Santa Maria Women's Network

SMWN’s Got Talent!

Editor — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:31:59 +0000

The Santa Maria Women’s Network has talent. Take Beverly Johnson, SMWN member who is currently exhibiting at the Town Center Gallery in Santa Maria. Her “All about Silk” show is an expression of her passion for painting, which she considers a soulful experience. “Everytime I touch the silk with my brush, magic happens.”
Beverly began her painting journey working in oils and then applied her skills to other media such as watercolor, pencil drawing and even digitally enhanced photography. When viewing Beverly’s works in silk we can’t help but delight is her use of color, texture and compostition. Should your walls have a space for an uplifting and inspirational piece of original silk art by Beverly Johnson be sure to head over to the Town Center Gallery before April 7th! If you walls are full, check out her stunning line of hand painted silk scarves!
Beverly Johnson is a member of the Santa Maria Women’s Network, the Town Center Gallery, the Los Padres Artists Guild and Silk Painters International.
Beverly can be reached at beverlysoriginalart@gmail.com
On the web at http://beverly-johnson.fineartamerica.com/

SMWN Remembers Fran Dodd

Editor — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 02:19:22 +0000

Fran Dodd happily introduced herself as a professional volunteer, and that she was! Fran moved to the Santa Maria Valley in 2000 following her retirement as the office manager and controller at an Orange County law firm, to be closer to her daughter and family. Fran became a member of Kiwanis in 2003, moving to the night time club in 2005 and served on their board Board of Directors, as treasurer. Fran had also been Community Service Chair and active in instituting “Bingo Bonanza”. “Bingo Bonanza” turned out to be the club’s largest money raiser, with proceeds going back into the community.
Visitation will be at Dudley-Hoffman on Friday, March 30th from 3 – 7pm. Funeral mass will be held on Saturday, March 31st at 10am at St. Louis de Montfort Catholic Church with burial to follow at Santa Maria Cemetery.

You could often find Fran at the door of charity events taking in the monies for a variety of fundraisers. Fran had received the Kiwanian of the Year award given out during the District Governor’s visit. She had also been an active member of Altrusa as well as the Santa Maria Women’s Network; serving on their boards as treasurer for many years.

With Altrusa she was also active with the Christmas tree fundraiser. Fran was a member of the Minerva Club and the Oasis Senior Center. She had also been active with our local food bank for many years. Fran attended and supported countless community charity events and could most often be counted on to provide a beautiful basket for such functions from her special closet designated for charitable donations! She was especially known to be a gracious hostess who loved to cook for her friends and entertain in her home. Fran Dodd will be missed by many.

Visitation will be at Dudley-Hoffman on Friday, March 30th from 3 – 7pm. Funeral mass will be held on Saturday, March 31st at 10am at St. Louis de Montfort Catholic Church with burial to follow at Santa Maria Cemetery.

Annual SMWN Yard Sale !!!

Editor — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:03:59 +0000

Start saving your stuff for our annual Santa Maria Women’s Network yard sale! This fundraising event will get your spring cleaning underway and boost our scholarship funds too!

An Evening of Inspiration

Editor — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 23:26:41 +0000

Come and be inspired at our highlight event of the year – Women of Excellence! This marvelous recognition dinner – this year appropriately themed “An Evening of Inspiration” – will honor eight beautiful and inspiring women from the Santa Maria Valley. You may know one, or several of them….

Laura Lee Dias

Fran Dodd

Sheri Hughes

Debbie Jeffers

Iva Larkin

Kathy Martinez

Isa Ponce-Jimenez

Hattie Stoddard

Come meet new people and join us to celebrate….You should have received your personal invitation in the mail! The date is Wednesday, March 7th – 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. in the Santa Maria Room at the Historic Santa Maria Inn. Our Mistress of Ceremonies this year is the lovely Etta Waterfield. A fun chance to buy tickets for wonderful prizes will help support our scholarship/community service fund. Four special awards will be presented; Women Helping Women, Women Taking Creative Risks, Women of Spirit and Lifetime Achievement. Just a reminder, this event takes the place of our regular luncheon meeting in March. If you have any questions, or need to make additional reservations, please contact our WOE Board Chair – Sara San Juan, Director of Sales, Historic Santa Maria Inn at 805-346-7900. Please fill out your response cards and get them in the mail; the deadline is Friday, February 24th (seating is limited). I hope to see all our members at this outstanding evening.

Women of Excellence 2012

Editor — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:31:02 +0000

We will be back in the Santa Maria Room in March for our once a year evening dinner for Women of Excellence. This recognition program and awards presentation will honor fantastic women who live or work in the Santa Maria Valley and have been nominated by a special friend. The theme of this year’s event is “An Evening of Inspiration”. The beautiful and dynamic Etta Waterfield will serve as the evening’s Mistress of Ceremonies. You will soon receive your personal invitation in the mail, please save this evening on your calendar now. A true night of inspiration you are sure to be moved by the stories of these outstanding women. This is our highlight event of the year, I hope to see you there! Thank you Sara San Juan, Sales Director – Historic Santa Maria Inn, for heading-up this spectacular evening.

“Micro Business Trade Show” Success!

Editor — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:27:43 +0000

Close to 40 SMWN businesses filled the Santa Maria Room at the beautiful Historic Santa Maria Room for the third annual SMWN Micro Trade Show Wednesday. Better than ever the room was filled with energy, a large number of guests and lots of networking. Nine brand new members were represented. Positive comments ran high; many members shared this to be their best trade show experience of any kind. One member was thrilled at making five solid bookings for her business, while yet another sold $250 in product on the spot. Many business partnering connections were also made setting the stage for a great year in 2012! Helen Ann Thomas – Santa Maria Sun columnist served as our Zagat food critic giving our delicious buffet her two thumbs-up – a perfect combination of hearty and light foods. Helen shared she especially likes the iced tea! Thank you to all members who participated and joined-in to make this yearʼs Micro Trade Show a fabulous event. Rhoda DeLeon, Coast Family Home Care did an outstanding job as our special events coordinator in making this a show to remember – thank you Rhoda! Plans will definitely be in the works for a repeat in 2013, so plan now to be there! Your SMWN Board is thrilled to report that in December at “Holiday Extravaganza” we raised $1,050 for our scholarship/community service special projects fund!!!

Photography by Photoworks Frame Gallery/Heidi Gruetzemacher

SMWN Business Micro Trade Show Coming up Fast !!!

Editor — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:37:48 +0000

SIGN UP NOW for the Santa Maria Women’s Network third annual Business Micro Trade Show on or before January 14, 2012.
To help promote the trade show for you the Network is doing the following:
* Advertising in The Santa Maria Sun newspaper
*E-mail blasts
*Press releases to many media outlets
WHERE
The Santa Maria Inn
801 S. Broadway, Santa Maria
in the Santa Maria Room
WHEN
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
11:30-1:30 PM
WHAT
*Free To The Community
*Light Finger Food Lunch
*Fabulous Opportunity to Showcase Your Business

Dr. David Lohman Guest Speaker

Editor — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:15:59 +0000

The Santa Maria Women’s Network is pleased to have Dr. David Lohman of Straight Back Chiropractic as our first guest speaker of 2012.
Join us on Wednesday, January 4th, 2012
11:30am – 1:00 pm
at the Historic Santa Maria Inn, Kent Room
801 S. Broadway, Santa Maria, CA.
Dr. Lohman is a widely-sought speaker for businesses and the community. He assists people and companies with the understanding that health and how a person feels directly impacts performance.
As a local businessman, father, coach, and Health Coach, Dr. Lohman will be sharing information that will be important to anyone who wants to start 2012 off with a plan. He stresses that good health is not just an “as you feel like it” or “as you need it” choice.
Dr. Lohman’s presentation is a fun and informative way which can encourage us all to make small lifestyle changes be intentional; and by having awareness, we can create big benefits.
Join us in starting 2012 off on the right foot!
PLEASE RSVP by Monday, January 2nd to ensure you and your guests have a seat!
Here’s how to RSVP for Dr. Lohman’s presentation:
By Phone: 805-929-7489
By email: smwnreservation@gmail.com
On the web: www.smwn.net
Lunch cost is $19 for members, $20 for non-members.
As we continue to grow our membership, we are expecting to have a full house.

SMWN Holiday Extravaganza 2011

Editor — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 03:32:05 +0000

The Santa Maria Women’s Network concluded the 2011 year with yet another successful Holiday Extravaganza Party and Scholarship Fundraiser Luncheon. The room was decorated beautifully for the holidays, as always is the case when the venue is the Historic Santa Maria Inn, especially when under the watchful eye of Sara San Juan, sales director.

The energy was electric with anticipation of who would leave with what fabulous raffle items! The plentiful raffle items were wrapped to perfection and varied in style. In addition to the annual donation of “20 Bottles of Wine” raffled by the SMWN board members, there was a stunning pendant and matching earrings by jewelry designer by Sharon Duncan; winner of the 2011 SMWN Member Grant. Town Center Gallery artist Hattie Stoddard donated a fine art piece ready to adorn any wall. You could update your professional profile with a business portrait by Heidi Gruetzemacher of Photoworks Frame Gallery. Christine Gerber of AHD&M Connections donated a business marketing consultation, complete with champagne and chocolate! There were holiday wreaths, and gift baskets galore. Guests often mention that they look forward to finishing their holiday shopping at the SMWN Extravaganza and that they felt great about business networking, enjoying fine dining, and shopping while supporting the scholarship fundraising efforts of the Santa Maria Women’s Network.

Perhaps the most anticipated and gratifying moment during the luncheon was the announcement of the Holiday Community Project Grant; this year awarded to the National Association of Women In Construction or NAWIC to be used to purchase holiday gifts and gift cards for their foster teens program.

What a great way to conclude the year!

Holiday Extravaganza at the Inn!

Editor — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 23:20:40 +0000

The Santa Maria Women’s Network has become known for creative fundraising efforts. Especially festive is the annual Holiday Extravaganza-Scholarship Fundraising Luncheon held each December to raise monies for scholarships given to local students who are college bound or already attending. The beautiful raffle items are adorned in holiday fare and donated by the SMWN members. This event is not only a way to support education, but an opportunity to promote member businesses by featuring a gift basket, product, or service, representing the members’ businesses. These generous donations become more sought after by attendees each year, perhaps due to the friendly competition of the SMWN members who consistently outdo themselves! One extremely popular raffle item of “20 Bottles of Wine” is donated by board members of the Santa Maria Women’s Network for a cost of $20.00 per raffle ticket.
The SMWN $500.00 Holiday Community Project Grant will be awarded to a deserving recipient at the December 7^th luncheon. The Santa Maria Women’s Network theme this year is “Members Helping Members” but this network extends it helping hand beyond its membership and into the community with its annual scholarship and grant program.
The SMWN Holiday Extravaganza-Scholarship Fundraiser Luncheon will be held at the Historic Santa Maria Inn and is open to the public. For more information or to make reservations go to www.SMWN.net