In this Issue:

July 3, 4, 5   PARO on Wheels WEST

Fueling Connections

The Business Accelerator

PARO Programs

Connecting You to a Fit & Healthy Lifestyle

Clearly Written by Marina Robinson

Community Notes & Events

 

 

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. 

The PARO On Wheels team will be traveling west July 3, 4, 5 and will be visiting Atikokan, Fort Frances , Sioux Lookout, and Ignace. 

This trip includes, Anke Starratt,  Business Development Counselor, Suzanne Tighe, Coordinator of the Business Accelerator Program, and Laura MacIver, Regional Development Coordinator of the Northern Opportunities for Women Program.   

If you want to set up an appointment to meet with any one of this week’s “On the Road Team,” please give Anke a call (807.625.0328) or email her (paroonwheels@paro.ca). 

Because of the long weekend, Anke may not any receive telephone messages that you leave for her before the team departs for Atikokan.  However, she will be checking her email and we will relay any messages to her that are received in the office. 

Tuesday July 3, 2007 will have the team visiting Atikokan in the morning and Fort Frances in the afternoon.  One-on-one sessions will be held in both communities. 

Wednesday July 4, 2007 will have the team departing from Fort Frances early in the morning and travelling to Dryden and then on to Sioux Lookout in the afternoon. 

On Thursday July 5, 2007 , the team will depart from Sioux Lookout in the morning, have one-on-ones in Ignace and then travel back to Thunder Bay . 

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.

Pam and Laura M have started calling Circle Members to update the information that we have in our database about the members and the circles.  Please be patient with us as we make our way through the list.  

 

Women’s Economic Development Conference Planning Survey  

PARO and conference partners aim to advance women’s economic opportunities through a Women’s Economic Development Conference that will be held in Thunder Bay on April 29 and 30, 2008.

This project will positively contribute to building sustainable community economic development in Northern Ontario through providing information and resources while building on women’s experience.  

Your completion of this survey will help us meet these goals. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=TMlbj1ZbwYj5T4gWZFL0wg_3d_3d

More Resources for You

Safe Pet Program – www.ovma.org/pet_owners/safepet.html

This is a thoughtful and creative way to provide support to women and children who are at risk of abuse.  

The SafePet program supports women and children at risk of abuse by caring for their pets.  It was established by OVMA to assist women who are seeking to escape their abusive environments but are reluctant to because they would be leaving behind a beloved pet(s).  

This program is also seeking temporary pet foster parents.  You can register for this program at any veterinary office or through Dr. Jeff Kubinec at the Thunder Bay Veterinary Hospital 623-3531

A list of veterinarians who volunteer to participate in the SafePet program can be accessed at any registered women’s shelter across the province. These participating veterinarians will board the pet(s) up to 14 days, provide food, water and appropriate exercise, and administer vaccinations and a physical examination if needed for admittance to the facility. This program will assist women to immediately leave their abusive situation and find longer-term arrangements for their pet(s) within the 14-day period.

 

The Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce announces the launch of JOBLINK.

The Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce excels at bringing people together and we are taking this to another level. We are pleased to announce the newest addition to the Chamber web site family: JOBLINK.

With JOBLINK, local and global jobseekers can search FREE of cost for employment in Thunder Bay . And until September 30, 2007 posting jobs on JOBLINK will be FREE for employers. 

Please visit www.tb-chamber.on.ca/joblink and learn how
JOBLINK can help bring potential employees together with employers.

 

 

 

 Are you a Mompreneur?   www.themompreneur.com

The Mompreneur magazine is a national, free magazine for women who are balancing the role of motherhood with being an entrepreneur. We provide information on all aspects of business and being a woman. They create an environment of sharing, support and encouragement to our members through our magazine, our seminars and webinars, and online forums.   

Mompreneur magazine as well as the Mompreneur Networking Group Inc was created by Kathryn Bechthold.  She provides information, inspiration and education to Mompreneurs looking for success with running their own businesses and balancing their family lives. She has been nominated for a Bennett Jones Emerging Enterprise of the Year Award, has begun to franchise her magazine and started a Mompreneur Networking group  all while raising her 15 month old daughter. She’s a champion skinned knee kisser and an award winning boogeyman chaser!

 

How inactive is your lifestyle?

Here are some very frightening statistics about inactivity in our society:

·                     Over half of young people ages 15-17 are not active enough for optimal growth and development

·                     54% of Canadian women are physically inactive

·                     44% of Canadian men are physically inactive

·                     66% of Canadians over 65 are physically inactive

 

The Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation’s website is a great resource for improving one’s health and activity.  www.heartandstroke.ca

 

The Basic Principles of Physical Activity  http://tinyurl.com/22vbza

Physical activity can be a lifesaver – literally. When you’re active 30 to 60 minutes a day, most days of the week, you can dramatically lower your risk of heart disease and stroke. Regular activity also helps prevent and control risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity.  

Adding more activity to your daily life may also reduce stress levels, increase energy and improve sleep and digestion.  

Because physical activity makes you feel better about yourself, you’re more likely to make healthy lifestyle choices and to avoid bad ones such as smoking, overeating or drinking too much alcohol.

   

        

 

 

The Business Accelerator

 

Compelling Reasons For Having A Website

By Chris Johnson

While promoting my website design business I contact many small and medium size enterprises who don’t have a website. Sometimes it is the perceived cost of a website that puts them off, but more often it is the belief that no one will want to contact them via the internet. The same companies would be horrified at the thought of not being in the telephone directory, but they don’t appreciate how pervasive the internet has become and how important it is to have a presence.

Here are my compelling reasons for having a website:

Customer Expectations
Customers expect to see you on the Internet. Many people (that's customers and potential customers) prefer to search for a company on the Internet rather than search their local Yellow Pages or newspaper.
To many, a business that is not on the Internet, for all intents and purposes, simply doesn't exist. If you cannot meet this expectation then they will go to someone else. If you have no web site you have no chance to compete.

 

Open 24 hours a day
Anytime a customer wants to know about your company, it's products, opening hours or location they can get it with ease. You business or organization will be promoted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to the whole world. Nothing else offers this flexibility.
Your web site won't take holidays, have time off sick or ask for a pay rise.
You can even save on your time or your employees time by adding a "Frequently Asked Questions" page. This way customers can get answers before calling you.

Improve Communications
A Web site is an highly available, high-quality, interactive, full-color brochure listing all the goods and services you offer.
It is a very effective and efficient way to communicate not only with potential customers, but also with employees and suppliers. It can be easily updated, keeping your product listings and prices always accurate. Changes take effect as soon as they're posted online and everyone can see updated information without having to wait .

Improve your Businesses' Profile
You can build reputation, credibility and trust with potential customers. Web sites offer an ideal way of showcasing your previous work and accomplishments to potential customers.
There is also a large amount of prestige to having a website. It gives people the impression that you are savvy and smart enough to take your business up a level. Since a website is such a major convenience it also tells people that you are interested in sharing information with them.

Expand Your Business and Improve you Competitive Advantage
The Internet takes away traditional business boundaries. When you go online people from all over the country, or even from around the world, will show up.
Somebody always wants your product or service. Promoting through the internet and drawing them in will help you expand.
If you are a not-for-profit organisation then a website will raise awareness and attract more donors. You can replace the distribution of costly printed materials and cold calling for support. You can attract a willing audience to your website and impress them with your message once they arrive.
On a computer screen all companies play by the same rules. No matter what your size, a website offers your business the same advantage as your biggest competitors. A well designed website for even a one man operation can have the same presence as a multi-national corporation.

 

Cost Effective

A web site is very cost effective. While it cannot replace your existing sales, advertising, retailing, customer support and public relations efforts, it makes all these business functions more effective. And though web site development is not without cost, the cost is limited. However the reach of your web site is worldwide and 24 hours per day. Publishing on the web is very inexpensive. Changing the information on your web site is also fast and efficient, whereas changing printed material can be costly and time consuming.
Compare the cost of a small ad in a magazine (which is only available for a limited time) or the cost of printing and mailing catalogues versus the cost of having a Web site, which is available 24 hours a day. Your customers can have the current information or price list for your goods or services at any time, just by looking at the relevant page on your website.
In addition your site can include features that no printed brochure or newspaper ad can offer, such as video and sound.

 

Sell
An interactive online catalogue makes your company's products accessible everywhere in the world, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Selling online is a cost-effective way to sell anything. It comes without the customary overhead of a physical store, like building leases, employees who need to get paid whether or not the register is ringing, and the myriad of costs associated with keeping the store running (utilities, supplies, maintenance, etc.).
While there are certainly costs for hosting your site, keeping it secure, sales transactions, hiring a Web developer, and more, the costs of running an online store are predictably lower than having a physical store.
If you have a specialty product or service and working within a limited geographic area then you may be wasting a lot of money promoting your business to an audience that is largely uninterested. Move to online advertising and promoting and, apart from removing those geographic boundaries, you have access to the special interest groups that are on the Internet for virtually any subject.
By advertising exactly where your audience is, every penny you spend immediately becomes more valuable. So when an enthusiast sees your advertisement or reads about you on a message board, they go straight to your website. Never before has attracting a specialised audience been so direct and efficient.

 

  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



*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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

 

2007 Northern Ontario Women’s Leadership Forum

The 2007 Northern Ontario Women's Leadership Forum will be 
Wednesday, November 14th at the Valhalla Inn in Thunder Bay. 

Information on the event, speakers, and registration is now available at
  http://womensleadership.ca/

Highlights and speaker profiles will be featured in upcoming PARO Links.

Connecting You to a Fit & Healthy Lifestyle

 

Only a couple of hours to the Canada Day long weekend!  

Don’t get “waisted” just because it is a holiday!

“If you’re wondering where those love handles come from, ever consider the possibility that more weight could be accumulating from booze than from burgers?

Here’s proof: Research has shown that meals consumed with alcohol contain 350 to 500 more calories than those consumed without. Plus, alcohol, although fat-free, has almost twice as many calories per gram as carbohydrates and protein. In addition to the calorie wallop, drinking also whittles away at your ability to control your eating. It’s been shown that diners spend nearly three times longer at the table when they’re drinking.

Here’s the last call on alcohol: two or more drinks at one sitting can dramatically increase insulin levels, shifting your body’s fat-forming processes into overdrive and reducing its ability to burn fat by about one-third!!!” Janet & Greta Podleski – Crazy Plates

Swim, bike, hike, run, ski, kayak, canoe, snorkel, walk, garden, roller blade anything that gets you moving; just don’t spend three times longer at the picnic table!!! Make it an amazing long weekend - get up and get going!!

Happy Canada Day!

Deb

Deb Coulis - Lifestyle Coach
Coulis Connection

www.coulisconnection.com
Ph:   807-935-2484
Cell: 807-628-2408

 

 

Clearly Written

BUSINESS LETTERS CAN BE ‘SEXY’

The business letter is the basic means of communication between two companies.  More than 1,000,000 business letters are written every business day in North America .  Still, in this age of very informal means of communication, many business owners do not use business letters to their full potential.  This is due to a number of myths regarding business letters.  

Myth #1 -- In this age of faxes and computers, customers, clients, and prospects want quicker means of communication and, therefore, are more inclined to open and respond to informal e-mail and faxed messages than to formal letters, especially mailed letters.  

Reality – Those prospective customers and clients who spend considerable amounts of time on computers are just as likely, or perhaps more likely, to delete e-mails that are unsolicited or unrelated to their concerns.  This practice is reinforced by concern about viruses and dislike for spam.

 

Myth #2 – Compared to the usual e-mails and faxes, letters mailed by post or e-mail are ‘not sexy’ because

·        they are too formal, given their emphasis on formality

o       in format

o       in tone

o       in language.

·     In contrast, regular e-mails are perceived to be simple, casual, friendly, and  quick.  

Reality – Although business letters tend to remain traditional in terms of their emphasis on structure, the modern business letter allows for more creativity and a more casual tone.  This may be the influence of modern technology or of the modern lifestyle.  In effect, the modern business letter can maintain all the best elements of traditional letter-writing and, at the same time, be modified to include a shorter, simpler, and more straightforward writing style.  

 

Myth #3 – Business owners avoid writing letters because

·     business letters are challenging to write for they require time, planning, revision, and editing,

·     business owners do not know the proper format, and

·     business owners feel insecure about their writing abilities.  

Reality – It is true that business letters are challenging to write; there is a formal structure for most business letters.  However, these formats are easy to learn and can be applied to all similar correspondence.  In addition, more recently, a more casual style of business writing has developed.  Furthermore, writing abilities improve with practice.

 (To Be Continued)

 

Writing Tip  

Order of Adjectives:

In the English language, there is a correct order in which adjectives are to be placed before the noun they modify.  It is uncommon to see a list of more than three adjectives preceding a noun.  When more than one adjective precedes the noun, they are placed in the following order:

1.      Article or other word marking the noun: a, an, the, this, that, Joni’s

2.      Word depicting opinion: pretty, wonderful, significant, debilitating

3.      Word describing measurement: tiny, gigantic, tall, lofty

4.      Word describing shape: circular, elliptical, horizontal, rectangular

5.      Word describing age: elderly, adolescent, contemporary, prehistoric

6.      Word describing colour: blue, turquoise, yellow, purple

7.      Word describing origin (nationality, religion, etc.): Aboriginal, Asian, French, Londoner

8.      Word concerning material: ceramic, silver, plastic, marble

 

For example: a tall, rectangular building

                the contemporary business letters

               Joni’s antique, turquoise ring [1]

 

Learn a New Word  

Plenary: adjective: (pronounced PLEE-nuh-ree or PLEN-uh-ree)

1.      full in all respects, complete, absolute; for example, plenary powers

2.      fully attended by all qualified members; for example, plenary session

For example: The women came together in the plenary session of the workshop to hear the keynote speaker, but then they scattered to different rooms to attend separate workshops.

Plenary comes from Latin ‘plenus’, meaning ‘full’; it is related to plenty, plentiful.

---

[1] Jane E. Aaron and Elaine Bander, The Little, Brown Essential Handbook for Writers, (Don Mills: Addison Wesley Longman Ltd., 1999), pp. 46-47.

It is the aim of this column to address the issues of the importance of good writing to the success of business, correct grammar, proper punctuation, and the writing of business letters, cover letters, proposals, resumes, brochures, faxes, e-mails, and memos.  I invite readers to submit questions related to writing; send your questions to clearly_written@hotmail.com. 

Marina

Articles are contributed by Marina Robinson, owner of Clearly Written, which offers proofreading, editing, critiquing, and research services.  

 

 

Community Notes & Events

MooseFest 2007  June 29th - July 9th

MooseFest 2007 is looking forward to a great festival this year jam packed with returning events and even a few new events! MooseFest is an annual community festival going into its fifth year. 

We look forward to seeing you in Dryden during this years MooseFest and keep checking the website for events as they are scheduled.  http://www.moosefest.ca/home.html

 

 

 

8 Court Street South

Three blocks west of the Sleeping Giant... Marina  

           OPENING FRIDAY 13 JULY

"Specializing in Original Art by Emerging and Established Canadian Local and International Artists who Show Nationally."

 Paintings, Original Prints, Mixed Media, Sculpture, Glass Art, Giftware

CUSTOM PICTURE FRAMING

In Home and Office Art, Framing and Hanging Consultations 

Summer Hours :
   Tuesday,  Wednesday  &  Friday - 10:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
 Thursday - 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.       
Saturday - 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Closed Sunday and Monday        Open by Appointment with Debra Chenier

807-346-0409

chenierfinearts@tbaytel.net    www.chenierfinearts.ca