2 posts tagged “women”
Last night was two hours well spent. I attended a pizza party event to meet the members of DC Web Women, a phenomenal group that has been in existence in the Washington DC area for over a decade -- 12 years, with their anniversary coming up April 19. I found out about the group, which boasts over 2,000 members so far (locally, nationally and internationally), through Marilyn, a lady business owner I met at a Social Media Club event in the DC area I'd attended a couple of months ago.
In my opinion, DC Web Women is an amazing resource for collaborating, learning, socializing and networking, both personally and professionally. Its members were so incredibly friendly and helpful that I found myself among friends.
I had been a member of the group through one of its two LISTSERV mailing lists for two months before the meeting. But having the opportunity to meet face to face, share ideas and learn more about the organization was worth its weight in gold to me.
The meeting was held to introduce DC Web Women's online membership profiles directory, which is now accessible to members signed up under the site's LISTSERV accounts (signup for this LISTSERV is free under the "Join" link located at the left-hand side of the site.)
Matrix Group International, Inc., currently the third top firm in this industry in the Washington DC Metro area, donated the directory to DC Web Women. Their CEO in the Washington area was in attendance and gave us brief information on the directory and how it was created. It allows its members to better market themselves via the skills they possess or immediately find a good fit from within the membership in accordance with certain needs they may have as business owners, mentors or mentees, or even those wishing to learn more about a certain topic or get a good recommendation for a restaurant in town.
I am glad I joined and followed my colleague's advice, because I feel that being a part of this group comprised of a variety of career women, such as marketers, writers, programmers, editors, designers, and even librarians -- prolific, intelligent, trendsetting women -- will truly be a boon to me in continuing to grow further in my career and personal life through networking, staying abreast of technology and finding opportunities to take me further through my freelance writing, public relations, marketing and research ventures.
Plus, it was just a refreshing change to find and connect with people with like interests.
A friend reminded me of something I would like to do that means a lot to me. And I thought 'what the hell; what am I scared of?' I've let the fear of having no experience in fundraising scare me away.
I have long felt called to do this Avon Walk for Breast Cancer I have doubted my ability to reach enough people to raise the $1,800 that is the minimum I must either raise or fund in part or whole by myself before the end of the campaign. I really feel this is a valuable program that I'd like to contribute to, but it is also my first fundraiser. I will be walking about 40 miles in May here in Washington D.C., for this, and that's the easy part, in my opinion.
I need to make my decision this week. If I do, I then have over 3 months to raise that money.
I thought I'd take an informal poll to see if there was any chance I could do this - kind of like a preliminary scan of the possibilities.
Would any of you be willing to either help direct people to my Avonwalk.org personal homepage once I begin it, or make a donation of any kind?
Please don't take this as spamming. I would not message any of you directly on this, unless you left a comment agreeing to this or wanted more info. I just need to give myself a basis on which to make my decision, rather than throwing myself into thin air, and I thought 'Voila!' maybe I can ask my friends on the sites I sometimes occupy.
Any ideas on how I could do well with this fundraising effort, or how I could promote it? You would be able to check the progress of this fundraising effort on my Avonwalk page and see how your part contributes to the whole.
Please feel free to leave any comments on whether you would be willing to help me or get your friends, family or coworkers interested. I have personal experience with cancer in my family (my grandmother, taken from us in 1994), and this means a lot to me. I don't get nor want any of the money for myself. It's all for the overall effort to help rid us of this disease that has already taken more than its share of wives, daughters, sisters, mothers and others from their families.
This is an exciting nationwide effort taking place in many major metro areas, and every bit you can give can help get us just that one needed step closer to combatting this disease.
Thank you, even if all you can do is read about this and pass it on to those you know to see if they are interested. Knowledge can be just as powerful in fighting this disease as money, but it also takes funding in order to make headway.
In addition, this just gives me a ballpark idea of how receptive interested people I know (or virtually know at least) are to this. No one in any way is held liable to pay. It is only out of the goodness of your heart.
Please either message me regarding this on my blog, or, if you wish to solicit the support of others, please have them email me at positiveacts@gmail.com - thnx. I created positiveacts@gmail.com for this effort and other volunteer-related activities, so please only use it for that.
SEE MORE ABOUT THE AVON WALK ON TECHNORATI.
