Imagine it – You walk into an NDBW lunch meeting and before you even step into the room, you hear the low roar of women's voices. As you enter the room you see 50+ members and guests ready to learn and network. The room is so full of laughter and energy, you can't help but get excited for what you are about to experience in the next hour and half as you engage in the ABWA community.

As we approach the end of our 4th year as a local league of the American Business Women's Association, we are on the cusp of becoming one of the largest leagues in the nation...but we need YOU to make this happen. To make it possible for our monthly meetings to attract an average of 50+ attendees, we need each one of you to recruit a professional colleague to join us.

In March, we rolled out the "Member Marathon" for you to earn points for your own attendance, for a guest who attends, and for sponsoring a new member. Let's make North Dallas Business Women the league to be watched! Invite your friends and colleagues to our 2nd Friday meeting and together let's encourage them to join!

If we end the 2016-2017 year with 50+ NDBW members officially enrolled by July 31st, we will walk across the stage as Level I Best Practices when we attend the ABWA National Conference in October 11-14 in Lancaster, PA.

I cannot wait for the day when I must ask the Clubs of Prestonwood to give us a larger meeting space!

Kasandra Vitacca Mitchell - President 2016-2017

Words from our President

Inside this issue:

New Members 2 ..........................

SBMEF Grant 2 ..........................

Featured Partner 3 ......................

DACA. 3 ......................................

Upcoming Meetings ……….…3

Regional Conference 4 ...............

Board Nominees 5 .......................

Upcoming Events 5 .....................

Q3 2016-2017

North Dallas Business Women Express Network Dallas, TX

A League of the American Business Women’s Association

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Welcome to our NEWEST MEMBERS!!!

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Sherri Welsh Arbonne International sherri.lynne2@verizon.net 214-906-7232 Business Challenge: Re-affirming Arbonne as not just a “Make up and Skin Care” Company.

Lynn Jasmin Stress Reduction Seminars posibee@gmail.com 940-300-6244

SBMEF Education Grant Available!! Applications must be in by MAY 1st!!

NDBW is currently accepting applications for an Outright Grant from ABWA’s Stephen Bufton Memorial Education Fund (SBMEF). The Outright Grant Program offers Junior level or higher college students a scholarship. The max awarded to any one applicant is $2,000.

Applicant Eligibility Requirements • Be female and a U.S. citizen• Completed a minimum of 60 credit hours• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better• Be seeking a baccalaureate degree or higher• Be attending an institution authorized to confer degrees at the baccalaureate level or higher in the United States• Provide an official transcript, a biographical sketch and 3 letters of reference dated in the same year as her

application

This grant is available to ABWA members as well as non-ABWA members family and friends, so if you know anyone that meets the requirements, please have them contact Karen Morriss at kmorriss617@gmail.com for additional information.

Suzy Neal Suzy Neal Team at Keller Williams Real Estate suzy@4saledallas.com 214-991-7565 Business Challenge? Balancing time and energy between work and family.

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5/12- Special May Networking Event - Think Outside your Box! Voting for the 2017/18 Board.

6/9 - Bobbi Schwartz - Stylist, Author, Fashion Expert

6/17 - Best Friends Luncheon - Macaroni Grill, 5005 W Park Blvd, Plano $79/ pair from 11am-1pm

7/14 - Installation of our 2017-2018 Board

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Remember to set your schedule - Luncheons are the 2nd Friday at the Clubs at Prestonwood15909 Prestonwood, DallasInvite a guest to join us!! Register early and SAVE!!

Michelle McLaren is the owner and broker for Just the Facts Insurance Agency. She has been in insurance for 6 years and has a education centered approach. “The Affordable Care Act has created confusion in our society (not that it was easy before) and I want to help make things clear”. Michelle translated the ACA and health insurance in her book “The ABCs of Health Insurance” which is available from her or on Amazon. She helps individuals and small businesses review their current policies, choose suitable plans, find holes and fill them. She is also available to speak and translate health insurance subjects like the Affordable Care Act, HSA’s and Basics of Health Insurance. Michelle is not only a Licensed Insurance Agent but is also a Licensed Insurance Counselor.

Michelle is also a professional vocalist with 2 groups - Queen Anne’s Lace at the Scarborough Renaissance Festival and Vocal Magic Carolers (a Victorian Caroling group she manages).

Michelle lives in Corinth with her husband Bruce of 28 years and is very proud of her son Corwin who is a Junior at UNT. You can reach out to this NDBW sponsor by phone (940-206-4333), email (insurance@michellemclaren.org) or her almost finished website (www.justthefactsinsurance.com) - she’d love to get to know you!

Our Featured Partner … Michelle McLaren

Great Upcoming Events!!

DACA 2017 Calendar DACA Quarterly Meetings (1st Sat 9-11am – check website for location) 5/6, 11/4

DACA Board Meetings – Location TBD 5/20, 8/26, 11/18, 12/9

Mix and Mingle - 4/27 - 5:30-8pm Ida Claire - 5001 Beltline Road, Addison, TX WOY Event - 8/11 & 12 (Sponsorships Available!!)

ABW Week - 9/18 - 29

DACA - Dallas Area Council of ABWA

DACA was created to facilitate communication between all of the great ABWA chapters in the DFW area. Each chapter sends reps to the quarterly meetings. The next meeting is May 6th. Check out www.abwa-daca.org for details. You can also talk to our new DACA reps Joy Gray and Jennifer Johnson.

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Reports from Regional Conference in Sunny CaliforniaSoar

April 2017

Four NDBW sisters – Daphne Alexander, Julie Burch, Amanda Smiley, and Kasandra Vitacca Mitchell – attended the Western Regional Conference held on the Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA March 23rd-25th. Julie also attended the Central Regional with Karen Morriss in Kansas City, KS on March 31st to April 2nd . While each woman's experience was unique to her, all agreed – CONFERENCES SHOULD NOT BE MISSED!

Daphne Alexander: "ABWA regional conference in Long Beach, CA was what I needed to get me back on track and focused on my personal and professional goals. Conference is the perfect environment to dig deep and identify what you're working towards. I enjoyed meeting the District II Vice President candidates and hearing their candidate speeches. It is also a great place to meet new ABWA sisters or reconnect with ones you haven't seen in a while. I wish every NDBW member would attend a conference to discover all the wonderful benefits it has to offer. I even met a fellow ABWA Dallas-based woman to mentor!"

Julie Burch: "As your District 2 Vice President, I was lucky enough to attend both the Western and Central Regional Conferences. What a life changing experience! I had the opportunity to introduce our District 2 2017 Top Ten's, our District 2 DVP Candidates, and our National Secretary/Treasurer, Dr. Sonja Ogletree Satani as they shared their moving and motivating messages. The courage shown by all these women is truly inspiring! It is a great representation of what ABWA is all about—powerful and amazing women connecting, sharing, learning, and having a TON of fun! I can't wait for the Eastern Regional Conference in Naples, Florida April 21st-23rd! Maybe I will see you there?"

Karen Morriss: "Attending the Central Regional conference provided me the opportunity to meet new incredible women in ABWA from other areas and exchange ideas. The training on league management is vital to the growth of our association and specific leagues. Our keynote speaker was one of the best I have seen at a conference and I learned new skills to grow both personally and professionally. (And I am not just quoting the mission statement!) I have new focus on starting my own consulting & training business as well as organizational skills. Thank you ABWA for always living up to our mission statement! Looking forward to National Conference in October - and sharing the experience with more NDBW members!"

Amanda Smiley: "This was my first regional conference and it was a different experience from the two national conferences I have attended – however it did not disappoint. It was a true expression of our mission and provided another great opportunity to learn and grow personally and professionally. It provided an excellent avenue for hearing more about what "Best Practices" have been implemented within other leagues and how that

has impacted their members. As always there was also plenty of time for catching up with old friends and making new ones with fellow ABWA sisters from across the country. If you want to see the mission of ABWA fully come alive, plan to join us in October at the national conference in Lancaster, PA!"

Kasandra Vitacca Mitchell: "This was my third ABWA regional conference and I have attended three ABWA National Conferences. At every conference the learning provided is top notch! The information presented is insightful, educational, and fun! After these many conferences, it is clear to me why people invest the time, money, and energy to attend conferences: I not only learned new ways to move forward in a more positive direction for myself, I received motivation and ideas to help all my ABWA sisters move forward in the direction of their goals and dreams."

Nominees for NDBW 2017/18 Board

Those who have accepted a nomination and passed the official screening of the Nomination Committee are as follows:

President - Karen MorrissPresident-Elect - Rachel KnightVP Communications - Michelle McLarenVP Finance - Daphne AlexanderVP Marketing - Stephanie Snowden, Lynn JasminVP Membership - Marti Fox VP Programs - Suzy Echols Neal

It is advisable to have more than one candidate interested in a position so do not hesitate to submit your own name for consideration for any position. Contact Nominations Committee Members: Heidi Kleiber (Chair), Elva Hernandez, or Keely Thomas to discuss each role.

Payment Plan for National Conference

National Conference (10/11-14 in Lancaster, PA) is a great event to help you grow within ABWA and within yourself. In order to help ease the cost burden they offer a payment plan. Sign up now and make 6 payments. Contact Kasandra Vitacca Mitchell if you have yet to see the information about National.

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ABWA’s Proud Code of Conduct

1. All members will serve as goodwill ambassadors for the American Business Women’s Association. 2. Members will not allow their personal beliefs and convictions to interfere with the representation of ABWA’s mission. 3. Members will always treat their member colleagues, guests, vendors and sponsors with honesty, respect, fairness, integrity,

responsibility, kindness, and in good faith. 4. Members will maintain compliance with ABWA National, Chapter and Express Network Bylaws. 5. Members will not use their personal power to advance their personal interests. 6. Members will strive for excellence in their professions by maintaining and enhancing their own business knowledge and

skills, and by encouraging the professional development of other members.

THANK YOU to our Sponsoring Partners!!

Upcoming Events ********* DACA Quarterly Mtg May 6, 2017 9-11am Presentation from Christina Chemhuru - author, business manager and relationship coach 7920 Beltline Rd., Dallas, TX 75254 - 1st Fl training rm A abwa-daca.org to register ********* NDBW MEETING May 12, 2017 Networking Fun ⁄ We will vote for the 2017-2018 Board so do NOT miss the opportunity to choose your NDBW leadership! Special Spotlight from Julie Burch ********** NDBW MEETING June 9, 2017 Bobbi Schwartz - Stylist and Fashion Expert Special Spotlight from Michelle McLaren ********** NDBW MEETING July 14, 2017 Installation of our new Board!

********** Best Friends Luncheon June 17, 2017 Macaroni Grill, 5005 W Park Blvd, Plano $79/ pair from 11am-1pm **********

NDBW MEETING August 11, 2017 The new Board will lead us into a great new year. **********

National Leadership Conference October 11-14 Lancaster, PA

We have chosen to sponsor our District VP and Charter Chapter Member, Julie Burch, for ABWA National VP. All campaigns will kick off at the end of April so keep your eyes open for announcements about opportunities to have fun and network while we support these women on their leadership journey!

Voting will occur at the ABWA National conference in October.