As we transition from one calendar year to the next, we often give pause to consider the things that we want to accomplish in the upcoming year.   Will 2008 be the year you make a career change?  Get in shape?  Embark on a new adventure?  Fulfill a lifelong dream?  For me, one answer to the "what next" question comes easily.  My goal for 2008 is to be an effective leader for Professional Women of Winston-Salem. 

When I first joined the organization in 2003, I was "wet behind the ears" in many respects, having focused all of my professional energies in a long-term but now defunct airline career.  Each time I am with my fellow PWWS members, I see colleagues who facilitated a difficult transition for me.   I see mentors who have taught me advertising and marketing tips.  I see coaches who have helped fill in the gaps in my professional training.  I see cheerleaders who want me to be successful.  I see leaders who are setting examples for me with both their professional success and their high personal standards.

Did you realize you were doing all that?

Indeed, these are the things the women of our organization do for one another, and I personally owe a lot to the supportive and educational environment this organization provides.  In other words, I owe a lot to you. 

Please know that the contributions you are making do in fact have an important impact.  Let's continue to have a positive influence - not just on each other, but on the community at large - through our high standards of professional excellence and through our charitable activities and scholarship fund.   Please join me in 2008 as we Give of ourselves, Get a huge return on that investment, and Grow into the very best that we can be.

Let's Give. Get. Grow in 2008!

Cathy Howe

2008 PWWS President

Linda Heath
JWH Sports, Inc.
336-766-1290

Now it all comes together.  The considerable talents and assets of LSBTheBank and FNB Southeast are now united - creating a powerful new advantage for customers and an exciting new era for community banking.

NewBridge Bank.  Greater resources, competitive financial products, convenient services and the hometown friendliness that's defined both banks for decades.  Are you ready to move forward?  We're ready to make it happen.

To learn more contact J.J. Elliott at 631-3906 or jj.elliott@newbridgebank.com.

Spotlight your business in the newsletter and at the meeting by sponsoring a door prize.  Contact Jessica Baumann at JBaumann@dixon-hughes.com to sign up or get more information.

Winston-Salem Living Magazine, Winston-Salem's premier full color, full gloss magazine will become a monthly publication as of January 2008 and will be a complimentary magazine, available in over 1,400 locations around Forsyth County and surrounding areas.  The magazine will continue to be distributed in all Realtor relocation packets as well as at the Piedmont Club and in Newcomer Packets.

With the increased distribution, the magazine will now have a printed circulation of 20,000 and a readership of 85,000.All issues of the magazine will be available at www.winstonsalemliving.com in electronic format which serves approximately 5,000 readers that enjoy the convenience of reading the magazine online.

Winston-Salem Business Magazine, Winston-Salem Living's sister publication is available online at www.winston-salembusiness.com and is a ProColor digital magazine. Subscriptions to Winston-Salem Business magazine are available on the website and only require an email address.  As a digital magazine, Winston-Salem business magazine has the potential to reach a very large audience. The first issue of the magazine was read in Shanghai and Nassau, Winston-Salem's sister cities and also reached readers in Colorado, Montana, Florida and Virginia as well as being seen by business professionals throughout Winston-Salem and Greensboro.

Scholarship Committee to Conduct Silent Auction

Ladies, I wanted to say, on behalf of the scholarship committee, thank you very much for all you contributed in 2007.  I don't know about you but I was very proud to have been a part of Professional Women of Winston-Salem when our recipient received her award in December!

It is now time to start raising money for our 2008-scholarship recipient.  One of the ways we raise money is through our Silent Auction. Proceeds from the auction will support the scholarship committee.   This year we will be holding the auction at our March meeting.  The scholarship committee will start accepting items for the auction at our January meeting.  If you have an item that you would like to donate for the auction, please email me at: Brandy@WinstonSalemLiving.com 

I hope you will want to be a part of a very rewarding tradition of Professional Women of Winston-Salem.

Happy New Year,

Brandy Clontz
Chair-Scholarship Committee