Published July 2001

Networking group fosters friendship, support

By Sandra Vandall
Guest Columnist

In September 1990, I presented the idea for Snohomish Women Networking to Betty Green of The Village Photographer. Under the auspices of The Village Photographer, our first meeting was held in November of that year with eight Snohomish business women attending. Since then, the organization has grown to more than 50.

We feel the reason for the group’s increase is the threefold premise it was founded on:

• Forming new friendships with women in the Snohomish business community.
• Support of our fellow sisters in business as a consumer and through sharing our expertise.
• Most importantly, moral support, kindness and caring. With computers doing so much of our communicating in these times, we feel the personal touch is more important than ever.

Since forming this networking group, I have benefited in so many ways. I have formed new friendships that have become so treasured. I have received and given support to fellow sisters in business as a consumer and through shared business expertise. And, as stated above, most importantly, I have received and I have given moral support, kindness and caring.

Our goal is to feature as many businesses as we can at each meeting. For instance, we had a “Home Seminar,” which included an architect, an interior designer, a banker, two financial consultants, a professional house cleaner, a stencil artist and an insurance broker from our group. Our programs are bimonthly, and we plan them a year in advance. Our dues are nominal.

So far this year, we have sponsored a benefit for a young woman in our community who was involved in a tragic car accident and had a program featuring the benefits of massage therapy and alternative health methods.

The past 10 years have been a labor of love for Betty Green and I. The fruits of our efforts in forming this group are stated best by Betty and member Laurie Cole.

“Personally, I have been inspired by the heartfelt affection and generosity, the encouragement shown to everyone,” Betty said. “We are a circle of creative colleagues with energetic enthusiasm. Lasting friendships have been formed. We respect one another as individuals and as business owners or representatives. We are equals, ready with insights and guidance.”

Laurie, owner of The Offset Corner, said: “I am so thankful that I was introduced to Snohomish Women Networking two-and-one-half years ago. This group has done so much for me. I joined when I first started my picture-framing business. I found encouragement, advice, friendship and laughter at the very first meeting I attended. SWN has helped my business grow both by word-of-mouth referrals and direct business from within the group. Most importantly, SWN has helped me grow as a person. I have a confidence and sense of self-worth that wasn’t as strong before. I know there are ladies I can count on to help me through business and personal trials.”

In closing, this group was founded on one small idea and flourished with the cooperative support of my dear friend Betty Green and all of our talented members. My advice to fellow sisters in business is to act on the desire in your heart and use your talents in communicating until that seed of desire becomes a reality and flourishes so that others can enjoy and share the fragrance of its success.

The seed of desire that was planted more than 10 years ago has grown in the fertile ground of successful businesses and caring women into a wonderful garden of friends, each of these friends having her own special “bloom” to blend into a beautiful bouquet.

Sandra Vandall is co-founder of Snohomish Women Networking For more information about Snohomish Women Networking, Vandall can be reached at 360-568-4912.

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