witch Judi Froehlich-Pascoe showed up and opened a chapter in January of this year. Glenda has nothing on Judi or EwomenNetwork, as this networking venue is like none other I’ve experienced as I’ve search far and wide throughout the land of LA.

Why is eWomenNetwork OZ for me?

1. I love their philosophy of giving first
2. I love the caliber of women and the occasional men that attend
3. I love the support and the many varieties of tools beyond the monthly meetings
4. I love the one-minute networking rounds and the ability to give and receive
5. I love all of the women who I’ve become friends with over the years
6. I love that they have a international convention

I wanted to know why the Good Witch Judi chose to go beyond attendee status and become the Managing Director and build the Los Angeles presence. So tell me, Judi, why is eWomenNetwork right for you?

Well, Kathleen, I chose to become a member for many of the same reasons you outlined above. I knew that I wanted to be part of a community that took action to support the advancement of women. An organization committed to connecting and promoting female business owners and professionals so that women can achieve, succeed and prosper at accelerated levels …that is eWomenNetwork!

After I made the wise decision to take on the Managing Director opportunity, I attended my first Event at another Chapter, to experience the format of the Events first-hand. Having participated in a variety of networking events throughout the greater part of my career (more events than I choose to admit), I had a pretty good sense of what worked and what didn’t. I was truly inspired by the energy of the group, the caliber of the members, the format of the Accelerated Networking, and the true giving spirit.

We launched our first Accelerated Networking Event in January of 2008 in Los Angeles and have experienced amazing response. I look forward to welcoming many new extraordinary women to the eWomenNetwork Community in the future!

Thanks, Judi, and I know that folks will love what eWomenNetwork has to offer.

There is No Place Like Home and I wish you all the best as you find your perfect networking Oz!

Kathleen Ronald
(acting) Southwest Bureau Chief

ABOUT eWomenNetwork:

eWomenNetwork is first and foremost a loyal, dedicated community of women-owned businesses, corporate professionals, and entrepreneurs who want to support and network with other dynamic women. With their exclusive trademarked brand of Accelerated Networking events occurring in over 113cities all across the United States and Canada, they have pioneered a whole new way for women to build relationships and transact business. eWomenNetwork has also created a safe and secure Internet environment that allows women to connect and network with each other across cyberspace.

The unique combination of these systems and processes has reshaped old networking paradigms. By meshing both hi-tech and hi-touch environments, women have the ability to connect and collaborate in ways never before seen or experienced.

 

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