Contents

January Luncheon

Program Speaker

From the President

December Luncheon Photos

Cannon Circle

New Members: Diane Hickey and Carol Moroco

Members doing Business with Members

Grapevine: News and Notes about WEC Members

Field Trip to Metro Zoo

WEC History - past speakers

Book Club

Community News

Closing Thought

WEC Board of Directors

Luncheons and Board Meetings

January Luncheon

Date: Time:	Wednesday, January 16, 2007 11:30 Networking 12:00 Luncheon
Place:	Tower Club, 28th floor One Financial Plaza in the Regions Bank Building Click here for directions
Program:	Dr. Brenda Calhoun Snipes, Supervisor of Elections
Guest Cost:	Guest cost $30. Members are responsible for Guests.
Menu:	Broiled Tilapa with lime gin yogurt sauce Pasta Primavera-Penne pasta, seasonal vegetables sautéed in olive oil and garlic White chocolate mousse
RSVP to:	Please RSVP (including your menu choice) by Thursday, January 10 to rsvp@wecftl.com We appreciate your RSVPs! To assist Susie administratively, please put “WEC Lunch” in the subject line.
“One of the greatest human needs is having someone to wonder where you are when you don’t come home at night”. Margaret Mead

Program Speaker
Dr. Brenda Calhoun Snipes

Dr. Brenda Calhoun Snipes has lived in Broward County since 1964.  She is a graduate of Talladega College with a degree in modern foreign languages.  She earned her masters degree from Florida Atlantic University and her doctorate in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University.

Dr. Snipes began her career as a teacher at Blanche Ely High School.  She moved through the educational ranks as a program specialist, district level administrator, co-principal and principal.

Prior to her retirement from the school district in 2003 she held the following positions: area director, served as consultant in leadership for principals and district level administrators, adjunct professor in educational leadership at Florida Atlantic University and mentor to students in the teacher preparation program at Nova Southeastern University.

Dr. Snipes was asked by Governor Jeb Bush to serve out the term of Supervisor of Elections November 20, 2003.  During her tenure in this position she has held several successful elections.  Over the past year, more than 25,000 local high school students have been registered to vote.

Dr. Snipes is an active member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church.  She serves on various boards and committees in the community, is a graduate of Leadership Broward and member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, where she served three terms as president of this public service organization.  She is a newly appointed corporate board member for the Boys and Girls Club of Broward County.

Dr. Snipes is married to Walter Snipes.  They have two adult daughters Derrice and Melanie and two grandchildren Ellyn and Kamille Ruth.

Tower Club Update

The construction crane is once again moving from the SW corner to the East side of the building.   Effective Monday, December 3, 2007 the Parking garage will only be accessible via SE 2nd Street.

Inevitably there will be traffic congestion due to the road closure and we ask for your continued patience during this last phase of construction. Please feel free to call me with any questions you may have.  Again, thank you for all of your patience and understanding over the past year.

Morning or Afternoon PARKING-Please be advised there will not be any access to the parking garage from Broward Boulevard. The Parking garage entrance/exit will only be accessible by way of SE 2nd Street.

From the President

I hope you all had a happy holiday season. As always, our holiday luncheon was spectacular. We gathered at the beautiful Lauderdale Yacht Club. Many thanks to Vivien Godfrey for arranging our location and to Dr. Donna Goldstein for providing our music. Our world-famous gift exchange lived up to its image. Everyone took home great gifts and had a terrific time.

Regina Igoe, our new F/X, introduced herself and talked about the mentoring she’s looking for from WEC. If you have a mentoring “gift” you’d like to give Regina, please contact her or anyone on the board. If you would like to become more involved in either F/X or WEW, please contact Ronnie Karlin.

We gave out a number of anniversary pins:
20 years: Theora Braccialarghe; 15 years: Joyce Shore and Gail Stremlo; 10 years: Jackie Powell; 5 years: Dorothy Eisenberg, Cynthia Hardy and Nora Weiss. I’m honored to be president of a group with so much history. Thank you to these great women for contributing their time and energy over the years.

The party girl, Betsy Grant, hosted our annual holiday Cannon Circle. No one can decorate like Betsy. Everywhere you looked in her home, you could see touches of warmth and happiness. And we all received treats to bring that feeling into our own homes. Thank you, Betsy!

Our new year begins with Emily Rushin hosting the January Book Club. The club will be discussing Gabriel Garcia Marquez's "Love in the Time of Cholera" on Monday, January 14th.

Don’t miss our first luncheon of the year. We’ll be back at the Tower Club on Wednesday, January 16th, when our speaker will be Dr. Brenda Snipes, Broward County Supervisor of Elections. She will answer your questions and concerns about our changing voting machines and the January 29th elections. Vanessa Koutalidis from Island City Chiropractic will be presenting a business showcase. Are you worried about keeping those new year resolutions? Vanessa will show you how to keep on track and achieve your goals.

Save the date, Saturday, March 8th, for our outing at MetroZoo. Pam Dearden has arranged for us to get a behind the scenes look at the workings of the zoo. Our day will include lunch, tram tour and monorail ride. Guests and children are welcome.

Here’s wishing you and your family a healthy, happy and prosperous 2008!

Thank-you,
Melissa Rapkin

December Luncheon Photos

Thanks to our photographer, Joni Rosenthal! More photos are posted on our new WEC Web Album.

NEW MEMBERS SPOTLIGHT:

Diane Hickey and Carol Moroco

Diane tells us: 

Windows of Imagination is a company of 11 artists that are not just creative and talented, but dependable. What makes us different is the unique product line that we offer. 

Our expert artists can mural the outside of a building with non-fading mineral paint or make a child's room into a fairy tale fantasy.  We can do faux finishes from marbling to one of a kind creations using environmentally friendly plaster.  Our custom printed fabrics have been used for both commercial banners and unique window treatments in homes.  We offer custom printed wallpaper suitable for a small niche, can jazz up a plain hollow core door or an entire wall.  Our window vinyl can be either a unique alternative to curtains or as an attention getting feature for businesses.  Our tile murals are appropriate for indoor or outdoor commercial and residential use with a 15 year scratch and fade resistant warranty.  We can create sculptures of all sizes suitable for indoors or outdoors.  Our motto is "If you can imagine it, we can create it."

Carol tells us: 

I am originally from outside of Reading, PA which is in "Pennsylvania Dutch Country."   The movie, "Witness", which starred Harrison Ford portrays the countryside beautifully.  One of my first ventures outside of rural Pennsylvania was to Austria as an exchange student for a summer while still in high school.  The trip wet my appetite for travel!  

The Pennsylvania State University is my alma mater for both my undergraduate (education) and graduate degrees (MBA).  Go Nittany Lions!  A position with PNC Bank in Pittsburgh launched my banking career.   Marriage and my first son, Daniel, soon followed and then we were off to Sao Paulo, Brazil for four years where my second son, Andrew, was born.  Once we returned to the states, I resumed my banking career.  Fast forward twenty years and two relocations later; my sons are now in college and Florida has been home for the three of us for the past nine years.  

I joined Regions Bank in 2007 as a client manager in Business Banking.  My focus is working with owners of small businesses (sales up to $15,000,000) for their banking needs (loans, deposits, cash management, investments, etc.).  Each day is as different as the business owners that I interact with!  That is what keeps the position interesting and rewarding as I am able to assist entrepreneurs achieve their goals.

I am currently on the Board of Directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County and serve on my church finance committee.   Joining WEC ranks as a highlight of 2007.  I look forward to getting to know the members better at future events!

Members Doing Business with Members

Melissa Rapkin says: “I want to thank Deb McLaughlin for taking care of my Yellow Pages advertising. My original representative was not helpful and wouldn't answer my phone calls. Deb went out of her way (and out of her territory) to come and talk to me. She sold me what I needed, she explained it to me and showed me where my listing will go. I appreciate her time and knowledge. If you're not advertising in the Yellow Pages (or your rep has you in the wrong category), call Deb.”

Dee Moustakas says:  “A shipload of thanks to Liz Mendel for arranging such a wonderful cruise! Her attention to detail resulted in smooth sailing!”

The Executive Grapevine: news and notes about WEC members.

Emily Rushin received a Judge's Recognition at the November Hollywood Art Guild show for her realistic watercolor "Lemon Tree".   Congratulations Emily!  And, Emily will have watercolors hanging as part of group shows at the Anne Kolb Nature Center, 751 Sheridan Street, Hollywood and BCC South Campus, Bldg. 72, 7300 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines through January 30.  Many venues are mounting art exhibits now; not all get the zing-bling exposure of Art Basel, but you'd be surprised at the quality of art being shown locally.  Great recognition Emily!

WANTED: a WEC member to share a delightful cottage and car rental in lovely, rural SW France for 1-2 weeks sometime in Spring, Summer or Fall in 2008.  You can check out the cottage at www.catherinestock.com and scroll down to her "cottage rental."  I stayed in Rignac last June and can tell you all about it!  Email Emily Rushin at wisemily@bellsouth.net or call 954-523-6342.

We extend special congratulations to Connie Chaney on her accomplishments for the community.

Connie Chaney was the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Southern Florida's Woman of the Year for 2007. Because she raised over $60,000 she had the opportunity to have a Society-funded researcher named in honor of her efforts. The award given to Connie reads, "The Society is pleased to name the research efforts of Dr. Ke Hu in honor of the Friends and Family of Connie Chaney. Your work in the field of blood cancer research will make a significant difference in the lives of the patients we serve."
Input provided by: 
Rhonda Siegel
Special Events Campaign Manager
Southern Florida Chapter
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Connie Chaney is also being honored as a Woman of Substance and Style for the Symphony of the Americas. The Luncheon will be held on Tuesday, March 11 at the Fort Lauderdale Grande on 17th St. For more information, contact Pam Masters at (954) 980-7991 or email realtorpam@bellsouth.net

Lynda and Armand Amorello spent two weeks in Europe exploring Paris, London and Belgium and say that Harrods at Christmas is unbelievable!  Lynda arrived home just in time for a scheduled knee surgery.  Good luck Lynda and wishing you a speedy recovery!

Our own “Dr.Donna” is happy to report that the one man show on African American History she produces was spotlighted in a recent almost full page article in the Miami Herald. She was also delighted that so many members of our group enjoyed the multi-instrumental music of Anthony Corrado that she arranged for our holiday party.

SPECIAL EVENT- WEC FIELD TRIP!

WEC is going to the Miami Metro Zoo!
Everyone has enjoyed Ron McGill’s talks about Metro Zoo, so WEC is planning a field trip to the zoo!  We’ll be taking a spring field trip to Metro Zoo on Saturday, March 8th.  Family and friends are welcome to come too.  Everyone will travel to the Zoo individually (or you can arrange your own carpools.)  We will meet at the Lakeside Grill for lunch at 11:30am and assemble for a private Tram tour at 12:50pm (tour leaves at 1:00pm).  Prices are based on a group rate, so plan to join your WEC friends and family for a fun day out!   
Place:  Miami Metro Zoo
             12400 SW 152 Street
              Miami, FL 33177
              305-251-0400
              www.miamimetrozoo.com
Date:  Saturday, March 8, 2008
Price:  $24.00 for adults
$19.50 for children (3-12)
All prices will include general admission to the zoo, private tram tour, 1 metro rail pass and 1 boxed lunch.  Payment must be made in advance. PLEASE MAIL CHECKS TO PAM DEARDEN, 2101 NE 59 COURT, FT. LAUDERDALE, FL 33308 BY JANUARY 25, 2008.  
Directions:
From Broward and Palm Beach - Take the Florida Turnpike (821) South to the Homestead Extension Exit #16. Leave Turnpike-come down ramp to your right. You are close to the Zoo. Make a right off the exit and then make another right at 152 Street. You will then be going west on SW 152 Street (Coral Reef Drive). Move to the left lane and enter the Zoo at SW 124 Avenue to you left.

WEC REVISITS PAST SPEAKERS

by Emily Rushin

When I told Melissa immediately after Peg McPherson spoke at the October luncheon that Marjorie Stoneman Douglas had spoken to WEC years before, Melissa was quite surprised.  It occurred to me that newer members might be interested in some of the illustrious speakers we have had.

Marjorie addressed us on Friday, February 15, 1985.  Still a powerful advocate for the Everglades at 93, her activism went back to the 1920s for causes such as women’s suffrage, birth control, and black housing.  She asked us each to give her $1 and become Friends of the Everglades.

Author and lecturer Dr. Wayne Dyer spoke to us about “A Life Without Limits” in January 1985.  He was inspiring, as you might well imagine.  He sure looked a lot younger then than now.

Wednesday, November 10, 1965, in the Broward Review: “We’re so preoccupied with defendants’ rights, with getting them better lawyers and less crowded prisons.  It’s time to turn the balance, so there’s equal time for the victims,” she said to a round of applause from her audience at the Women’s Executive Club, meeting at the Riverside Hotel.  Who said this?  Janet Reno.

Virginia Schumann Young, Fort Lauderdale’s first woman mayor, was an enthusiastic member of Women’s Executive Club for many years until her death seven years ago.  I remember she confided in me that she was slightly embarrassed to come to our luncheons in tennis shoes, but she had fallen recently and was in therapy, and her doctor insisted on “sensible” shoes.

Vinnette Carroll spoke to our club in Mary 1996.  She was probably talking about her beautifully restored theater, now named Cinema Paradise, but then named after her, but to me she could have just read the phone book, her voice was so mesmerizing.  She moved to Fort Lauderdale after a long career as an actress, director, playwright and producer in New York and London.

Sharon Komlos D’Eussanio spoke us several times about her incredible experience with violent crime in which she was raped, blinded, and left for dead after a “good Samaritan” came to “help” her.  Sharon is a moving advocate for victims in the criminal justice system and has spoken to countless groups locally and nationally.

In November of 1988, we sponsored a Special Event at Pier 66 with Linda Ellerbee as our speaker.  It was attended by hundreds and underwritten by many local firms, which formed the beginning of our special named account in the Broward Community Foundation.

Book Club

Monday, January 14, 2008, at 6:30pm at Emily Rushin's home:
2636 Barbara Dr.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316
954-523-6342

The book:  Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.  This classic piece of literature is a love story beautifully told. 

As Barnes and Noble puts it:
“Set in an unnamed Caribbean seaport, Garcia Marquez's extraordinary Love in the Time of Cholera (1988) relates one of literature's most remarkable stories of unrequited love. "This shining and heartbreaking novel," Thomas Pynchon wrote in The New York Times Book Review, is one of those few rare works "that can even return our worn souls to us."
Mary Wesley on Garcia Marquez's Love in the Time of Cholera:
"This is the funniest, most moving book I have read and re-read. Each reading discovers fresh delights, a true classic. Garcia Marquez is the greatest South American writer who doesn't hesitate to write of the spiritual and mundane in the same paragraph."

New “bookies” are welcome; bring a dish,   have a glass of wine and share your thoughts!

WEW Women Empowering Women

From our WEW member Patricia A. McCarthy:

It is so wonderful to be a part of the Women Empowering Women Scholarship and mentoring program.  The WEC has helped me with my art supplies as well as tuition over the past year. It is great to communicate with the members. Since there is a wide range of professions at the WEC, I have a multitude of experienced professional women to access for a wide range of advice.
Thank you so much for letting me be a part of this wonderful program.

From our new WEW member Joanne McDaid:
I would like to first thank WEC for believing in me and offering me this great opportunity to change my life for the better. And a special thank you to my friend Barbara Moorman for introducing me to WEC.

I grew up in Derry City, N. Ireland with 4 brothers and 5 sisters during the troubles. While there were bombings, house raids, and tear gas my father taught us to avoid the trouble by always taking the long way to be safe.

I left Ireland in 1986, after working in a shirt factory for 2 years; being an Irish Catholic these were the only jobs available to us, as you couldn’t get a secretarial job without the experience or the experience without the job! My father encouraged all of us to leave and go to London to work and get the experience. All of us did; 7 returned but my sisters and I stayed in London.

In 1994 I applied for and won the green card lottery. I also met my husband. We moved to Florida and I started work in a real estate office until my son Martin was born in 1999. I also got my Real Estate License. We then moved to Nantucket as my husband was offered a really good job. I started a Day care business so I could be home with Martin; it turned into a great business with the help of six wonderful kids.

I then got divorced in 2004 and started a franchise called “Baby’s Away” with one of the mom’s. While trying to work both the day care and the franchise I ended up working 7 days and totally burned out. I decided to pack up and move my son and I back to Ireland. We stayed for 10 months then returned to Florida in 2005.

I have worked as a store manager, as a temp for Broward County Transit, worked in an After School Program and started a cleaning business which finally drove me to my now nursing career. One of my sisters is a Senior RN and Case Manager in London which I have always wished to be.  She helps me with my nursing goal and will continue to do so throughout my nursing career.

Welcome Joanne!

COMMUNITY NEWS

Five charity shows will be held starting January 27th thru March 30th where all funds go to children in need.  The first show is 1/27 at the OMNI theatre... the 2nd one at Parker Playhouse on Feb. 10th.    WEC’s own Shana Munden will be dancing in the shows and may be contacted for tickets.  Tickets are $29 and the shows take place on Sundays at 2PM. 

Closing Thought

“You must learn to drink the cup of life as it comes. . . without stirring it up from the bottom.  That’s where the bitter dregs are”.
  – Agnes Sligh Turnbull, writer    

WEC Board of Directors
2007-2008

President	Melissa Rapkin, Documents2Disc
Past President	Vivien Godfrey Blue Water Books and Charts Ambassador Committee Canon Circles Business Showcases
President Elect/ VP Corporate Records	Vanessa Koutalidis Island City Chiropractic Corporate Records Historian By-Laws Committee
VP Finance	Kim Serra-Rivera, Regent Bank Budget Dues collection
VP Community Involvement	Ronnie Karlin, ComCorp, Consultant/Talent Acquisition Mentorship (FX) Program Women Empowering Women (WEW) Community Outreach Public Relations
VP Internal Involvement	Jenny Kelly, Ritter’s Printing Programs Committee Greetings Committee Newsletter Book Club
VP Membership	Jan Bullard, JP Financial Services Membership Committee Membership Luncheon Directory Webmaster
VP Events	Pam Dearden, Gold Coast Jazz Society Social Committee Fun raiser or Fund raiser GEM Events

All contact information is available for WEC members on our Members Only website. If you are a member and you don't have a name and password, you can contact Chris Guld for more information.

2007-08 Luncheon and Board Meeting Dates

Next Board Meeting:
December

Luncheons:
Friday, December 14, 2007
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Membership Attendance: