Message from wiba Chair Janette Rawlinson Welcome to the first ever e-newsletter, part of our improved communication strategy that has been developed in response to your overwhelming requests for us to communicate with you electronically. During the year we have also introduced a new wiba logo and this e-newsletter together with our new website www.wiba.co.uk will ensure our external image and profile reflects the vast range of services that members can access, whilst also providing user-friendly ways of keeping you up to date on news, future events and activities.

Janette Rawlinson

Annual General Meeting

On 20th November, 2007 at 6pm wiba will hold its AGM at City Inn, which is open to all members whether or not attending the event that follows, which this year features Carolyn Dalloway as our guest speaker, who will give a presentation on understanding the concept of Whole Organisation Marketing.

The short AGM format is where committee members are elected, accounts adopted and report from the Chair is filed. If you’re unable to attend, you can vote by proxy.
For all further information & to book for the AGM & subsequent event – please click here

We’re always keen to welcome new committee members all of whom work in support of wiba on a voluntary basis. So if you’ve been a wiba member for 6 months or more and feel that you have fresh ideas and something to offer or are keen to develop your skills - please do come forward.
Contact: janette.rawlinson@blueyonder.co.uk

As I prepare to step down after 2 years as wiba Chair, I reflect on what has been an incredibly successful period for wiba thanks in no small part to the continued efforts and support of the committee and of course, you, our members.

Some highlights of this year have included:

Jo Cameron’s presentation and unveiling of our new corporate identity, going backstage and meeting the cast of “Martha Josie and the Chinese Elvis” including Maureen Lipman on international women’s day, Peter Roper’s “And Death came third” presentation on public speaking, our tour of the Cancer research laboratory at Birmingham University, our first joint event with WIP previewing the Town Hall and our fourth annual leadership conference featuring two speakers under 25.

During the year we also learnt more about you, our members and your businesses with opportunities to showcase your services at our members’ promotional evening at Aston Conference centre, lend your financial expertise at our Finance evening at Barclays and exhibit your health related businesses at our East meets West health and beauty event. What an extensive range of businesses we all represent!

We have also continued to attract members from all aspects of business and at all stages of career, and our events have reflected a wide range of attendees from across the region. Many events have featured male speakers and been open to male guests. We have also been successful in attracting the following new corporate members - Barclays Bank and Conference Aston, to our existing corporate members HBJ Gateley Wareing, Challinors and St Philips Chambers. We’ve also gained some excellent press coverage in Midlands Insider magazine, Go Woman, Brindleyplace news, The Birmingham Post and Post People.

New membership category

We’re pleased to announce that in addition to our existing individual member and corporate rates for multiple attendees from a single company, we’ve also introduced a new Charity Corporate rate. It is hoped that as wiba has a number of member charities keen to bring people to events, that this initiative will offer them an opportunity to raise profile, and save money for the registered charity concerned.

Wiba fundraising

This year we’ve held fundraising raffles and donated goods in aid of a number of worthy causes often supporting members’ charities. These have included:-

	SANDS
	Cancer Research
	Conductive Education
	RNLI
	Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer
	Town Hall Symphony Hall education projects

For the second year running, we took seven tables at the Women of the Year lunch in aid of Vitalise and the event so far has raised £35,000. Congratulations to Karren Brady who took the award of Woman of the Year 2007.

If you’re interested in donating raffle prizes to raise profile for your business and support worthy causes, please click here

Forthcoming events

	Women’s enterprise day 14th November For further information please click here
	Centrepiece at Symphony Hall 28th November For further information please click here
	Xmas party 4th December For further information please click here
	2008 Events Programme We’re busy planning events for the coming year and will issue a member survey in January at the new members’ evening to gain your feedback that will allow your new wiba committee to prioritise future events on your behalf.

Current Member Offers

Birmingham Rep are offering wiba members £5 off ticket prices to the current production of She Stoops to Conquer starring local Smethwick girl, Liza Goddard and Colin Baker (former Dr Who) which is on until 17th November. Thanks Anya for extending this offer to our members.

I feel privileged to have chaired wiba for the last 2 years and am confident that the legacy I leave and the support of you the members will ensure its continued success.

My only plea as I depart as we enter our 18th year, is that members continue to support us to develop wiba as the region’s foremost women’s business association representing women in the 21st century at every stage of their working lives.

J. Rawlinson

Further Information

Please contact wiba Administrator Teresa Ahern for details of any of the above events, membership details or other queries. teresaahern@blueyonder.co.uk

Please contact me if you’re interested in joining wiba’s energetic and enthusiastic committee working to help develop the association. janette.rawlinson@blueyonder.co.uk