New Local Women@Work Chapters Nationwide

We have just completed a series of very informative focus groups, and one important -- but not surprising --finding is the fact that women in our network want more opportunities to meet with like-minded women. We're pleased to tell you that this will now be possible through the creation of local Women@Work networking chapters in virtually any geographic area. Click here to see if there is a chapter near you.

Since Women@Work was founded in 2001 we have received hundreds of requests to "open a branch" in metropolitan areas all around the country: San Francisco, Miami, Atlanta, Chicago, Austin, Charlotte -- we receive emails from new locations every day. Our new chapter program will capitalize on this growing interest as we select individuals to become Networking Group Chairs and bring together friends and colleagues who share similar work-life goals and issues.

Even women who have been able to take advantage of our networking events in the New York and Boston metropolitan areas tell us that they would like to do more targeted networking. Some are interested in meeting only with women in their specific industry, others want to meet only with women at a particular level. Still others want to meet with a diverse group of women who are in similar life phases-women who are just in the early stages of considering a return to work, women who are looking to downsize a fast-track career, women who are looking to navigate promotions from the mid to senior level. The possibilities are endless-and with Women@Work's help you can now create a networking group that specifically meets your needs and resonates as well with other women in your personal and professional network.

How Do You Start?

The first step is to tell us that you would like to be part of a networking group, the focus that would interest you and whether you are interested in acting as the group's Chair. Women@Work will help Chairs establish their groups and assist in recruiting women who are interested in each particular networking focus. Already there are Women@Work members in many areas throughout the country, so we do not need to start from square one.

How Much of A Commitment Would the "Chair" Role Entail?

After establishing your group, you would schedule your networking meetings and notify Women@Work for posting on our web site calendar.

Each networking group decides how often they want to meet and where. Typically, groups will decide to meet monthly, but they may wish to suspend meetings for the summer months. The meetings can be in the morning, afternoon or evenings-during the week or on the weekends. For a meaningful discussion, most groups will meet for about two hours-but the format would be totally up to you and your group.

As a Networking Group Chair, your primary responsibility would be to lead the discussions. From our experience we can tell you with conviction that it does not take much to get a room full of women talking! Your role would really be to start the conversations.

Before your first networking group meeting, you would receive guidelines for running a successful chapter. These guidelines would include simple to follow insights on how to make sure that the important questions are asked and explored, discussions dig below the superficial level and, most importantly, all group members have the chance to speak. The focus of each discussion will be work-life issues that group members are facing-and the objective is to share ideas, insights, experiences, successes, failures, strategies, contacts and general information that help everyone broaden their thinking, overcome obstacles, address challenges, take risks and find solutions.

Also in your Chair toolbox would be a monthly newsletter via e-mail with suggestions for events and meetings, news from other Chapters, etc. Each month we would give you discussion topics you could draw from-or you can introduce topics of your own.

As more and more networking groups were established in your regional Chapter, you might also communicate with other Chairs and Women@Work to plan events that bring various networking groups together.

NOTE: If you would like to participate, but you don't want to chair a chapter, just tell us the kind of group you'd like to join, and we'll find a chair and other participants.

What is the Cost of Joining a Networking Group?

As the Chair of a networking group, you would receive a complimentary Women@Work membership.  Attending a networking group is free to all Subscribers of the Women@Work Network. We ask that you keep a record of attendance at your meetings and keep W@W up to date with your member list. Membership with Women@Work is offered to networking group members at a discounted rate of $59. Chapter Chairs are sent a handout to distribute at meetings explaining the benefits of membership.

What is the Chapter Structure?

Chapters will be created in major metropolitan regions. Within each chapter there will eventually be various networking groups-all with their own specific focus. Two groups in the Boston chapter might be "North Shore Returning Professionals" and "Boston Senior-Level Marketers". There might be multiple networking groups in one town or area.

Ideally, each networking group will have about 15 to 20 members-a size that would be conducive to meetings at member homes; some larger groups have met at local libraries.

Not only do we want to provide networking opportunities for women in many different areas, we also want to respond to our employer clients-- top notch companies that want to tap into the impressive Women@Work talent that resides beyond the New York and Boston areas. As chapters grow in multiple locations, our placement activity will expand as well.

There are many personal and professional reasons to broaden your involvement in the Women@Work Network. If you are interested in chairing or participating in a networking group in your area, let's start a conversation. With your help we can bring the magic of smart women helping other smart women across the nation.

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