1. New Member
Information
Welcome to the “IN”
Crowd!
Hello and welcome to the American Business Women’s Association. As a
professional, you’re surely excited to learn about all the ways you can
benefit from membership in a national organization. Therefore, we’d like Inside This
to take this opportunity to let you know that you’ve joined the best! After
all, we don’t call it the “IN” Crowd for nothing! As an ABWA member, your Guide
“IN” Crowd status means you are:
 IN the know with industry updates, market-relevant training, real life
Get Connected ....... 2
experience, and technologically advanced communications.
 IN a dynamic community of thousands of like-minded working- WIN ......................... 2
women dedicated to helping one another succeed.
 IN charge of your personal and professional goals with the tools Benefits .................. 3
you need to set and measure those goals, plus empowerment to
reach them. Leadership ............. 4
This guide will provide you with details on the opportunities waiting for you
inside America’s leading professional Association for women. Please take Education ............... 4
a look, join the online community inside the Women’s Instructional Net-
work (WIN)™, and keep in touch! Networking ............ 5
Thank you for your interest in contributing to the success of your fellow
workingwomen. We hope you’ll find ABWA a place you can learn, con- Recognition ............ 5
nect, and grow throughout your career. It’s because of members like you
ABWA boasts over 60 years of changing women’s lives … one woman at For More Info.......... 6
a time!
Looking for more information about ABWA?
Read this special message from Rene Street, Executive Director.
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2. Get Connected
The first and best way to connect to support at webmail@abwa.org or
the ABWA membership experience 800-228-0007 and we can reset
is to join our online community your information. Likewise, if you’re
inside the Women’s Instructional having difficulty, please don’t hesi-
Network (WIN)™. More information tate to contact us.
on WIN is available here, but the
best way to learn is to dive in! Meanwhile, logging into WIN is as
easy as 1-2-3:
With your official welcome communi- 1. Visit www.abwa.org and click on
cation, you received instructions on “Member Login.”
how to login for the first time. With
2. At the login screen, enter the
these instructions came a unique
email address on your ABWA
temporary password for your first
membership record and your
login.
password.
If you have misplaced or forgotten 3. At the welcome page, click
your email address or password, “Enter Now!” to enter the WIN
contact ABWA National web portal!
“I printed out the programs listed in WIN. I sent this information to our CFO, requesting the
company pay my ABWA National Dues, stating that I wanted to take advantage of the leader-
ship and business programs available through WIN with my membership. She agreed this
was a great program and the company paid my dues!”
- Nancy Engelbrecht, Indiana
Stay Connected
The key to getting the most out of your membership in ABWA is to stay
engaged so that you don’t miss an opportunity to make a networking
connection, learn something new, or grow your professional repertoire.
Thanks to technological advancements like WIN, staying connected to these
opportunities is easier than ever! Here are a few important tips for making
your place in ABWA’s online community count:
 Visit WIN frequently. The News Tab provides the latest news, events,
and opportunities especially for members!
The Women’s  Participate in discussions in the Team Tab. If you affiliate with a Chapter
Instructional or Express Network, your local team board will facilitate networking and
business management in real time; District Team Boards connect mem-
Network (WIN)™ is bers located in the same geographic regions; The National Team Board
a first in Associa- allows thousands of members to connect with elected leaders, the na-
tional management team, and one another.
tion membership
 Peruse the Library Tab for leadership training tools, tips, and templates
benefits and to apply to your local team and to your business or career. All ABWA
connects thou- tools are designed to transfer to your personal and professional endeav-
ors too!
sands of ABWA
 Complete interactive leadership training inside the Courses Tab and
members to tools download certification to promote your knowledge in areas like manag-
and one another ing team conflict, goal setting and measuring results, managing team
performance, and more.
every day.
 Update your WIN profile by clicking on “My Account” in the upper right
hand area of your WIN screen. Add networking information like your bio,
expertise, contact information, and insights to help your fellow members
2 make relevant connections with you.
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3. The
Mission of
The
American
Business
Women’s
Association
To bring
Tools You Need, together
Connections You Enjoy For A Life- business-
time women of di-
As a basic member of ABWA, for $90 per year, you’ll enjoy unbeatable verse
features of membership, including:
 Recognition as a member of America’s leading professional Association
occupations
for women; and to provide
 Access to ABWA’s innovative membership benefit, the Women’s Instruc-
tional Network (WIN)™, an online community for members only; opportunities
 Eligibility to join a local Chapter and gain professional development, to help them-
networking, and leadership opportunities on a local level;
selves and
 National recognition opportunities through the Top Ten Business Women
of ABWA, Woman of the Year, ABWA’s Inner Circle, and more; others grow
 Continuing education and leadership training online, at national events,
and through the ABWA-University of Kansas MBA Essentials and
personally and
Management Certificate Series programs; professionally
 Subscription to our award-winning magazine, Women in Business®;
through
 Bimonthly district highlights inside Community of Aliveness newsletters;
 Discounted ABWA merchandise and corporate partner goods & services; leadership,
 Special invitations and discounted registration for ABWA’s District and education,
National Women’s Leadership Conferences;
 Discounted Company Connection subscription for business owners.
networking
For only $115 annually, Express Network members receive all these benefits support and
of membership PLUS:
national
 Increased access to tools and training inside WIN, including five more
Team Tools Training courses, valued at over $125; recognition.
 Eligibility to join a Chapter or Express Network;
 Quarterly SkillBuilders Newsletters, featuring focused content for sharpen-
ing your professional edge;
 Monthly e-newsletters, delivering high-impact news, updates, tips, and
tools for the busy networking professional. 3
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4. Leadership
What’s Next? For the member dedicated to en- National Leadership
hancing her leadership skills and The national Association is repre-
adding relevant, transferrable experi- sented by an elected Board of
The benefits of ence to her repertoire, opportunity Directors who govern the affairs of
belonging to an knocks! the organization, serve as the Board
Association of Trustees of the Stephen Bufton
Local Leadership Memorial Educational Fund, and
boasting over 60 After joining the national Association, work in conjunction with the national
you are eligible to join one of
years of changing management team to deliver pro-
ABWA’s hundreds of Chapters or gramming and products to members
women’s lives are Express Networks. Once a local af- across the country. Each fall, you
practically filiate, play a supporting role by pre- have the opportunity to grow your
senting at monthly meetings or serv- network on a national scale, gain
limitless. ing on committees. high-level leadership experience,
Each year, local teams elect officers and impact thousands of working-
in May, so inquire about this oppor- women by running for national office.
While you’re enjoy- tunity to take a more official and visi-
ble role in the management of your
ing the features of local team.
membership, the Contact ABWA National about affili-
next two pages ating with a Best Practices Award
winning team or to learn more about
include a few tips other local opportunities such as
for taking the next forming a new Chapter or Express
Network in your community!
step in making the
The formation position provides
most of your community visibility, management
ABWA member- experience, and networking connec-
tions. The team at ABWA National is
ship experience … here to help you grow your network
and ABWA in your community!
Education
Fulfill your thirst for knowledge and gain recognition at the same time through
the various continuing education and professional development opportunities
available to you as an ABWA Member:
 Team Tools Training Modules inside WIN deliver market-relevant
business training and completion certification to promote your efforts;
 Continuing Education credits earned via online courseware, district and
national conference participation, and individual study result in on-stage
recognition for candidates dedicated to continuing their education;
 A special partnership with the University of Kansas School of Business
results in a unique MBA Essentials and Management Certificate Series;
Click here earn more about support
 Dynamic keynote speakers and engaging breakout sessions connect you
from SBMEF, one of the nation’s
most highly respected grant & schol- to training and industry updates at district and national conferences;
arship funds for women, made possi-  The Stephen Bufton Memorial Educational Fund
ble by the energy and commitment of
ABWA members like you!
(SBMEF) provides financial support through graduate
-level scholarships, outright grants, and Business
Skills Tuition Reimbursement for qualified candidates.
4 Visit www.sbmef.org for more information.
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5. Networking Support
Connect with fellow ABWA members and professionals at any of the six
District Conferences, held each spring across the country and again each fall
at the National Women’s Leadership Conference to glean leadership tips,
tribal knowledge, and crucial networking contacts for your success!
With ABWA’s technological advancements, you can network online and on
your own time too. Through the Women’s Instructional Network (WIN):
 Communicate with members of your local Chapter or Express Network for
important team updates and opportunities in your community;
 Engage in conversations on the national and district level through these
team boards and connect to your elected leaders, national team, and
members across the country;
 Update your profile to highlight relevant networking information, your
picture, how to contact you, areas of expertise, and more!
Visit www.ABWA.org to learn
about upcoming events!
Don’t miss the ultimate ABWA experience—
National Women’s Leadership Conference Oct. 28-30,
National Recognition
As professional women, we don’t Annually, one member is recognized
always get the accolades we as The American Business
deserve. But in ABWA, we’ve made Woman of ABWA for her profes-
recognition a cornerstone of the sionalism, education, and community
membership experience. If you are support.
looking for a chance to shine, you’re Locally, Chapters and Express
in the right place! Networks award a dedicated mem-
ABWA looks forward to promoting ber with the title of Woman of the
your successes through Women in Year for her contribution to the suc-
Business magazine, internal newslet- cess of her team.
ters like Express Network News and ABWA’s leading Chapters and
district communications, inside the Express Networks are recognized as
Women’s Instructional Network setting the standard for excellence in
(WIN), various external social media providing local programming, net-
outlets and more! working opportunities and group
Individual recognition is awarded to management practices. By far the
members pursuing their continuing most esteemed award ABWA pre-
education, professional develop- sents, the award for Best Practices
ment, success in their business. is awarded to our top teams each fall
The Inner Circle features members at the National Women’s Leadership
dedicated to sharing the mission of Conference in a red carpet event!
ABWA with others and includes on- In addition, members leading teams
stage recognition and fine jewelry as and special projects are recognized
soon as you sponsor 11 new mem- for their volunteerism and dedication
ber and continues growing with your to our organization.
efforts. 5
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6. About Your Membership
Remember to A few buzzwords about the business of belonging to ABWA …
visit
 Join Date: The date ABWA National HQ processed your member-
www.abwa.org ship application AND your payment.
and the Women’s  Effective Date: The first day of the next month after ABWA National
Instructional HQ has processed your application and payment. Since we don't pro-
rate dues, this lets you avoid paying for a whole month of member-
Network ship when you may only be an official member for part of it.
regularly for  Expiration Date: The date your annual membership expires, the last
Association day of the month one calendar year after your start date. For exam-
ple, if you joined online on Saturday, May 17, 2009, your information
news, member- would be processed on Monday and your join date would be Monday,
ship updates, May 19, 2009. Your expiration date will be May 30, 2010.
and special  Renewal: Approximately 30 days before your expiration date, you’ll
receive notice of your renewal statement. To maintain your member-
opportunities ship, you’ll need to pay this invoice online, by mail, fax or phone by
just for ABWA your expiration date.
members!  Transferability: Your ABWA dues are non-transferrable and non-
refundable. If you have questions or concerns, please let us know!
Stay in Touch!
American Business Women’s Association
National Headquarters Login to WIN
9100 Ward Parkway
Kansas City, MO 64114
Phone: 800-228-0007
Fax: 816-361-4991
Email: abwa@abwa.org
Web: www.abwa.org
Contact ABWA National
© 2010 ABWA Management, LLC For New ABWA Member Use Only Do Not Reproduce