CONTENTS
FEATURES
COLUMNS AND REPORTS
FEATURES
Enacting Change Through Political Involvement
One of the goals from our strategic plan that we have chosen to focus on this year is "to heighten the visibility, impact and influence of The Forum."
Our tag line, Philadelphia's Most Influential Women, "has the beauty of truth to it," as my mother used to say. The opportunity to serve you as president this year has stimulated me to work even harder to get to personally know as many individual members as possible. And, that which I have known intellectually, I delight in learning viscerally...that is, that this group has unlimited amounts and a variety of talent and unlimited capacity for influence.
Yet, our recent survey told us that only a small percentage of us are involved in politics.
It is getting harder and harder to run for office, to be in office or to be a family member of someone who is in office. But, thankfully, we still have many women and men of integrity to serve as leaders in the public sector.
It's really up to us, those of us who are leaders in other arenas, to support the candidates who are seeking public office and those who are in office. Although I personally believe we need more women in office at every level of government, I think that engaging the power and influence of the female electorate and the involvement of women in supporting and influencing all candidates, regardless of gender, is the most important issue. When we truly get women involved in the political process, a more natural and appropriate gender and power balance will result, and all people will benefit.
In Elizabeth Cady Stanton's letter to Thomas Wentworth Higginson (Jan. 13, 1868), she said, "Our 'pathway' is straight to the ballot box, with no variableness nor shadow of turning...We demand in the Reconstruction suffrage for the citizens of the Republic. I would not talk of Negroes or women, but of citizens."
The word "politics" actually is derived from the Greek word for citizenship. The Forum includes 315 of the most influential citizens in the tri-state area. Lobbyists say that it takes only a critical mass of 75 people to make a change on a national level. Each one of us can truly make a difference through our contributions of money, time and/or talent to the candidate or cause of our choice. And my suggestion is that we each make a private, individual commitment to do so.
Maybe one or more of us will be able to have the kind of impact that Elizabeth Cady Stanton had. At the very least, we will carry on her legacy.
Pamela Godwin
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Forum STARGNOC Now STAR Award
For several years, The Forum has recognized and honored individual members who, by their example and ongoing actions, are representative of the values and initiatives that The Forum works hard to advance as a group. Until now, this recognition has been known as the STARGNOC Award, or "Congrats" spelled backward.
The Forum has decided to go public with this award, renaming it the Forum Star Award.
"People have looked to the stars since time began as sources of inspiration and guidance," says Forum President Pam Godwin.
September's recipient of the Star Award was Connie Girard-DiCarlo, president of Healthcare Support Services, a division of ARAMARK Corp., who was recognized for the creation of economic value and her contribution to the community at large. Among her affiliations, she is a member of the Board of Trustees of Widener University and serves on the Advisory Board for the School of Business Administration. She is Chairman of the Corporate Advisory Council of the Girl Scouts of Southeastern Pennsylvania and a member of the boards of the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation and Franklin Institute.
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Forum Focus: GLORIA GUARD
If you think there's no such thing as being in the perfect job, you haven't met GLORIA GUARD. Guard is Executive Director of People's Emergency Center (PEC), a comprehensive social services organization for homeless mothers and children. She's also a relatively new member of The Forum. Guard started at PEC in 1983, when the agency had a staff of seven, a budget of $194,000 and was housed in a church basement. Today-under Guard's dynamic leadership-PEC employs 75 full-time staff, including a development officer, chief financial officer, MIS and operations directors; manages a budget of $4.5 million; and owns and operates two large (40,000 square foot) facilities and a beautiful community playground.
PEC's programs evolved over time in response to the needs of homeless families. "As PEC served more and more mothers and children, we realized that hot meals and a place to sleep weren't enough. We needed case managers and educational programs to help the young families who came to us become permanently self-sufficient," Guard says.
"In the past 15 years, the problems facing homeless mothers have increased in number and complexity. In the early 1980s, generally speaking, the maximum stay in a shelter was three months. By then, we would find the woman a subsidized apartment and that would be the end of our involvement."
Today, Guard says families are with PEC for 6-18 months. More than half of the families are survivors of serious sexual and physical abuse, family violence and chaos. "We've seen the impact of crack cocaine, and of children raising children. Our mothers read at the fourth-grade level, and most did not graduate from high school. Now, with the advent of welfare reform, we must also help these mothers find and keep family-sustaining jobs," she says.
In addition to providing shelter, food, clothing and ongoing case management, PEC seeks to break cycles of abuse and permanently stabilize families for happy and healthy lives. PEC's innovative Parent-Child Education Program teaches homeless women "how to be the best parents to their kids."
On the employment front, Guard says it can take as long as a year in educational programs, counseling and transitional living before a PEC mom feels ready to tackle a job search and interviews. PEC has also created an affiliate community development corporation, which has converted over 50 derelict neighborhood buildings into subsidized apartments and houses for homeownership by formerly homeless mothers. More than 90% of the women who "graduate" from PEC's programs never return to homelessness.
How The Forum Can Help
Forum members can help in this endeavor, Guard adds. PEC offers many satisfying volunteer opportunities. For example, Forum member Jean Dowdall helps women in the jobs program to develop their resumes. With the imposition of welfare reform looming just ahead, PEC also needs help identifying entry-level jobs for these women. Perhaps Forum members could consider hiring PEC graduates-or know others who would, Guard says.
Career in Social Work
Guard has spent her career in social work. She earned a double masters from Bryn Mawr as its Alumnae Scholar. Before coming to People's Emergency Center, she worked in Harrisburg as State Coordinator for Refugees in the Department of Public Welfare.
"I am very happy here," says Guard. "It's wonderful when I work into the evening and these little voices come drifting thorugh my window-it's our kids playing on the playground in front of Rowan House."
Is PEC the last career stop for Guard? "It would be hard to leave," she says. "Right now, we're raising money for what we're calling our 'Families First' center. It's going to house PEC's expanded employment program, as well as child care and health services. We hope to complete Families First in the next two to three years. After that? There will be more challenges for us and, of course, I'll want to stay for that."
A Personal Side
A Havertown resident, Guard is the mother of two grown children. She is a member of several nonprofit boards, which she finds personally satisfying. On weekends, Guard enjoys fishing, although, she admits, "I never catch anything!"
She'll just keep catching those smiles at work!
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TIA Conference Features Forum Member
Forum member Juliet Goodfriend spoke at The International Alliance (TIA) annual conference in Baltimore on "International Business: Getting Started and Getting Successful." She outlined the thinking, planning and strategies for taking a business overseas, keys to success and hurdles to overcome. Her own experiences served as a cautionary tale but one of eventual success.
Goodfriend says she was impressed with the TIA speakers and with the international flavor of the organization. Marcella Speert, President and General Manager of Mary Kay Cosmetics in the Czech Republic, spoke of how the direct sales corporation has tangibly changed the spirit and lives of women in Czechoslovakia.
The Melitta Beltz Woman of Innovation and Invention Award was given to Nancy Carol Hefner Panoz, founder of Elan Corp., a major pharmaceutical and delivery systems manufacturer. A mother of five, Panoz also founded Chateau Elan Winery and Resort and Elan Natural Waters, as well as runs several charitable organizations.
Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townshend delivered the keynote address, which had much of the audience alternating between tears and cheers, so vital was her message.
The Forum currently is not a network member of TIA. However, individual women can become Associate Members of TIA and enjoy the many international and domestic career and business enhancing resources it provides. TIA membership can be especially valuable for entrepreneurs. For more information, contact TIA at 410/472-4221 or e-mail at maxx28b@prodigy.com.
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COLUMNS AND REPORTS
New Members
Veena Aggarwal, President
Saira Corp., d.b.a. The Body Shop
Shops at Liberty Place
1625 Chestnut St., Phila., PA 19103
610/658-0923
Renee Amoore, President/CEO
Amoore Health Systems
570 W. DeKalb Pk., Bldg. 4, Ste. 116
King of Prussia, PA 19406
610/992-0555
Patricia Beadling, VP, PR
Bell Atlantic-Pennsylvania, Inc.
1717 Arch St., Phila., PA 19103
Madlyn Hanes, Ph.D.
Campus Executive Officer
Penn State Great Valley School of Graduate Professional Studies
30 E. Swedesford Rd., Malvern, PA 19355
610/648-3202
Diana Moy Kelly, Assistant Treasurer
PECO Energy
2301 Market St., S-21-1, Phila., PA 19101
215/841-5740
Jane Konefsky, Executive Director
Phila. Ronald McDonald House
3925 Chestnut St., Phila., PA 19104
215/387-8406
Melissa Maxman, Partner
Duane, Morris & Hecksher
One Liberty Place, Phila., PA 19103
215/979-1173
Linda Stone, Principal, Towers Perin
1500 Market St., E. Tower, 31st fl.
Phila., PA 19102-4790
215/246-6412
Constance Williams, State Rep.
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
601 S. Henderson Rd.
King of Prussia, PA 19406
610/992-9790
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Of Interest
• The Forum, NAWBO and the Philadelphia Business Journal will honor 25 of the region's most dynamic women at an awards program on December 3rd, and the Philadelphia Business Journal will recognize these women in a December 4th special section entitled "Women of Distinction."
• WOMENS WAY will host its 22nd Annual Dinner on May 4, 1999. The organization needs your assistance in identifying four local women who exemplify the theme of the dinner and this year's campaign, "Make It Happen." Letters and nomination forms were mailed to all Forum members earlier this month. If you do not have a form, please call Cari Feiler Bender at 215/985-3328.
• Working Woman magazine is compiling a list of the top 500 women-owned businesses in the country, to be published in June 1999. If you own your company and have annual gross sales of $13 million or more, you may be a candidate for this list. If so, please contact Amy Grossman at apgg40@aol.com, and she'll pass the information on to Working Woman.
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Member News
Business News/Moves
REBECCA CARNEY, Owner, BECCA et al, announced her company's affiliation/merger with Forrester-Smith Promotional Products, effective Nov. 1, 1998. The Tampa-based Forrester-Smith has offices throughout the U.S. The name BECCA et al will continue to be used in the local market area.
EILEEN HEISMAN has been promoted to President of the National Philanthropic Trust. She joined NPT in October 1996 as Vice President and was named Senior Vice President in Spring 1997.
KATHERINE NEWELL recently joined DeCotiis, FitzPatrick & Gluck as a Partner in the firm's Trenton office. The firm specializes in governmental and regulatory matters, including public finance, insurance and environmental regulation.
R. LINDA RESNICK, President, CEO Resources, announced the successful completion of the following searches: Commonwealth Bank-Joanne Harmelin, Board Member; Destiny Software-Mike Smalls, Vice President, Sales & Marketing; Reuters, Reality Online-John Haiko, CFO; and Watson Wyatt Worldwide-Jane Weiss, Senior Consultant.
JUDITH SOLTZ has been named Senior Vice President and Associate General Counsel, CIGNA Corp., with responsibility for an expanded Corporate Law Department.
SUZANNE SHEEHAN BECKER is leaving the presidency of WOMENS WAY and has accepted the position of Director of Education at Greater Philadelphia First. PAMELA H. GODWIN has assumed the role of WOMEN WAY's Acting President.
TARA STEPHENSON, President, The Woodward Group, announced that her company recently closed one of its most important transactions to date: the acquisition of two adjoining buildings in Media. Once fully renovated, the buildings will house Woodward's staff. Advising Woodward on this transaction was Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads.
Appointments/Elections
JOAN CHRESTAY, Vice President, Government & Community Relations, Allegheny, was named a member of the Public Policy Committee and an affiliate board member of the National Adoption Center.
MARTI CANDIELLO, Assistant General Council, Rohm and Haas Co., was appointed Strategic Business Counsel to Rohm and Haas' Chemical Specialties Business Division.
ELIZABETH FRANK, Investment Consultant, was elected to the board of the YMCA of Philadelphia and Vicinity.
MADELINE JANOWSKI, Director, Asher & Co., has been elected president of the Philadelphia Estate Planning Council for a one-year term.
Awards/Milstones
KAREN DAVIS, Executive Director, Arts & Business Council of Greater Philadelphia, announced that her organization was one of four 1998 Governor's Awards for the Arts honorees. The Council was recognized for its leadership and service to the arts, the first time that an organization received this honor.
SHIRLEY DENNIS, Director, Corporate Sponsorships, PECO Energy, has been honored by the Cradle of Liberty Boy Scout Council for her business accomplishments, contributions to the community and as a role model for the 20,000 young women served by the Council.
JOANNE HARMELIN, President, Harmelin Media, and MARILYN NYMAN, President, Nyman Associates, were honored by the March of Dimes as 1998 Montgomery County Women of Achievement. The salute honors outstanding women who, through their work and volunteer activities, have made Montgomery County a better place to live.
CAROLYN JOHNSON, Executive Director, National Adoption Center, will receive the 1998 Great Friend to Kids Award in the Community Service Category from the Please Touch Museum in December.
MARIANNE MCGETTIGAN KEHAN, Executive Vice President, McGettigan Partners, was named one of Pennsylvania's Best 50 Women in Business for 1998 by the Business Journals of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.
Speeches/Publications
ELIZABETH BENNETT, Founder, Bennett & Associates, presented two programs on the legal issues of divorce at the Women's Resource Center and spoke on off-shore trusts at the American Bar Association Family Law Section meeting.
SUZANNE GREENBERG, SVP and Portfolio Manager, Cumberland Advisors, served as co-chair, "Women, Money and Power," an educational program sponsored by the Women's Endowment Committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia.
HARRIET HANKIN, President, CGI Consulting Group, presented "Employee Benefits: How You Can Save, How They Can Pay Off" to the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. Also, Hankin was elected to the board of the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia. Her firm recently was awarded a complete benefits outsourcing contract from the Harrisburg-based Synertech.
SUSAN O.W. JAFFE, Vice Chair, Zoning Board of Adjustment, City of Philadelphia, recorded her memoirs for Temple University's Feinstein Center for American Jewish History. The oral history project is recording memoirs of women who have played significant roles in the growth of the Philadelphia Jewish community.
CLAUDIA POST, President, Diamond Courier Service, spoke on customer retention through database marketing at Courier Magazine's Educational Leadership Symposium.
She will be a keynote speaker for Women Business Owners' Network Fall 1998 Conference. Also, Post was featured in an article in the Small Business News about her successful efforts to rebuild her business.
LYNN YEAKEL, Mid-Atlantic Regional Director, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, presented "Balanced Budgets vs. Social Responsibility" at the American Bar Association's Annual Meeting. She also spoke on long-term care at a National Council of State Governments meeting and on health care cost control before a group of financial executives in Delaware.
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