Greetings to all members of Broward Women’s Alliance!  We are ready to start a new year and looking forward to seeing you all again.

Your executive committee has met throughout the summer and a group of 8 past presidents met with me right after Labor Day to provide valuable guidance on moving BWA forward in the way we have all come to expect.  My thanks to immediate past president Dorothy Klein for arranging this gathering and for her excellent leadership last year. 

 Now is the time to think about which of your friends, colleagues or associates you would like to invite to join you at a BWA luncheon and consider membership.  There are many wonderful women in leadership positions who have much to share with us and will be inspired by our programs and our service to other women through our scholarships.

 Stay tuned for some of the great dates for fun and fundraising to keep our scholarship program strong.   That’s what we do for our community.

 And we also need to be thinking about our own health, wellness and that of our careers.  The executive committee welcomes your input:  How should BWA be a resource for its members? 

 One small step in the right direction, offered by the wonderful past presidents, is to keep our focus on networking at our monthly luncheons.  Think about coming a bit early, take advantage of a Dessert and Coffee Sponsorship to make a presentation to the group on your business or project—the money goes to the scholarship fund.  And help us give due honor to our speakers by making sure our own self-introductions end by 12:45.  That way we all can enjoy the full experience of the monthly BWA meetings.

 I am honored to serve as your president this year—see you all on September 14! 

 Elly

• Leslie Brown will be honored posthumously with a Lifetime Achievement Award at National Philanthropy Day on November 11.  The event is hosted by Association of Fundraising Professionals.  BWA Members are encouraged to make a donation in Leslie's honor to Ft. Lauderdale Children's Theatre.  Janet Erlick will be  at the BWA meeting to accept gifts.
• We offer our deepest condolences to Judge Eileen O'Connor on the passing of her mother, Ruth.  Donations gratefully accepted in her honor to the Lighthouse for the Blind.

Pauline Grant, MS, MBA, FACHE, is the CEO of North Broward Medical Center and will be speaking on September 14 luncheon about the challenges of being a female CEO in the healthcare field.

Ms. Grant enjoys more than 35 years of healthcare experience and has a great deal of passion for her work. As the CEO at North Broward Medical Center, the second largest hospital in Broward Health, she is responsible for strategic leadership of a 409-bed community hospital and Adult Level II Trauma Center, a Certified Primary Stroke Center, Neurological Institute and Comprehensive Cancer Center.  A long time advocate for healthcare in the community, Pauline serves on the board of several community organizations and has received numerous awards.  For fun, Pauline is an avid Dolphin football fan who attends as many home games as possible.

Date:  Monday, September 14 - Time:  11:30 a.m. - Location:  The Tower Club

Members:  No charge - Guests: $25.00 due at the door

PLEASE NOTE:  The October meeting is on the 19th, not on the 2nd Monday due to Columbus Day.

• Ann Robbins is getting married September 12 to Steve Gordon!  She has also created a "Just Us Girls" meetup for single professional women  http://www.meetup.com/Just-Us-Girls-South-and-Central-Florida/ .  Also, check out her new online dating website  www.lifeworksmatchmaking.com
• Denise Palazzo recently returned from delivering a three day Cultural Diversity Train the Trainer to a diverse school district in Colorado, and will return to coach participants on "The Art of Facilitating Difficult Conversations" soon.
• Geri Trodick sends her thanks to new client Diane Hatcher.  Also, Chris Madsen of Mad 4 Marketing for her long-time business and a nice referral from Victoria Mikels.

• Roberta Young is being honored at March of Dimes’ 14^th Annual Women of Distinction Luncheon as a tribute to women who have made significant contributions toward enhancing the quality of life in Broward County, on 11/6/09, 11;30 to 1:30pm at Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa.  For more details, call 954.772.2290

• Chef Lenore Nolan-Ryan is on the High Seas for a unique 5 night Culinary Cruise on Royal Caribbean on October 31.

• Ruth Spiegel has a new grandson, Sebastian Dylan Spiegel AND opened the 5th Cold Stone Creamery at The Promenade in Coconut Creek, co-branded with Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.

Meeting Dates for 2009:

October 19

November 9

December 14

Meeting Dates for 2010:

January 11

February 8

March 8

April 12

May 10

June 14

• Nancy Olson announces Florida Marlins Community Foundation is wrapping up regular season with three special events at Land Shark Stadium:  Community Corner Section 149 Friday Nights are Fun on September 11; Annual Garage Sale on September 23; and Marlins take on Mets on September 26 and raise money for Jerry's Kids at MDA "Jerseys off their backs" raffle.  nolson@marlins.com.
• Gilda's Club South Florida now offers Monday Evening Yoga and Meditation beginning September 14 at 7 p.m.  Suggested donation $9 adults/$5 students.  954-763-6776.
• Chris Madsen and Jane Katterhenry invite us to attend "Unconventional Marketing Methods for Unconventional Times".  Free marketing seminar at Regent Bank in Boca Raton on September 14 from 5:30 p.m .to 7:00 p.m.  568 Yamato Road.  Rsvp to mabrams@regentbank.com or 561-999-5100.
• United Way of Broward County will be launching the 2009/10 campaign season at the upcoming Launch Party at the Goodyear Blimp base in Pompano on September 25.  The entire family is invited to enjoy rock climbing, caricatures, bounce houses, carnival games and food for all. The fesitivities begin at 5:30 p.m.  For tickets, contact Dianne Maddalena at 954-462-4850 x119.
• Mary Riedel invites us to Women In Distress 5th Annual Gala "Vegas Night" on Saturday, October 3, 2009 at Signature Grand.  Come try your luck at Vegas-style gaming tables or slots and enjoy buffet-style feast fit for a high rollers.  www.womenindistress.org/wida or wida_gala@hotmail.com
• The Leukemia & Lypmhoma Society will "Light The Night" on Saturday, October 10 at Memorial Miramar Hospital and on Saturday, November 7 at Huizenga Plaza.  These evening walks are a night of remembrance to honor those touched by cancer.  www.lightthenight.org/sfl
• Take Stock in Children's "An Evening of Magic" honoring Governor Crist, CITRIX and Bill Marks of Northern Trust on Oct. 22 at Pier Top. Contact Randee Reed at 754-321-2578. 
• Gilda's Club South Florida Casino Night "Gamble in the Garden" on October 24 at 7 p.m. $100pp.  954-763-6776.
• The 11th Annual Sun Sentinel's Women In Distress 5k SafeWalk-RUN will be October 31 at Markham Park.  Become a team leader, sponsor or volunteers.  www.womenindistress.org/safewalk-run or safewalk@womenindistress.org

• Please join in supporting "Books 'n' Bears at the Holidays", in partnership with the Broward County Library.  We are asking for BWA members to donate gently loved, plush teddy bears over the next two months to be used in Broward County Library's "Books 'n' Bears at the Holidays" program. Since 1991, Books 'n' Bears has brought the gift of reading, with a book and a toy bear, to hundreds of needy preschool-age youngsters. The children, all of whom are enrolled in child care centers, attend holiday parties at libraries, where they are entertained and served refreshments. They go home with their new book and teddy bear. Before Nov. 30, please bring the teddy bears to a BWA meeting or drop them off in the Children's department at any Broward County LIbrary.

• Cindy Schutt announces the 25th Anniversary Celebration for Covenant House Florida on March 6, 2010 at Broward Center for the Performing Arts.  "A Night of Broadway Stars" featuring wonderful classics from "Phantom of the Opera", "Cats" and other Broadway showstoppers.