Women’s Executive Club

WOMEN’S EXECUTIVE CLUB

CAMARADERIE, COMMUNITY, BUSINESS AND FUN

Give Thanks

WEC Members – At this meeting there will be a collection of nonperishable foods, as well as MONEY (cash is king!) for the Broward County Cooperative Feeding Program.

Luncheon – Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Speaker:   Somy Ali

Film Maker, Journalist, Model

Topic:  No More Tears

WEC Business Showcase:

Linda Linder, fashion consultant for an exclusive line of women’s clothing

11:30 a.m. Networking

Noon Luncheon

Luncheons end at or before 1:30 p.m.

Tower Club

28th Floor

100 SE 3^rd Avenue,

Downtown Fort Lauderdale

click here for map

Members – No charge

Guests $30.00

Go to www.wecftl.com

to use our online

Reservation/payment link

Please reserve on or before Monday, November 16

Menu Choice:

Grilled Chicken

Or

Grilled Salmon

Dessert: Strawberries Romanoff

Please send your reservation to rsvp@wecftl.com with WEC Luncheon in the subject line. Be sure to include your (and your guests,) menu choice when you reserve. Members are responsible for guest lunches.

We require 48 hours notice for cancellations.  For your convenience, guest lunches may be paid online, via our website, www.wecftl.com , click on the Reservations tab at the top.

If you do not specifically mention in your email that you will be paying for your guest, we will collect $30, cash or check,  at the door.

No switches or take-backs of your menu selection the day of the luncheon.   If you have a special dietary request, we will ask the Tower Club to accommodate your request.

Originally from Karachi, Pakistan, actress and model, Somy Ali moved to Bombay, India where she worked in 10 Hindi films and several commercials. She then moved to the United States to obtain a degree in psychology. She attended the Nova Southeastern University in Florida and in three years graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in psychology. While working on her bachelor’s degree, Somy worked at a local radio station doing talk-shows on social and political issues. It was during this time that she became very interested in journalism and decided to attend the University of Miami to obtain a master’s degree in print journalism. During this time she developed an interest in documentary films and left Miami to attend the New York Film Academy.  She then completed short films on Abortion, Domestic Violence, and Teenage suicide prior to graduating with a degree in film making, direction, scrip writing and editing in 2003.  In 2004, she attended the Connecticut School of Broadcasting and obtained a degree in broadcast journalism. Somy’s first documentary film, “I Can Survive,” aired at Senator Hillary Clinton’s benefit in Washington DC. The film focused on Pakistani rape victim, Mukhtaran Mai, and her fight for justice.

Consequently today after a successful university career, Somy Ali has evolved into a US based human rights advocate and documentary film maker, who is both passionate about educating the public , and working to help solve complex global issues. Somy has been involved with women’s rights issues in South Asia. She is working towards bringing the plight of rape and domestic violence victims to the media’s attention. As the founder of both No More Tears and So-Me Designs, Somy Ali draws upon her first hand experiences from living in Pakistan and working as a Bollywood movie actress in India during her young adult years. No More Tears’ mission is to rescue domestic violence victims that are brought to the U.S. via arranged marriages.

www.NMTproject.org

For more information please visit: www.SomyAli.com

For “I can Survive” footage, please go to www.youtube.com

For interview on WLRN, please go to www.paulleary.org/web/Home/Entries/2009/10/26_Entry_1.html

Volunteers: what an essential component of our club. We thank all of you who have helped our organization…whether it’s serving on the board, helping on a committee, we appreciate everyone’s time and talent.

We had a wonderful October, starting with the Cannon Circle at Trina London’s. We enjoyed each other’s company and were treated to delicious food, and how about that view? At our October luncheon, we welcomed new member Ronnie Halpern, Beth Tobin of Starpack presented a business showcase, and Kim Stone, our speaker from the Miami Heat/American Airlines Arena, mesmerized us with her story.

We had a wonderful time at the Stranahan House Halloween tour. Several members were dressed in costume so please look for pictures on the website. Thanks to Carol Metevier, Susan Kingsley and her committee for organizing this event.

We have several events in November to look forward to: the luncheon on the 18^th, and a Cannon Circle at Barbara Moorman’s lovely store, Carroll’s Jewelers, on the 19th. At the luncheon, please don’t forget to bring food or cash for our annual food drive.

Somi Ali of No More Tears will be our speaker, discussing domestic violence. You won’t want to miss Linda Linder’s business showcase.

Two other big events on our calendar are the catamaran cruise on December 3^rd and the following day is the Pace Believing in Girls luncheon. WEC is an event sponsor of the Pace event so please attend if you can and show your support. You can rsvp to Melissa Rapkin or Chadia Meroueh.

There has been much discussion regarding our new website/blog (wecftl.com). The new format allows much more member interaction and we’ll be able to post articles at any time. If you have any questions regarding the new site, feel free to contact Chris Guld, our wonderful webmaster. Please continue to send in your news to Jenette Mathai.

As many of you know, attendance at our luncheons has grown tremendously, thanks to Jan Bullard and all of you who have invited guests. In order to have time for self introductions, the speaker and business showcase, we must start on time. I will be calling the meeting to order at noon sharp. If you would like to network, please feel free to come at 11:30 am. Also, be courteous during self introductions and limit your comments. Instead, please send them to Jenette Mathai to be included in the Grapevine. Thank you for your assistance in this matter.

Please plan to attend the Nov. 19th Cannon Circle, hosted by Barbara Moorman, of Carroll’s Jewelers.

Location is Carroll’s Jewelers, 915 East Las Olas Blvd. 0) 954-463-3711.

Time is 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm

In Memory of our terrific friend Ronnie Karlin, there will be a fund raiser for P.A.C.E.

*Purchase jewelry or gift item before 12-3-09

*Sell your Old Gold

*Host a Gold Party

A portion of your transaction will be donated to P.A.C.E. in honor of Ronnie Karlin.

Please rsvp to:

Vanessa Koutalidis, mailto:vanessa@islandcitychiropractic.com or to

Barbara Moorman, barbara@carrollsjewelry.com

This month’s featured WEC Book Club selection is “Death Comes for the Archbishop” by Willa Cather. We’ll be talking about this book and sharing a potluck supper on November 16 at 6:30 at Deb McLaughlin’s new abode. Any WEC member is welcome to join us. RSVP to Deb, please, read the book, and bring a dish! Check out pictures from our last Book Club meeting:

Hip hip HOORAY! Liz Mendel has agreed to fill the hole in our GEMS life as new leader!

I, Susan, will be assisting Liz, so that efforts seem seamless. Liz and I will be planning together for the upcoming Jan./Feb. kick off GEMS luncheons for 2010.

We have some updates and changes in the GEM Lunches.

Hopefully this posting will make everyone aware of what is going on.

GEM Lunches are set for bi-monthly lunches. Interested attendees and table hosts are asked to email Susan Kingsley, Susan@SusanKingsley.biz with their interest in being a participant in lunches or their interest in being a Table Host/Group Leader. The next set of lunches is going to be in the January-February months, due to all of the holiday festivities going on. The 2 lists passed at the last luncheon did not make it around the room, and some members were not in attendance, so we might not be aware that you are interested. If you have already signed up and attended GEMS this year, you are already in the list. If you are a Group Leader/Table Host and no longer wish to host, please contact Susan Kingsley, Susan@SusanKingsley.biz All of the interested participants appreciate Table Hosts/Group Leaders that want to be involved and make the time to assure the groups meet on a bimonthly basis.

The list of Group Leaders and  Attendees will be emailed to all Group Leaders. The attendance from your group is reported after the meeting to the GEMS Leader. Group Leaders will email the GEMS Leader and other Group Leaders with their lunch date and location. It is important to know who met with what group, so we can try not to duplicate the same groups at future lunches.

Table Hosts email their interested participants and offer a few dates available for a luncheon. The group emails back their availability and the host sets a lunch date with a local restaurant that is on the east side of town and is convenient for the group to arrive at. The lunches can last 1-2 hours, depending on the group’s time availability. The Group Leader contacts the restaurant ahead of time and lets them know the number in the party and that it is a business luncheon, with limited time for the lunch, so the lunch server can be prepared. If the Group Leader is unable to attend her luncheon, due to conflict, the group should be able to meet as planned, with one of the group members keeping track of attendance for the group leader.

This is a casual luncheon, which offers new and existing members to get to know each other. Attendees not able to attend their group luncheon can contact their Table Host/Group Leader and the Leader can let them know alternate groups they can join. It is not intended for the groups to become too large for a casual lunch and some groups not having enough Attendees. This option is solely so that Attendees can enjoy a luncheon each period.

Your cooperation and assistance is appreciated. We are trying to make this an enjoyable experience for everyone.