The holidays are definitely over and we’re back in gear with our businesses and our NAWBO chapters.
 
Public Policy Days are in the air. As we gear up for national, and I look forward to seeing the Southwest delegation there, many of us are also busy on the statewide level.
 
Central Arkansas had its most successful public policy days ever, according to President Susan Hiller. For its third annual PP Days, instead of focusing on state issues, the chapter focused on local (city and county) issues. “We touted it as our Progressive Pertinent Public Policies Day. Marty Jackson chaired the event and did a GREAT job--while maintaining a very busy podiatry practice,” said Susan.
 
Arizona is busy. The three chapters have joined with the National Federation of Independent Businesses to plan a Small Business Day at the state capital on February 20. There will be meetings with the Departments of Revenue and Commerce, and meetings with legislators.
 
And Texas is busy, too! To more effectively and efficiently advocate for public policy changes that will impact women business owners, Houston NAWBO voted to explore possible alliances with organizations that have similar objectives. The chapter officially entered into an alliance with Houston's Women Contractors Association (WCA), with whom they will begin to plan a series of meetings with their newly elected mayor and city council members to apprise them of issues important to NAWBO. On the state level, the chapters are formally aligning and will work together when the Texas State Legislature reconvenes in one year.
 
In Dallas, State Senator Florence Shapiro spoke at the chapter's monthly luncheon; her topic was "Every Issue is a Woman’s Issue."  Dallas also “published” the first issue of its new electronic newsletter this month--let President Marilyn Bushey know if you want to be on the distribution list (powerpac@gte.net).  And they had a fantastic board retreat -- at a local spa!
 
San Antonio has its new web site up—check it out at www.nawbo-sa.org.
 
NAWBO-Southern Arizona (Tucson) has confirmed the dates for this year’s Women in Balance conference. The first two conferences were wildly successful not only for members, but also for new-member recruitment. It would be great for as many of you as possible to attend this successful event, to be held on Thursday, May 2, from 9:30 a.m.–

4 p.m. at the Sheraton El Conquistador, 10000 N. Oracle in Tucson. The Women in Balance event will bring together 300 of Tucson’s powerful decision-makers for a full day of workshops, speakers and valuable networking.
 
NAWBO-Northern Arizona is now officially NAWBO-Sedona.

Welcome Rachel Claret as the new president of the Southwest Louisiana Chapter--let’s support her in any way we can.  All the Louisiana chapters are planning to bring in national board members to speak at their local chapters during April, when the national board will be having its quarterly meeting in New Orleans.
 
Note:  In March, Mary Schnack  will be speaking at the Northern New Mexico chapter’s March meeting on “Communicating During Life’s Crises,” and will be conducting a two-hour media training for the Phoenix chapter.