Trying To Put It All Together? - Main Line Today

Special Promotional Section
Trying To Put It All Together?

Special Promotional Section
SPW Already Has!
A forum for businesswomen of all ages...
We are amazed at
how many people
have responded
to the Main
Line Chamber’s
newest program,
the Main Line
Society of
Professional Women (SPW)! Our first two events sold out,
with over 100 attendees, and we couldn’t have imagined the
buzz generated in such a short amount of time. Since the
launch of the program in May 2009, the SPW e-mail
distribution list we use to spread the word about our events
has grown from 450 names to over 1,500.
Prior to my position as COO at the Chamber, I worked
for large corporations, owned a small business, and was
chairman of the Chamber Board of Directors from 2006 to
2008. I believe my experiences have helped me understand
the needs of all types of professional women. I also spoke
to many businesswomen, and the common thread was that
they were tired of having to go into Philadelphia to attend
leadership, mentoring, philanthropy, community outreach
and networking programs. The Main Line Society of
Professional Women was launched to bring it all together in
our own back yard.
The Society of Professional Women provides a forum for
women of all ages, business levels and backgrounds to
benefit from relationships, programs and experiences. Our
programs and events are open to both Chamber members
and nonmembers. Some events are geared only to women,
but others are beneficial for men as well.
In September at our inaugural Gold Leaf Celebration
and Chamber signature event, we will recognize Andrea
Gilbert, president of Bryn Mawr Hospital, for her
exceptional leadership skills. The Main Line Chamber of
Commerce and the Devereux Foundation are honored to
present Andi with the Helena Devereux Women in
Leadership Award! The Gold Leaf Celebration Luncheon
will be held Sept. 15 at the Desmond Hotel.
Lastly, we are excited to feature a Chamber-member
nonprofit organization at each event in order to assist it in
spreading its mission and benevolence by collecting goods
from our attendees.
SPW’s events allow you to build value for yourself and
your business. Attending an SPW event is guaranteed to
grow both your personal and professional networks.
Please contact me if you have questions or ideas, or just
want to talk about the Society of Professional Women.
Thank you,
Eileen Connolly-Robbins
ECRobbins@mlcc.org
Executive Vice President & COO
The Main Line Chamber
of Commerce
154 www.mainlinetoday.com september 2009

THE PIECE
That’s Bringing It All Together
In today’s professional world, there are
a variety of different women’s organizations
pertaining to philanthropy, leadership,
education, mentoring, volunteering
and networking, but there was no single
venue that connected them all. When
Eileen Connolly-Robbins envisioned
the Society of Professional Women
(SPW), she believed it would be the
missing piece for many professional
women in the Main Line region that
would bring all of these things together
Special Promotional Section
and allow for women to connect
and have fun at the same time.
Several months before officially
launching SPW, Eileen conducted
various surveys on event timing,
locations and topics, as well as one-onone
interviews with influential business
women to be sure that this program
would be beneficial to all. “Eileen is
a visionary. She saw a need for an
organization that encompassed women
of all levels,” says Terry D’Alessandro,
member of the Main Line Chamber of
Commerce Board and SPW Advisory
Council. “Watching her dream finally
come to fruition and have such quick
success is like the icing on the cake. She
made it happen and now everybody
is talking about SPW!”
SPW provides a forum for
professional women, from diverse
backgrounds, to build strategic
alliances and relationships that will
inspire them to achieve their goals and
impact their communities. Within the
next three years, Eileen predicts that
SPW will be the Main Line’s premier
professional women’s organization,
stimulating change and elevating the
influence of today’s women leaders and
their make-a-difference roles in the
community while making a positive
contribution to the next generation.
It doesn’t matter what their
positions are, because all women have
something to learn from other women.
Every woman deserves to have access
to empowering resources that will
help build connections and further her
career personally and professionally.
There is a vast opportunity for growth,
and with the collaboration of The Main
Line Chamber of Commerce and
fellow SPW members, there is no
telling what the results will be. Some
of the events are open to men and
women, but as long as you’re on the
e-mail list, you’ll receive all event
information. And while there is no
annual SPW membership fee, each
event has a nominal admission charge.
Chamber members receive a discount.
An important facet of SPW is
the opportunity to give back to the
community. “Each event will feature a
different MLCC nonprofit organization
dealing with many community issues.
We will collect donation items that
relate to the needs of each organization,”
says Eileen. “Giving back is making
an investment in our community.”
SPW’s inaugural event was held
May 7 at 3000 B.C. Spa in Wayne.
Presenter Joslyn Ewart (Med, CFP,
CDFA), president of Entrust Financial,
LLC, spoke to the sold-out crowd of
women about “Reducing Your Stress
Physically & Financially.” Over 100
women came to network and enjoyed
a relaxing and fun night at the spa.
The subsequent SPW success was
a networking luncheon on July 22.
The event, titled “Women Hold the
Keys to Leadership … You Know More
Than Today You Think You Media, Know,” was held
inc.
at Glenhardie Country Club in Wayne.
Jeanne Taylor-McClellan from J. Taylor
Consulting shared, with another
Date Who
sold-out crowd, how to unlock their
1st Proof 8/1/08 Julie
leadership potential. All attendees
also Revision received #1 a free 8/5/08 round of Client golf,
compliments Revision #2 of the club. The featured
nonprofit Revision #3 was Wings for Success, which
provides economically disadvantaged
women Client revisions with work-appropriate
will be billed
$25 per revision after the first
clothing
(no charge)
to make
revision.
a good first
impression during the interview
process. Attendees brought accessory
items like shoes and jewelry.
On Wednesday, Oct. 21, the
next SPW event, titled “The Third
Way of Leadership: Why Men and
Experience the historic charm and
timeless elegance of the former country
manor estate of William N. Wilbur
of the renowned Wilbur Chocolates
confectionery empire.
• Formal gardens and breathtaking views
• Large rooms with multiple entryways
providing easy flow throughout the interior
• Accommodates up to 240
• Fully air-conditioned
• Extensive list of preferred caterers
• Located on the Main Line within minutes
of Philadelphia and all major routes
• Ample parking
• Hotel accommodations available nearby
• 1997 Vassar Show House
Special Promotional Section
Women Need to Join Forces,” will
take place 5:30-7:30 p.m. at The Radnor
Hotel in St. Davids. This program will
finally put to rest the battle of the sexes.
Don’t worry, men—this event is for
everyone. Molly Shepard (MS, MSM),
president and CEO of The Leader’s
Edge and author of Breaking Into the
Boys’ Club, with co-author Peter Dean
(MS, Ph.D.), president of Leaders
By Design, will share proven ways to
improve communications and collaboration
across genders in the workplace.
Issue Date: September 2008
Client / fax / e-mail: Hilltop House /
The featured nonprofit will be Presbyterian
Children’s Village, which helps
meet the needs of children and families
broken by violence, addiction, poverty,
mental illness and racism in the Greater
Philadelphia region. All attendees are
asked to bring a gently used book for
Authorized Approval Signature
a child (6 months to 10 years old).
With a membership that has multiplied
threefold in just a few short
months and continues to grow daily,
the Society of Professional Women
events are certainly Version becoming #3 “mustattends”
on everyone’s calendar. SPW
is dedicated and focused on bettering
women and the community in which
they live or work. For more information
or to join the SPW e-mail list, visit
the MLCC’s website at www.mlcc.org.
Why MEN and WOMEN
Please return within Need to 24 Join hours Forces
A Program Designed for Men & Women!
Account Executive: Nan Mangine
Molly Shepard, MS, MSM
& Peter Dean, MS, Ph.D.
Proof, sign and fax back to (302) 656-8420. Ad may appear smaller than actual size and is
will share proven ways to
not indicative of color. Design is property of TODAY MEDIA, INC. and is not to be duplicated or reproduced.
Liability: All advertisements and supporting image files are accepted and improve published communication
by the Publisher upon
representation that the agency and advertiser are authorized to publish the & entire collaboration contents and across subject matter
thereof. The agency and advertiser assume liability for any and all claims arising genders. therefrom against the Publisher.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
______________________________________________________________________________________
5:30 to 7:30 pm
The Radnor Hotel, St. David’s
Cost: $25 (includes light fare & dessert)
Featured Non-Profit:
Presbyterian Children’s Village
Please bring a gently used book for a child
(6 months - 10 years) Go to www.mlcc.org to Register
Presently
accepting
reservations
for your wedding reception/
ceremony, special event
or corporate function.
Visit us at
www.hilltopdevon.com
or call: 610.341.3928
570 Beaumont Road
Devon, Pennsylvania
156 www.mainlinetoday.com september 2009
september 2009 www.mainlinetoday.com 157