Social Butterflies

Next week on April 5th Women in Business will be hosting the first Social Butterflies. This is a networking event that is for young and established business women. We are glad to have Elaine Spaull as our guest speaker. Other highlights of the night are the butterfly exhibit at Strong Museum of Play, catering by Jim's Diner and the chance to meet the women of RIT and Rochester. The event starts at 5pm and will go until about 7:30pm. We would love to have a variety of women join us.

To register visit:

<https://secure.www.alumniconnections.com/olc/pub/RIT/events/event_order.cgi?tmpl=events&event=2313235.0>

Skating Event to Raise Money for Golisano Children’s Hospital

RIT’s Women in Business club organizes annual fundraising effort

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The third annual Skate for a Cause, hosted by RIT’s Women in Business club, will raise money for the Golisano Children’s Hospital.

March 24, 2011
by Vienna Carvalho-McGrain
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The Women in Business club at Rochester Institute of Technology must have a direct line to Mother Nature. While many of us have spring on our minds, the students in this organization are capitalizing on the spring snowfall by hosting the third annual “Skate for a Cause” fundraiser on March 26 in RIT’s Ritter Arena. The general public is welcome to skate from 5-7 p.m. and RIT students can skate from 10 p.m.-midnight. A $5 donation per person covers admission, skate rental and hot chocolate. The session for the general public features music by WITR-FM (89.7) and entertainment by the RIT Juggling Club.

This year’s event benefits the Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong.

“The event is really fun to host and it is a great feeling when we are able to help out a good cause,” says Kara Shierly, communications officer for RIT’s Women in Business organization.

Last year, proceeds from the event were donated to the Rochester-based organization Joining Hearts and Hands to complete a classroom in Kenya at the Hannah’s Hope school. The building is named for Hannah Congdon, a Fairport High School graduate killed in a car accident in 2007.

RIT’s Women in Business club is an organization for female students in all stages of their educational careers. Through networking, educational events and community service, the organization creates and strengthens skills in leadership, business, education and life management.

An exciting spring!

Women in Business is busy planning an array of events for the spring quarter. Our signature event is coming up very soon. On March 26th we will be hosting the third annual Skate for a Cause. Every year we have had great growth and success, so much so that we have expanded to two sessions.The first is from 5-7pm, we hope that faculty, staff, students and the community will join us for a family oriented session. There will be hot chocolate, music supplied by RIT radio WITR and a variety of activities hosted by other RIT clubs. Each club has picked a kid friendly activity to entertain skaters while they take a break from the ice. There will be a second session for the students. The music will be provided from this session as well. Come hang out with friends from 10-midnight. All proceeds from this years event will benefit Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong.

We will post more information about the other exciting events we have coming up. Here is just a little teaser:

April: Social Butterflies is a new event that is focused on women empowerment and networking. It is an opportunity for young and experienced professionals to meet new people. Experience RIT is April 19th. This year WIB with be running the workshop for the high school students taking a look at RIT.

May: Imagine RIT will be on May 7th this year. Make sure you come by to see the display that WIB is putting together.

Preparing for Job Search

Women In Business is busy planning some big events that are coming up in the spring. While we work on these larger projects we have been having some of our members give lessons that can help all of us in our professional lives.

On Monday January 3rd, Maureen Gburek gave a lesson on resumes. Some of her big points were that a resume should represent yourself. There are a lot different ways to put together a resume and Maureen helped us understand how to make one that will help us stand out and to snag the best positions. This is an example that Maureen showed to us that helped her obtain her internship in Dublin.
For our meeting on Monday, January 1oth, Kara Shierly did a follow up lesson that included cover letters, thank you letters, and the use of JobZone, the RIT job posting site. A few key things to remember when writing a letter are:

Keep the same heading: make sure all the documents( resume, thank you letter, references, cover letter) that you are submitting have the same header
Find a contact: A letter addressed to a specific(relevant) person looks better than a generalized one, even if it is not the person you will be interviewed by. It shows that you put in effort.
Make a connection: Most importantly in the thank you letter- make sure you make a connection, something that the interviewer will remember about you. Of course make it something positive!
Here is a sample of a cover letter that Kara showed.

Nina DeStevens gave the lesson this past Monday, the 17th, on personal branding. This is a very important topic expecially with the expansion of social networks on the internet. Keep a unified face on all forms of social and business networks. This means that what a potenital employer sees on LinkIn sould mirror what they can see on Facebook. In order to reiterate her point Nina showed a short Youtube clip. Please follow the link pervided below, the movie contains a lot of helpful information.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuaZ58dE7WI

Women In Business has many great events and activitites to come!

Help out a good cause

Google Chrome is giving to many worthy charities this December. For those who use Google Chrome make sure you sign up, for those who don't this might be a reason to switch. (Not bad marketing on Google's part)From December 15th to the 19th every time you open a new tab ( or just start up Chrome) will raise money for charities. It is an extension to chrome that is easy to add. At the end of the day you get to pick what charity the money goes to. There are five choices, Nature Conservancy, Charity:Water, Doctors without Boarders, Un Techo Para Mi Pais, and Room to Read. Each one has a definition on the web site. Here is the website that will take you directly to the web page. https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/bbfammmagchhaohncbhghoohcfoeckdi#

I hope everyone signs up for this!

Happy Holidays

With the holidays fast approaching, Women in Business held a holiday party. Our ladies looked fabulous in holiday colored business casual. This was the perfect gathering to get anyone in the mood for some holiday cheer.

Each of the ladies brought a food item of their choosing to share with the group. Some of the food included bean salad, spinach bread dip, homemade Chex mix and sugar cookies. Everything was delicious of course!

We also bonded while watching Elf. it was a welcome favorite for some and a first time see it for others. For those who have not seen it, it is a good movie with some worth while laughs. While Elf was playing, there was the option of making our own ornaments. Even though we do not all have the best artistic ability, it was fun. Most of all we enjoyed each others company.

We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season!

Fall Quarter 2010

Quick update on what WIB at RIT has been doing since the beginning of the year:

In October we raised money for the Al Sigl Community walk. This was an event held at the Marketplace mall. We raised $200 toward adults with disabilities. The walk had a Halloween theme and was a great success.

November 6th Women in Business lent a helping hand at Foodlink's warehouse. We were there from nine a.m. until noon. We helped sort over 600 pounds of food to be distributed throughout 10 counties.

December 1st there was a swimming social with Pi Kappa Psi followed by No Voice Zone. We got some exercise while playing some pool basketball and warmed up in the hot tub.

WIB held a bake sale on Tuesday December 7th to raise money to buy toys for less fortunate children in the Rochester area. Thank you to everyone who helped we raise just over $250. We were glad to be able to give joy to children in our area

We will be doing a bake sale quarterly to raise funds for different events and causes. Be sure to stop whenever you see us and support our vairous cuases, or just say hello.

Rochester Fashion Week 2010

Over the weekend WIB founder, Heather Knowles walked in the Rochester's Fashion Week Runway Show, The Height of Fashion. The event, which raised $30,000 to be donated to the Rochester Center for Youth, took place at the Memorial Art Gallery downtown. In addition to modeling for the event, Heather was also part of the planning process for the event. She worked closely with Chantiza Stern, the Chief Event Organizer and Meghan Mundy, the Chief Fashion Organizer, to plan and execute this successful event. Next year Heather has been asked to stay on as Assistant Event Organizer and modeling coach for the runway shows.

Heather is excited to have been given this opportunity and encourages everyone to participate in the 2011 event, as it will be bigger and better!!!




For more information and pictures from the event(s) visit: fashionweekofrochester.org

Kara Dudek

Congratulations to our VP of Community Service, Kara Dudek, for appearing on a recent E. Philip Saunders College of Business ad!!!

Kara is a fourth year Marketing student and will graduate in the spring. Kara has been involved with WIB since 2007 and has served as VP of Community Service for two years. She is also involved with other organizations on campus and has worked for the RIT Undergraduate Admissions office for three years.

Imagine RIT Festival

Look for the Women in Business exhibit at this years Imagine RIT Festival on May 1, 2010!

Women in Business recognizes the needs of children in Africa and has partnered with Joining Hearts and Hands to implement innovative and sustainable programs aimed to improve quality of life. This creative partnership has provided Women in Business with opportunities to get the Rochester Community involved in raising money for a classroom at a school for children orphaned by AIDS.

Women in Business not only hosts events to raise money for Joining Hearts and Hands to make a difference in the lives of African people, but will be traveling there to share our knowledge of business and personal empowerment with the IGLA’s (Income Generating Learning Activities) and at several schools Joining Hearts and Hands has built. Our idea of innovation in Africa means giving the people necessary tools and knowledge to live a healthy and dignified lifestyle.

In visiting the Women in Business exhibit, visitors will have an educational and inspiring look into the life of children and women’s groups in Africa. Visitors to the exhibit will have the opportunity to be involved in expanding the relationship between the Rochester community, Joining Hearts and Hands, and villages in Africa. Through a slide show presentation and first had accounts visitors will learn how they can support the efforts of the Women in Business group in creating a better life for African children orphaned by AIDS. In addition they will learn about sustainable businesses run by small women’s groups which are established through Joining Hearts and Hands.

Visitors will walk away with a renewed sense of empowerment, the importance of reaching out to others, and ideas how they can help RIT’s Women in Business group with meet our objectives and continue that work in their own community.

Hope to see you there!

Sustainable House Dedication

This past Saturday the members Women in Business were able to see all their hard work put to a good cause. WIB joined forces with Habitat for Humanity to build a home for a deserving local family. In the spirit of going green, Women in Business helped raise money for the project with a fund raiser selling reusable water bottles. WIB raised $800 to put towards the cause and was present at both the wall raising event at the dedication of the home. For more information on the sustainable project and the recipients for the house visit :http://www.rit.edu/showcase/index.php?id=37

RIT Sportszone story on Skate For a Cause

RIT SportsZone covered our Skate For a Cause event.

Check out the story HERE!!!

Make the Rink Pink

We want to congratulate the Zeta Tau Alpha ladies and the Men's and Women's Hockey teams for such a successful event.

Check out this article by RIT's Bob Finnerty, Feb. 2, 2010 —Tiger Hockey, Sorority Raise $21,248 to Fight Cancer During ‘Pink Rink’

Skate For a Cause - Joining Hearts and Hands

Skate For a Cause was a HUGE success!!! Thank you to everyone who came out to support this cause. All the money raised from Friday will be donated to Joining Hearts and Hands and used to build an additional classroom at Hannah's Hope in Kenya.

Hannah Congdon was the inspiration behind this event and we are proud to carry on her legacy! Hannah’s hope was that the less fortunate of the world would have a better life.

Learn more about Hannah and Hannah's Hope by visiting the following links:

http://bit.ly/8shO5e
http://www.joiningheartsandhands.org/index.php

This event brought together students, staff, and the local community for a fun night of skating with family and friends. Skate For a Cause was able to provide an opportunity for all of those involved to support and give back to those who are in need.





For coverage from the event, check out this video

Skate For a Cause!!! TONIGHT

Press Release, by RIT:

Skating Event to Raise Money for Kenya School Built in Memory of Fairport’s Hannah Congdon

RIT’s Women in Business hosts ‘Skate for a Cause,’ proceeds will help build classroom at Hannah’s Hope

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Students from Hannah's Hope, a school in Katito, Kenya

by Kelly Downs, Jan. 21, 2010 —

The promising young life of Hannah Congdon was cut short in 2007 when the Fairport teenager died in a car crash along with four other students from Fairport High School just days following graduation. Thanks to the Rochester-based organization Joining Hearts and Hands, Congdon’s memory lives on through a school built last year in Kenya called Hannah’s Hope.

The next building phase will be the addition of two new classrooms. To help raise money for the project, RIT’s Women in Business Club will host “Skate for A Cause” at RIT’s Ritter Arena from 8 to 10 p.m. this Friday. A $3 donation per person covers admission, skate rental and hot chocolate.

“I remember Hannah as an ambitious, outgoing and friendly girl who was always smiling,” says Heather Knowles, president and founder of RIT’s Women in Business Club and a member of the 2007 graduating class from Fairport High. “Hannah will always be missed by myself and everyone who knew her. While I will never understand why it was her time to go, she has left behind an inspiring legacy. Her legacy has inspired me to help build an additional classroom at Hannah’s Hope. I am elated that RIT’s Women in Business is raising money for such a momentous cause.”

All proceeds from Friday’s benefit will go to Joining Hearts and Hands toward the next phase of construction at Hannah’s Hope. Joining Hearts and Hands founders William and Joanne Cala will be in attendance at Friday night’s event. Students from RIT’s Women in Business Club hope to travel to Kenya with the Cala's in the spring of 2011.

To find out more about Joining Hearts and Hands and Hannah’s Hope, visit www.joiningheartsandhands.org

Look for pictures and an update on how the event goes in my next post!

Trendy Tuesday - SUCCESS!!!

Trendy Tuesday was a huge success! Thank you to everyone who attended the event and supported the cause. Also, thank you again to L'avant Garbe and Scott Miller, we could not have had this show without your clothes and hair/makeup!




Check out more pictures from the Trendy Tuesday event on our Facebook page!

Stand Up! Stand Out! Trendy Tuesday

You will view a fashion show event unlike any other RIT has seen! ZTA and Women in Business partner to bring you an event sponsored by Character and Scott Miller Salon. The show will model appropriate clothing for women entering the work world.

Host:	Stand Up! Stand Out!
Network:	Global

Date:	Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Time:	7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location:	Ingle Auditorium

The clothes are being sponsored by L'avant Garbe, and hair/makeup will be done by Scott Miller.

Visit the Facebook event and RSVP

Christmas Cards for Noah

On Tuesday WIB made Christmas cards for a little boy named Noah. Noah is 5 and dieing from cancer. His family plans to celebrate Christmas next week because Noah may not live until Christmas. His one wish was to receive Christmas cards, and so far the post office in his town, in MI, has processed over 80,000 cards for Noah. Thank you to everyone who wrote to Noah.

Wall-Raising Event for RIT Sustainable House Project

On Saturday, November 7, the Rochester Institute of Technology and Flower City Habitat for Humanity hosted a "Wall-Raising" ceremony, which kicked off the construction of a truly incredible project.

Flower City Habitat for Humanity is a non-denominational Christian housing ministry helping to eliminate substandard and poverty housing in Rochester, NY. Since 1984, FCHH has built or renovated over 160 houses, and is one of the largest Habitat affiliates in the northeastern US.

The Habitat for Humanity club at RIT, in conjunction with Engineers For a Sustainable World, began constructing a floor plan for a FCHH "environmentally sustainable" house. This project has been appropriately named the RIT Habitat for Humanity Sustainable House Project and is a great example of the innovative minds we have here at RIT.

WIB Members raising the wall.

Of course they managed to get a goofy candid shot.

In this picture: Kara, me, Maureen, and Michele

To donate directly to this project visit HERE to make a gift.

-Please scroll down to "Select a category below" and select "Other Funds." In the scroll bar that appears select"Habitat for Humanity Sustainable House Project"

Also, here is a link to the project website: About the Project

Women in Business is "Joinging Hearts and Hands" with children in Africa

Last year, our first year as a recognized club, Women in Business (WIB) successfully held a Skate for A Cause Fundraiser event. We were able to raise over $700 dollars, which we donated to the Rochester Chapter of Alternative for Battered Women. For having no funds to advertise for this event, we were happy with the turn out of over 130 people.

After seeing what a great success this event was, we have made Skate for a Cause our "signature event." This year we plan to raise money for a Rochester Organization called Joining Hearts and Hands. This organization is run by Dr. Cala and his wife, and benefits children and women's groups in Kenya and Tanzania. http://www.joiningheartsandhands.org/index.php


We choose this organization for several reasons. In 2007, five days after Fairport High Schools graduation, five amazing young ladies died in a car accident... one of these girls was named Hannah Congdon. When Hannah passed away her family decided to donate the money given in her name to Joining Hearts and Hands. It was their hope that the organization would be able to build a school for children in Africa; it was Hannah's dream to be a teacher in a third world country. In January of 2009, that is exactly what they did. http://www.13wham.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoId=204718@video.wokr13.com&navCatId=5

Holding this event will raise money to build a new classroom for more children to attend school. The Cala’s plan to continue building classrooms up through 8th grade.

This event will provide an opportunity for both RIT students and staff, as well as the Rochester and Fairport community to get involved and support an amazing cause.

We will be sure to let everyone know when we have a date for the event.