President’s Message March 2022
Hello! I hope everyone is healthy and staying warm during these cold spells.
As you read on you will notice we have planned a second dinner meeting at Kelseys for Wednesday March 9th. Hopefully things will remain as they are and that we are able to fill the room to capacity (under the new rules) with up to 30 attendees. Last month we had 13 attendees, and I’m hoping we can add a few more wonderful ladies to our evening.
We have a great speaker arranged for this night, as announced in this bulletin. This experience will definitely make you look forward to spring. Thank you Leah Cavanaugh for arranging.
Please keep checking our Facebook page on updates and paid members be sure to post your business news.
A little background on the OBWA for our newest members. Founded in 1987 (in our 35th year) , The Orillia Business Women’s Association is a non-profit, non-fundraising group that gathers in a safe and welcoming space for the purpose of networking, to build relationships, to showcase businesses, to learn from others & the guest speaker, to establish support and to have fun. ALL women are welcome whether in business or not.
In spite of the challenges we have been up against in the last two years I feel as an association, we have done a wonderful job at keeping consistent in our long held traditions regarding meetings. Whether by Zoom or in person, our agenda of being welcoming, having a special guest, giving opportunity for members and guests to introduce themselves and their businesses if applicable, drawing a Business of the Month, and supporting our Orillia and area community by monthly sharing of local Community Events has stayed steadfast. All while socializing, and making new friends and contacts.
Best of all, everyone who has attended these monthly meetings has been so upbeat and a true pleasure to once again be interacting with.
Thank you to Andrea Sullivan, Leah Cavanaugh, Shelle Hossack and Susan Zaroski for their perseverance in helping to keep our organization up and running during these difficult and challenging times, and as always, thank you to Charlene Mackenzie for creating our Zoom Membership Meetings when needed. Hopefully we will now be able to let you off the hook.
Looking forward to seeing your beautiful faces on March 9th.
Much love and respect to all. Stay well and safe.
With Warmest of Regards,
Sharon L. Van Noort, OBWA President
March Dinner Meeting will be held at Kelseys Restaurant, 405 Memorial Ave. Orillia, L3V 0T7
The restaurant will be following Covid Protocal that is currently in place at that time
Please note: You must e-mail OBWA at: networking@orilliabusinesswomen.com by Friday March 4th to reserve your dinner reservation
You will order and pay for your meal plus your tip at the restaurant
As always we welcome all women to the OBWA and we are encouraging our members to bring a guest or two to our March meeting!
5:30 – Networking
5:50 – President’s Welcome
6:00 p.m. – Members will order their dinners
6:15 p.m. – 30 Second intro & our business updates
(please respect each other by keeping to the time limit)
6:20 p.m. – Business of the Month Sandi Raven from Remarkable Engraving
6:35 – Guest Speaker -
Jacob, “The People’s Gardener”
(Now Magazine Toronto) is a local farmer-educator in Orillia, Ontario. A graduate of the University of Toronto, Jacob is currently completing his Masters of Education through Lakehead, researching the topic of garden-based learning and how to better support educators to sustain and scale gardening programs. A full-time farmer at Bass Lake Farms, and community-based educator, Jacob is passionate about democracy and human rights, regenerative food systems, growing community and sharing seeds.
6:55 p.m. – Community Announcements
7:00 p.m. – Closing words from our President
The OBWA is now changing when our annual membership fee of $100 will be due. All members will have a renewal date of Sept. 1st. each year for their annual membership. The majority of our members have not paid their dues during the pandemic. Those members will need to renew their memberships starting January 1, 2022 for a pro-rated amount of $60. That will put the member in good standing from Jan.1, 2022 until June 30, 2022. Then on Sept. 1, 2022 everyone will pay their membership dues which will cover their membership for Sept.1, 2022 until June 30, 2023. Members have the privilege of posting on social media & have their information about their business and themselves on our website as well as posting on FB.. Non-members can attend meetings though without the other privileges. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact one of our executive members.
We currently have the following position open on our Executive:
OBWA is in need of a Membership Co-ordinator for our group.
Membership Co-ordinator: Keeps our membership lists up to date & notifying members
when their membership has lapsed
Please consider putting your name forward to be part of the amazing OBWA executive.
Our 2021 Gala Sponsors
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