Here’s to Girlfriends

Tra la! It’s May!
The lusty month of May!
That lovely month when ev’ryone goes
Blissfully astray.
From the musical Camelot by Lerner & Loewe

The Merry Month of May

The month of May was probably named for Maia, the oldest, most beautiful, and shyest daughter of Atlas and Pleione. The color, according to www.colorstrology.com, is bud green, the shade of new growth and rejuvenation. So it’s very appropriate that the gemstone is an emerald and the flower is Lily of the Valley. May 11 is Mother’s Day. I’m still lobbying for Mother’s Week, but I haven’t made any headway yet. I did manage to convince my family to celebrate Mother’s Weekend, spoiling me from Friday evening through Sunday. This year my present is a trip to D.C. to visit our younger son. I have never visited our nation’s capitol in the spring so I’m very excited and looking forward to seeing beautiful gardens, etc.; and the son that I thought needed killing more than a few times while he was growing up. I’m glad I refrained. He is a fine young man and the light of my life. I am so fortunate to have two wonderful sons and I am almost over the fact that they didn’t give me any grandchildren — almost. (Cats don’t count.)

Here’s a bit of useless trivia. The international cry for help is not May Day! It’s m’aidez which is French for “help me!”

Back so soon?

Yes, I know it’s only been a couple of weeks since you received the April edition of Here’s to Girlfriends. It was deplorably late getting out because I was felled with some nasty respiratory thing that literally sent me to my bed. Then I shared it with my partner/webmaster/husband and he was down for another week. What’s a girl to do?

Think PINK!

The most empowering event you can possibly be a part of is the Komen Race for the Cure. Scheduled for Saturday, May 3, this event brings together literally thousands of women running and walking to raise both money and awareness in the fight against breast cancer. You can still participate; on May 1 & 2 walk–in registrations will be accepted at Cashman Field. Visit the website, www.komensouthernnevada.org for details and save time by downloading the registration form. This year there is a new race route that looks like it might be a little more pleasant, taking participants along the tree–lined streets of “old” Las Vegas. Take time to high five all the women you see in the pink Survivor shirts. You can also “Sleep in for the Cure” but what fun is that?

SBA Awards Luncheon

Last month I announced that I am receiving the regional SBA Women in Business Champion of the year. Two dear friends, Super Mom Gina Robison–Billups and Fabulous Femail Lisa Hammond, started the ball rolling and have managed to fill two tables with Girlfriends and are working on a third. The awards luncheon is Wednesday, May 7 at the Renaissance. If you would like to attend and be part of my cheering section, contact Gina at gina@mibn.org. (While you’re at it, you can also RSVP for the Create Your Dreams Gala.) The SBA event is sponsored by In Business Las Vegas. Details are available on their website.

A Word from The Sensible Shopper™

I’m picking up a few loose ends at The Sensible Shopper. I never did report on the results of my “perfect purse” hunt. Also, I’m working on an article for a new travel blog called 52 Perfect Days. I think I surprised the editor by proposing that I write about a perfect day of shopping in Las Vegas. Got any favorites you’d like me to mention?

Best Friend by Laurie Kalnin

Carolyn, you asked me why I agreed to be President of the National Association of Professional Mortgage Women (NAPMW), Las Vegas chapter, and I told you I couldn’t say “No”. Here’s the whole story:

12 Years ago when I was starting out in SBA lending I met a wonderful couple who owned their own mortgage company, Bill and Rennie Kesterson. They were the most honest, loyal and conscientious brokers I had ever met and I worked with them on a number of deals. Rennie convinced me to become a member of NAPMW. Even though I never did a residential loan in my life, I found a wonderful group of dedicated professionals in the mortgage industry who welcomed me with open arms. Rennie was on the Board of Directors and she convinced me to run for office as well. I did and was on the board for a year and a half before I left the commercial lending business to open my restaurant.

When I reentered the commercial lending industry in 2005 the first thing I did was attend an NAPMW meeting. I was once again welcomed with open arms as though I had never missed a meeting. Rennie was retired from mortgage lending at this point, due to health issues, but most of the people I had known before were still active members. I said I wanted to help and they asked me to run for a board position so I became chapter secretary five months later.

In April 2006, Rennie was suddenly taken ill with pneumonia and died two weeks later. It was a terrible shock and I was devastated. Rennie had become one of my best friends over the years; we spent holidays together and met for breakfast as often as possible. She had been there for me when my mom died in 2004. My daughter, Alexis was like a granddaughter to both Rennie and Bill; she adored them and they spoiled her rotten with love and attention.

NAPMW was an organization that Rennie was passionate about. She believed in the mission and most of her closest friendships had come from the relationships she built through NAPMW. She had hooked me on the organization as well. Where else could I have fit in so quickly and completely even though I was only connected to the industry as sort of a kissing cousin. They get very few deals from me and I rarely get a referral from them. The meetings are educational and while I have learned enough that I could become a mortgage lender, I have not gained anything really helpful to my specific end of the business.

So, why am I going to be President of NAPMW, Las Vegas for the next two years? I’m not sure. Is it because I believe in the organization? Yes. Is it because I have made great friends within the organization and want to support them as they have always supported me? Yes. Is it because that even in times when we (mortgage professionals) are being portrayed as somehow responsible for the collapse of the American economy, I believe that the core professionals are dedicated, honest people who want to help people realize their dreams of owning a home? Yes. Or is it really because I feel Rennie looking over my shoulder at every meeting, being my NAPMW angel? Definitely, yes!

Laurie Kalnin is my definition of a “Renaissance woman”. She has many, many talents including writing, photography, gourmet cooking, finance, and tremendous organizational skills. She is unflappable in a crisis. Most especially, she has a wonderful sense of humor. Together we have started hosting “Girls Night Out” parties where she showcases her Tastefully Simply products and I show off gifts from Barefoot Parties. They are lots of fun – mostly because of her warm hospitality.

Do you have a “best friend” you’d like to share with the rest of us? Please send her story to letstalk@herestogirlfriends.com. (Be sure you get her permission first!)

Girlfriends Get Together

This month Moms in Business Network (MIBN) and Here’s to Girlfriends host Get Togethers on Thursday, May 8 at Dan Marino’s in Hooters 11:30 AM – 1 PM and Thursday, May 15 at Bahama Breeze for Happy Hour, 5 – 7 PM. RSVP at www.mibn.org or letstalk@herestogirlfriends.com or just show up!

Where the Girls Are

  • Friday, May 2, Sarah Lee Marks, aka The Car Lady, hosts a Book Launch party at First Friday in the Contemporary Arts Collective, 101 E. Charleston. Music, art, food, wine, and a great time from 5:30–8 pm. The book: Artist’s Proof, is a madcap murder mystery, with some local color and international intrigue. You don’t need a reservation – just show up!
  • Thursday, May 8: National Association of Professional Mortgage Women Dinner Meeting and installation of new officers at Big Dog’s; www.napmwlv.com.
  • Thursday, May 8, Roxanne Magazine presents RoxMyWorld launch party, 8 – 10 PM at the Palms Ghostbar. Visit http://www.roxannemagazine.com/.
  • Saturday, May 10, Moms in Business Network presents their fourth annual Create Your Dreams Awards Gala honoring national and local working moms for their incredible contributions; at Loews Resort Hotel, Lake Las Vegas. The 2008 National Working Mother Advocate is Nell Merlino, creator of the enormously successful Take Our Daughters to Work Day, as well as Count Me In for Economic Independence and Make Mine a Million $ Business. To learn about the event and all the amazing women it will honor, visit www.mibn.org.
  • Monday, May 12, Direct Selling Women’s Alliance meets at The Antique Mall 6:30 – 8 PM. For information about DSWA, visit www.mydswa.org. For meeting reservations, contact Lanetta Seppala, lanetta@savesyoutime.com.
  • Tuesday, May 13 the Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Nevada honors Pioneer Award recipient, Barbara Wood and Hall of Fame inductees at the 3rd Annual Women’s Hall of Fame awards luncheon from 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM at The Stirling Club. Call the Chamber for reservations, 733–3955.
  • Friday, May 16, S.W.A.N. (Successful Women Actively Networking) will host a Girls Night Out Mixer, 7:00 p.m. at Claim Jumper’s Restaurant, 8040 South Las Vegas Blvd, $10 at the door. www.swannv.com
  • Saturday, May 17, League of Women Voters meets at 9:30 AM at the Main Street Station Social Club. Discussion topic will be Juvenile Justice. www.lwvlasvegasvalley.org
  • Saturday, May 17, S.W.A.N. (Successful Women Actively Networking) will hold their Annual Business Retreat – "Empowered to Excel" – 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the Santa Fe Hotel & Casino Conference Center. www.swannv.com or info@swannv.com
  • Sunday, May 18, Social Diva Productions and Step–Sisters present Manolos & Martinis, bringing together two major elements of the quintessential tribute to Girlfriends, Sex and the City. The film premiers on May 30. The party is just to get you warmed up! For details, visit http://www.satclv.com/.
  • Tuesday, May 27, NAWBO Southern Nevada luncheon at the Las Vegas Country Club with Darren LeCroix, World Champion Public Speaker. Visit www.nawbosnv.org for details.
  • Thursday, June 26, The Blue Thong Society will host a Meet & Martinis at the Suncoast beginning at 6 PM. Learn more about BTS and how you can get involved,
    www.bluethongsociety.com.
  • Women’s Democratic Club of Clark County meets for lunch the second Thursday of every month at the Main Street Station Social Club. For information or reservations call 615–4522 or email womensdemoclarkcounty@gmail.com
  • Women and Network chapters meet for lunch at several locations around the Valley the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of every month. Visit www.womenandnetwork.com for one near you.
  • Hot Pink Mamas has so much stuff going on I can’t begin to list it all here. Visit www.networkwithwomen.com for their calendar of events.

Send announcements about events for women to letstalk@herestogirlfriends.com, as straight email text or MS Word attachments. Please, no PDFs, photos or graphics. They won’t be published and it slows me down!

Cheers!
Carolyn
herestogirlfriends.com


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