We are business women, meeting to share interests, experiences and insights. A WBG Connects meeting is an opportunity to learn, expand your network of business contacts, find inspiration & qualities to develop and to share your expertise with others.

 
February 8th, 2019 General Meeting
Join WBG Connects on Friday, February 8th and hear from SPARK Kindness, Inc.  SPARK is a non-profit organization with an innovative approach to bullying and violence prevention. SPARK stands for “Successful Positive Authentic Resilient Kids” and has the mission of supporting kind and empowered youth & communities.
 

Christine Fortune Guthery is the Founder/President/Executive Director of SPARK Kindness, Inc. SPARK is a non-profit organization with an innovative approach to bullying and violence prevention. SPARK stands for “Successful Positive Authentic Resilient Kids” and has the mission of supporting kind and empowered youth & communities. SPARK (formerly known as the Natick Parents against Bullying & Cyberbullying) has over 2,600 parent members. Since 2010, the organization has conducted dozens of programs on bullying prevention and promoting kindness and resiliency to parents, schools, and community organizations. SPARK works to strengthen collaboration between parents and schools so that young people flourish.

In 2011, the group founded the Natick/Metrowest Anti-Bullying Coalition (ABC). The Natick/Metrowest ABC is a group of over 60 organizations working together to end bullying. In 2013, the Natick Anti-Bullying Coalition received the Martin T. Meehan Award for Educational Leadership (along with the Natick Public Schools), presented by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office. 

Going forward, the mission of SPARK Kindness is to:
*Provide programs and resources to youth, families, schools & communities to support raising KIND and EMPOWERED youth. 
*Assist communities in building their own Anti-Bullying Coalitions as well as other community supports, such as parent program series. 

When encouraged, kindness spreads like wildfire and can create positive change in a community. Let’s SPARK a kindness revolution together! Click Here to Register 

 
Previous Events ...
Previous WBG Connects events 
 

WBG CONNECTS GENERAL MEETING
January 11, 2019


Breakfast Meeting – 7:15AM – 9AM
Location: Wellesley Community Center (219 Washington St., Wellesley)

Eva A. Millona, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA),

A warm welcome to our speaker, Eva A. Millona. Eva is Executive Director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA), the state’s largest organization representing the foreign born, and co-chair of the National Partnership for New Americans, the lead national organization focusing on immigrant integration.
 
She joined MIRA in 1999 and served as Director of Policy and Advocacy and as Deputy Director before becoming Executive Director in 2008, and she is now one of New England’s most highly quoted immigration experts. Prior to MIRA, Ms. Millona directed the refugee resettlement program in Central Massachusetts.
 
In her native Albania, she practiced civil and criminal law, serving on Tirana’s District Court from 1989 – 1992, when she was the nation’s youngest district judge ever appointed.
 
Ms. Millona is also the co-chair of the Governor’s Advisory Council for Refugees and Immigrants and serves on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. She serves on the Advisory Board for the Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement and serves on the Attorney General’s Council for New Americans.
 
In 2010, she co-chaired the nation’s largest immigrant integration conference, which MIRA hosted in Boston. She is the recipient of over a dozen major awards, including the prestigious 2009 USCIS Outstanding American by Choice Award, the 2010 Wainwright Bank Social Justice Award, and the 2011 and 2012 Powermeter Award, presented to the most influential people for Latinos in Massachusetts. 
 
Before coming to Boston in October 2014, she served as Director of the Mead Art Museum at Amherst College, Director of Colgate University’s Picker Art Gallery, and Associate Curator of Drawings and Prints at the Metropolitan Museum of Art; during the same period, she held temporary appointments as a visiting curator at the British Museum and as guest curator of the exhibition Joseph Wright of Derby in Liverpool for the Yale Center for British Art.
 

Dr. Barker’s publications have addressed the work of various artists, ranging from the Renaissance (Filippino Lippi) to the Romantic age (Wright of Derby, William Blake, Samuel Palmer), and from the Modern era (Childe Hassam) to the present day (Chuck Close). A finalist for the Art Newspaper/AXA Art Exhibition Catalogue Award and the William M. B. Berger Prize for British Art History, Dr. Barker is the recipient of the New York State Historical Association’s Henry Allen Moe Prize, Yale University’s A. Conger Goodyear Award in the History of Art, and other awards.

 

For complete membership and registration information, visit www.wbgconnects.com/join-now. Dues are $275 per year.

 
December 14th Breakfast
NEXT WBG CONNECTS GENERAL MEETING
December 14th, 2018
Breakfast Meeting – 7:15AM – 9AM
Location: Wellesley Community Center (219 Washington St., Wellesley)
 
Join us for our annual fundraising breakfast.  This year our organization will be supporting "Horizons for Homeless Children."  Come and hear more about this fine organization from Kathie Carroll Day, Managing Director and Deanna Dwyer, Director of Marketing & Communications.  Don't forget your checkbook or credit card.
 
Click here to Register Today.   
 
Horizons for Homeless Children
Homeless children have twice the rate of learning disabilities and three times the rate of emotional-behavioral disorders than children who are housed. For parents, homelessness is a traumatic experience that leaves them feeling very disempowered.
At Horizons, we provide high-quality early education and opportunities for play so children can keep up with their peers. We support their families and help them reclaim that power, so they’re able to get their families on a path to future success.
 
 
 

WBG CONNECTS GENERAL MEETING
January 11, 2019


Breakfast Meeting – 7:15AM – 9AM
Location: Wellesley Community Center (219 Washington St., Wellesley)

Eva A. Millona, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA),

A warm welcome to our speaker, Eva A. Millona. Eva is Executive Director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA), the state’s largest organization representing the foreign born, and co-chair of the National Partnership for New Americans, the lead national organization focusing on immigrant integration.
 
She joined MIRA in 1999 and served as Director of Policy and Advocacy and as Deputy Director before becoming Executive Director in 2008, and she is now one of New England’s most highly quoted immigration experts. Prior to MIRA, Ms. Millona directed the refugee resettlement program in Central Massachusetts.
 
In her native Albania, she practiced civil and criminal law, serving on Tirana’s District Court from 1989 – 1992, when she was the nation’s youngest district judge ever appointed.
 
Ms. Millona is also the co-chair of the Governor’s Advisory Council for Refugees and Immigrants and serves on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. She serves on the Advisory Board for the Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement and serves on the Attorney General’s Council for New Americans.
 
In 2010, she co-chaired the nation’s largest immigrant integration conference, which MIRA hosted in Boston. She is the recipient of over a dozen major awards, including the prestigious 2009 USCIS Outstanding American by Choice Award, the 2010 Wainwright Bank Social Justice Award, and the 2011 and 2012 Powermeter Award, presented to the most influential people for Latinos in Massachusetts. 
 
Before coming to Boston in October 2014, she served as Director of the Mead Art Museum at Amherst College, Director of Colgate University’s Picker Art Gallery, and Associate Curator of Drawings and Prints at the Metropolitan Museum of Art; during the same period, she held temporary appointments as a visiting curator at the British Museum and as guest curator of the exhibition Joseph Wright of Derby in Liverpool for the Yale Center for British Art.
 

Dr. Barker’s publications have addressed the work of various artists, ranging from the Renaissance (Filippino Lippi) to the Romantic age (Wright of Derby, William Blake, Samuel Palmer), and from the Modern era (Childe Hassam) to the present day (Chuck Close). A finalist for the Art Newspaper/AXA Art Exhibition Catalogue Award and the William M. B. Berger Prize for British Art History, Dr. Barker is the recipient of the New York State Historical Association’s Henry Allen Moe Prize, Yale University’s A. Conger Goodyear Award in the History of Art, and other awards.

 

For complete membership and registration information, visit www.wbgconnects.com/join-now. Dues are $275 per year.

 
Archived Posts
Ice Cream Social!
May 29, 2018
What better way to ease back into the work week after a holiday weekend? Betsy, Linda and Katelyn met at Volente Farms to test out their ice cream stand that just opened for the season. We enjoyed our treats outside at a picnic table sharing funny stories and learning more about one another. There is nothing a little sunshine, ice cream and good company can't fix!
Picnic at The Falls
We had a lovely afternoon lunch by the Charles River on a beautiful day. Conversation was personal and a great opportunity to get to know fellow WBG members in a more intimate setting. We all agreed more events outdoors would be a lovely addition to our calendar for members and guests.
Run To Home Base Fundraiser
May 01, 2018


Join me at
The Candy Bar, 20 Church Street, Wellesley, MA 02482
 Thursday, May 17, 2018
6-8 pm

And let’s Shop for a Cause!

A portion of the evening’s proceeds will be donated to Run to Home Base.

If you are unable to join us for this evening,
Donations may be made directly to
http://www.runtohomebase.org/2018RuntoHomeBase/PattiMcGlynn

 

On July 28, I will be running my 6th Run to Home Base with the McGlynn, Clinton & Hall For Vets team. This is a run organized by the Red Sox Foundation, in conjuction with Mass General Hospital.  All the money raised will go to help our service men and women treating PTSD, traumatic brain injuries and other war related injuries.  Please help us in supporting this important cause.  Any donation possible is appreciated. Thank you!

 

http://www.runtohomebase.org/2018RuntoHomeBase/PattiMcGlynn

(click "donate" next to my name)

 

See you on May 17th!
Patti McGlynn

 

For additional details, contact Patti: pmcglynn@mchinsure.com

Let's Do Coffee!
Apr 27, 2018
This morning's topic: "What are you doing to Spring Clean in your business? Share new ideas, practices and habits you are implementing to reboot and improve. Diane is making organization a priority through a new part time role she has taken on at an accounting firm in Needham. Kristen has set goals regarding her networking to strategically cover the state of MA and be accessible to her entire client base. Katelyn is getting creative on a give away for new clients to make her stand out and add a personal touch. Another great morning with WBG members to kick start our Friday. See you next month!
Wine Tasting Event
Apr 21, 2018
What a perfect way to welcome the spring- FINALLY!
Patty, Maruta, Katelyn and a guest met at the Wine & Provisions Shop in Sherborn to enjoy a complimentary wine tasting. We enjoyed sampling and learning about the unique selections of wines carried and the background of the family vineyards they come from. Following our wine tasting we headed into the pub at the Heritage to have some lunch together. We all left full, happy and with wine cabinets to stock!
Revolving Luncheon
Apr 20, 2018
Seven of us enjoyed lunch at The Local and traded networking tips.  Two standouts:  (1) "Butt in Chair" -- a commitment to sit down and make telephone calls, both cold calls and renewing connections; and (2) flyer from local realtor highlighting recent sales in the neighborhood and including a recipe appealed to WBG member; it was the recipe which saved this flyer from the circular file and made a positive impression.  Others spoke strongly about the importance of getting to know people and making human connections, without regard to a specific sale or networking goal, under the umbrella of "you never know."  We left feeling motivated and, with warming temps, cautiously hopeful about spring!
Welcome to WBG!
Apr 20, 2018
A big welcome to newest WBG member, Aimee Berrent! Aimee attended two General Meetings and has completed the application process via our website. We are excited to have a professional in the appraising business join us. While Aimee is eager to attend the upcoming events she is also open to meeting individually. Take a moment to introduce yourselves, her profile has been added to our directory: https://bit.ly/2qMxrdM
"A Matter of Brilliance is a professional jewelry appraisal company serving the needs of jewelry consumers, estate planners, attorneys, insurance companies and professional organizers. I provide comprehensive written appraisals. All work is done in front of you, while you watch."
~Aimee Berrent, A Matter of Brilliance
WBG Revolving Lunch
Apr 19, 2018
Table for four, please! We had a lovely time at Paparazzi in Wellesley to meet for our April Luncheon. Diane, Jackie, Cindy and Katelyn discussed the question provided "What is your best practice in networking?". Here's what we learned from each other:
-Follow up Email
-Set up an individual meeting to learn more
-Learn about them personally, not just professionally
-Connect on LinkedIn
-Organize business cards
-Write notes on business card
 
If you would like to participate in Revolving Luncheons please contact info@wbgconnects.com
General Meeting
Apr 13, 2018
This morning's meeting was well attended and featured a wonderful speaker! We welcomed 3 new members to WBG, keep an eye out for our newsletter or see their profiles on our member directory. Our speaker, Mary Z. Connaughton, is the Director of Government Transparency & Director of Finance and Administration at Pioneer Institute. Her dialog surrounding her work with our government was educational, eye opening, and directly relates to each of us as MA residence. Learn more: https://pioneerinstitute.org/
 
 
 
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