Chartered in 1983

Colorado Springs Chapter

September 2010   

President Audrey Shrive
Aflac Insurance

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

We started this year in a Treasure Chest. I challenged you to put something into the EWI Treasure Chest and see what you would get out of it. I hope you took me up on that challenge. You are the glitter. You are the gold of EWI. I thank you for allowing me to serve as your leader for the past twelve months.

Last September, we had a guest speaker at our Board Retreat, Alane Pearce. Alane said something in her remarks about teamwork and collaboration that I have carried with me all year. She said, “I have learned that I am NOT the only competent woman in the room.” Our chapter is full of highly competent and successful women. My board of directors was amazing! I saw early on, that my job was just to steer the ship. The crew each did an outstanding job!

Some of the things this team accomplished include bringing in $20,000 for our scholarship fund through the golf tournament, continuing our four scholarships, and sending eight of our chapter women to LCAM.

Further, we have continued our rich tradition of exciting programs and speakers. While there were many, many great meetings, my personal favorites were the first ever (Annual?) EWI fashion show, hearing from Cari Schaffer, ADD Staff founder and the fabulous Murder Mystery night!

An Ad Hoc committee has reviewed and up-dated the chapter by-laws; a long overdue task. EWI has its own FaceBook page and membership lead the charge in giving us a strong presence at the women’s Chamber Event, ‘Night in Tuscany’. Our chapter also sponsored and promoted the Disney Institute training. This allowed us to send our incoming President to the event, as well as hold a drawing for a free ticket. Sometimes the unexpected opportunities are the best ones!

It’s been a good ride ladies. Thanks again for all you’ve done to keep this stellar chapter on the road to success. You are truly the finest treasures of all!

Click on the highlighted names to view the member's website.

ADD Staff
Aflac Insurance
Aqua Prima Center, Inc.
Ameriprise Financial
Artemis Skin Care
BKD, LLP
The Broadmoor Hotel
Cachet Basket Company
Chris Carter Law
Colorado Association Services
Colorado Springs Country Club
Colorado Springs Utilities
Colorado Technical University
Cornerstone Retail Team LLC
Enchanted Signs
Ent Federal Credit Union
The Food Designers
Foster Electric
Goodwill Industries of CS
Harloff Company
Heritage Title Company
Home Instead Senior Care
Kreuser Gallery, LLC
Lynn Severson Interiors
Mountain States Pipe & Supply

If you have a website please notify Kathleen O'Leary; Publications Chair- This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Old Town Guest House
Old West Cigar/Old West Homebrew Supply
Op-Tech Laboratory/Your Eye Company 
Lee Wayne Corporation
Page Cafe Internet Consulting
Penrose St Francis Centura Healthcare System
Pepsi Bottling Group
Pikes Peak Regional Development Corporation
Re/Max Properties, Inc
Joan Saucerman, LTC Insurance
Service Engineering, LLC
Sinton Dairy
The Springs Funeral Services
Stading & Wood Chiropractic
Stanley Steemer
WallaceVision
Wells Fargo Bank
Wilhelm Monument
Woodford Manufacturing

Support Your
EWI Member Firms

Click on the underlined names
to view the member's website.

Chapter Meeting Information

Date: Wednesday, September 8th, 2010 5:30am
Location: Colorado Springs Country Club

Should you need to cancel your reservation by the Friday before the meeting, you MUST receive a confirming email from the SAA that your cancellation is received.  If you do not get a confirming email from SAA, your reservation is still in effect and you will need to pay for the dinner that was reserved for you.

List of Upcoming Programs:

  COMING UP....

 September
Business Networking and Marketing Online using Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and More
What the heck is Social Media and why should you care?!?!  We are experiencing a revolution in the way people communicate, find products, and choose companies to do business with.  The September meeting will focus on an uncomplicated overview of Social Media tools and how you can utilize these tools to help promote yourself and your business.  Be in the know through this quick, simple and fun presentation.  And don’t forget to arrive early because that is when the fun starts!

Programs Committee:

Program Corner 2010

October - Panel discussion on How to Protect Assets, Wills & Trusts, Personal Business Structures
November - TBD  
December - Broadmoor Holiday Extravaganza

Be a part of the most exciting EWI committee!   Join the fun in entertaining and educating our membership through community, connections, and career.

PROGRAMS IS MEETING FOR DRINKS AND PLANS---HAVE YOU ENJOYED THE PROGRAMS---- THEN BE PART OF THE ACTION! MANY TIMES THE COMMITMENT IS JUST A FEW PHONE CALLS.  YOU CAN DO THAT!!! WE WOMEN LOVE TO TALK! 

CONTACT BRANDY MERRIAM OR SUSAN DAVIS TO RSVP AS SOON AS YOU CAN

Susan Davis This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
or
Brandy Merriam This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Meeting requirements and RSVP

Everyone must RSVP Yes or No. No later than September 3rd, 2010
EWI Program Coordinators must confirm attendance numbers with the hotel or other catering company in advance.

• No shows are charged -- we need to have timely RSVPs into the Sergeant-at-Arms the Friday before the monthly meeting which is the second Wednesday of each month.

• It costs EWI to pay for those that RSVP and don’t show. Once our numbers are confirmed with the hotel or other catering company, any no shows and any late cancellations must be charged in full.

• EWI is required to pay for all of its registered guests, whether or not they attend.

Sergeant At Arms:

RSVP and REGRETS FOR CHAPTER MEETINGS:
In an effort to make the thankless job of Sergeant at Arms a little easier, we thought we would explain in detail the proper RSVP procedure for the chapter meetings. It has become evident that there is a great deal of confusion regarding this matter. We hope this will clear it up for you! If you have any questions, please contact Terri Flores Brown or Deb Haar, your current Sergeant at Arms team. Thank you to all who regularly RSVP on or before the deadline each month! You are so appreciated!

Please remember that the deadline requirement for RSVP/REGRETS is the Friday prior to the monthly chapter meeting. The chapter meeting is held on the second Wednesday of each month. (Except for the month of June. The golf tournament lunch serves as the monthly meeting and is typically the first Friday of June).

Members who do not RSVP by the deadline create a snowball effect for the Sergeant At Arms, the programs team, the caterer, and often the venue. With some programs the meal issue can be problematic if the adjustments are too dramatic. In some cases board members have offered to forfeit their meal if it came to that. We've come close but luckily haven't had to resort to that. Going forward we can not guarantee a meal for those who RSVP after the deadline or for walk-ins with no RSVP.

The sooner we can get your information; even if it's only the RSVP/REGRETS e-mail, it is extremely helpful and appreciated. You can wait to pay at the meeting. So, just because you RSVP doesn't mean you have to make your payment at the same time.

If you are a member paying for a guest, remember to ensure you've paid the $40 fee and not the $35 fee when you receive your confirmation, if it's short please be prepared to pay the difference at the door as we will mention it to you!

If an RSVP is made and not cancelled by the Friday before the meeting the member can be charged for the event.

We will continue to send out the roster for your review and feedback as there are times we have missed the information you submitted online. Thank you for reviewing the roster and responding. This has been very helpful to us!

Please remember to go online to http://www.springsewi.com/ and submit your RSVP or your Regrets. You may pay online if you like (this helps us tremendously too).  Please remember to do so NO LATER than the Friday prior to the meeting.

Ways and Means:

Ways & Means Committee Report

We Made a Hole in One!.....

Scholarship Committee:

The Scholarship Committee met in early August and reviewed 9 applications for the open slot of funding a fall 2010 recipient.  After careful consideration the committee selected Melissa Moffett.  She is currently attending UCCS obtaining a double major in Women’s Ethnic Studies and Psychology.  She is an assistant researcher of the psychology department and a volunteer for Tessa.  She is raising 4 young daughters by herself.  Some of you may have had the opportunity to meet her at our August meeting where she and one of our other recipients, Nicole Wilder were spotlighted.  It is always inspiring to listen to these ladies stories and their determination to make a better life for them and their families.  We should all be proud of what we do in EWI to support these women.
























Please contact Cindy at 719-634-5555 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Cindy Stermitz
Controller, Mountain States Pipe & Supply
111 W Las Vegas
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Phone 719-475-4053
Fax     719-667-1012
Cell     719-352-5994 
 

Nominating Committee:     

FROM:  Pat Cooper, Wallace Vision - Nomination Director

DATE:  July 31, 2010

RE:       Proposed Slate for 2010-2011 EWI Colorado Springs Chapter | Board of Directors

 It is my pleasure to announce the following proposed slate for our 2010-2011 Chapter Board of Directors:

Corporate Board Position                                   Nominee

President 2009-2010                                          Carol Bryant, Stanley Steemer

Vice President                                                    Verna Severson, Woodford Manufacturing

Secretary                                                          Christine Ressler, PPRC

Treasurer                                                           Rita Worster, BKD, LLP

Sergeant-at-Arms                                               Kathy Wallace

Membership Director                                          Susan Davis, Wells Fargo Bank                

Program Director                                               Robin Patterson Everest College

                                                                        CO/Trainer:  Brandy Merriam

Hospitality Director                                             Brandi Walters, Service Engineering

                                                                        Asst: Eileen Wolff

Scholarship Director                                           Cindy Stermitz, Mountain States Pipe and Supply

Ways & Means Director                                       Terri Flores-Brown, The Springs Funeral Services

                                                                        CO/Trainer Mary Good Forsythe, Re/Max Properties Inc.

Publicity Director                                                Brandy Merriam, Presidential Brokerage

Historian Director                                               Marti Hartman, Woodford Manufacturing

Technical Advisor/Communications Director          Lorrie Todd, PageCafe Internet Consulting, Inc.

Nomination Director                                           Audrey Shrive, Aflac Insurance

Advisor                                                             Pat Cooper, Wallace Vision

Membership – August 2010

Our Membership Campaign is underway!  EWI of Colorado Springs is now accepting new member applications for the “15 for 12” membership event. Process:  New member applications can be submitted from now through the end of September to take advantage of this special offer.  Applicants will be reviewed for eligibility and qualified firms will be presented to the Chapter Board of Directors for posting approval.  If no objections are received during the 10 day posting period the applicant will be notified of their approval.  Membership becomes effective October 1st!Benefit: 15 months of membership for the cost of 12!  Please pick up application information for prospective members at the August 11th meeting or email Christine Ressler This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

NEW MEMBER POSTINGS:  The Board of Directors, EWI of Colorado Springs has approved the following prospective new members for the required 10 day posting.  This announcement was originally posted via email on 07/28/10.  Any objections must be received in writing by 08/07/10

Firm:  PGI (Premier Global)
Representative:  Susanne Conly, HR Manager
In Business Since - 1991
Major Category – Meeting & Event Planning
Minor Classification – Consultants/Special Events & Meetings

Firm:  GD Mitchell & Associates
Representative:  Gari Mitchell, President
In Business Since - 2004
Major Category – Insurance
Minor Classification – Property & Casualty (business) 

Respectfully submitted,
Christine Ressler, Membership Director

Membership – September 2010

NEW MEMBER FIRMS:  The following new member firm postings occurred in the month of August with no objections.  These firms will officially be announced as new members at the October meeting.  Welcome!

Firm:  PGI (Premier Global)
Representative:  Susanne Conly, HR Manager
In Business Since - 1991
Major Category – Meeting & Event Planning
Minor Classification – Consultants/Special Events & Meetings

Firm:  GD Mitchell & Associates
Representative:  Gari Mitchell, President
In Business Since - 2004
Major Category – Insurance
Minor Classification – Property & Casualty (business)

Attention Members - Check your Major/Minor Descriptions
We are in the process of aligning our member firms to the Major and Minor descriptions as published in the EWI Corporate Procedure Manual.  Please log on to the Corporate website and check the Major and Minor listing in your profile for accuracy. 

Retain ~ Recruit ~ Grow

News from our Member Firms:

A Note from the U.S. Women's Open 

U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN SPECIAL TICKET OFFER! As many of you know, The Broadmoor has the distinct privilege of hosting the 66th U.S. Women's Open Championship, July 4-10, 2011.  Ticket options and a special, limited-time offer will be released June 9th when tickets go on sale. You must sign up at on the championship Website to receive this unbelievable deal. Available this summer will be tickets for the Trophy Club, Four Packs, and Championship Round daily tickets.  Please visit http://www.2011uswomensopen.com/ for more information

August Meeting summary: 

Executive night was held at The Warehouse on an ideal summer evening.  The evening featured special guests including Executives, Co-workers, spouses and two of our Scholarship Recipients, Nicole Wilder and Melissa Moffett. Melissa is our newest Scholarship winner and she was individually recognized and presented with her first Scholarship check for $1,500 by our Scholarship Chair Cindy Stermitz, Mountain States Pipe & Supply.  Our college women provided an update of their college standing and their personal struggles in pursing their higher education.  We commend these women for their tenacity and strong will. 

In addition, our annual Chapter Business meeting was conducted.  (Minutes are available for review below). The Board slate for 2010-2011 was presented and all individuals recommended for positions were approved unanimously.  We are most thankful to them for their commitment to EWI and welcome the new Directors and Committee chairs to a very stimulating and ambitious Board.   Our delegates for LCAM were also approved and we will be represented by Audrey Shrive, Aflac; Carol Bryant, Stanley Steemer and alternate,  Rita Worster, BKD.  LCAM attendees were also recognized and these fine women will represent us: Susan Davis, Wells Fargo, MaryGood Forsythe, Re/Max Properties Inc., Brandy Merriam, Ameriquest Financial, Robin Patterson, Everest College, Rita Worster, BKD, Pat Cooper, Wallace Vision and alternate Eileen Wolff, Heritage Title.

Membership Director Christine Ressler introduced the newest members of our Chapter.

EWI Online Program

EWI is pleased to announce new online learning options. These classes, offered in distinct suites, are designed for maximum learning, while allowing you to finish a suite at your own pace. These suites are packed full of great knowledge to build your leadership tool kit.

Contact the Corporate Office at 801-355-2800 with any questions.