| NAWBO Delaware Newsletter |
September, 2009 |
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Message from the President of NAWBO Delaware By Karen L. Miller
"...and the survey says..." Thank you all for your input to the NAWBO member/audience survey! Your input helps make NAWBO Delaware better for us all. One thing is clear, there are many organizations throughout the state that serve business women in Delaware, especially New Castle County. Each has its own unique mission and serves a specific niche audience. It makes sense to participate with more than one, most of you do. We are a collaborative group of organizations hoping to help you improve your business through the "Women in Partnership" initiative. NAWBO, a non-profit professional organization, is the ONLY organization dedicated to women who are business owners, and part of a national organization which gives us strength in numbers, especially with regard to legislative and regulatory issues that affect how you do business; taxes, healthcare, licensing, and contracting, to name a few. As part of a national organization you have access to over 9000 other business owners, giving you a network of support, resources, customers and more. Clearly you expect a lot from your membership and attendance at events. We are not just a networking group, though this is important to you. You said you wanted skills and tools to help you grow your business, through this year's programs and information sharing we plan to do just that. I know you are all very busy trying to run your operations and grow your revenues, but the best way to get the most out of your time is to get involved. Our members who are engaged on the board and committees are the members to reap the most rewards. We still have a few chair opportunities available and most of our committees could use your help! Our marketing post is still open, as is President Elect and Corporate sponsorship. I can tell you first hand that serving on a committee has resulted in business improvement and growth for me, and I know my sisters on the board will say the same. We look forward to seeing you soon!
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| Member Spotlight - Mary Schreiber |
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Mary S. Schreiber, PhD, founder of GUAVA Senior Home and Healthcare Services, and GUAVA Franchising, has paired a fresh new concept with her GUAVA Building Block Healthcare System™ for healthcare planners preparing to meet the growing needs of Baby Boomers. Caring for her father after a heart operation, Schreiber realized the need for home-based personal healthcare services for seniors. "Finding the personalized, individualized attention when a family member was unable to be there for my father was very difficult," she says. Using her entrepreneurial skills, Schreiber researched the industry and launched GUAVA in 2006, meeting immediate success. In January 2009, the Hockessin, DE-based company began franchising the GUAVA concept, using a unique approach that helped franchisees build their revenues from home-based non-medical care providers all the way through operating medical in-home care agencies to staffing. According to Schreiber, this allows many lucrative revenue streams in serving pediatric to geriatric clients. "We give you the tools to put teams in place and to build your business one step at a time," she says. Schreiber counts the carefully chosen name among the company's assets. "I wanted a fun appeal, a fresh approach that communicated that growing old is one of the best parts of our lives, so enjoy!" she says. Among other providers bearing labels evoking comfort and caring, GUAVA stands out as memorable, she says. Calls to potential referral sources often feature complementary guava juice and guava slices and the odd-sounding name services as a reliable conversation-starter. "I wanted our company to be very different," she says. "Our name is a fabulous marketing device."
Mary S. Schreiber, PhD Founding President GUAVA Senior Home and Healthcare Services Inc. GUAVA Franchising Inc. 407 Valley Brook Drive Hockessin, DE 19707 888-GUA-VA24 (Business) 888-482-8224 302-399-6389 (Cell) 888-806-2577 (Fax) mschreiberphd@msn.com
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| Member Milestone - Joyce Dungee Proctor |
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Joyce Dungee Proctor, Founder and President of Seminars by Joyce - The Total You, Inc. is very happy to announce the release of her new book, "Take the Limits Off," which is the first of her inspirational series, "Nine Ways to Stop Talking and Start Doing." This book will inspire you to move forward to pursue your dreams and provides the tools to assist you. It is filled with real life stories, quotes and tools. Joyce's personal mission is to inspire individuals to take the limits off, to pursue their purpose and fulfill their dreams. A professional speaker, author and certified career coach, Joyce conducts seminars, workshops and keynotes on confronting self-imposed and self-limiting beliefs that stop us from making changes in our lives. Please visit www.seminarsbyjoyce.com or contact Joyce at 302-438-8478 for more information.
Joyce also serves as NAWBO's Membership Director and is on the Board of Directors. | |
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Upcoming Events |
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Oct 15, 2009
Oct 27, 2009
5:30-7:30pm
Nov 6, 2009
Nov 11, 2009
Nov 12, 2009
3 sessions to choose from between 9am &2pm
Dec 4, 2009
Dec 11, 2009
Dec 17, 2009
Jan 14, 2010
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| Volunteers Needed!
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Becoming a NAWBO Delaware volunteer is a great way to maximize your membership by strengthening business relationships, developing a support network of other women business owners and growing your skills, to name a few. We are currently in need of Committee Chairs and Committee Members in the areas below. If you have an interest, please contact us at info@nawbodelaware.org
- Co-Director of Corporate Partners & Economic Development
- President Elect
- Director of Marketing & Communications
- Marketing & Communications Committee Members
- Programs Committee Members
- Membership Committee Members |
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Join Our List
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| NAWBO Delaware Kicks Off the Year in Style! |
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Doug Grady, Universal Seminars
We had a great turnout at the Washington St Ale House on September 16. Everyone had fun playing a little "Networking Bingo," as they learned who was born in Delaware, who was in business more than 10 years, who drank red wine, etc...
Chapter President, Karen Miller introduced board members in attendance as well as sponsors. She also reviewed some of the programs we have on tap for the coming year. Our special guest speaker was Doug Grady from High Achiever's Network and Universal Seminars. Doug brought his own brand of entertainment and information, as we learned valuable tips on finding new customers and what to do after we find them. His parody of "I Will Survive," dedicated to entrepreneurs everywhere was a nice way to close out the evening.
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| NAWBO Delaware Sponsors and Partners |
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by Karen Burton
We are continuing to build relationships and are excited to welcome four new Strategic Partners:
- TalkFusion - Open Door Expressions - Aflac - Ed Weirauch You too can be a strategic partner with our organization. No budgeted dollars for sponsorship? No problem, become an in-kind partner. What service do you have to offer to NAWBO Delaware? Why not contact us to find out! Send an email to Karen Burton at kburton@wilmingtonde.gov. Remember in-kind donations are tax deductible! |
| 5 Facts About the Home Office Deduction |
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| (from information received from John Berger, IRS)
 With technology making it easier than ever for people to operate a business out of their house, many taxpayers, entrepreneurs and small business people may be able to take a home office deduction when filing their 2009 federal tax return next year. Here are five important things the IRS wants you to know about claiming the home office deduction. 1. Generally, in order to claim a business deduction for your home, you must use part of your home exclusively and regularly:
- as your principal place of business, or - as a place to meet or deal with patients, clients or customers in the normal course of your business, or - in the case of a separate structure which is not attached to your home, it must be used in connection with your trade or business. - for certain storage use, rental use or daycare-facility use, you are required to use the property regularly but not exclusively. 2. Generally, the amount you can deduct depends on the percentage of your home that you used for business. Your deduction for certain expenses will be limited if your gross income from your business is less than your total business expenses. 3. There are special rules for qualified daycare providers and for persons storing business inventory or product samples. 4. If you are self-employed, use Form 8829 < http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8829.pdf>, Expenses for Business Use of Your Home, to figure your home office deduction. Report the deduction on line 30 of Schedule C, Form 1040. 5. Different rules apply to claiming the home office deduction if you are an employee. For example, the regular and exclusive business use must be for the convenience of your employer. | |
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NAWBO Delaware
P.O. Box 4657
Greenville, DE 19807
302-559-9080
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