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NAWBO® 2015 Handbook for

NAWBO Chapter Leaders

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Table of Content Introduction 3 Executive Summary 4 About NAWBO 5

NAWBO Key Statistics 7 Women Business Owner Statistics 7 National Leadership Opportunities 8

2015 NAWBO Goals and Initiatives 11

Public Policy Agenda 15 Communication Strategy 17

Women’s Business Conference 2015 18 Membership Initiatives 20

Affinity Partners 23 Simplified Membership Categories 26

Membership Payment and Renewal Processes 28 Membership Campaigns 29

Annual Awards Program 30 Chapter Support Initiatives 31

Leadership Training 32 5 Star Healthy Chapter Program 33

Corporate Partner Overview 34 Sample Scripts for Chapter Use 36

Talking Points 37 Scripts for Meetings and Events 37

Membership Outreach and Retention Call Scripts 39 National Calendar of Events and Leadership Training 40

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Introduction The purpose of this document is to provide an overview of the various National initiatives and goals for 2015 and provide tools for chapter leaders to use at the local level. Please share this information with your members, community partners and corporate partners. Together, we can provide a unified voice for NAWBO and create excitement for 2015!

Executive Summary NAWBO’s top priorities for 2015:

Increase membership recruitment and retention

Enhance membership benefits

Re-activate NAWBO’s 501c(3) -- Institute for Entrepreneurial Development

Greater visibility in local communities and on Capitol Hill

Roll out new communications tools and a new website including a local chapter website platform

Strengthen local chapter support through toolkits, boot camp trainings, webinars, and the 5 Star Healthy Chapter Program

Details on all of these initiatives can be found in the pages that follow.

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About NAWBO

Founded in 1975, NAWBO propels women entrepreneurs into economic, social and political spheres of power worldwide. Forty years later, NAWBO is still the only organization that solely represents the interests of women entrepreneurs in all industries. The organization’s mission is to strengthen the wealth-creating capacity of its members and promote economic development; to create innovative and effective change in the business culture; to build strategic alliances, coalitions and affiliations; and to transform public policy and influence opinion makers. Visit www.nawbo.org for more information. NAWBO is a registered trademark of the National Association of Women Business Owners.

NAWBO Mission and Vision NAWBO propels women entrepreneurs into economic, social and political spheres of power worldwide by:

Strengthening the wealth-creating capacity of our members and promoting economic development within the entrepreneurial community

Creating innovative and effective change in the business culture

Building strategic alliances, coalitions and affiliations

Transforming public policy and influencing opinion makers

Diversity Statement

In principle and in practice, NAWBO values and seeks a diverse and inclusive membership. NAWBO seeks full participation in the organization by all business owners who support our mission to empower women entrepreneurs, regardless of race, religion, age, sexual orientation, national origin or disability. NAWBO’s goal is to effectively represent the full diversity of the women business owner community and to expand access to leadership opportunities across the full spectrum of our membership.

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Key NAWBO Statistics NAWBO members own businesses for an average of 9.7 years. 24.1% of NAWBO members have businesses that generate more than $1 million in revenue

annually (compared to 4.2% of all women-owned businesses). 66% of NAWBO members report having at least one full-time employee. Professional, scientific and technical service industries capture the highest percentage of

NAWBO members at 21.7%. Top 3 business challenges for NAWBO members are cash flow (28.9%), business expansion

(40.1%) and marketing (45.8%). NAWBO members are more educated than the average business owner—with close to 50% with

higher than a college degree.

WBO Statistics Women-Owned Businesses in the United States

More than 9.1 million firms are owned by women, employing nearly 7.9 million (non-owner) people, and generating $1.4 trillion in sales as of 2014.

Women-owned firms (50% or more female owned) account for 30% of all privately held firms and contribute 14% of employment and 11% of revenues.

Over the past seven years, the overall increase of 8.3 million (net) new jobs is comprised of a 9.2 million increase in employment in large, publicly traded corporations, combined with an 893,000 decline in employment among smaller, privately held companies.

Businesses Owned by Women of Color

2.9 million firms are majority-owned by women of color in the U.S. These firms employ 1.4 million people and generate $226 billion in revenues annually.

Million-Dollar Businesses

One in five firms with revenue of $1 million or more is woman-owned. 4.2% of all women-owned firms have revenues of $1 million or more.

Statistics are from the Womenable report commissioned by American Express “OPEN State of Women-

Owned Businesses 2014.” For full report, click here.

For statistics from the National Women’s Business Council 2014 Annual Report, click here.

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National Leadership Opportunities Presidents Assembly Steering Committee (PASC or PA) The Presidents Assembly creates a forum of chapter leaders for the purpose of ensuring strategic alignment between the chapters and NAWBO National; serving as the voice of chapter members at the national level; facilitating direct communications between the chapter leadership and the National leadership; creating a sustained community of leaders; assuring the quality and consistency of service to members; and upholding the common standards and policies of NAWBO. Statement of Time and Financial Commitment Anticipated for the PASC:

Attend the PASC meetings at the National Conference each year

Attend and participate in all PASC monthly teleconference planning calls

Attend any additional committee planning calls as needed or scheduled

Attend and participate in PA monthly webinars

Participate in quarterly teleconference call for chapter Presidents and President-elects Expect to recruit committee members from the general membership

Expect to fully fund yourself for the National Conference

Expect to work on other projects as assigned

The Chair-Elect/Chair of the Presidents Assembly is chosen from PA Steering Committee members. Only committee members who have been a chapter President are eligible for the Chair position. The Chair is responsible for travel costs associated with National Board of Director meetings.

Every member of the committee must be:

A voting NAWBO member in good standing with chapter board experience (but not necessarily a chapter President or Past President)

Experienced in NAWBO leadership and activities

Able to articulate the mission, vision and strategic direction of NAWBO

Credible with NAWBO members

Able to collaborate and create consensus Application Process: The call for nominations starts in January and applications are due in mid-April. NAWBO National Board of Directors

At NAWBO, the passion, talent and expertise of the women business owners who comprise our National Board of Directors is critical to our organization’s success. We look to them to help further NAWBO’s mission, vision and strategy; to assess our organizational structure, policies and procedures; to review and approve budgets; to make recommendations on any major capital expenditures; to bring in new corporate partners and new members; to monitor performance; and to lend credibility to our organization as a result of their reputation in the business community.

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On our board members’ part, they have the opportunity to meet other women business owners from across the U.S. with some incredible success stories and valuable ideas and insights. They get to see first-hand how a non-profit board works from a board member’s perspective, including politics, influence, consensus-building and, of course, decision-making. They also quickly understand that serving as a board member is about more than showing up at meetings. They are handpicked because of the unique talent and expertise they bring to the table, and we definitely capitalize on this during the time they serve. As NAWBO sets out this next year to achieve great things, from rolling out a brand-new online mentoring program to our members, to growing our membership and member benefits to even greater levels, we hope more talented women leaders will consider how they might contribute to a cause they’re passionate about, whether that’s women business owners, education, breast cancer research, etc. Nonprofits like NAWBO welcome their time, energy and intellect at the local and national levels. Board Director Term: Two years and may be re-elected for one additional term Key Attributes and Qualifications of a NAWBO National Board Member

MEMBERSHIP: Is a NAWBO voting member in good standing. SERVICE: Has proven history of service and commitment to NAWBO at the local and/or national

level. EXPERIENCE: Is an experienced board member with history of service on other national boards

of nonprofit or membership organizations. VISION: Has the ability to see the big picture, and to help develop strategy and policy to help the

organization achieve its mission. STEWARDSHIP: Has the ability to serve and promote the interests of the organization and the

women’s business community at large. INTEGRITY: Has the discretion to maintain confidentiality of board discussions and speaks with

one voice when representing the organization to the community, even when in disagreement with majority decisions.

KNOWLEDGE: Possesses knowledge and understanding of the issues and concerns of women business owners; and has the commitment to stay informed and knowledgeable on all pertinent issues that impact our members.

ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Has the willingness to become thoroughly familiar with the mission and how the organization actually carries out the mission day-to-day through its organizational structure and operations.

PERSONAL COMMITMENT: Is willing to take time and make the effort needed to fulfill director responsibilities: including understanding strategic, financial and operational issues facing the organization and engaging personally and directly with the organization, whether through financial support, advocacy, networking, personal service or other support activities.

COLLEGIALITY: Has the ability to work well with others and to show respect for the ideas and views of fellow board members and staff; with the full understanding that boards operate as a body.

DIVERSITY: Represents a diverse segment of the women’s business community and has deep resources and connections in the business community.

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FINANCIAL COMMITMENT: Possesses financial resources and capacity to make a personal contribution or bring in a sponsorship of $5,000 or more annually to the organization.

MEETING ATTENDANCE: Is willing to commit personal time and resources to attend all board meetings, including travel expenses. Missing more than two (2) consecutive board meetings may result in disciplinary action and/or removal from the Board.

Process to Apply to the National Board

A call for nominations is typically sent out in September and the deadline to apply is mid-October.

Once a written application and supporting documents are received, telephone interviews will be scheduled. If selected for the next phase, an in-person interview will be required.

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NAWBO 2015 Goals and Initiatives 2015 NAWBO Goals NAWBO celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2015. As we strive to increase awareness among both members and non-members about our rich history throughout the year, we will simultaneously leverage the timing to reactivate our educational arm for accelerated growth targeted toward women business owners, thereby propelling NAWBO to become the premier business organization of choice for women business owners and their supporters. Chapters: 60, Members: 5,000 Summary: National Organization 2015 Goals

Strengthen the National/chapter business model that empowers us to work at the national level as well as state and local levels on behalf of women business owners. This includes a website upgrade as well as the creation of a chapter website platform as we begin to streamline our NAWBO experience and brand.

Increase membership by executing a focused media strategy to highlight NAWBO’s WBOs,

initiatives, the work we are doing on behalf of women business owners and the contribution women business owners make to the U.S. economy. We are also working on our diversity initiative and have brought on a national membership director to drive our recruitment and retention efforts as well as create and enhance strategic partnerships.

Re-activate our NAWBO Institute for Entrepreneurial Development to focus on strengthening the wealth-creating capacity of women business owners and to promote economic development within the business community—thereby building a legacy of success for future generations of women entrepreneurs. Topics will focus on access to capital, comprehensive assessment of their business and implications for long-term success; developing a long-term strategic plan that serves as the roadmap for accelerated growth; implementing growth strategies and monitoring organizational performance; gaining exclusive access to industry experts and business networks; and becoming a part of a community of peers who are all dedicated to each other’s success.

Increase our public policy efforts. NAWBO was founded with a strong focus on impacting public policy and those efforts were integral to the organization’s early appeal and success. We plan to use the 40th anniversary as an opportunity to further engage and re-engage our chapters on the benefits they can reap as entrepreneurs and NAWBO chapters by putting together and pursuing a public policy agenda in 2015.

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2015 NAWBO National Initiatives This year, NAWBO plans to build on the important partnerships that incubated in 2014 to increase the role women entrepreneurs and business owners play in our nation’s economy.

40th Anniversary: NAWBO is so proud of how far we have come and what still lies ahead for our members. The 40th anniversary will touch and tie into all initiatives in 2015 as it provides the perfect reason to introduce and reintroduce ourselves to a number of stakeholders. Materials have been provided to all chapters so that they may utilize the ideas in their local markets. Check the chapter resource center for the 40th Anniversary Toolkit.

MentorCloud: Another important initiative for NAWBO is our new partnership with MentorCloud, which will be launched to the full membership in the first quarter of 2015.

o Mentoring is such an important component of NAWBO and one of the key drivers of success for entrepreneurs. Through MentorCloud’s global mentoring network, NAWBO members will be able to tap into a web-based platform to collaborate and support each other’s growth.

o We are excited about this new initiative, which will allow women business owners to leverage new technologies to provide yet another platform to do what NAWBO has been facilitating for decades—mentoring and relationship-building between our members to share best practices and ideas.

o Members will be empowered to connect as subject-matter experts, mentors, mentees and peers around their goals as well as areas of mutual interest.

o MentorCloud will also serve as a community for NAWBO members to connect to grow their businesses, offering “Wants” and “Needs” components for further engagement.

Portfolia: NAWBO is proud to partner with Portfolia to create NAWBO-Portfolia Investment Circles in 2015. Beginning in five NAWBO chapters, this partnership will enable NAWBO members to learn more about investment opportunities that align with their own entrepreneurial spirit and goals. It will also contribute to Portfolia’s larger mission of engaging 1 million women to invest in entrepreneurial companies. This makes NAWBO and Portfolia ideally positioned to join forces and undertake this solution to the top challenges many women entrepreneurs face—either trouble accessing capital or uncertainty about where to invest their capital. This partnership will address and advance women on both sides of this quandary and allow NAWBO members to give back and lend their support to women entrepreneurs.

YEA!: NAWBO is also incredibly proud to be partnering with the YEA!, The Young Entrepreneurs Academy, that is redefining entrepreneurship education in our nation, especially for young women and girls.

o YEA! is a groundbreaking yearlong program that transforms middle and high school students into entrepreneurs. The students generate business ideas, conduct market

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research, write business plans, pitch to a panel of investors and launch their own companies.

o Several NAWBO chapters have launched the YEA! program, and our goal is for every medium-to-large NAWBO chapter to embrace the program since it is a win-win-win: for our chapters, for their communities and for the next generation of entrepreneurs.

o The important relationships NAWBO chapters will forge while building a successful YEA! program in their communities will not only further entrepreneurship and promote economic growth, but also will help NAWBO connect with local universities that serve as the program host sites.

NADCO: In 2014, NAWBO formed a strategic partnership with the National Association of Development Companies (NADCO) to promote access to capital and small business lending options for women business owners and female entrepreneurs.

o One of the leading barriers to the establishment and growth of women-owned businesses is the lack of access or awareness of lending options.

o According to the NAWBO 2013 State of Women-Owned Business Survey, nearly a quarter of women business owners did not seek a new loan or line of credit because they did not believe they would qualify for the credit.

o Since the fuel of capital is so critical for business owners to succeed, NAWBO and NADCO have worked together in 2014 at a variety of forums to educate women business owners and highlight various ways to help them meet their financial needs.

o In addition to helping women business owners with access to capital, our organizations are collaborating to ensure women business owners have the financial education to support their financial decisions and plans.

o In 2015, we hope to expand this effort by collaborating with NADCO at more forums across the nation

Re-activation of the Institute for Entrepreneurial Development, NAWBO’s 501 (c3) Programming

E-Learning Webinar Series: This is our online educational program created to address the unique needs and challenges of women-owned businesses. Online sessions deliver tools and knowledge to apply for business growth. Topics have included How to Attract Clients, Taking Your Business Global, Understanding the Affordable Care Act and Social Media for Business Growth.

Money Matters Workshops: To be announced.

Exporting 101 Series: This is the online component of our broader international efforts in which we will engage in 2015. The goal will be to allow members with an interest in going global or learning more about their options in the international arena to do so through trusted NAWBO staff and sources.

Capacity-Building Program: To be announced.

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2015 Public Policy Agenda In 2015, NAWBO plans to pursue a public policy agenda that will benefit the majority of NAWBO members while also increasing our visibility and credibility with elected officials, agency personnel, peer organizations and members of the media. This can be done through an expanded agenda that still addresses more traditional business issues, like taxes and regulations, but also folds in NAWBO’s stance on issues that impact women entrepreneurs such as breast cancer, Alzheimer’s, pension reform and retirement planning. By broadening our focus to include these additional issues, we also increase our ability to build coalitions and credibility with members of both political parties, establish NAWBO leaders as thought leaders on a greater variety of issues and garner media attention. Access to Capital NAWBO believes that access to capital is a key tool for women entrepreneurs to start new businesses and successfully expand existing enterprises. For our nation’s economy to continue to improve, it is critical for Congress to focus on supporting established programs with a proven track record of success that help financial institutions through added incentives for providing capital to small and women-owned businesses. In addition, NAWBO believes that Congress and the Administration should strive to remove unnecessary obstacles to capital formation and resist legislation and regulations that hinder the ability of women business owners to raise capital, mitigate risk and manage liquidity. Education and Workforce NAWBO understands that an educated, prepared workforce is the key to growing businesses. We will look to support legislation that encourages and increases opportunities to fill and accelerate the pipelines between the workforce and employers with a specific interest in legislation impacting Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education. Government Contracting NAWBO strongly supports efforts by Congress to increase the allocation of federal contracts to be performed and/or fulfilled by small businesses, particularly women-owned businesses, and also believes federal agencies should be held accountable to achieve their small business contracting requirements. NAWBO believes that functions and services that are widely available in the private sector should not be performed by federal agencies. In this vein, NAWBO opposes efforts by Congress or the Administration to encourage the sourcing of functions currently contracted to the private sector. Health Care As health care continues to be a hot topic on Capitol Hill, NAWBO will explore supporting efforts to reduce both the billions of dollars in taxes and other costs and the onerous and costly burdens of the employer mandate imposed by the Affordable Care Act. NAWBO also supports strengthening the employer-sponsored system and allowing small businesses to pool risk and purchase coverage at an affordable price. In addition, NAWBO will track and weigh in on health care legislation affecting breast cancer, Alzheimer’s and other health issues that disproportionately impact women. International Trade NAWBO believes this is an issue in which there can be bi-partisan agreement reached in Washington, D.C. and encourages the Administration to negotiate and Congress to approve trade agreements with other significant open new markets, leveling the playing field and improving the competitiveness for U.S.

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women business owners. NAWBO also supports improving and strengthening trade promotion programs to assist small women-owned businesses in exporting their goods and services. Regulatory Reform The massive increase in Federal regulations impacting business and the accompanying uncertainty this generates has a harmful effect on the U.S. economy by dampening business investment, growth and job creation. NAWBO supports legislative efforts to require federal agencies that tailor new regulations to impose the least cost necessary to achieve policy goals set by Congress. NAWBO also supports legislation to require Congress to approve and the President to sign any new major rule projected to have an economic impact of $100 million or more. Science and Technology The need for more qualified women within the STEM fields is well documented. NAWBO will work to support legislation that addresses the challenges specific to these industries in both the short and the long term. Taxes NAWBO supports comprehensive tax reform designed to lower the corporate and marginal tax rates while broadening the tax base to provide greater certainty and increase competitiveness for women-owned businesses. Such reform should enact simple, predictable, easy-to-comprehend tax rules to reduce the cost of administration. Since a significant number of NAWBO members have businesses that are structured as pass-through entities for tax purposes and, therefore, file their taxes through their individual filings, we oppose any legislative effort to increase the marginal income tax rates as this would impact a substantial number of women-owned businesses.

Public Policy Initiatives 2015 NAWBO surveys: Plans are underway to compile and release the third annual Women’s Business Owners survey with partner Web.com. The results will be released in the first quarter and will help guide us as to the public policy awareness and priorities of our members so that we can educate and engage them on the issues that are impacting their businesses. We also have plans to partner with various corporate and media sponsors on surveys during each quarter of 2015 that will look at the variances between male and female approaches to businesses and provide an in-depth look at the use of technology from multiple perspectives. Vision 2020 Ally: NAWBO is proud to join Vision 2020 as a National Ally. Vision 2020 is a coalition of individuals and organizations united in the commitment to achieve economic, political and social equality for women and girls by the year 2020, the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that granted women the right to vote. By 2020, NAWBO’s aim is to have NAWBO chapters offering leadership training that teaches members about government with the goal of encouraging them to participate in public service.

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Public Policy Engagement Develop and strengthen key relationships with legislators and White House Administration

officials Host NAWBO Day on the Hill in March to provide NAWBO National Board members and chapter

public policy leaders an opportunity to meet with and hear from leaders both in the Administration and on Capitol Hill

Work with chapters to develop and execute their own public policy plans and events Actively engage in policies that impact the growth and success of women-owned businesses

with a focus on federal procurement and international trade Release a Federal Legislative Score Card Continue with Public Policy Primer webinars to keep NAWBO members informed

2015 Communication Strategy Plan In 2015, you can expect to see some familiar NAWBO communications as well as new ones. We have so much to celebrate with NAWBO’s 40th anniversary, which makes it an ideal time to revise and revamp the way we communicate.

NAWBO SmartBrief with a subscriber database of over 15,000 and sent to your inbox every Wednesday with pertinent news about the women’s business community

NAWBO ONE e-newsletter with a distribution list of over 25,000 and sent to your inbox and posted on the website bi-monthly to offer resources and tools to maximize your NAWBO membership and grow your business. In 2015, the schedule for our e-newsletter will be as follows:

o NAWBO ONE for chapters: 1st business day of every month o NAWBO ONE for women business leaders: 2nd Wednesday of every month o NAWBO ONE MORE for women business leaders: 4th Wednesday of every month

We look forward to creating and sharing content with you for these publications. In each of these communication pieces, we want to hear from you. You can find the 2015 editorial calendar and submission guidelines on the NAWBO National website.

We will maintain our strong social media/digital presence and encourage you to do the same at your chapter.

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Women’s Business Conference Hosted by NAWBO (WBC) WBC 2015 NAWBO’s National Women’s Business Conference in San Antonio (September 27-29, with Leadership Boot Camp on the 27th and the WBC on the 28th and 29th) is a tremendous opportunity to connect and share fresh ideas, powerful inspiration and resources with hundreds of women entrepreneurs of all ages and industries who are eager to learn and grow to the next level. About This Year’s Theme

Our 2015 conference theme is “Inspire the Change.” The economy is still recovering, led by women-owned and small businesses. It’s up to us to continue to be the “spark” of change and growth and the National Women’s Business Conference will empower you to be this critical change for the overall economy, for your community, in your business, in your professional life and for future generations of women. This year, it’s all about proactive, positive change: Embracing it, leading it, driving it and growing as a result. Join us to inspire hope and confidence that change is coming...because we are the change.

About NAWBO’s 40-Year Anniversary Celebration

In 2015, NAWBO celebrates 40 years of impact on women’s entrepreneurship that started in 1975 when a dozen like-minded businesswomen in the D.C. area gathered to share information and create a professional community to further and strengthen their entrepreneurial interests. Today, NAWBO is the unified voice of America’s more than 9.1 million women-owned businesses that make up the fastest growing segment of the economy. We have 60 chapters across the U.S. in nearly every major metropolitan area. At the National Women’s Business Conference in San Antonio, we will celebrate this milestone anniversary!

About the Location & Venue

There’s a good reason why approximately 26 million tourists visit San Antonio, Texas, each year. From its beautiful Spanish colonial missions, to the historic Alamo, to the fun and scenic Riverwalk, to the sports with five-time NBA champion San Antonio Spurs—it’s a diverse, colorful city with something for everyone. And that’s true for businesses, too. The major employers in San Antonio help drive the city’s dynamic and growing economy. They include industries like business services, biomedical and biotechnology, new energy, manufacturing and more. This year’s conference venue, the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter, is in the heart of San Antonio, making it the perfect place to stay. This magnificent 38-story hotel is just steps from the world-famous Riverwalk, premier shopping, dining and entertainment, as well as near many area attractions, including Six Flags Fiesta Texas, the San Antonio Zoo and the Alamo. It features luxurious rooms and suites with LCD TVs, premium cable, high-speed Internet access and Marriott’s Plug-In Technology. National Conference: Who attends and how can corporate sponsors benefit from attendance?

NAWBO members and women business owners from across the country will be in attendance, in addition to local and national media and local dignitaries.

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Corporate sponsors will benefit from exposure to all attendees before, during and after the event.

In addition, we will offer opportunities to sponsor specific events within the WBC that will call further attention to their support of NAWBO and the WBO community.

To Host a WBC in Your Hometown We are grateful for all that you do to make NAWBO the home of women business owners around the country. As you know, NAWBO hosts a women’s business conference annually, and we have put a formal process together for conference site selection. If your chapter is interested in having the National Women’s Business Conference in your hometown, please e-mail us at wbc@nawbo.org to get information on the RFP process.

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Membership Strategy and Initiatives

NAWBO National Membership Goals for 2015 Increase membership by 10% and increase retention from 57% to 61%. Local Chapter Membership Goals for 2015 Each local chapter will use the One Page Business Plan to help outline specific membership goals.

2015 Membership Recruitment and Retention Plan

Streamline and simplify the membership categories in order make the joining process easier and create a stronger “why” to join NAWBO

Create brand consistency and unify the messaging of NAWBO membership

Develop membership campaigns and programs to help increase membership

Provide tools and resources to chapters to help with membership outreach and retention

Schedule monthly check-in calls with chapters to help support membership initiatives

Increase visibility of members and chapters by highlighting events, programs and member success stories

Review and support the One Page Business Plan with chapters to help achieve membership goals

Membership Initiatives

Membership Renewal Call Initiative: NAWBO National will offer support to chapters with calling members up for renewal and suspended members. The Director of Membership will call each chapter prior to reaching out to the membership and receive authorization to make these monthly calls. Results will be tracked under notes for each member. We will e-mail a summary of results to each chapter. The goal is to collect payment for renewal of membership and increase member renewals.

One Page Business Plan: This is a tool that will help each chapter focus on specific goals in order to increase membership. NAWBO National provides training through online webinars and face-to-face training at Leadership Boot Camps. Following are the best practices regarding how to get started with the OPBP:

Draft OPBP for your chapter

Review OPBP with your Presidents Assembly Regional Liaison and the National Director of Membership

Share draft with your team, discuss, fine tune and finalize

Share plan with membership

Monitor implementation monthly; review quarterly with your Board

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Creating plans by committee is problematic (too many cooks in the kitchen). The process moves more effectively and efficiently if the leader creates a draft and then brings it to the group to discuss, debate, refine and come to agreement. The OPBP recommends this process for Chapter Presidents:

1. Begin drafting plans immediately. Should have 1st draft in 90 minutes. (Point, Click, Plan! online software makes it very easy to create draft)

2. Partner with Board member (President-Elect or Immediate Past President) for support, brainstorming and accountability.

3. Schedule one-hour meeting and use meeting to share, learn and brainstorm. Commit to update plan within 48 hours of meeting.

4. Schedule 2nd meeting one week later to review progress, share ideas and get feedback.

5. Meet with key chapter leaders to present OPBP as a DRAFT, not a completed plan. Have open, honest dialog on OPBP; refine plan to reflect new ideas and decisions.

6. Have 2nd meeting by end of month to finalize plan.

Member Orientation: The NAWBO team holds member orientations monthly via webinar. The intention is for all members to understand how to get the most out of their membership and what it means to be a part of a national organization. “Why NAWBO?” Presentation: The presentation is used as an outreach tool for potential members and helps drive membership back to the local chapters. The 30-minute presentations are held monthly by the Director of Membership. This presentation also can be used by local chapters as a community outreach tool, providing an overview for local government officials and attracting potential new corporate partners. Note: PowerPoint templates and a guide for talking points have been provided to each chapter for the Member Orientation and “Why NAWBO?” Presentation.

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Affinity Program Continue to cultivate strategic partnerships to help develop member-only benefits to increase membership ROI. The updated membership categories will divide the member-only benefits based on which category someone chooses to join. Please see an overview of each benefit below. The detailed descriptions of the Affinity Partners can be found on the NAWBO website at http://nawbo.org/section_117.cfm.

American Express OPEN American Express OPEN is the team dedicated exclusively to the success of small business owners like you, providing an enhanced set of products, tools, services and savings designed to meet your evolving needs, including charge and credit cards, convenient access to working capital, robust online account management capabilities and savings on business services from an expanded lineup of partners. Every time a NAWBO member gets approved for a card, American Express OPEN sends a rebate back to the organization to support the success of women business owners.

Constant Contact Constant Contact's leading e-mail marketing, social media marketing, event marketing, local deals, digital storefronts and online surveys—supported by its free KnowHow, personalized coaching and award-winning product support—help all types of small businesses and organizations find new customers, drive repeat business and generate referrals. Today, more than half a million customers worldwide trust Constant Contact to help them drive success. The company further supports small organizations through its extensive network of consultants/resellers, technology providers, franchises and national associations. NAWBO members also receive discounts on their Constant Contact accounts. Independent Stationers NAWBO Office Supply Solution Serviced by Independent Stationers and its network of women-owned office supply dealers throughout the United States. This exclusive NAWBO office supply program includes deep discounts including up to 85% off of 300 core items, and additional discounts off list/retail pricing on over 20,000 additional contract items for NAWBO members!

Additional Benefits

Over 23,000 items available: 300 of the most common products discounted further

Items include general office supplies, paper and toner, technology items, break room supplies, janitorial items, furniture, and much more

No minimum orders – order as much or as little as you need 2% discount on merchandise orders over $250

Maui Mastermind Coaching Program Online coaching program for NAWBO members a $2,400 value for one year. This gift was

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arranged by former National NAWBO President Patty DeDominic. Whether you want to leverage your WBE certifications, negotiate an increased line of credit, get an SBA guaranteed loan, build your board of advisors, or expand your sales, this new business coaching resource for NAWBO members can help! One Page Business Plan Company Your business is complex, but your planning process can and should be simple. This is the company that radically simplified business planning and performance management over 20 years ago. They can help you and your team create a culture of focus, alignment, and accountability without complexity. They have a wide variety of business plan solutions and their coaches and support team can help you — whether you are a sole proprietor or a $1 billion company.

Getting started with One Page Business Plans is easy and affordable:

The One Page Business Plan for Women in Business Planning Workbook and Business Owner’s Toolkit. Retail price: $34.95 NAWBO price: $24.47 ( a 30% Savings) Download the first chapter for free!

NAWBO members are entitled to a 20% discount on One Page Planning and Performance Management Software Solutions and discounts on coaching and implementation fees.

NAWBO members interested in adding the One Page Business Plan to their coaching or consulting toolkit can save $500 on the One Page Business Plan Licensing and Certification Program

All NAWBO Chapters and National have complimentary usage and access to One Page Planning and Performance Management System for the organization’s internal use.

PerkSpot Find deals you can use anywhere! Get exclusive discounts at your favorite local and national merchants. The PerkSpot program offers a robust menu of merchants in the following categories:

Apparel

Automotive

Beauty & Fragrance

Books & Media

Cell Phones

Computers & Electronics

Financial & Life Services

Flowers & Gifts

Food

Health & Wellness

Home, Garden & Pets

Sports & Outdoors

Tickets

Toys, Kids & Babies

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Travel

Note: PerkSpot discounts are available for Established and Sustaining members

PR News Wire NAWBO has teamed up with PR Newswire to offer you a 12-month membership at no charge. Just submit your contact information through the Sign up Now section of the PR Toolkit and someone from PR Newswire will contact you to get you signed up.

Included with your waived annual membership:

Waiver of first year PR Newswire membership fee (value of $195) FREE Media Microlist with first domestic news distribution (value up to $595)

Discount on ProfNet SM (55% OFF) Discount on Basic Multimedia Distribution (40% OFF) Discount on Basic Multimedia New Release (25% OFF)

* Offer only available to new PR Newswire members.

Sage Payment Solutions NAWBO has partnered with Sage Payment Solutions to bring your business more ways to accept and process credit and debit card payments at discounted member rates! Sage provides the highest level of security and superior high touch technical and financial phone support. When you work with Sage, you’ll work with a company that advocates making your business life easier with solutions like:

Full Suite of Products: Accept multiple forms of payment including credit/debit cards, electronic checks, Check 21, gift and loyalty cards and recurring payments

Payment and Software Integration: Take payments from any device that automatically reconcile into your ledger-eliminating manual data entry.

Payment Consolidation: Manage your entire payments environment in a single online location accessible via a browser and optimized for a tablet

Mobility: Make sales and take payments on a smart phone, tablet or laptop

UPS Shipping Discounts UPS knows how important your business is to you. Let them help you find ways to improve customer service, maximize cash flow, manage costs, save time shipping, and speed up your shipment processing. NAWBO members are eligible to take advantage of special discounts of up to 26% on shipping. Whether it's overnight letters across the country or international shipping around the world, you’ll start saving with the first package you send. After that, the more you ship, the more you save.

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Simplified Membership Categories Length of time in business isn’t the only way to measure success or more importantly determine the needs of NAWBO members. After speaking with numerous chapter leaders, members of the Presidents Assembly Steering Committee, the National Board of Directors and our members we have decided to simplify the NAWBO membership categories in a way that empowers our members to choose the level of membership and accompanying member benefits that best meets their current business needs, rather than forcing them to receive benefits based on length of time in business. ESTABLISHED Member (Voting) (Voting empowers our members to directly impact the current and future movement of the organization with policies and processes) A regular voting category member receives all communications and publications, is eligible for all discounts and benefits, and is listed in the online member directory. Chapter membership is automatic for those whose businesses are located within a 45-mile radius of a chapter. To qualify for membership, member must own a percentage of their company. Key Membership Benefits Include

Maui Mastermind Virtual Coaching valued at $2,400 Complimentary one-year PR Newswire membership valued at $2,000 Sage Payment Solutions complimentary setup valued at $75 Enterprise Software and Professional Services offered by the One Page Business Plan a tool used

for precise business planning Opportunity to submit content for publication in the NAWBO ONE for Women Business Leaders

e-publication Exclusive Invitation for Opening Reception & 40th Anniversary Bash at 2015 National Women’s

Business Conference Invitation to participate in the MentorCloud online mentoring platform Early Bird Discount to NAWBO National events Access to eLearning Series that provides business solutions to build better business leaders PerkSpot program offers significant savings with a robust menu of over 500 different merchants

(expected to launch March 2015)

*Note: All member benefits for this category include the benefits listed below for the Emerging Member Category.

EMERGING Member (Non-Voting) A non-voting category member receives all communications and publications, is eligible for limited discounts and benefits and is listed in the online member directory. To qualify for membership, a member must own a percentage of their business. Membership Benefits Include

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Significant Savings of up to 70% with Independent Stationers Special tools provided by Constant Contact Discounts provided by UPS Early bird discount to NAWBO National events Access to eLearning Series that provides business solutions to build better business leaders Access to business information on the NAWBO website Eligibility to participate in NAWBO Video Contests

AT-LARGE MEMBER (Voting) (Voting empowers our members to directly impact the current and future movement of the organization on policies and processes) These members are business owners whose businesses and residences are not located within a 45-mile radius of a chapter. A member in this classification has one vote and is under the supervision of NAWBO. *Note: All member benefits for this category includes the benefits listed for Established and Emerging Member Category

SUPPORTING MEMBER (Non-Voting)* These members are individuals or non-profit organizations who subscribe to the objectives of NAWBO and wish to lend support to NAWBO through membership. This category of membership includes limited discounts and listing in the online member directory. The individual does not need to be a woman business owner; the category includes retired women business owners and students. Member Benefits Include

Significant Savings of up to 70% with Independent Stationers Special tools provided by Constant Contact Discounts provided by UPS Access to eLearning Series that provides business solutions to build better business leaders

SUSTAINING MEMBER (Voting) These members are individuals who hold executive titles at corporations that subscribe to the objectives of NAWBO and wish to lend support to NAWBO through a corporate membership. This category of membership includes a listing in the online member directory. *Note: We’ve designed this level to be an entry level for potential local corporate partnership. Special benefits can be offered at the local level.

How to Market NAWBO and the Simplified Membership Categories There are different reasons why people join an organization. NAWBO continues to focus on our mission: The National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) propels women entrepreneurs into economic, social and political spheres of power worldwide by

STRENGTHENING the wealth-creating capacity of our members and promoting economic development

CREATING innovative and effective changes in the business culture

BUILDING strategic alliances, coalitions and affiliations

TRANSFORMING public policy and influencing opinion Founding Mission: Creating leaders for a world of change

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In addition, we have created the 4 Cs of the NAWBO Network for women entrepreneurs to lead their community and create business opportunities for others:

Capital – Education and resources you need to choose the best financing options for your business

Confidence – Leadership training and tools necessary to grow personally and professionally

Community – A sisterhood of women who support women and provide the catalyst for change across the country and the world

Capitols – An advocate for you and your business with elected officials from the nation’s capitol to your state capitol

NAWBO is first and foremost a women’s business organization, but it is so much more than that. It is a community and a support system. It is a place where we cheer for each other and celebrate our successes, both personal and professional, and lift one another up during difficult times. It is a “Congratulations” from a member across the country, or a “We've got your back” in our hometown. As someone once said, “Sisterhood is the essence of all the wisdom of the ages, distilled into a single word. You cannot see sisterhood, neither can you hear it nor taste it. But you can feel it a hundred times a day. It is a pat on the back, a smile of encouragement. It's someone to share with, to celebrate your achievements.” When talking about joining NAWBO, it is helpful for you to share a personal story of why you joined and what benefits NAWBO has been able to provide you. If we can make the reason more personal, then people can better relate to why NAWBO is different from other organizations. Membership Payment Processing In order to streamline the process for membership payment, we recommend that all membership payments are processed through the national website. This allows for our new members to receive information in a timely manner. Also, the chapter does not need to take up limited resources to report members who have joined locally. An overview of the payment process is below. Payments

• Payments are processed on the day that they are received unless there is an issue with the credit card information provided; we then follow up with the member to correct any issues

• All checks are processed from the PNC lockbox daily

• Chapter administrators receive an e-mail upon successful payment processing, letting them know that a member has joined or renewed

• All information is reflected in the online reports • Accepted credit cards are American Express, MasterCard and Visa

Renewal Process

• Membership renewal e-mails are sent out on the 1st business day of the month.

• Suspensions are run the first full week on Thursday. This allows chapters that are collecting dues directly enough time to remit the applications and mail in payment, eliminating the issue of members being suspended or terminated when the chapter has collected payment.

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• Renewal postcards are mailed 60 days prior to membership lapse, reminding members that they need to renew.

• E-mail reminders are sent out 60 days prior to the member’s renewal date, and again, 30 days prior to the renewal date.

• Suspended e-mails are sent 30 days, 60 days and 90 days past membership lapse. Chapter Rebate Reports

• Chapters are sent rebate reports twice a month on the 7th and 21st of each month.

• Payments are sent to chapters via ACH transfer.

• E-mails are sent to chapter President, Treasurer, President-Elect and those designated to receive the reports in the Chapter Administrator section of the national website.

Note: Chapters have total control over who receives these reports. E-mail Tracking

• Each month we review the e-mail distribution list and update any addresses that have too many bounce backs.

• If there are no e-mail addresses in the chapter report for a specific member, we ask the local chapter to help us update the information.

• All information can be updated using the Chapter Administrator tool on the website.

• Currently, the system protocol doesn’t allow members to “opt out” of receiving their renewal notice so the only time they wouldn’t get the invoice or reminders is if they have blocked national@nawbo.org or the email goes to their spam folder.

Membership Campaigns Better Together: Provide incentive to members to refer friends to NAWBO. If the referral joins, members will receive discounts to the next National Women’s Business Conference in San Antonio. The campaign ends December 31, 2015. We Want You Back: Outreach to members whose membership has expired over the past two years. The campaign will outreach to 4,400 former members. The campaign will have three touch points, with the initial announcement through an email to the entire list and follow-up with a mailer to key WBOs who have businesses with a minimum of one employee. The campaign launch is scheduled for May 2015. Annual Membership Drive: The NAWBO chapter with the highest number of new members that were recruited during the membership drive (March 1-April 30) will be recognized in our publications, on Presidents Assembly webinars and at leadership training events. Please see the Sample Script section for telephone renewal phone calls.

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Annual Awards Program NAWBO Member of Year: This member has demonstrated creativity and innovation with a positive and uplifting spirit that supports the NAWBO mission. 5 Star Healthy Chapter Award: NAWBO National will recognize all chapters that complete each star. One chapter will be chosen to recognize outstanding achievement. “No Small Thing”: Video Contest This contest centers on National Small Business Week, which is held annually in May. Each submission should be 2-minutes or less highlighting the “one thing that has contributed most to your success as a small business.” The video competition is open to any WBO that subscribes to NAWBO ONE. “MY NAWBO” Video Contest is designed to capture and highlight member experiences around NAWBO advantages they receive exclusively from NAWBO that have helped to propel them personally and professionally. *Note: Awards will be presented at the National Women’s Business Conference.

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Investment in Chapter Support Systems and Leadership Development Boot camps The NAWBO® Chapter Leadership Boot Camps are designed to provide customized training, valuable resources and best practice sharing for current and future NAWBO® leaders. The program curriculum will empower each participant to: BUILD a sustainable chapter infrastructure, STRENGTHEN leadership skills and IMPACT the legacy of the women’s business community at large.

The Chapter Leadership meetings are designed to provide chapters with

Customized training platforms to facilitate the growth of strong and sustainable chapters

Resources and tools to strengthen leadership skills and develop a chapter leader succession plan

An opportunity to communicate and build an effective partnership with NAWBO® National and to learn how to leverage the resources and tools available

Facilitate best practice sharing and collaboration with other leaders from across the country

Each boot camps is unique, a reflection that the organization at both the chapter and national levels continues to grow and evolve and has new ideas and information to share. We encourage you to attend them all; but you can attend as many as you like and the content will still be valuable. Although topics may be similar, the panelists, speakers, and information shared will constantly be updated and relevant. As we focus on the 5 Star approach to chapter growth, we are invested in your chapter success. These boot camps are one way we strive to help you succeed. The Leadership Boot Camp held in conjunction with the NAWBO WBC will feature two tracks this year: one for chapter leaders and one general leadership track for members. The first portion of this leadership boot camp will be the NAWBO membership meeting. We will start with the State of NAWBO and then go into a NAWBO history panel to celebrate our 40th anniversary. NOTE: There are 40th anniversary celebrations with each regional boot camp

Presidents Assembly Webinars Join us the third Thursday of each month for an informative webinar for all chapter leaders. Each month we focus on a different topic from membership recruitment, to chapter finances to strategic planning and everything in between to help chapter leaders learn best practices on chapter management.

Online Chapter Resource Center (CRC) NAWBO’s CRC is designed specifically for chapter leaders and administrators who provide day-to-day operational and management tools, including Chapter Operational Manual, Strategic Plan templates, best practice library and chapter toolkits .

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Chapter Leader Online Training We will be offering trainings for online communities such as MentorCloud, as well as training on the new NAWBO website and chapter website platform. We will also be offering trainings for the NAWBO chapter administrator back end for chapter leaders to access membership reports. Quarterly Chapter Administration calls - 2015 Launch! Quarterly Chapter administrators call to keep current on all new developments, events, tools, training. This is designed to keep chapter administrators up-to-date on the latest tools and resources from NAWBO National. 5-Star Healthy Chapter Program Everyone has heard the phrase – “5-Star Dining” or “5-Star Hotel.” As business owners, “5-Star” means great service, going the extra mile, and taking the time to make sure customers are 100% satisfied. Customers want to get what they pay for and will pay top dollar for quality service. This is also true when it comes to selecting an organization to belong to.

In keeping with that philosophy, the NAWBO Presidents Assembly Steering Committee has established criteria for a healthy NAWBO chapter using a 5-star rating system of earned quality recognition. The program is designed to help every chapter, no matter their size, to earn recognition as strong and vibrant contributors to the NAWBO brand and leaders in their individual business communities.

Stars are as follows

1. One Page Business Plan — Chapters will create a multi-year business plan and follow it. To earn this star, the chapter must use the One Page Business Plan tool and have their plan reviewed by the PASC and NAWBO staff.

2. Member Engagement — Chapters grow and remain strong with members who form relationships and business communities and where chapters and members support one another. To earn this star, the chapter shall have at least one representative Board Member present at each National Conference, and at official NAWBO events for leaders whether in person or virtual (e.g., Leadership Boot Camps and PASC Webinars).

3. Education — Chapters shall deliver educational programs and conduct professional growth workshops and seminars at various times throughout the year with subjects of interest to the members and their business growth. To earn this star, the chapter shall submit a written, scheduled, active educational program plan with metrics that promote member growth and will report on any leadership development program initiated by the chapter. Examples: Educational Speaker Series, Mastermind Groups, Training and Development Workshops.

4. Financial Stability — Corporate partnerships and various affiliations are part of the financial well-being of the chapter and are supported by members and leaders within the community. To earn this star, chapters will provide information and relate it to their One Page Business Plan on their prescribed growth in Corporate Partnerships, affiliations, and the chapter annual budgets with a scorecard on the benefits and value reported to the Partner.

5. Advocacy — NAWBO is known and recognized for their advocacy of women-owned businesses, and our contributions to Public Policy are not only a part of “NAWBO’s DNA” but a strong part of the NAWBO Brand. To earn this star, chapters shall provide a written, scheduled, active platform representing members’ business concerns (local, state, or federal) that is supported by the chapter and the members.

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NAWBO ONE for Chapter Leaders Chapter Leaders will receive a monthly e-publication dedicated to chapter leaders to share best practices, event information and chapter toolkits to help them in all areas for strategic chapter growth. Chapter leaders are encouraged to send in best practices, member highlights and chapter events to share. Monthly Communications Toolkits Chapters will continue to receive monthly communication toolkits to use in their communities, which will include customizable monthly blog/articles and social media posts.

Links to Videos Videos can be found on NAWBO’s website and on our Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ NAWBO Travelers Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TAn1IQnmlg WBC Promotional Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iqra0-Qstk

Sponsorship Overview Why sponsors should get involved with NAWBO

Encourage partners to: get behind one of the fastest-growing and most dynamic sectors in today’s economy: Women Business Owners

The numbers paint a powerful story: • More than 9.1 million firms are currently owned by women. • Women-owned businesses employ nearly 7.9 million people and generate $1.4 trillion in sales.

Moreover, women have growing wealth and incredible purchasing power: • Women account for 85% of all consumer purchases, including everything from autos and health care to computers and new homes.

• Baby Boomer women wield more spending clout than any other group. (Statistics from Womenable report commissioned by American Express “OPEN State of Women-Owned Businesses 2014” and She-conomy)

As the pre-eminent organization for our nation’s women business owners, NAWBO asks that you get behind our powerful mission of propelling women entrepreneurs into economic, social and political spheres of power worldwide by

• STRENGTHENING the wealth-creating capacity of our members and promoting economic development • CREATING innovative and effective changes in the business culture

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• BUILDING strategic alliances, coalitions and affiliations • TRANSFORMING public policy and influencing opinion

When you become a corporate partner of NAWBO, your support will help us to deliver the 4 Cs of NAWBO Membership

Capital: Education and resources women entrepreneurs need to choose the best financing options for their business

Confidence: Leadership training and tools necessary for women entrepreneurs to grow personally and professionally

Community: A sisterhood of women who support women and provide the catalyst for change across the country and the world

Capitols: An advocate for women entrepreneurs and their businesses with elected officials from the nation’s capitol to state capitols

NAWBO’s current corporate partners will tell you sponsorship is a win-win with this influential and fiercely loyal group.

By supporting NAWBO, you will build brand allegiance among a notably loyal consumer group. Doing so will grow your bottom line through opportunities to sell to and affiliate with our

network of successful women entrepreneurs. Aligning with NAWBO also enables you to broadly highlight to your customers your support of

an empowering, positive women’s organization.

Gain Share for Chapters Who Bring Corporate Partners As a way to help reward chapters who bring their local corporate partners to the national level, we will be sharing a portion of the revenue with the chapter. Chapters, not individuals, shall be eligible for a one-time gain-share of 15% for the active recruitment and initial placement of a new national corporate partner. For more information, contact chapterservices@nawbo.org.

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Sample Scripts and Talking Points Additional talking points for Meetings and Events Presence in Washington: This sets us apart from other women’s organizations

“Get a seat at the table or build your own table, and make sure to include other women at that table.” — Susan Hager, Founding NAWBO National President

From a group of a dozen like-minded businesswomen — to powerhouse players in the nation’s capital.

Focused on reenergizing NAWBO’s involvement and influence in the public policy sphere. We are the voice of 9.1 million firms owned by women, representing the fastest growing

segment of the economy. Women-owned firms (50% or more owned by a woman) account for 30% of all privately held

firms and contribute 14% of employment and 11% of revenues. These statistics give us substantial influence in Washington with our elected officeholders who

are working to get our economy back on track. Strengthening the wealth-creating capacity of our members and promoting economic

development within the entrepreneurial community will help energize our economy. NAWBO is working to transform public policy and influence opinion makers in order to create

innovative and effective changes in the business environment. NAWBO’s roots are in public policy, making the 40th anniversary of our founding the ideal time

to further engage or reengage in these efforts to remove barriers and burdens to women entrepreneurs.

And we don’t have to do it alone. We are building strategic alliances, coalitions and affiliations with the goal of advancing our agenda in the corridors of power in Washington, DC.

Sample Meeting Script National Association of Women Business Owners

Our organization, the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), has come quite a long way from 1975, when it all began around one kitchen table where a dozen like-minded businesswomen who would gather to further and strengthen their entrepreneurial interests. Founding NAWBO National President Susan Hager liked to say, “Get a seat at the table or build your own table, and make sure to include other women at that table.”

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And this has been the mission of NAWBO—ensuring women business owners and entrepreneurs have a strong voice with policy makers and public officials who are making decisions that impact our businesses, our ability to succeed and our bottom line. From those humble beginnings, NAWBO has grown to become the unified voice representing America’s women-owned businesses and a powerhouse player in our nation’s capital. With more than 5,000 members, 60 chapters, including a chapter in nearly every major metropolitan area, and a reach into 60 countries on five continents, NAWBO represents the interests of women business owners of numerous size, sectors and regions.

We take great pride and understand the important responsibility of representing women business owners who are absolutely critical to our nation’s economy. Consider that there are more than 9.1 million firms owned by women, employing nearly 7.9 million people, and generating $1.4 trillion in sales as of 2014.

Clearly, women business owners can move our economy. So whether it is tax policy, health care regulations, protecting intellectual property or reauthorizing programs that increase access to capital, we at NAWBO know our role in transforming public policy and making sure our voice is heard and that we have a seat at the table to engage and influence opinion makers is essential. We also do a variety of activities to empower women business owners at the state and local levels through our chapters. *** Talk about your work at YOUR Chapter *** And we don’t have to do it alone. We are building strategic alliances, coalitions and affiliations with the goal of advancing our agenda in the corridors of power in Washington, DC. For an organization like NAWBO to be successful, it is essential to partner with corporations who share our mission and our desire to see more women empowered to start, run and succeed with their own businesses. PLUG IN INFORMATION ABOUT THE EVENT, PARTNER, INITIATIVE HERE FOR EXAMPLE: In Ernst and Young, NAWBO has exactly the sort of partner I am talking about. While we certainly value your support and cooperation with NAWBO, I am also thrilled to see Ernst and Young taking a leadership role with their Entrepreneurial Winning Women Program, a national competition and executive leadership program that connects a first-rate group of women entrepreneurs with the advisors and the resources that will help empower them to become leaders and continue their growth and success. Why has Ernst and Young undertaken such a program? Of course, you understand the incredibly positive impact that women business owners can have on our economy as job creators and in launching and expanding businesses. Perhaps more importantly, you appreciate the critical impact that experienced role models and access to business-building networks can have for women entrepreneurs as they seek to build their businesses and strategic alliances and engage new potential partners and customers.

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I am honored to be here with you today to demonstrate NAWBO’s deep gratitude for Ernest and Young’s support of our organization and women entrepreneurs across our great land of opportunity. At NAWBO, we admire your leadership and convey our best wishes to you and we hope our collaboration and work on behalf of women business owners will continue into 2015 and beyond.

Sample Scripts for Membership Calls Membership Retention Calls Hi (Name of Member). My name is (Name) and I am (role you play for the chapter). Our records indicate that your membership is about to lapse. We wanted to personally reach out to you since we value you as a member of NAWBO. I noticed in our records that you have been a member (info based on member records # of years). Can you tell us if you are planning to renew? Answer: Yes, then ask the member if they will be renewing online or if they want to renew over the phone, take their payment information, and call the national Director of Membership for payment processing. Do not send credit card information via email to NAWBO national. Answer: Not sure, provide updated info to review NAWBO benefits (refer to complete list of Affinity benefits and include local chapter benefits). Ask more questions:

Why did you join NAWBO?

How can NAWBO help you?

Are you interested in leadership?

Answer: No, ask questions to gain a better understanding of why the member is not renewing. Make sure to take notes and share with your membership committee or chapter’s board or directors. Membership Outreach Calls My name is (Name) and I am (role you play for the chapter). We wanted to follow-up with you after attending our (name the event they attended). Ask questions:

Have you been to other NAWBO events before?

What made you decide to come to this event?

What other organizations have you been considering other than NAWBO? (Depending upon their response, you can address the difference between NAWBO and the other organizations mentioned)

What did you think about the event?

Did you have the opportunity to meet other NAWBO members?

What was the biggest takeaway for you from the event? We would like to invite you to join our chapter. One of the reasons I joined NAWBO (make it personal and tell your NAWBO story). Do you have any questions about membership? Would you like to join today?

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Answer: Yes, take credit card information over the phone and call national Director of Membership. Do not send credit card information via email to NAWBO national. Answer: Not yet, ask “What would be the best way to follow up with you?”

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NAWBO EVENTS CALENDAR * *Dates subject to change, please visit our Events Calendar http://nawbo.org/section_109.cfm for up to date information and information on how to register. January 2015

January 8 at 12pm ET: WHY NAWBO Presentation

January 13 at 4pm ET: Member Orientation

January 15 at 12pm ET: PA Webinar

January 20 at 12pm ET: Public Policy Primer Call

January 27 at 12pm ET: eLearning Series (Constant Contact)

February 2015

February 5 Leadership Boot camp - NYC

February 6 – National Board Meeting – NYC

February 6 at 12pm ET: Exporting 101 series call

February 7-8 National Nominating Committee Interviews – NYC

February 10 at 4pm ET- Member Orientation

February 12 at 12pm ET- WHY NAWBO Presentation

February 19 at 12pm ET: PA Webinar “How Can Your Chapter Win the Membership Drive?”

February 25 at 12pm ET: eLearning Series- “5 Easy Steps to Develop a Great Team” (Maui Mastermind)

February 26 at 12pm ET: Membership Training for Chapter Leaders

March 2015

Membership Drive March 1- April 30

March 10 at 4pm ET- Member Orientation

March 12 at 12pm ET- WHY NAWBO Presentation

March 19 at 12pm ET – PA Webinar

March 18-19 WBENC 2015 Summit & Salute-Baltimore, MD

March 26 at 12pm ET: Membership Training for Chapter Leaders

April 2015

April 7 at 12pm ET- WHY NAWBO Presentation

April 14 at 4pm ET- Member Orientation

April 16 at 12pm ET: PA Webinar

April 23 at 12pm ET: Membership Training for Chapter Leaders

April 25: National BOD Meeting: Sacramento

April 26th: Leadership Boot camp in Sacramento

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May 2015

May 5 at 12pm ET: Why NAWBO? Presentation

May 12 at 4pm ET: Member Orientation

May 21 at 12pm ET: PA Webinar

May 26 at 12pm ET: Public Policy Primer call

May TBD at 12pm ET: eLearning Series (UPS)

June 2015

June 2 at 12pm ET: WHY NAWBO Presentation

June 9 at 4pm ET: Member Orientation

June 11 at 12pm ET: Potential New Member Webinar

June 18 at 12pm ET: PA Webinar

June 25 at 12pm ET: eLearning Series (Constant Contact)

June 23-25: WBENC 2015 National Conference & Business Fair-Austin, TX

June 26-27: National BOD Retreat

July 2015

July 7 at 12pm ET: WHY NAWBO Presentation

July 14 at 4pm ET: Member Orientation

July 16 at 12pm ET: PA Webinar

July 23 at 12pm ET: Chapter Leadership Training-NAWBO Technology

August 2015

August 4 at 12pm ET: WHY NAWBO Presentation

August 11 at 4pm ET: Member Orientation

August 20 at 12pm ET: PA Webinar

August 27 at 12pm ET: E Learning Series (Global) September 2015

National Board of Directors Call to Nominations Sept 1- Oct 15

September 17 at 12ET: PA Webinar

Sept 22 at 12pm ET– Public Policy Primer

September 27 Board Meeting- San Antonio, TX

September 27 Leadership Boot camp – San Antonio, TX

September 27 -29 WBC15 – San Antonio, TX

October 2015

October 6 at 12pm ET: WHY NAWBO Presentation

October 13 at 4pm ET: Member Orientation

October15 at 12pm ET- PA webinar

October 22 at 12pm ET- New Member Orientation

November 2015

November 3 at 12pm ET: WHY NAWBO Presentation

November 10 at 4pm ET: Member Orientation

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November12 at 12pm ET - Potential New Member webinar

November 19 at 12pm ET – PA Webinar

December 2015

December 17 at 12pm ET: PA Webinar