Kim Millhorn2015-2016

RNPW President

Slow Down and Smell the Turkey!

I’m guilty, like many of us, we tend not to take the time to enjoy the true meaning of the holiday season. We tend to be in such hurry with our work load, the responsibilities of gift purchases and meal and party planning to burden us so we end up being cranky and frustrated. However, I’ve learned from my recent experience during the Thanksgiving holiday to slow down, take things in stride, laugh at myself and appreciate my family and the time I’ve been given to enjoy the simple things in life.

I planned a simple get together for our Thanksgiving at my home with my two adult children visiting. They were to arrive Thanksgiving day so I had planned to make meal preparations the evening before. As I began making the desert and preparing stuffing etc. my kitchen faucet sprung a bad leak. There was no way to call a plumber to rescue me so I was faced with either ditching the dinner altogether or creating an alternative wash station in the basement. I was completely frustrated and making a great meal seemed impossible but I forged ahead and traipsed up and down the basement stairs griping and complaining the entire time. Needless to say I didn’t enjoy the extra work and by the time my kids arrived Thanksgiving Day I was not in the best mood and the travel time up and down the stairs had taken its toll on me. What brought me around however, were my kids. They grasped the situation pretty quickly and both of them stepped in and started helping me with the table and finishing up preparing the food.

Together, we laughed about the situation and dubbed ourselves as Pilgrims carrying the water back n’ forth from the basement. We ended up enjoying the meal a little later in the day than we had originally planned but everything worked out. They were also an incredible help with the clean-up which years ago would not have been the case. They gave me a sense of relief that not all things are so bad and despite the hassle of the evening before, life was indeed good and that I was lucky to have my two children. I hope that each of you will slow down, take the time to enjoy your family and the holidays and laugh a little. No matter what disasters may be behind or ahead of you enjoy what you have.

Something I’m looking forward to and hope you’ll attend is the Rockford Network, meeting on the evening of December 9th at the Rockford Art Museum. It’s a chance to enjoy one another’s company outside of our standard lunch meeting and to take the time to view some interesting perspectives that the works provide us in the museum. There will also be music and a dance performance. So, if you find yourself as I tend to be overwhelmed and a bit cranky this time of year here is a chance to escape and enjoy the company of our membership. You’ll also get a chance to appreciate one of the gems in our community, the Rockford Art Museum. The holiday party is Wednesday, December 9th from 5:30-7:30pm, 711 N. Main Street. Please make your $20 reservation in advance as we cannot allow walk-ins. And Happy Holidays!

December 2015 | rockfordnetwork.org

2 rockfordnetworknews rockfordnetwork.org

Rockford Network of Professional Women Board of Directors 2015-2016President Kim Millhorn - kim.millhorn@wifr.com

Vice President Karen Keller - klk@pgiworldwide.com

Secretary Tiffany Staman - tiffanys@thepregnancycarecenter.org

Treasurer Jocelyn Hare - jhare@servprorockford.com

Appointments Kay King - kking@servprorockford.com

Awards Co-Chairs Tonya Thayer - tonya@unitedwayrrv.org Janet Nordquist - janet.nordquist@morganstanley.com

Communications Kathy Velasco - kathy@marketingv2.com

History Robin Mann - cmrobin@t6b.com

Events Greta Spencer - gspencer@gorockford.com

Membership Co-Chairs Dolores Ford - dede36@att.net Holly Friel - holly.friel@edwardjones.com

Policy Barb Giolitto - bgpg1@sbcglobal.net

Program Co-Chairs Diane James - djames@membersalliance.org Deanna Watts - deanna@camelotworldtravel.com

Public Relations Lindsey Gregg - lindseygregg.peak@yahoo.com

Reservations Co-Chairs Cheryl Schmidt - cheryl@healthcarerevenuesolutionsinc.com Mariah Anast - mariahanast@rockfordparkdistrict.org

Scholarship Nicole Potter - npotter@4universal.com

Past President Jan Bowman - janbowman@tlcofrockford.com

Barb Berman honored as the AFP National Philanthropy Day Outstanding Community Volunteer of the Year

Barb Berman was celebrated on November 17 at the Association for Fundraising Professionals’ Annual Philanthropy Day with the Outstanding Community Volunteer of the Year Award.

Anyone who has attended a meeting where Barb Berman has introduced

herself has heard her say “I’m Barb Berman, I’m retired.” Barb must be the busiest retired person in our community. For over 20 years, she has supported Auburn Key Club, Rock Valley Heritage Kiwanis, and Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Club. And for just 10 years she has volunteered with Ethnic Heritage Museum and served the county Emergency Telephone System board.

If that’s not enough, she also adds the Victory Lap breast cancer committee, Red Shoe Run for Donor Awareness, and 911 Memorial Fun. When many volunteers shy away from coordinating fundraisers, Barb jumps in with both feet. She enthusiastically shares her experience, insight and time with those who serve alongside of her. Our community is a much better place thanks to her dedication. Here are some of Barb’s recent activities:

• WinnCo.EmergencyTelephoneSystemboard- 10 years

• VictoryLap-MakingStridesAgainstBreast Cancer - 5 years

• 911MemorialFund-4years

• RedShoeRunforDonorAwareness-6years

• AuburnKeyClub-20years

• RockValleyHeritageKiwanis-21years

• ChamberofCommerceAmbassadorChair- 25 years

• EthnicHeritageMuseum-10years

• GreenwichVillageArtFair

Future Award Winners Wanted!Did you sit next to someone at a RNPW meeting

recently who struck you as community-minded? Maybe someone who you thought seemed like a leader in their profession? Or spends a considerable amount of time mentoring others? We want their names!

Maybe you do these things but no one knows? Let us give you the kudos you deserve. Time to be recognized. And in doing so, maybe take your business to the next level?

The YWCA Leadership Luncheon is March 7th and award nominations are due on Jan. 12th 2016. What are the categories? Business, Community Leadership, Mentorship, Professions, Promise, and Racial Justice

Worry not, you don’t have to write a nomination or hassle people for a letter of recommendation. Our RNPW Nominating Committee will do that. Just share some ideas of possible members to nominate and we will do the rest.

It’s that easy. So put on your thinking caps and help our committee showcase our movers and shakers!

Email ideas to tonya@unitedwayrrv.org. Thank you!

rockfordnetworknews rockfordnetwork.org 3

If you’ve tried traditional physical therapy or massage therapy, medications or even surgery to address recurring pain without relief–it’s time to look pain in the fascia!

Effective for: • Fibromyalgia • Chronic&Acute Pain • Back&Neck Pain • TMJ • Headaches • Scoliosis • CarpalTunnel

• DiscProblems • Arthritis • Women’sHealth Issues • Incontinence • Whiplash • SportsInjuries

Most Insurance and Medicare Accepted

Brynwood Myofascial Therapy, LLC6072BrynwoodDr.,Suite102

815904-6163www.brynwoodmyofascial.com

Loosen up!

Marla Monge LMT,NCTMB

Gosia Zasadny PT

Member NewsThe January Member Minute will be Vicky Beard, Director of

Community Relations of The Atrium Memory Care.

Dine 2 Donate – When you dine at Granite City on Sunday, December 20 between 9 am and 10 pm, 10% of your total tab will be donated to the Pregnancy Care Center of Rockford! Just mention it to your server. To-Go orders are also included. Tiffany Staman.

Honor the hard work and accomplishments of your colleagues and mentors by nominating them for a YWCA Northwestern Illinois Women of Achievement Award. The Women of Achievement Awards, presented at Leader Luncheon XXXVI on Monday, March 7, 2016, honor outstanding leaders who exemplify the mission of the YWCA: eliminating racism and empowering women. Award categories include Business, Community Leadership, Mentorship, Professions, Promise and Racial Justice. Download nomination forms at www.ywca.org/nwil/leader-luncheon. Laura Speer.

Snapshot of the year ahead:

• December 9, 2015 – Holiday Party 5:30-7:30 pm Rockford Art Museum

• January 18, 2016 – Renaissance of our Bodies with Wendy Irwin of Healthy Wellness; Nancy Enke, Owner of N-spired Yoga

• February 15, 2016 – Renaissance of Balancing Relationships with Carol Fisher, LCSW of The Glenwood Center for Better Mental Health

• March 21, 2016 – Renaissance of Empowerment (book review of “Lean In”) facilitated by Zoe Norwood, Adult Services Librarian, Rockford Public Library

• April 18, 2016 – Renaissance of Creativity with Ann O’Keefe, President of Rockford Area Arts Council

• May 16, 2016 – Renaissance of a Life-Long Learner, Rock Valley College (Annual RNPW scholarship presentation will also take place)

• June 20, 2016 – Renaissance Across the Generations with Jessica Steinberg, Sr. Manager of Operations for the Rockford Park District

4 rockfordnetworknews rockfordnetwork.org

V2 Marketing Communications

imagine.what we can do together.

220 East State Street, Suite G • Rockford, Illinois 61104

p: 815.397.6052 • f: 815.397.6799 • marketingV2.com

• advertising• mixed media marketing campaigns• traditional print• interactive• audio visual production• campaign/client support

V2 Marketing Communications220 East State Street, Suite G • Rockford, Illinois 61104

p: 815.397.6052 • f: 815.397.6799 • marketingV2.com

220 East State Street, Suite G • Rockford, Illinois 61104

• mixed media marketing campaigns

A safe refuge for Rockford’s youth.

1325 7th Street, Rockford, IL 61104815-962-5067 • Fax 815-962-5651

www.rockhousekids.org

Mark Your Calendars Now!January 18th Luncheon MeetingRenaissance of our Bodies

Please join us on January 18 to hear Wendy Irwen of Healthy Wellness; Melissa Burns, Executive Director of Northest Family YMCA and Nancy Enke, Owner of N-spired Yoga.

Our bodies are beautifully and wonderfully made. But we often neglect them in our busy lives - poor eating habits, lack of energy to workout, and never being able to “shut off our brain.” This panel of three ladies will have us back on track with proper nutrition, invigorating fitness plans for our hearts and learning to allow our souls to have peace.

Save the Date!~ March 21, 2016 ~

RNPW members will participate in a book review/discussion of the bestselling book

This year, we will be helping the young women in the Rockford School District with our

December community outreach.

A high percentage of young girls in the Rockford School

District are often truant because they do not have the

supplies needed during their menstrual cycles. We are asking

RNPW members to bring a package of underwear that will be

supplied to these students, along with necessary supplies that

are being collected by other organizations. We’ll collect your

donations at the party and distribute them on your behalf.

Renaissance of our Bodies

Monday | January 18, 2016 | 11:30 am Forest Hills Country Club

5135 Forest Hills Rd. | Rockford, IL

Cost is $18/person, $20 for walk-ins. Cash or check only, please.

To make your reservations: Call 977-7477

or go to rockfordnetwork.org

and click on “Make Reservation” button on the homepage.

Reservation deadline: 5:00 pm, Thursday, January 14

Please note: No-shows will be billed.

Providing compassionate one-on-one health care in the comfort of your home.

Lindsey Gregg, Owner435 N. Mulford Road, Suite 7 • Rockford, IL 61107

(815) 398-1333 • www.peakmedicalhomecare.com

MEDICAL HOMECAREPeak Medical Home Care Incorporated

rockfordnetworknews rockfordnetwork.org 5

Overwhelmed by Email? Here Are 7 Great Tools for Organizing Your InboxBy Lindsay Kolowich Published Nov. 30, 2015 on hubspot blogs

Most people have a love-hate relationship with their email inbox. On the one hand, email can be exciting - whether you’re making progress with a client, replacing a meeting with a (much more efficient) email thread, or receiving an invitation to a fun social gathering.

On the other hand, though, email can be overwhelming - especially if you lose control.

And boy is it easy to lose control. After all, email is one of the top ways we communicate with a lot of the people in our lives, from our best friends to people we’ve never spoken with before. Many of us get bombarded by new emails on a regular basis, and it’s stressful to know that we might be missing out on the truly important stuff amid the flood of less pertinent stuff.

Luckily, there are a lot of tools out there that can help us get more organized. In this post, we’ll go through 11 of our favorite tools for organizing your inbox. Try ‘em out, and help pave your own way to a more productive and less stressful email experience.

1. Unroll.me, Price: Free

The first step to relieving your inbox from all that email is to unsubscribe from all the newsletters you’ve subscribed to over the years. But unsubscribing manually from tens, maybe hundreds of newsletters would take forever.

Enter Unroll.me, a free tool that lets you mass unsubscribe from all the newsletters you don’t read. You can either wipe the slate clean and unsubscribe from everything at once, or you can pick and choose.

2. The Email Game, (emailga.me) Price: Free

If you’re overwhelmed by the amount of email in your inbox but dread the thought of clearing it out, and you’re a competitive person, The Email Game might be right up your alley. This free tool for Gmail and Google apps gamifies the act of clearing out your inbox.

All you have to do is enter your email address, and the game will begin. It gives you five seconds per email to decide what to do with it: reply, “boomerang” (i.e. archive now and resurface in your inbox at a later, specified time), archive, delete, or skip. You get a certain number of points for each action and you’re penalized if you go over time. If you click “reply,” then you’re given three minutes by default to respond. You can always add time if you really need to, but speed is in your best interest here.

3. FollowUpThen, (www.followupthen.com) Price: Free, paid versions available

Here’s another simple but useful tool, this time for reminding you – and even your clients, if you want -- to follow up on specific emails.

continued on pg 6

6 rockfordnetworknews rockfordnetwork.org

continued on pg 8

Here’s how it works: Compose an email, and then include [any time]@followupthen.com in the “Bcc,” “Cc,” or “To” fields of your email. The “any time” wording here is pretty flexible: It can be “tomorrow@followupthen.com,” “nextwednesday@followupthen.com,” “3hours@followupthen.com,” “everyday@followupthen.com,” “every3rdwednesday@followupthen.com,” and so on.

What happens to that email when you click “send” depends where you put that @followupthen.com email address:

Bcc: You’ll get a follow-up regarding the email (without bothering the original recipient). Cc: The tool will schedule a reminder for you and the recipient.To: The tool will send an email to your future self.

It works for every email client, and it’s free for up to 50 follow-ups per month. You can increase the number of follow-ups and add features like calendar integration for between $2–$9 per month.

4. Boomerang, (www.boomeranggmail.com) Price: Free

Boomerang is a powerful tool I’ve been using for years to manage my Gmail inbox. This Chrome extension for Gmail users does two things really well:

a. It lets you schedule emails to be sent later.b. It lets you archive emails that will reemerge in your inbox

later as an unread message.The second concept here is similar to that of FollowUpThen,

except you have a lot more control over tracking and changing the times at which emails reemerge in your inbox. It’s free and works on desktop and mobile, including Android.

5. Sidekick, (www.getsidekick.com) Price: Free and paid versions available

Ever wanted to know who opens your emails and when, how many times, and from where? When you download the Sidekick Chrome extension, you can opt in to get live notifications whenever someone opens or clicks on the links in your emails.

Another cool feature is the contact information sidebar that pops up when you open an email thread. It includes all the relevant information about the person you’re emailing, including past contact history (kind of like LinkedIn’s “relationship tab” function), social media content, mutual connections, and so on. Soon, the extension will let you schedule emails to send later.

The free version gets you 200 open/click notifications per month and unlimited email profiles. There’s also a version created for sales teams that includes email templates, document sharing, and other functionalities.

6. Sanebox, (www.sanebox.com) Price: $2/month

If you’re looking to automate prioritizing each email as it comes in, you may want to give SaneBox a try. There’s nothing to install here: Basically, it works with any email client to create three new folders: SaneTop, SaneLater, and SaneNews. When a new email comes in to your inbox, SaneBox quickly analyzes it to determine how important it is. This analysis is based on your past interaction with your inbox. If SaneBox finds the new email important, it’ll

Wednesday, December 9, 5:30–7:30 pmRockford Art Museum

6799 Guilford Rd., Rockford, IL 61107

$20.00/person – Appetizers will be served and a cash bar will be available.

Reservation deadline: Friday, December 4, 5:00 pm. Must pay in advance. No payments accepted at the door.

RNPW Holiday Party

Call: 815-977-7477 or go to www.rockfordnetwork.org to make reservations.

This year, we will be helping the young women in the Rockford School District with our December

community outreach. A high percentage of young girls in the Rockford School District are often

truant because they do not have the supplies needed during their menstrual cycles. We are asking

RNPW members to bring a package of underwear that will be supplied to these students, along with

necessary supplies that are being collected by other organizations. We’ll collect your donations at the

party and distribute them on your behalf.

8 rockfordnetworknews rockfordnetwork.orgrockfordnetwork of professional women5411 E. State St. PMB #306Rockford, IL 61108

Network News is written and designed by V2 Marketing Communications and printed by Midwest Mailworks.

keep it in your inbox. If not, it’ll send it to one of those three folders.

Later, you’ll get a digest of the emails that were sent to those three folders so you can decide whether any of them need your attention when you have the time. Over time, you “train” SaneBox to filter certain types of emails into each of these folders.

SaneBlackHole is a fourth folder that’ll help you delete emails and unsubscribe from them in one fell swoop. When you manually drag an email into your SaneBlackHole folder, it’ll delete the email and unsubscribe from the source automatically.

There are other cool features in here too, like the “attachments” feature that automatically sends all email attachments into a Dropbox folder.

You can try SaneBox for free for two weeks, but after that, it’s $2 per month.

7. Hiver, (hiverhq.com) Price: Free and paid versions available

If your team (or heck, even your family) uses Gmail as their main email client, then this could be a useful app for

collaboration. Hiver lets you share Gmail labels with other users to streamline collaboration. That way, you can share emails with other people -- even if they weren’t an original recipient -- by adding a shared Gmail label to that email. A great way to use these labels is by assigning tasks, delegating emails, and tracking their status.

Hiver also lets you create and share email templates with your team, as well as share notes on emails that help you summarize or explain what’s going on in an email thread. This can be helpful for anyone working on proposals, tasks, or support tickets.

Hiver’s free version lets you share labels, notes, and so on with three other users, and lets you share three labels and ten email templates. For added features and functionality, paid versions range from $6–$18 per user per month.