Call to order

Invocation & Pledge

Introduction of Board.
Woman of the Year &
Lifetime Achiever

Secretary’s Report

Treasurer’s Report

Speaker:  Raven Lamoreux-
Dodd “Listen thru the Challenge.

Old Business:– 2010 Council Woman of the Year
Luncheon – Neapolitan

New Business: 2010 WOY Selection by Delegates.
Upcoming Chapter Events

Benediction

2009 COUNCIL OFFICERS

Chair:   Nikki Chouinard

V. Chair:   Sandy Waite

Communications Officer: 
Shelia Bedwell

Treasurer:   Brenda Wickenden

2009/10 Lifetime Achievment:
Joyce McLeod

2009 Woman of the Year:
Joyce McLeod

2010 COUNCIL OFFICERS

Chair:  Joyce McLeod

V. Chair:  Shelia Bedwell

Communications Officer:
Tammy Pufahl

Financial Officer:
Brenda Wickenden

All new Chapter Delegates and Alternates will take 
effect on January 1st.  Make sure the names and information is turned into the Board.

The only upcoming event that I know about is the Palms of Edisonia will be selling their Valentine Calendars from now until February 1st.  We all carry them with us, so just ask about them from any of our members.

Hello Ladies!

            Another year is coming to a close.   With endings, new beginnings start.  Our new Council officers are:  Chair - Joyce McLeod;  Vice Chair - Shelia Bedwell; Financial Officer - Brenda Wickenden and  Communications Officer - Tammy Pufahl.  We have a wonderful blend from different counties, and I know that our new board members will receive the same support that you have given the outgoing board this past year.
Congratulations to all of you !!!
We will be installing our new Council Officers at our Christmas Party in LaBelle on Saturday, December 12th.
The party will begin at 11:30 AM at the Baptist Church in LaBelle.  Everyone please bring a dish to share, and if you would like to participate in our gift exchange, please bring a wrapped gift that you would like to receive, valued at $10.00 - $15.00. 
Joyce McLeod passed out the Council Woman of the Year forms to the delegates at our last council meeting.  Presidents/Delegates, please be sure that your chapter Woman of the Year has received her form.  Joyce has outlined the guidelines, so ladies, please get the proper information to her in a timely manner so that the new Council WOY can be voted on at our January council meeting which will be held at the Downtown Fort Myers Library on Saturday, January 9, 2010 at 9:30 AM.  This award will be presented at our January WOY Luncheon.
I would like to take this time to thank all of my ABWA sisters who remembered me with cards, emails and phone calls during the past month regarding the passing of my mom.
Also, I thank my fellow board members, Sandy Waite, Shelia Bedwell and Brenda Wickenden for all their support this past year, and of course I could never forget to thank Pat Kluge for getting out the newsletters and keeping me on target this year !!!        
I hold all of you ABWA ladies from each chapter close in my heart and, as always, have enjoyed serving as your Council Chair this past year.

            My love to all,
Nikki

Thanks Nikki for all you have done in serving us this year. 
God Bless!

MERRY CHRISTMAS to ALL

     As we come to a close for 2009 and begin 2010, I want to thank the voting delegates for your confidence in electing me as your 2010 Council Chair.  I also want to thank the rest of the 2010 Council officers for accepting the position that they were elected to fill.  And, to Nikki, a huge “thank you” for a job well done as the outgoing Council Chair, and to Sandy Waite as the outgoing Vice Chair.  You both have done an outstanding job this past year.  The other two; thanks for staying on the Board.

     We will end our year with the Council Christmas party in LaBelle, and begin the new year with our first meeting Saturday, January 9th at 9:30 AM at the Fort Myers Public Library, downtown branch.  At this meeting we will vote on the 2010 Woman of the Year, which will be announced at the WOY luncheon on January 23rd at the Colonial Country Club.  Each chapter WOY should have received their application form by now and be working on it, as it has to be in by December 12th; either by mail, email, or by bringing to the Council Christmas party.  Also, new WOY standing rules apply in that each Chapter Woman of the Year will need to give a 2-3 minute speech about themselves.  Neapolitan is hosting the 2010 WOY luncheon. Each President should have the form necessary to give a total count on attendance and please, one check from each chapter for the total attendees.  Vicki Marlett, 2008-2009 National President will be the speaker for the event.  Let’s all come out and show our support of our Council and the Association.

    I hope to see a lot of you at the Christmas party on December 12th and at the meeting on January 9th.  Have a safe and happy holiday.

        Joyce McLeod
Council Chair

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COUNCIL ABWA
REGULAR MEETING   OCTOBER 24, 2009

The meeting was called to order at 9:30 am by Chair Nicole Chouinard. She introduced the Executive Board and the current Council Woman of the Year and newly honored Lifetime Achievement recipient Joyce McLeod.

Jean Flewelling introduced speaker Barbara Hartman, Communications Representative of the Career and Service Center of Southwest Florida. Barbara presented a very informative program on the options available to the unemployed and the underemployed through her office. The programs are free and available in a number of locations other than their office on Ford Street Extension in Fort Myers. She answered a number of questions and was presented with a gift for her participation.

The secretary’s report as printed in the newsletter was approved after a motion from Tammy Pufahl, seconded by Roberta Reynolds. The treasurer’s report was presented by Brenda Wickenden. Mary Jane Handlin made a motion to accept the treasurer’s report, seconded by Maralyn Waline – motion carried; the report will be filed for audit.

Jean Flewelling spoke about the 2010 Woman of the Year Luncheon, scheduled for Saturday, January 23rd from 11 am to 2 pm at Colonial Country Club. The speaker will be immediate past National President Vicki Marlett. Lunch will consist of the Colonial Buffet (three entrées) and salad, with a dessert table. Reservations are due by January 15th – cost is $35.

Jean, as Chair of the Standing Rules committee, stated that electronic copies would be forwarded by the end of the month for each chapter.

Toby Buerger, co-chair of the 2010 Spring Conference to be held in Naples, announced that the date will be May 21-22. They are seeking volunteers and volunteers will get a discount on their registration.

The new website is up and running (www.abwa-swfl.com). If there are any changes needed, please email Brenda Wickenden or Joyce McLeod.

The Caloosahatchee Charter Chapter volunteered to host the 2010 Professional Development Day. Details will be forthcoming.

The next meeting will be held Saturday, January 9, 2010 at the downtown Fort Myers library at 9:30 am.

The nominating committee submitted their slate of officers for the 2010 council year. They are:
Nicole Chouinard, Chair; Shelia Bedwell, Vice Chair; Tammy Pufahl, Communications Officer; and Brenda Wickenden, Financial Officer. Joyce McLeod was nominated from the floor for Chair and Christine Wright was nominated for Vice Chair. Both accepted the nomination. After a secret ballot vote, the 2010 officers elected were Joyce McLeod, Chair; Shelia Bedwell, Vice Chair; Tammy Pufahl, Communications Officer and Brenda Wickenden, Financial Officer. These officers will be installed at the Christmas party in LaBelle.

Chapter Events:
Cape Coral Caloosa – Holiday Ball, scheduled for November 20th at 6 pm, dinner at 7 pm at Palmetto Pines Country Club; formal attire; auction; cost is $35.00.

Neapolitan -- Holiday Auction, November 17th at the Naples Hilton. Cost is $40 or a table of 10 for $400; silent/raffle auction, band, free drink with ticket. Attendees are encouraged to decorate their table.

Lehigh Acres – Fashion Show November 21st at 11:30 am at Plantation Country Club. Cost is $25. Holiday Raffle is $5.

Palms of Edisonia – Entertainment Books are for sale at $30 each; Valentine calendars are $5 and will be drawn during the month of February.

Caloosahatchee Charter – Fall Fundraiser on November 7th from 9 am to 3 pm in the U-Save parking lot, including a 50/50 drawing.

With no other business to come before the council, the meeting was adjourned at 11:45 am.

Respectfully submitted,  Shelia A. Bedwell, Communications Officer

ABWA SWFL Council Meeting – January 9, 2010

Program
Raven Lamoreux-Dodd is our featured speaker for the January meeting. Raven is a certified graduate of the Coaches Training Institute and the Director of Coach Force.  A licensed health-care professional for over 25 years, she has made a life-long study of the philosophies and healing techniques of many cultures.  Raven has coached and lived in several countries; this exposure, combined with her studies, has given her a keen perception of what is needed to improve the quality of people's lives.

Raven's topic for our meeting is Listen Through the Challenge.  We often turn a deaf ear in troubling times to what is going on and what needs to be done.  Yet this is a time that requires special listening skills.  In her presentation, Raven offers techniques on how to listen for the finely tuned answers that can help you move through your challenges.

2010  BUDGET

Please be aware that a new budget will be presented and voted on at the January meeting.  Come prepared to review and express ideas, concerns, etc. and then to make a qualified decision as to how you wish our monies to be spent.

A NEW YEAR IN PROGRESS!

Remember, with a new Board, and new delegates, new committees and projects will also be presented and most likely voted on.  Your Chapter’s thoughts and wishes should be presented at this time.  See you all there as we begin 2010.

2010 ABWA District I Conference in Naples, Florida
May 21 – 22, 2010

                           More details will be available soon at:

                                http://www.abwaneapolitan.org
and
http://www.abwa.org

                                       Conference Co-Chairs
Toby Buerger:  tbuerger@tibbank.com
Sandy Waite:  swaite@platinumdrycleaners.com

Sponsored by: Neapolitan Chapter