September 11th - Business Basics

September 25th - Circles of Vision

Fueling Connections

We would love to meet with you to provide any assistance that we can: to learn more about you and to share information about PARO and our programs.

On August 21, 22, and 23 the PARO on Wheels Team will be traveling East to Manitouwadge, Geraldton, and Red Rock .

Please contact our team to make appointments. They look forward to meeting with you.

Tuesday August 21 - Manitouwadge

Date: Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Location: 1 Mississauga Drive , Council chambers

Time: 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm (by appointment only)

Wednesday August 22 - Geraldton

Date: Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Time: 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm

Place: More than Words Office, Main Street

Thursday August 23 – Red Rock

Date: Thursday, August 23, 2007

Location: Ceplac Red Rock Action Centre, 1 Baker Rd.

Time: between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm

The team will then travel home to Thunder Bay .

Traveling with the team this trip will be:

Anke Starratt , PARO on Wheels Team paroonwheels@paro.ca

Karen Rogowski , Making a Difference makingadifference@paro.com

To set up appointments or learn more, please contact our team through the emails listed above or telephone the office at 807-625-0328

We are excited to announce that on Tuesday September 25, we will be holding our “Circles of Vision” networking event. This event is being planned to reinvigorate PARO ’s circles by providing both networking between circles and matchmaking of prospective circle members with existing and new circles.

It is our plan that this event will include current circle members, potential future circle members, current, past and future PARO program participants both in Thunder Bay and the region, staff, Board of Directors, as well as funders and community partners.

Please see the invitation to the event at the top of the PARO Link.

PARO Leads & Links are held the fourth Wednesday of every month, from 5-7PM, and offer networking and learning opportunities, as well as great advertising opportunities for your business with display booths available at each event. To find out more about how you can promote and showcase your business, product, or service at PARO Leads & Links, or call Maria at 625-0328 or programadministrator@paro.ca

PARO Peer Lending Circles

Are you interested in opportunities to meet with other fantastic women?

Are you looking for opportunities to learn and share business knowledge, to access a variety of perspectives and experiences?

Peer support, mentoring and encouragement are among the many things that women can gain from being members of PARO’s Peer Circles!

PARO Peer Circles are groups of 4-7 women who are in business, are prospective entrepreneurs, or believe in women helping women. Circle members are also able to access PARO’s peer lending program for small business loans.

If you would like to learn more about PARO ’s Peer Lending Circles, please contact Pam at now@paro.ca.

More Resources for You

Carrer J oy (www.careerjoy.com) is a Canadian career coaching company that publishes weekly articles and podcasts of information that is of interest to those who are in job or career-search mode or those who are just interested in learning new things. This week’s podcast is “Two Simple Keys To Successful Networking”; with Professor Eric Morse sharing his expert perspective. Eric A. Morse, Ph.D. is the J R Shaw Professor of Entrepreneurship at The University of Western Ontario. He shares from his own very successful career, and research his experience and tips on how to network effectively for career success in todays job market. http://media.libsyn.com/media/careerjoy/CareerJoy-Eric_Morse.mp3

I’m certain that some of you are unsure as to what a podcast is. According to Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.com), “a podcast is a digital media file, or a series of such files, that is distributed over the Internet for…playback on portable media players and personal computers.” Podcasts can be downloaded to be played later on one’s Ipod or can be played on one’s computer through the speakers.

BBC has an interesting language section of its website. Not only does the site allow visitors to gauge their proficiency in certain languages, language instruction at the beginner, and intermediate levels is also included! http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/ . The languages include, French, Spanish, Greek, Italian, Mandarin, Portuguese, as well as Urdu. The site also includes crosswords and Mp3 guides to slang!

The Business Accelerator

Reality Checks for Building a Prosperous and Meaningful Business

By Molly Gordon

In spite of your best intentions you will make mistakes. To the best of your ability, which may sometimes be slim, welcome these occasions as an opportunity to let go of perfectionism. Pause to review your offer to your clients. Are you positioning yourself as a know-it-all or as a responsive partner and learner? Are you putting yourself on a pedestal? Reflect on the distinctions among honesty, reliability, and perfection. Meditate on the difference between apology and accountability. Muse on the difference between significance and integrity.

Things go "wrong." I put "wrong" in quotes because stumbling blocks teach me things I need to know in order to serve and thrive. Hey, I'd rather learn without failing too, but however the lesson happens, there you are. Every time you look with humility and trust for your personal lesson, you are helping to create the possible dream. (Note: Sometimes the lesson is simply to let go of your idea of what should have happened. Lessons are not code for "There's something wrong with you.")

Not everyone wants or needs what you have. That’s good news because odds are that you can’t respond to every one anyway. Cultivate the courage, integrity, and clarity to listen deeply to prospective clients and decline to work with those whom you are not ideally suited to serve. Ask questions, especially scary ones (Can you afford this? Do you have any reservations? What will it take for this to be a good investment for you?). Ask first; sell later.

Customers have bad days, too. Some times they're going to take it out on you. That doesn't mean you have to slink home licking your wounds, nor does it allow you to strike back. It certainly doesn't mean you have to accept abuse. When you feel unfairly used, take a few deep breaths, notice what you wish were different, and remember that we’re all human. Maybe it’s time to do some boundary maintenance. Are you pretending that you need to please everyone or that everyone needs to like you in order for you to thrive? Look to yourself, not because you are to blame, but because you are the only one whose behaviour you can manage. (Customers are always right where they are.)

Sometimes whole systems go wrong or you find out too late that a new project was not quite ready for prime time. At times like this you get to practice being available and responsive to customer needs while also taking care of yourself. Sometimes you won’t (yet) know how to solve or resolve the problem and you may resent the time you’re using to reassure clients instead of getting things on track. BREATHE. Learn to say, "I don’t know and I do care and I will get back to you as soon as I can." Practice saying it with dignity, conviction, and patience. Take some time to wonder what you would need to believe in order for all of this to feel right and true.

Owning a business can be isolating. Many entrepreneurs are natural soloists. That doesn't mean we don’t need or want support, though we may be the last to realize it. Spend some time wondering why other people might want you to thrive. Let your imagination run free as you speculate on what kinds of collaboration could work for you. Turn your complaints about networking into dreams of your ideal support system. What would your business look and feel like if you knew you did not have to have it all together because there was lots of help at hand?

The Business Accelerator Program at PARO Centre offers
Incubator Office Space for Rent!
Contact Suzanne @ 625-0328 for more information.

PARO’s advanced Business Accelerator program provides a flexibility of workshops, mentoring, business counseling, web and tele-classes to women who are already established in their businesses but want to ‘grow a little or shift a lot’. This program builds knowledge, skills, capacity, confidence and resilience as a business owner, and each participant’s program is specially tailored to suit their needs. Contact accelerator@paro.ca to find out how the program can benefit your business.

PARO's Accelerator project has been supported with a grant from the Canadian Women's Foundation Economic Development Collaborative Fund, a partnership of the Canadian Women's Foundation, CIBC, The George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation, The Ontario Trillium Foundation and an Anonymous donor.

This project is supported by Industry Canada / Fednor.

Biz and Bagel

Biz and Bagel returns Monday, September 10, 2007

If you are in the region and would like to join us, we have limited spaces available through teleconference. Please contact Joni @ jsharkey@paro.ca or 1-800-584-0252.

This program is funded by the Government of Canada



Business Development Programs

Are you a Woman with a Disability?
Dissatisfied With Your Work?

Want to Become Self-Employed?

Are you a woman contemplating going into business but do not know where to start?

For more info, please call Joni at 625.0328 or 1.800.584.0252

Start Your Business Today. Let us help you!

Join the Making A Difference: A Business Development Program

Funded by:

The support of Government of Ontario through the Ontario Women's Directorate, the Ministry of

Citizenship and Immigration is acknowledged

PARO Self-Employment Benefit Program

PARO's GATEWAY: A Path to Self-Employment

On EI now or in the last 3 years, or had Maternity benefits in the last 5 years?

Register Today!!

Click here for more information

This program is funded by the Government of Canada

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Do you have a computer? Can you surf the internet easily? Why not try our new Pilot project...
PARO On-line.

FedNor Youth Internship Program

Tiina Ahokas – A Youth Intern Success Story

Tiina Ahokas has turned her passion for organic clothing into a thriving, new business in Thunder Bay’s quaint shopping district. Natural Habit, located at 279 Bay Street , is a bright, trendy store where customers are encouraged to choose environmentally friendly and sustainably produced clothing. The store features the creations of local and Canadian designers, using fabrics made from hemp, bamboo, soy and organic cotton. The collection includes clothing for men, women and children.

So how does a Biology/Geography graduate from Lakehead University wind up a partner in a new retail business? According to Ahokas, her experience as a FedNor Youth Intern with Thunder Bay Ventures, a Community Futures Development Corporation, helped set her on the path to success.

Since 1997, the FedNor Youth Internship Program has provided recent post-secondary graduates with invaluable hands-on experience, allowing them to acquire the necessary experience and skills to secure permanent employment in Northern Ontario . In Ahokas’ case, she gained an appreciation for small business and community economic development, and made important contacts that would help her realize her dream. When the seed for a business idea began to germinate, the Thunder Bay resident knew exactly where to turn for help.

“I had worked with the PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise when I was at Thunder Bay Ventures, so I felt comfortable approaching them for help,” explained Ahokas.

The not-for-profit organization, also supported by FedNor, provides business counseling and start-up support for women. Ahokas was eligible for help through PARO’s Gateway program that provides critical business plan development, counseling, online training, and financial assistance for women on employment insurance, helping them become self-employed.

“Like a lot of women, she did her homework, thoroughly researching all aspects of the business before taking the big leap and that’s evident in the location she’s chosen, said Royden Potvin, Manager, Thunder Bay Ventures. “The Bay area is a mecca for tourists and visitors seeking unique retail and dining experiences.”

In fact, its prime location is the reason why Ahokas and her business partner, Andrew Lower, chose the former chainsaw outlet, which had fallen into disrepair. After much hard work and many long hours, Natural Habit is where they hope to carve a niche in the market, helping others make wise choices part of their natural habit.

http://fednor.ic.gc.ca/epic/site/fednor-fednor.nsf/en/fn02830e.html

Tax Tips from Kelly Business Solutions

Ten Tips for paying less tax!

1. Take maximum advantage of your RRSP limit.

2. Don’t overpay your taxes in anticipation of a tax refund – you should have the benefit and use of your money, not the government.

3. When you invest earn dividends instead of interest.

4. Make your mortgage interest legally tax deductible.

5. Never pay more tax than you have to. Keep track of all your business and investment expenses and losses.

6. When you give to charity make sure that you do so in a manner that is tax deductible.

7. Invest offshore.

8. Buy an insurance tax shelter.

9. Start and properly utilize a small business.

10. Have a solid financial plan or consult a financial planner.

Teresa Kelly,
Kelly Business Solutions
(807) 623-4863

Community Notes & Events


  August 24, 25 and 26, 2007

Prince Arthur Waterfront Hotel
Thunder Bay, Ontario

Click on above logo for further details.

Click on above logo for further details.

PARO Events Calendar

The PARO events calendar will list all dates, times and places of events that will be held during the next few months. Unless otherwise specified, events will be held @ PARO Place. Please contact the office at 625-0328 for any information. All Biz and Bagels will take place from 12:15pm until 1:15pm.

SEPTEMBER
10th Mon - Biz and Bagels start again

25th Tues - PARO Leads & Links - Circle Potluck