WOVI - The Vision

Members of WOVI, we continue to exceed expectations together! As Thanksgiving approaches, its time to count our blessings and to consider how we have exceeded, those who have helped us exceed expectations and all we have to be thankful for.

To get you started, here's a short list of WOVI's thankfulness.

WOVI is thankful for:

Every member
Each member's participation
The chapter leaders who serve the members
All the wonderful members who support each other
The outstanding job chapters are doing in assigning mentors
The dedication, talent, commitment and principles of WOVI Executive
The new chapters forming to serve more women in different geographic locations
The appreciation members express to their mentors, their chapters and the organization
The increase in interest and awareness of WOVI in Texas and other parts of the country.

What does your list look like? Haven't written it yet? It's time. You will realize the value of appreciating what you have. After you've compiled the list, share your thankfulness with the people with whom you have exceeded expectations together!

Pauline Shirley
President and Founder
WOVI, Inc. Women of Visionary Influence

2008 Conference for Women Highlights - Mentor of the Year Award Recipients Honored

Women of Visionary Influence (WOVI) honored outstanding mentors at its Annual Mentor Recognition Awards Luncheon this year, featuring keynote speaker Elizabeth Gore, United Nations, "Nothing But Nets" Campaign Chair.

The recipients of the 2008 awards are: MOY Recipients

Mentor of the Year - Dr. Jeannine Hatt (center, pediatric care physician)
Consulting Mentor of the Year - Deb Boring (Left)
WOVI Member Mentor of the Year - Janet Wilemon (Right).

Each year the awards recognize women who 1) clearly encourage and motivate other women in the workplace, 2) provide special value to their organization, and/or 3) impact measurable growth in the development of women and/or to their organization.

Dr. Jeannine Hatt, Mentor of the Year, is a Pediatric Care Physician in Sherman, Texas. Her untiring work through Grace Children's Hospital in Haiti provides medical care, love and hope to children in the area. Not only does she provide critical hands-on care, but Dr. Hatt is creating a legacy by mentoring young medical professionals who dedicate their charitable time to worthy causes around the globe. She is also a Community Mentor for Posey Leadership Institute at Austin College in Sherman, Texas, mentoring students needing help both in their careers and in their personal lives. She inspires and encourages everyone she is near to pursue the joy of experiencing service at all levels.

Deb Boring, Consulting Mentor of the Year, owner of Computer Management Services in Sherman, Texas. Deb handles complex technical difficulties with clients in an unpretentious, positive and solution-oriented way. Her style is to ask straightforward questions, to encourage forward movement and to gently hold clients accountable. She mentors by instilling enthusiasm, sharing information and communicating high expectations.

Janet Wilemon, the first awarded, WOVI Member Mentor of the Year, is a founding member of Women of Visionary Influence and sits on the Executive Board of WOVI, Inc. Through her ability to recognize greatness in others and by encouraging exploration she consistently mentors individuals within the organization. She has played a primary role in mentoring Chapter Leadership teams. Janet mentors others through a gentle voice of direction and correction.

At the Friday luncheon keynote, Elizabeth Gore spoke on "Mentoring the Young and the Restless." Through her work at the United Nations she is adding a remarkable legacy to our world by mentoring and training young people to get involved in organizations such as the Peace Corps, Points of Light, Share Our Strength, Nothing But Nets and her church, to name a few.

The Saturday conference featured a morning keynote speaker Lesley Harris, President, Travelocity Business, who shared her outstanding mentoring style in her presentation on "Travel, Technology and Mentoring: Tales from the Road." The closing keynote was by Victoria Lowe, nationally recognized, respected and celebrated minister, speaker, author and entrepreneur: "Rising Above the Norm."

2008 Outstanding Chapter Leaders

Four Chapter leaders were recognized for exceeding expectations in their outstanding contributions to their Chapters and to WOVI at the Annual Conference for Women Awards Luncheon October 18, 2008

Congratulations to Mary Boyd, President of WOVI Addison on being recognized as 2008 Outstanding Chapter President for her exceptional leadership. Serving as President of WOVI Addison this year she met and exceeded leadership expectations even beyond the criteria WOVI, Inc. has established as Outstanding Chapter Leader measures. Under her leadership WOVI Addison has flourished. Following the WOVI Chapter Standards, they developed and maintained systems and procedures in connecting mentors, orienting new members and providing highly successful meetings that attract guests and serve the members. Mary has been contributing to WOVI, Inc. since its inception having served on the Founding advisory board.

Lalla Shackelford, Vice President Finance and Member Services WOVI Addison, recognized in the category of Outstanding Vice President Finance, contributed to the success of WOVI Addison and exceeded expectations in processing new member applications, dues payments and filing monthly reports consistently and timely. More than 20 new members joined WOVI Addison in 2008.

2008 Outstanding Chapter Vice President Member Services Laurie Barenblat, WOVI North Dallas, also served her chapter as Vice President Membership. Laurie exceeded expectations in providing the best in greeting members and guests efficiently and warmly creating and extending welcoming WOVI warmth in the first point of contact. Laurie excels in efficient reporting, providing timely information to all as necessary and a strong awareness of all around her. Her presence is felt at every meeting.

Outstanding Chapter Vice President Membership for 2008 presented to Peggy Campagna of WOVI Addison for among other things, her exemplary orientation of new members. A new WOVI member who has participated in Peggy's orientation knows ALL about WOVI and is treated royally in the process. Peggy also raised the bar on inviting guests.

Details about Chapter Standards and Outstanding Chapter Leaders criteria are included in the Leadership Resource Book and will soon be available on wovi.com.

Mentoring Points from Lesley Harris

Lesley Harris' opening keynote, lharris

"Travel, Technology and Mentoring: Tales from the Road," gave us many "mentoring takeaways" at the Annual Conference for Women on October 18. Ms. Harris, President, Travelocity Business, who carries as many as five mentees at a time, shared her experiences in mentoring. She describes the mentoring process as "the mentor holding up the mirror for the mentee, which may not always be pleasant for the mentee... or the mentor."

She recommends that mentoring relationships evaluate periodically, capitalize on conflict, be prepared and creative and to encourage risk taking. She uses the S.M.A.R.T. goals measurement in working with mentees setting goals for their success: Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Relevant and Time bound.

She also pointed out mutual benefits for mentoring teams: mentors obtain validation and enhancement of relationship-building skills and mentees learn to think on their own and experience accelerated growth and knowledge. In her experience, she categorized three types of mentees: 1) Fix me. 2) I don't want to be here. 3) Eager to learn.

Visionary & WOW Awards Presented to Rhodes and Patel

Lynda Rhodes and Liz Patel were the recipients of two very special awards at the Awards Luncheon on October 18, 2008.

WOVI Visionary Awardhonors a WOVI woman who truly personifies a woman of visionary influence. Presented to Lynda Rhodes, Vice President WOVI, Inc., for her contributions in 2008 and over the past several years. Specifically, Lynda established a connection with Fish City Grill (Neighborhood Ventures) resulting in WOVI's participation in their First Tuesday Benefit three times in 2007, twice during 2008 and with dates already scheduled for 2009. Lynda facilitates the highly successful ArtistRing, and sees that WOVI is well represented in events at Brookhaven College. Her photography and articles appear in newspapers and periodicals promoting WOVI and WOVI members. She generously brings wisdom, creativity, talent and a strong professional background to decision- making, discussion and work building a strong foundation of WOVI, Inc.

The WOVI WOW Award, new this year, was presented to and recognized Liz Patel, WOVI North Dallas, for her talents, creativity and willingness to work with WOVI, Inc. in a consultancy role surrounding technology. Liz, infinitely patient, worked around WOVI Executive's schedule and showed great understanding when more immediate demands required time and attention. The WOW Award expresses WOVI's appreciation, literally, for all of Liz's contributions to WOVI, Inc.

Chapter of the Year

Addison Chapter Earns 2008 Chapter of the Year Award

Congratulations to Mary Boyd, WOVI Addison President, and her team of leaders for earning WOVI's very first Chapter of the Year Award. Their dedication to upholding Chapter Standards and providing the best of the best in leadership to their members remained consistent throughout the year. The Chapter was honored and presented the WOVI Chapter of the Year banner at the Awards Luncheon during the WOVI Conference for Women on October 18n addition to holding quality meetings that included the nine criteria for meetings, they excelled in membership growth and promptness in submitting new members applications and other reports, as well as in new member orientations and assigning mentors and mentees - all critical in serving our members.

Congratulations to WOVI Addison! The 2008 Chapter Officers are President Mary Boyd, First Vice President Elizabeth McCormick, Second Vice President Lin O'Neill, Vice President Administration Judy Womack, Vice President Finance and Member Services Lalla Shackelford, Vice President Mentoring Jennifer Denney,

Vice President Membership Peggy Mashburn, Vice President Programs Dee Frazier,

Vice President Communications Ann Ranson.

2008 Leadership Summit

Thirty-five WOVI leaders, repre-senting six chapters and one future chapter, participated in the 2008 Leadership Summit on Friday, October 17. The Summit, an adjunct to WOVI's Annual Conference for Women, is held annually to prepare the incoming chapter officers to serve the members of their chapters during their term.

During the Leadership Summit, the 2009 Theme, "Live the Power of WOVI: Empowering Women to Lead" was introduced along with several new leadership and mentoring recognition programs. Details on these will be published in the next issue of "The Vision,"

The finale included the Leadership Banquet and Installation of the 2009 Officers. WOVI, Inc.'s Vice Presidents, Janet Wilemon and Lynda Rhodes served as installing officers. Chapter Presidents were presented with a "magic wand / baton" as a symbol of the 2009 theme and to facilitate the direction of their respective chapters throughout the coming year.

Included in the Leadership Summit was a Panel of Chapter Presidents facilitated by WOVI Inc. Vice President Deb Boring and office specific training led by the following leaders: Vice Presidents Elizabeth Gustwick, Daisy Wong, Peggy Compagna, Laurie Barenblat, Kim Andrews, Janet Wilemon, Lynda Rhodes, and WOVI, Inc. President, Pauline Shirley.

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WOVI Addison - 2008 Chapter of the Year

All event photos courtesy of Lynda Rhodes

Women of Visionary Influence Inc a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization develops programs and activities designed to lead, educate and mentor women. Through encouragement, genuine respect and inclusiveness, we celebrate self and others.

Chapters are in Addison, Austin, Frisco, North Dallas, Sherman (Red River), Firewheel and Houston. A new Chapter is launching in Collin County soon and the first out-of-state Chapter in Phoenix, Arizona is scheduled for launch in early 2009. For more information, go to www.wovi.com.