Contents

• September Luncheon
• From the President
• Tribute to Ronnie Karlin
• New Member Spotlights: Abby Firstenberg-Merker, Carolyn House, Patricia McCarthy, Sue Meister, Lynn Sheft and Robyn Vines
• Grapevine: News and Notes about WEC Members
• WEC Events 2009-2010
• Book Club
• Cannon Circle
• GEM
• August Luncheon Photographs
• Membership Dues
• WEC Reservation Policy
• Closing Thought
• WEC Board of Directors
• Luncheon Dates
• Membership Attendance

September Luncheon

Guest Speaker:

Michael Madfis, AIA, LEED® A.P.

A Plan for Tomorrow, Smart Growth in Broward County

Michael J. Madfis was born in Newton, Massachusetts in 1957 and received his Bachelor of Architecture professional degree from The Boston Architectural College in Boston, Massachusetts in 1983 where he worked professionally for seven years on a wide variety of Architectural, Urban Design, Real Estate, Land Planning and Construction projects for some of the oldest and most successful architectural, engineering, and planning firms in the world. He moved to South Florida in February of 1984 and lives and works in Fort Lauderdale.

Michael married his wife, Jeryl, in 1984 and has a son, Robbie (age 16), and a daughter, Haylee (age 19), and they all live in the house he built. Michael has 32 years of full time experience working in the field of architecture and urban planning, had been a real estate broker for 25 years, is a licensed Architect in Florida, and is certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. Michael is a member of the American Institute of Architects and has been recognized many times with awards from its local chapter, and a LEED Accredited Professional by the United States Green Building Council.

Michael currently sits on the Board of Adjustment, has sat on the City of Ft Lauderdale Community Appearance Board from 1995-97 and currently is a board member of Bonnet House, Museum & Garden, the Past Chair of the Downtown Fort Lauderdale Transportation Management Association Advisory and Executive Boards, and a Past Chairman of Unsafe Structures and Housing Appeals Board for the City of Fort Lauderdale. Michael is a director of the Smart Growth Partnership, and the South Andrews Business Association, Vice President of the South Florida chapter of the Foundation Fighting Blindness, is President of the River Oaks Civic Association and has completed the City of Fort Lauderdale Neighbor Leadership College and CERT training. Michael is also an Adjunct Professor of Architecture at Broward College. Michael participated as a facilitator in the Downtown Master plan and the Riverwalk Master plan Charretts, was the technical advisor for the City of Fort Lauderdale to the Broward County Downtown Mobility Study, and was a stakeholder in the South Andrews Master Plan and Development Guide.

Michael is an officer of The Madfis Group, which is an Architectural and Land Planning firm, and has worked on more than 2,000 design projects in Broward County. Clients include Apple Computer, Capital Bank, Denny’s, Federal Express, HCA Hospital, West Broward Community Church, Humana, Apollo Ship Chandlers, and Amerijet International. As Principal Architect and Planner, Michael has designed more than 7 million square feet of buildings and land and has planned more than 6500 acres of land throughout South Florida and the Bahamas.

Michael loves to snow ski, race sailboats, and travel by bicycle. December before last, he and his family rode their bikes 49 miles from Lake Worth to Hobe Sound in one day.

From the President

Welcome back everyone! It was nice to see so many members and guests at our first meeting of the year.  We welcomed new member, Sue Meister, and heard about relationship secrets from Dr. Krista Bloom. We welcomed the girls from PACE, as well as Executive Director Aggie Pappas, who shared the announcement of the Ronnie Karlin scholarship. As you have probably heard, we lost our wonderful Ronnie last week. Please see WEC’s tribute below to our dear friend, who will remain in our hearts forever.

We had a lovely time at Karen Rowe’s Cannon Circle where we admired the mosaic artwork of Marcia Kane.

A big thank you to Chris Guld, our webmaster, for our website’s “new look”. We’re adding a blog this year which will not take the place of the newsletter, but will instead give members a forum to publicize other organizations they are involved in, as well as other personal submissions. Thank you to Jenette Mathai for her great work on our newsletter and Emily Rushin and Tracy Datlen for their help with the blog. Keep your eye out for more information on the blog in the upcoming months.

WEC is such a special organization because we have so many dedicated volunteers—YOU! Thank you to everyone who has helped on a committee.  A few unsung heroes: Dee Moustakas, for her efforts with the Ambassadors; Emily Rushin, for the GEM luncheons she coordinates and the directories she has put together for us; Joni Rosenthal, our club photographer; Melissa Rapkin, who treats us to a slideshow every luncheon; and Suzie King, who handles all the rsvp’s.

We need your help…please update your personal webpage on the WEC website by September 15^th so Emily has your correct information for the mini-directories.  If you are unsure of how to make the changes, or need help, please contact Emily (wisemily@bellsouth.net).

We look forward to the September meeting and Michael Madfis as our speaker. Don’t forget to sign up for Game Night at Patrice Maenza’s home on September 10^th and our October social at the Stranahan House on the 24th. Keep checking the calendar for other upcoming events.

Jenny Kelly

Tribute to Ronnie Karlin

Note from Ronnie’s Family:

It is with great sadness that we are writing to all of Ronnie’s friends & business colleagues to let you know that on August 26, 2009 Ronnie lost her long fought battle with Ovarian cancer.  Please know she was very grateful for all the good wishes, prayers & support you all provided during her illness.

See the photos and add your comments. Read the rest of the Tribute to Ronnie Karlin …

New Member Spotlights:

Please Welcome Abby Firstenberg-Merker!

My name is Abby Firstenberg-Merker and I am a proud new member of the Women’s Executive Club here in Fort Lauderdale.  It is truly an honor and a privilege to be a part of such a great empowering group of professional women!  I am originally from Baltimore, Maryland where we call highways “beltways” and dinner is called “supper”.  Being down here over 41 years now, I am a native Floridian.  My parents still live in Hollywood, Florida, where we first moved to, along with my older sister.  My adult kids live in Florida, one in Hollywood and one married in Orlando.  I got married last August 2008 to a wonderful man, Leon, and we reside in Boca Raton.  Spending quality time with family and friends is most important to me.  My interests lie in computers, reading, exercise, cultural events, traveling, and fine dining.  I am currently in several women’s networking groups and non-profit organizations as well.  Being a Tower Club member, I also enjoy coming to many events and meetings there.  The most important part of networking and marketing is establishing business and personal relationships over time. WEC is definitely a great example of that.  I look forward to getting to know all of you better, growing and learning from everyone as well.

I have been the Director of Operations of Progressive Web Site & Information Services, Inc. for over two years.  The business has been in existence for over 12 years.  In the current business market, your business should be noticed before your competition! Our main goal at Progressive Web Site & Information Services, Inc. is to maximize and promote your business effectively and efficiently through your website to target potential clients while retaining current ones.  Your website is the best advertisement for your business and can help increase your clients, sales, revenue, and referrals.  This is done through web design, development, and various web related services.  If your business already has a website, it might need updating, revamping, or regular monthly maintenance.  If your business needs a new website, we will design, develop, host, and maintain it.  Our most important web services that we provide along with the website are proper search engine optimization for your website, website advertising, email communication programs, photography, and internet video. We consult, listen, advise and follow through with all of our clients.  Visit our website to learn more at www.progressiveinfosvcs.com and please contact us for your website needs.

Please Welcome Carolyn House!

Hello to my fellow WEC members! It has been my pleasure to become a part of such a unique group of women.

I am the Business Development Manager for Creative Financial Staffing. CFS is the nation’s largest, privately-held accounting and financial staffing firm. We provide qualified accounting and finance professionals on a temporary and permanent basis across a broad range of industries. Our Fort Lauderdale office is partnered with Crowe Horwath, the 9th largest public accounting firm in the U.S. Our affiliation with leading accounting firms provides us with resources that help us better understand our client’s needs, attract a higher caliber of candidates, and assess candidate potential.

On a personal level, I love being a mother to my nine-year-old son, first and foremost. In my free time, I enjoy spending quality time with family and friends, and love my volunteer position as a Sunday school teacher at my Unitarian Universalist church in Plantation.

If you have any questions for me and would like to say, “Hello,” please feel free to contact me anytime.

Please Welcome Patricia McCarthy—Our Former WEW Winner!

Hi! I am a new Member and former WEW Scholarship winner, so here is some info:

I am excited to be a new member of WEC! Many of you may remember me as a former WEW scholarship winner. With the assistance the Women Empowering Women Scholarship and mentoring program plus the friendships of Ronnie Karlin and all the other wonderful members, I gained so much personally and a professionally. Thanks this organization, I graduated in 2008 from FAU’s Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters with a BFA in Painting and Graphic Design and a BA in Art History. Currently, I employed as the Senior Designer for the Florida Atlantic University Libraries. Here at the FAU Libraries, I handle a multitude of responsibilities including graphic design and photography for the multiple library locations. Although I have a very satisfying job and a great career, I can no longer be without the friendship of the women of WEC. Now that I am a member, I hope to give back to our community and contribute as much as I can to the organization by raising money for the WEW and PACE Scholarships and by helping to increase memberships to this great women’s group!

Please Welcome Sue Meister!

Sue Meister, along with her husband, Brian, and their staff at Signs By Tomorrow, has been providing her customers with high-quality, cost-effective signs, since purchasing their franchise in 2004. Its superior products, fast and friendly service and affordable prices have allowed the company to grow to become the top volume producing franchise in South Florida, and among the top 20 volume producing franchises within Signs By Tomorrow’s system of nearly 200 locations nationwide.  Their store is located at 7362 W. Commercial Blvd., Lauderhill, FL 33319.

Known as the industry leader in technology, Signs By Tomorrow carries a commitment to innovation and features state-of-the art sign making equipment that enables them to specialize in full-color digital print signage ranging from custom vehicle graphics and wraps, to interior and exterior building signage, to trade show and event signage and more. For more information about Signs By Tomorrow- Sunrise/Lauderhill, visit www.signsbytomorrow.com/sunrise.

The Meisters and their company, Signs By Tomorrow Sunrise/Lauderhill, were chosen as Corporate Partner of the Year for Volunteer Broward for their work with local nonprofits and donations of signage, materials, labor and resources to civic engagement projects throughout Broward County.

Sue and Brian have been married for 29 years, have 2 grown daughters (a 27 year old, just-married teacher living in St. Pete, and a 21 year old senior at UCF). Sue has a degree and background in Social Work, and is currently the Immediate Past President of NAWBO, Fort Lauderdale chapter.

Please Welcome Lynn Sheft!

Lynn Sheft is an award-winning copywriter with over 25 years of experience on a broad range of accounts for which she has won numerous national and regional awards for creative excellence.

She began her copywriting career with of Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Miami and has worked at most of South Florida’s top advertising agencies for such clients as Burger King, Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Line, Courvoisier, and Mayor’s Jewelers. Lynn’s account experience also includes consumer products, retail, resorts, airlines, automotive, restaurants, marine, political, tourism attractions, healthcare, banking, and real estate. She also has been responsible for introducing new products and marketing concepts through advertising and collateral materials.

Lynn’s copywriting skills include websites, ads, TV and radio commercials, jingles, newsletters, sales films, speech writing, outdoor and transit advertising, plus direct marketing packages. She frequently teams up with outside vendors such as website designers, film and video production companies, graphic designers and photographers to deliver a complete and cost-effective package to her clients.

She resides in Plantation with her family and Boston terrier. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, reading, making custom-designed beaded jewelry, and socializing with friends. She is currently writing a suspense novel.

Please Welcome Robyn Vines!

Robyn Vines is a shareholder in GrayRobinson’s Ft. Lauderdale office. She concentrates her practice exclusively in matters affecting the family including dissolution of marriage (divorce), establishing, modifying and enforcing child support and alimony obligations, determinations of paternity, establishing and modifying parenting plans and timesharing schedules, child relocation, domestic violence proceedings, and negotiating and drafting prenuptial and postnuptial agreements.

Committed to improving the practice of family law, Ms. Vines recently chaired the Family Law Rules Committee of The Florida Bar, having served as a Vice Chair and a committee member for the past six years. Ms. Vines is a member of The Supreme Court Family Law Forms Advisory Workgroup, The Florida Bar Civil Rules of Procedure Committee and the Family Law Sections’ Rules and Forms and Publications Committees. Previously, she served on the Family Law Section’s Continuing Legal Education Committee and Ethics/Attorney’s Fees Committee.

Within the broader legal community, Ms. Vines has served on the Board of Governors for the Young Lawyers Division of The Florida Bar, as an Officer and Board Member of the Broward County Bar Association’s Young Lawyers’ Section for many years, and as a Board Member for the Nova Southeastern Law Alumni Association.

In the community at large, Ms. Vines serves on the Executive Board of Winterfest, Inc., plays flute in her church orchestra and served in the Florida and Indiana Army National Guard (1987-1998) as a logistician, personnel officer and Company Commander.

The Executive Grapevine: news and notes about WEC members. BUSINESS TESTIMONIALS Dee Moustakas is Full of Gratitude! Thank you to Jenny Kelly for performing a printing miracle and making me look good in my clients’ eyes. Thanks, also, to Myriam Cohen for the referrals. And, finally, thank you to Karen Rowe for introducing me to Chinese herbs. What a diverse and talented group we have! BUSINESS TESTIMONIALS Geri Trodick is Brimming With Thankfulness! A big thank you to a few of WEC members. First, I want to welcome Susan Kissinger as a new client. We provided name badges and a banner for one of her customers. Also, Mellissa Rapkin referred us to one of her clients to do name badges for them. Carol Metevier referred her boss to us to do their recognition sales awards. And, last but not least, Chris Guld for her re-order of pens. It is a pleasure doing business with WEC members. Rose White’s Vacation in Paradise! Just came back from a wonderful vacation in Costa Rica with my family. Here I am with my husband, Bob, and my daughter, Stefanie, getting ready to zip line!!!! Diane Hickey is in the News! Diane was recently featured by the Sun Sentinel in a Small Business Profile. The article chronicled her inspiring journey from travel agent to the owner of a successful mural painting business. Congratulations, Diane! We are all proud of what you have been able to overcome. Here is a link to the full story: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/sfl-profile-081709sbaug17,0,5099261.story. Patrice Maenza’s Big Italian Family! I was able to go to Chicago for the 4th of July weekend and visit my immediate family (which includes 45 members).  Our two newest are my great Niece Fiona and my great Nephew Charlie, pictured together.  How wonderful it is to be from a big Italian family!  By the way, these babies were born from 2 of my nieces, whom are sisters, within 10 days of each other.  There must have been something special in the water! Chris Guld and the Road Less Traveled! Chris Guld is still enjoying her life on the road!  She’s been living in a 30 foot tin can (motorhome) with her husband and her dog, for over 6 years now.  They travel to RV rallies and present computer seminars to their fellow travelers.  They make their living primarily from their website (GeeksOnTour.com) where educational materials are available in tutorial video format.  This summer they’ve visited such varied places as New Orleans, Albuquerque, Iowa, Erie Islands, Adirondacks, and the Salem Massachusetts witches’ museum!  All the while plying their trade and loving their life.  Chris will be spending much of the winter in Fort Lauderdale, and she promises to attend WEC lunches and other events whenever she is in town. Mandee Adler is Taking College Admissions to Europe! We have exciting business news- we recently hired a director of International Affairs who will be based in Europe. Now, International College Counselors has offices in Miami, New York and Europe! Joyce Shore Expands Her Interior Design Knowledge! Since we have been through a slower economy, I took the time to study and learn new things. First of all, I am now a CAPS. That stands for “Certified Aging in Place Specialist”. With all of the baby boomers becoming senior citizens and with their youthful attitudes, they do not want to go into retirement homes or assisted living. They want to stay in their own homes for as long as possible. The course was about keeping them in their homes for as long as they are able to stay–things like widening the doors to 36″ so that if they are ever in wheelchairs, comfort height commodes, balance beams (they used to be called grab bars but the bars have changed their appearance and  are now quite appealing) in the shower. A variety of things like this help people stay in place in their homes for a longer period of time. I also became a LEED AP.  That stands for “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design”. The certification is obtained through the US Green Building Council. The test was quite difficult and I was fortunate to have passed. I only say that because many of my design and architectural friends did not. In other words, LEED AP’s are concerned with the environment and becoming “green”. That certification deals with the best use of energy, water reduction, recycling, and the off gassing of carpets, paints and fibers in the built environment. Of course, there were many other things that I had to learn for the test but those were some of the more important things. If You Love the Arts, Pam Dearden Needs Your Support! Here is an online link showing each of the south Florida arts events (art opening, shows, concerts, etc.) which are currently enriching our community:  www.artscalendar.com (South Florida’s ultimate guide to the arts). As you know, in this economy, funding for events like these have decreased significantly, and now the Broward County Commission is proposing nearly a 30% reduction to Cultural Grants in the 2010 Budget. In real dollars, this represents over a 1 Million Dollar decrease in funds to Broward County Cultural organizations and attractions. This along with a substantial decrease in corporate sponsorships and other donations is going to be detrimental to the arts. THIS AFFECTS EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY! FREE children’s and senior activities will be eliminated Performances, hours, and accessibility to cultural attractions will be cut Educational programs will be abolished Service hours for students and opportunities for seniors will be cancelled Jobs will be lost Cultural attractions will be closed While the arts are facing a 30% reduction, most other County agencies are receiving a proposed 10% budget cut. Contact your County Commissioner now and insist that the arts get “Their Fair Share.” Below is a sample letter to send to the Commissioners along with the subject line to read “Our community has a lot to lose. Support the arts!” All we are asking is that the reduction to the arts is in-line with the other agencies. The Cultural Division is one of the smallest County divisions, yet is facing one of the biggest reductions. Please forward this email to all your friends, colleagues, supporters and patrons who support the arts. Post on your Myspace and Facebook Pages and Tweet to everyone you know! Thank you for your support of the arts at this vital point in time. Sample Letter of Support for the Arts Dear Commissioner [Commissioner's Last Name here]I am very concerned about the proposed cut to the county arts budget. Your past support of the Broward County Cultural Division has helped make the arts in Broward County a vibrant and dynamic community.The proposed cut would have a detrimental effect on Broward County. Our arts organizations, from small to large, contribute greatly to the economy of our region. Our community would see our vital cultural institutions forced to cut programs, operating hours, and in some cases close their doors permanently. Festivals would be canceled, students and seniors would miss out on valuable intern and volunteer experiences and many FREE programs offered to Kids, Seniors, and the “at need” would be eliminated. Tourists would be left with little to do and Broward would retreat to an image that all of us have fought hard to change.I strongly urge you to vote to continue current support for the arts and community-based organizations. Sincerely, Name Address Broward County Commissioners District 1 – Commissioner Ilene Lieberman, ilieberman@broward.org, 954-357-7001 District 2 – Commissioner Kristin Jacobs, kjacobs@broward.org, 954-357-7002 District 3 – Mayor Stacy Ritter, sritter@broward.org , 954-357-7003 District 4 – Vice Mayor Ken Keechl, kkeechl@broward.org , 954-357-7004 District 5 – Commissioner Los Wexler, lwexler@broward.org , 954-357-7005 District 6 – Commissioner Sue Gunzburger, sgunzburger@broward.org , 954-357-7006 District 7 – Commissioner John E. Rodstrom, Jr., jrodstrom@broward.org , 954-357-7007 District 8 – Commissioner Diana Wasserman-Rubin, dwassermanrubin@broward.org , 954-357-7008 District 9 – Commissioner Josephus Eggelletion, jeggelletion@broward.org , 954-357-7009 Susan Kingsley’s Great Hawaiian Escape! In May of this year, my husband, Timothy Proksch, and I went to Maui and Hawaii. We had a blast visiting with my Uncle Ken and Aunt Sue. Best memories for me were snorkeling and hiking. My husband even completed a goal of flying in the Hawaiian Islands! Our main purpose of the trip was attendance in Peak Performers with Buffini and Company. The synergy was life enhancing. A few photos to share…..  Life is Good! Karen Rowe’s Parisian Adventure! Sometimes all the reasons not to go someplace are really the reasons you should go there. From the time I was a child, I had a strong desire to visit Paris, France. The usual excuses have continually popped up over the years until I finally said to myself… “just go!” So from July 22 through the 26th, I went to the city of my dreams. From start to finish, it was everything I hoped for and more. Flying Air France out of Miami, you are treated to great food and wine. The flight arrives at 8am and I was in my hotel room by 11am. I stayed in Montmarte and spent my days walking and exploring. The Louvre was spectacular. Took the train to Versailles, where I spent the day amazed by the grandeur of the palaces and gardens. Louis the XIV knew how to live! I also visited the Eiffel Tower and Musee D’Orsay home to many of the great Impressionist works. Just walking the city, the quaint cafés, the green grocers, charming little bars and bistros was a feast for the eyes. And everywhere you turn, you realize the scope of a city that has one of the most fascinating histories of any city on earth. The weather was temperate and the people watching were quite entertaining. The food wasn’t too shabby either (LOL!)…:) Oh my, time to start planning for next year… Tracy Datlen Ignites the Interest of Yacht Professionals! Tracy Datlen was invited by the Florida Yacht Brokers Association to address their Educational Charter Seminar on Luxury Marketing on August 13. Tracy spoke on Print, Web and Branding. One hundred yachting professionals attended the event held at Hugh’s Catering. For a brief excerpt of Tracy’s marketing presentation —which is applicable to any business— go to: http://www.laseradblog.com/watercooler/2009/08/light-a-fire.html. Tracy is the owner of Laser Advertising, a company that provides a wide range of advertising and marketing services in traditional and new media. Cruising the World With Beth Tobin! Here are a couple of pictures from my recent cruise abroad.  It was the maiden voyage on the Celebrity Equinox. Cherbourg, France Vigo, Spain The Hills of Barcelona, Spain New Beginnings for Lenore Alpert! Dr. Lenore Alpert has begun her new career as a consultant after being laid off by FAU after ten years as Research Director at the Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions. As a consultant, she and her team have just completed a report for the Florida Ocean Alliance: “Moving Ahead: The Next Step in Ocean Management for Florida.” The report reviews the ocean managment processes of other coastal states and their applicability to Florida as the state responds to the challenge of conflicting ocean uses and the need to develop a plan to protect and manage ocean resources. Many states focus on marine spatial planning, using ocean zoning and marine protected areas to designate areas of the ocean for specific activity. The report can be viewed at www.floridaoceanalliance.org, a nonprofit organization where Dr. Alpert serves as Executive Director. The report was funded with a grant from the Elizabeth Ordway Dunn Foundation. Martha Lord Needs YOUR Help! Martha Lord helped organize a recent networking event on Sept. 3rd at the Capital Grille, which was sponsored by the Women’s Council of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber. Even if you were not able to attend, but would like to donate a suit or other business attire (gently worn) to Women in Distress, please let her know and she will make arrangements to collect your items. Thank you in advance for your donations! A Note from Kathleen Ryan of the PACE Center for Girls Broward and an Invitation to “SPAAAH DAY” As the school year begins… Last year, WEC, through its Virginia Young Scholarship Fund, awarded PACE graduate Rachel Tinkey with a one year scholarship to Broward College. This summer WEC renewed her scholarship for a second year.   After attending her first week of classes, Rachel reports that she likes her instructors and is excited about learning.  “I was nervous when I started college last year,” said Rachel.  “Now, with my first year behind me, I know I can do this and do it well.”  She is grateful to the women of WEC for making it possible for her to attend college. The PACE program is year-round, and with full registration during the summer session, our school supplies were almost depleted.   After WEC’s August luncheon the teachers were delighted to find the school closet re-stocked. Your donations provide the girls with paper, pens, calculators, erasers and other learning “tools” they use every day. Thank you for adding PACE to your Back to School shopping list. “SPAAAH DAY” Would you or someone you know like to take a break from weekend errands for a day of pampering and wellness… and support the PACE Center for Girls Broward? We invite you to attend the 2nd Annual “SPAAAH DAY” on Saturday, September 26 from 11:30 to 2:30 pm at the Broward Center Performing Arts Center.  This event is hosted by The She Market, a local nonprofit group whose mission is to aid in the advancement of women in need, and has named PACE Broward as a benefiting charity.  Please join us for a day of relaxing, relating and releasing.  To RSVP and buy advanced tickets go to: http://www.theshemarket.org/Events.html. Please tell your friends! P.S. Sign up NOW and enter to win a gift courtesy of Louis Vuitton (must be present to win, offer good until Friday, September 4). WEC Events 2009-2010 From your VP of Events, Susan Kingsley: Hello Ladies! Please see some of the fun we have in store for you in the 2009-2010 year. WEC Game Night Thursday, September 10th, 6pm Bring a game if you wish. Come out and play with your fellow WEC members. This is a GREAT way to get to know our wonderful ladies. The Events Committee Team Host for this event is Patrice Maenza. RSVP and payment to Patrice or Karen Rowe is required by Sept 4th.  $5.00 cost for refreshments. (Member only event).  Location to be at Patrice’s home, 2001 NE 59th Court, Fort Lauderdale, FL  33308. RSVP to Mymortgage1@bellsouth.net. There is room for 40 + attendees at Patrice’s home, so RSVP now! October Stranahan House Wine & Cheese Reception & Haunted House Tour: Saturday, October 24th Stranahan House 335 S.E. 6th Avenue at Las Olas Blvd. Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301 Members and their Guests are invited. The Wine & Cheese reception will be held at 6pm. 2 Tours of 20 people run at 7:30 & 8:30. The first 20 people signed up can attend the earlier tour. Cost is $30.00 per person, with a 40 person total limit. Carol Metevier is the Events Committee Team Host for this event. Payment along with RSVP is required and the event must be prepaid online via the WEC website or payment to Rose Gershon-Schneider or Karen Rowe. Email details to follow for those interested. Sign-up necessary by October 1st. Rose’s address for mailing payment is: 9821 SW 1st Street, Plantation, FL 33324. The Stranahan House will present their Ghost Tours. Docents dressed in Victorian mourning clothes relay the old customs and superstitions from days gone by.  The parlor will be staged with a Victorian funeral and the procedure for preparing for the home funeral will be explained. The history of Tombstones, from the very crude stones in the 1800’s to the beautiful art forms in the 1900’s will be presented. The Stranahan House is voted in the top 10 of America’s Haunted Houses. Please refer to this link for more information: http://www.hauntedamericatours.com/toptenhaunted/toptenhauntedhouses/ Locals say that Frank Stranahan is still in residence at the home he built with such loving care. Reports of strange apparitions and ghostly noises have come from rattle staff members. Because Stranahan is considered one of the founding fathers of Fort Lauderdale, ghostly happenings at his former residence still make the news. Reports about the Haunted Stranahan House have been featured on local radio stations and in the local newspaper, the Sun-Sentinel News. But its not just Frank Stranahan who remains an unseen resident at this historic haunted home. As many as six family members have died in the house. The ghost of Ivy Cromartie Stranahan, who died in an upstairs bedroom in 1971, is reported to appear accompanied by the strong scent of an antique fragrance. The uneasy ghost of her father, Augustus Cromartie, who died in that same bedroom years before, is reported to make his presence known on occasion; other ghostly residents include Ivy’s brother and sister and the apparition of an Indian servant girl seen outside the rear of the building. Reports of unearthly activities are made by employees, guests and visitors from time to time. Even vagrants who used to habitually sleep on the expansive exterior porch area (now fenced off) reportedly didn’t have to wait for employees or security guards to drive them away. Accounts from the squatters tell of encounters with an angry spirit who shows his displeasure by banging on the walls of the building preventing the vagrants from getting any rest. One homeless man reported being chased away from the home by an unseen but angry spirit that only broke off the pursuit once the vagrant had reached the property line. The third floor attic space is the site of much activity. Employees who sometimes have to go to the attic have reported the presence of a spirit in the area and sometimes the cold touch of a hand upon their back. Reports seem to support the contention that this is the ghost of Ivy Cromartie Stranahan attempting to assure that the employee does not fall from the attic. Apparently, the possibility of an employee being injured was one of Ivy’s great fears in this area. In the bedroom where Ivy died, the beds are made and re-made. Every time the bed is straightened the housekeeping staff will inevitably return the next day to find an imprint as if someone had sat down and steadied themselves with a heavy hand on the bed. This occurs even though the bedroom is off limits most of the day, and the last staff members to be in the room work the evening shift. December Evening Cruise: Wednesday, December 3rd,, 6-8 pm. 2 hour Catamaran Cruise, leaving from Bahia Mar. We have 2 boat sizes reserved this year (with a 48 hour notice from Captain Dave to commit, if someone else requests one of the boats). Members can invite guests. Susan Kingsley is the Events Committee Team Host for this event. You must RSVP and pay prior to the cutoff date of November 15th. Once we have an idea of the head count, we will let all interested parties know the cost and have interested parties RSVP. It is best to get an idea, so that we can set up the cost and boat size.  Notice is early, so we have an option of a larger boat to accommodate more members and guests. Last year was a blast, so please be sure to contact Susan Kingsley, 954-661-2305 or susan@susankingsley.biz if you are interested.  Cost to include: boat for 2 hours, gratuity of 15%, sales tax as applicable, Pay Pal surcharge and utensils. (Updated costs from August meeting flyer). As with last year, everyone please bring a dish, hors d’oeuvres, or dessert and any special beverage wanted. Wine, beer, soda and dry snacks are furnished by Captain Dave. Holiday Party Our Xmas meeting is the 11th of December this year. The boat parade is on the 12th. With the holidays, everyone will be attending many social activities, so earlier is easier for a larger number of people to be able to make it. Sorry if this date is not the best for you. Many members did indicate an interest so far. We are hoping to use the larger boat this year and whoop it up!!! Other Great Upcoming Events February offers a Cooking Class. Lynda Amorello is the Events Committee Team Host for this event. More details to follow. April offers a Salsa Dance Lesson. Susan Kingsley is the Events Committee Team Host for this event. More details to follow. Book Club You Are Invited! Last month, members gathered in the home of Rose White to share in yummy treats, laughter, hospitality and a great discussion about The Book Thief. All WEC members are invited to become “bookies”, where women meet in each other’s homes once a month to share in the love of books. The next book: “The Horse Boy” by Rupert Isaacson.  Barnes and Nobles brief review begins “In this intense, polished account, the Austin, Tex., parents of an autistic boy trek to the Mongolian steppes to consult shamans in a last-ditch effort to alter his unraveling behavior.”  The Book Club will meet at 6:30 on Monday, October 12 at Kerrie Krutchik’s home.  Please call her if you will attend and bring a dish to share for our potluck supper.  You may contact wisemily@bellsouth.net with any questions. Cannon Circle Along with the monthly luncheons, members also get together in a more informal atmosphere during the year. These evening socials are called “Cannon Circles” and are hosted at members’ homes or businesses.  The Cannon Circle is named for Past President Shirley Cannon who was known for her gracious and uplifting spirit. A special “Thank You” to Karen Rose for hosting the last Cannon Circle, featuring the mosaic artwork of Marcia Kane. GEM “Greet, Eat, Meet” Program Formed in November 2002, members of WEC who choose to get together for an informal meeting are selected at random in small groups to greet, eat and meet. A Lead person is selected to set a time and place for breakfast, lunch, dinner or whatever. This is a great opportunity to get to know each other on a more personal level. If you would like to be a host, please email Emily Rushin or Marge Engstrom. August Luncheon Photographs (courtesy of Joni Rosenthal, A Click Away Photography) Membership Dues Dear WEC Members, In August we begin our new year, and annual dues of $275 were required to be paid by August 31st, 2009. If you have not paid your dues, a late fee of $25 will be incurred. Please make your check payable to WEC and mail to: Karen Rowe 420 NE 3rd Street Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 Or pay with credit card by typing in the link: http://www.wecftl.com/renewal.html WEC Reservation Policy Members, please help our club run smoothly by observing and respecting the following luncheon RSVP policies: Since the Tower Club requires 72 hours notice for cancellations, we are billed for the count submitted and may need to bill you for any missed meetings without sufficient notice.  We understand that situations do occur and appreciate you letting us know in a timely fashion.  We try to make allowances whenever feasible, but reserve the right to bill if necessary. Members are responsible for their guests. Members are not permitted to send a guest in their place. Thank you for your continued cooperation in making WEC a success! Sincerely, The Board Closing Thought Some people come into our lives and quickly go.  Some stay for a while, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same.  ~Flavia Weedn WEC Board of Directors 2009-2010 President Jenny Kelly, Ritter’s Printing Past President Vanessa Koutalidis Island City Chiropractic Ambassador Committee Canon Circles Business Showcases President Elect/ VP Membership Jan Bullard, JP Financial Services Membership Committee Membership Luncheon Directory Webmaster VP Corporate Records Diana Fairbanks Coldwell Banker AgentCorporate Records Historian By-Laws Committee VP Finance Karen Rowe Fort Lauderdale Acupuncture, Inc.Budget Dues collection VP Community Involvement Chadia MerouehAuto Tech and BodyMentorship (FX) Program Women Empowering Women (WEW) Community Outreach Public Relations VP Internal Involvement Pam Morgan Body Centered PsychotherapyPrograms Committee Greetings Committee Newsletter, Book Club VP Events Susan Kingsley www.susankingsley.bizSocial 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. 2009-2010 Luncheon Dates Tuesday, September 15, 2009 Tuesday, October 20, 2009 Wednesday, November 18, 2009 Friday, December 11, 2009 Wednesday, January 20, 2010 Tuesday, February 16, 2010 Wednesday, March 17, 2010 Tuesday, April 20, 2010 Wednesday, May 19, 2010 Tuesday, June 15, 2010 Membership Attendance: The membership requirement is to attend a minimum of five (5) club events every year in order to maintain regular membership. This is calculated on a fiscal year basis (i.e. August-June, not calendar year). The purpose of Women’s Executive Club is to give executives the opportunity of fellowship with their peers in diverse fields; to promote the image of the woman executive; to further the interrelationships of such executives and to promote the general welfare of their businesses and community.