• National Preparedness Month
• National Cholesterol Education Month
• Baby Safety Month
• Be Kind To Editors and Writers Month
• National Skin Care Awareness Month
• National Campus Safety Month
• Healthy Aging Month
• National Food Safety Education Month
• Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month
• College Savings Month
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Month
• Vegan Month
• 5-A-Day Month
• National Infant Mortality Awareness Month
• Sports and Home Eye Safety Month
• Craniofacial Acceptance Month
• National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month
• National Sickle Cell Month
• Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
• Leukemia, Lymphoma, Myeloma Awareness Month

A quick Google search on any of these will get you started!

Carolyn

Chief Enterprising Mom
@EnterprisingMom | @ApplyWithin

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• Who do you need to meet?
• What do you need to help your business grow?
• How can The Enterprising Moms help your business reach it’s goals?

Join us for a networking event with a focus on forming meaningful connections and lasting relationships that will have a positive impact on your business life, your personal life, and your bottom line!

The Enterprising Moms is teaming up with the new co-work working space, ‘Connect113‘ in Alexandria, VA to bring you an event you won’t want to miss. In addition to exploring first-hand the fabulous facilities and learning about the services offered at Connect113, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with Connect113 members, along with members of the TEM community (including a couple of members who are already working out of Connect113).

Leading up to this event, we’ll share tips, tools and resources for managing the shift from networking to relationship building on the discussion list and blog.  And, as a registered attendee, you’ll have the opportunity to let us know who it is you want or need to connect with, and we’ll do our best to help facilitate those connections.

Register today and take advantage of two opportunities to save (including a bring-a-friend discount)!

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If you’re in northern Virginia and beyond, you’ve likely heard of parenting expert, Dr. Rene Hackney, and may have even seen her speak and/or you or your children may have participated in one of her play groups, workshops or classes. This event is specifically designed for working moms to address challenges that come with working in or outside the home while raising a family.

A leading parenting and child development specialist and the founder and creator of Parenting Playgroups – Where Parents Learn and Children Play and AskDr.Rene, Dr. Rene will present strategies for effective and empowered parenting and she’ll address your challenges during a question and answer session.

Learn how using positive discipline strategies can empower you as a parent and build a stronger family, ultimately having a positive impact on your work life as well!

Learn more about Dr. Rene, get details about the event and register today at http://events.theenterprisingmoms.com

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The Enterprising Moms

Administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals (AMCP), Hermes Creative Awards received over 3,600 entries this year.  Gold level awards are given for work that exceeds a high standard of excellence and serves as a benchmark for the industry.

The Leadership Fairfax Gala and Auction event marketing materials include a save the date postcard, website graphics, sponsorship package, invitation, program, and event signage.  Leadership Fairfax is a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding, training and growing leaders in Northern Virginia.  The Gala and Auction is not only their biggest event of the year, but also their largest fundraiser.

J.A. Creative provides marketing and creative services to businesses and non profits.  Last year they were selected to receive a Platinum Award and two Honorable Mentions.  J.A. Creative is a woman owned small business, whose services include marketing strategy development and implementation, a full range of creative services, and website design.

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For many Enterprising Moms, and moms in general, it’s a constant struggle … finding enough time to meet the numerous demands of daily life, never mind the quest for a little professional fulfillment and personal joy along the way. Is there time for it all?

According to one study, there’s plenty! John Robinson, a time researcher who’s often referred to as the father of time, says that working moms have 30 hours of leisure time per week. So, where’s the disconnect?

Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and mother of two, Brigid Schulte, like many of us didn’t believe it. So, she did a study of her own time and shared her findings in the February 17th Sunday Washington Post Magazine article, “The Test of Time: A busy working mother tries to figure out where all her time is going.” The controversial article kicked up storm of discussion on the subject of moms and leisure time, how we define it, and how we spend it.

At this June 8th event, Brigid will share her experience in researching and reporting the piece and the conversations that ensued as the topic exploded in print, on the web and even lead to an appearance by Brigid on the Dr. Phil Show!

Opening with a talk by Brigid about her experience, the event will feature an interactive discussion and exploration of time, work, leisure and how we define and experience them all.

Do you have 30 hours of leisure time per week? Tell us about it below and join us on Tuesday, June 8th

About Brigid

Brigid Schulte is a reporter on the Washington Post’s Local Enterprise Team, a group of narrative writers that look for compelling and insightful stories that help explain how we live now. She came to the Post in 1999 to cover education, winning a top National Education Writers’ Association award for a series exploring the achievement gap. She has since written human interest, narrative and feature stories on everything from dying bats and the way the healthcare debate feels on the street to a lost jar of marbles and the plight of struggling Iraqi refugees in America for virtually all sections of the newspaper and Washington Post magazine.

She has won a number of journalism and writing awards, including the National Association of Black Journalist’s award for sports writing for a four-part series on a high school basketball team comprised almost entirely of immigrants or the sons of immigrants. She was also part of the team that won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for covering the Virginia Tech massacre.

Schulte wrote about national politics and national affairs for Knight-Ridder Newspapers’ Washington Bureau before joining the Post. She also wrote about southern politics as the Washington correspondent for the State Newspaper in South Carolina and covered the environment and the Pacific Northwest for the Seattle Times and other western papers in the Washington Bureau of States News Service. She has worked at newspapers in South Carolina and Wyoming, written for national magazines like The Washington Monthly and trade publications like The Harvard Education Review and taught English in Japan for two   years. An Oregon native, she graduated with a degree in English from the University of Portland and later obtained a master’s degree from the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism in New York.

Door Prize

Special thanks to Jenna Caudillo of JA Creative, provider award winning marketing and creative services to businesses and nonprofit organizations, for the following door prize:

We Grew It–Let’s Eat It!
DC twins Annie and Veda learn about the White House veggie garden and want to grow fruits and vegetables, too. But how, if you live in an apartment? Watch the twins and senior gardener Ida work and play their way through planting, tending, and harvesting in a neighborhood Community Garden. Then comes the fun of preparing and eating simple, tasty, homegrown food!

A picture book for young readers (ages 3-8 — Pre-K- Grade 4)
By Annie and Veda as told to Justine Kenin
Full-color photos by Becky Lettenberger
Designed by J.A. Creative
56 pages, soft cover 8.5” x 11”, with recipes and books for further reading

This is the third book they have collaborated on with Tenley Circle Press.

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Who has time or money for CSR? And what is it anyways? The following are four common myths about CSR – debunked!

Myth #1:
CSR stands for Customer Service Representative

It may, but it also stands for Corporate Social Responsibility — which was defined in the part one of this series. Simply put, it’s integrating your values into business practices.

Myth #2:
CSR takes too much time; I can’t squeeze in one more thing!

We’re all time-starved, but we’re Enterprising Moms and I KNOW if there’s one thing we universally love, it’s EFFICIENCY.  Crafting a common-sense approach to sustainability and strategic community partnerships can accomplish many things at once:

• conservation
• marketing
• business development
• brand building & retention
• competitive advantage over other businesses.

Myth #3:
We’re in a recession; people don’t really care if I’m integrating CSR into my business practices.

Oh, really?  According to a Working Mother article, “2010 Best Green Companies for America’s Children,” Clorox scarfed up Burt’s Bees & created a new Greenworks green cleaning products line — the result: a 23% increase in sales, in a recession.

A recent Forbes article, “Mandatory Social Responsibility” discusses how social responsibility has become almost mandatory for companies, and that some companies such as Patagonia and The Body Shop actually have an appeal based on their “ethical” appeal to consumers.

Think it’s only for the big guys?

What about some local entrepreneurs: Seth Goldman & Honest Tea, and a couple of folks new on the scene with sustainable products: Lunch Skins, and Cattiwampus (proof that you can make money while investing in sustainability).

Myth #4:
I have to make money, right, before I can give it away?

True, part of businesses contribution to society is to make money, which gives them the resources to then give it away.

This myth perpetuates the belief that the only component of CSR is writing a check.  Utilizing CSR can actually make or save you money by:

• forming connections through reduced fee or pro-bono work
• reducing shipping costs by reusing materials
• decreasing business development expenses by marketing through the organizations with whom you partner.

You don’t have to expend financial resources to have some component of CSR, and by integrating it wisely into your business; you can actually help to make or save money!

So, now that you know why CSR is good for business, what should you do about it?

Register today for “Doing Well While Doing Good: Demystifying Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)” on Tuesday, May 11, where you’ll leave with concrete guidance on how to do well in your business while doing good in our community.

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While there is no one definition for CSR, here’s a good working definition:

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is operating a business in a manner that balances the social and environmental impact created by the business with the expectations of its “stakeholders.”

CSR is a big “umbrella” definition for many business practices.  It covers the gamut — from fair treatment of employees, to monitoring and maintaining safety standards of products, to minimizing natural resource consumption to volunteering and community partnerships.

At The Enterprising Moms’ upcoming event, “Doing Well While Doing Good: Demystifying CSR,” we’ll narrow the focus on two areas of CSR vitally important to a small business owner: Community Partnerships and Sustainability.

Community partnerships are an effective way to engage with non-profits and governments to accentuate and strengthen shared values.  A non-profit gets the benefit of donated time, services, and/or financial resources; and as growing business you form relationships and business contacts to build, strenghten and maintain your brand.

Sustainability should be a priority to all businesses, small and large, for many reasons, including that having a vibrant economy with enough natural resources is important to staying in business.  As business owners, it’s important to look at the resources we are using critically and make choices to minimize our impacts. 

We’ll discuss these topics and more at next week’s event.

In the meantime to jump-start your process, you could …

• Hop on Hands-On Network to peruse potential non-profit partners
• Watch this 2-minute Sustainability Cartoon that provides a concrete definition  to another mysterious buzz word
• Register for next Tuesday’s event, Doing Well While Doing Good: Demystifying CSR!

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Name

Type of Business:  (B2B, B2C, B2G):  B2B, B2G

Industry:  Corporate Social Responsibility

Product/Service: Consulting services for companies and non-profits

Years in Business: 1

Ideal Customers/Best Referrals:
Companies or non-profits looking to strategically create initiatives, programs, and marketing in any area of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Motivation for starting your business:
Loved & missed the ability to collaborate with others to create lasting impacts for our world—but needed to balance work with my family life.

Greatest challenge you faced in starting your business?
A re-emergence of  my husband’s epileptic seizures —after having 2 seizures in 15 years, he’s had 7 in one year.  They started just weeks after I started my business, and have affected his ability to drive, assist in childcare and provide encouragement and support.

How you overcame it:
I am still overcoming it, day by day.  We’ve switched doctors and are pursuing treatments more aggressively, and have had some success already and hope for more.  However, accepting the situation, adjusting expectations, solving problems creatively, and having a wonderful community of women to support me has been crucial.

Greatest learning (as relates to business) to share with others?
Resilience is key—having confidence in your business and enthusing that confidence when things in your life or business do not go according to plan.

Greatest benefit of running your own business:
Focusing on what I love to do—and creating a business around it.

Personally speaking…

Home life (spouse/partner/kids/location/pets/etc.): Husband, GK, and Daughter, Ella, 2

Childcare situation:
Part-time childcare (I know I am SO lucky!), and childcare swaps with other moms.

Greatest challenge in managing home, business, family, self?
Managing the internal monologue about if I am doing “enough” in all of these areas.

How do you handle it?
Self-care (yoga, exercise, meditation), believing in abundance, and remembering that inputs are in my control; outcomes are not.

Greatest success you had in the past month (personal or biz) and how you celebrated it:
Reconnecting with a former collegue, also a consultant, who needs to offload some work—you never know what circuitous route you will take to get clients!

Be advise or tip you ever received (personal or biz):
I think it applies to both, but given in the context of business.   Show up, give people something to remember you by (an experience or a token), and write handwritten notes as thank-yous.

The one tool, resource, or toy you just can’t do without:
I hate to admit it, but my blackberry.

What’s the most effective thing you do on a daily basis to make it all work?
Set a timer.  I work in 30-45 minute increments, and then give myself 10 minute breaks to do “family” activities on my task list that I create each day.  It gives my brain a break, and I get lots done!

On your nightstand:
Journal, a daily devotional, a CSR book or Parenting book

Last purchase for self:
Pedicure

Favorite way to unwind:
Exercise

Best thing about being an Enterprising Mom:  I love how it’s a secure place where one can discuss business AND children, and how the two intersect, collide, and dovetail at different points on the road.  I love how energized and empowered I feel after meetings.

Learn more and connect

Web Site |  Blog |  Linkedin |  Facebook

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Corporate Social Responsibility … What is it? And why should you care? Simply put, it’s creating business value by incorporating your values.

If you donate a portion of your proceeds to a worthy cause, you’re integrating CSR. If you partner with an organization-in-need to collect food, books, clothing, etc. on their behalf, your integrating CSR. If you sponsor an event for a non-profit, if you donate your products or services to an under-served population, you’re integrating CSR.

While many of us are already doing some level of CSR, is it being done in a planned and strategic way?

Whether your already integrating CSR or would like to do so, you’ll want to be at this event where you’ll learn about:

• The business case for CSR—why it’s important &  why you should do it
• Considerations for developing a CSR aspect to your business
• How to align your CSR goals with your business mission
• How to market & communicate CSR—and why marketing is crucial
• Self-Assessment for your business—what are you doing & ways to align business with CSR

The event will feature Jane Meier of Full Circle Partnerships, a marketing consultant who loves helping businesses integrate marketing with Corporate Social Responsibility.  Whether seeking to build partnerships with non-profits, developing marketing strategy, or planning or implementing special events, clients hire Jane for her skills in partnership building, her attention to detail and passionate commitment to corporate social responsibility.

Jane previously worked for Whole Foods Market for four years as a marketing & community liaison.  While at Whole Foods Market, she created successful partnerships resulting in positive publicity, business growth, and awards for the company.  She has a B.S. Family & Consumer Sciences Education and a M.S. in Housing and Consumer Economics.

Door prizes: A choice of a communications review (assess your current communications and provide recommendations for ways to articulate your commitments) or a partnership assessment (whether refining existing partnerships or starting new ones, we’ll take a look at your business model, mission, and partnership goals and make recommendations). Each valued at $300!

Early bird rate ends on April 30th. Get details and register at http://events.theenterprisingmoms.com.

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No plans yet? Opportunities to get involved abound!

Activities and resources for Earth Day and beyond

Earth Day events today and through the weekend in DC, MD and VA:

• Earth Day 2010 in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia
• Earth Day Network Upcoming Events
• Climate Rally in DC on April 25
• The Best Earth Day Events by Care2

A few easy things that you can do to make a difference

1. Adopt a new earth-friendly practice at home and add at least one new one each year (e.g., pitch the paper towels and napkins and use cloth instead; start a compost bin or pile; pack waste-free lunches; use your reusable shopping bags; or organize an informal neighborhood clean up).
2. Adopt a new earth-friendly practice at work (invest in a printer with two-sided printing capabilities, work with ”green” printers and vendors, buy earth-friendly products and services).
3. Participate in an Earth Day event, fair or rally … or organize one of your own!
4. Shop green products—special Earth Day discounts are everywhere. It’s a great time to try earth-friendly products.
5. Offer a discount on products and/or services that encourage earth-friendly living and working.

Good reads

A few of my personal favorites:

• The Green Book: The Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet One Simple Step at a Time
• Save Our Planet: 750 Everyday Ways You Can Help Clean Up the Earth/25th Anniversary
• 365 Nature Crafts & Activities

What are YOU doing to celebrate Earth Day? Tell us about it!

And, if you offer an eco-friendly product or service, tell us about that too!

Carolyn

Chief Enterprising Mom
@EnterprisingMom | @ApplyWithin

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