EWI of Spokane News

What a powerful start to this chapter year. As I reflect on the incredible moments we’ve shared, from the inspiration of our Leadership Conference and Annual Meeting to the September chapter gathering, I’m reminded of why this organization matters so deeply.

What a powerful start to this chapter year. As I reflect on the incredible moments we’ve shared, from the inspiration of our Leadership Conference and Annual Meeting to the September chapter gathering, I’m reminded of why this organization matters so deeply.

What a powerful start to this chapter year. As I reflect on the incredible moments we’ve shared, from the inspiration of our Leadership Conference and Annual Meeting to the September chapter gathering, I’m reminded of why this organization matters so deeply.

As I sit down to write this final message, I find myself reflecting on the past year with a full heart. What a journey it has been of growth, of connection, and of showing up for one another in ways big and small.

I hope everyone is enjoying the summer so far! As we head into August, I want to take a moment to reflect on last month’s meeting at Manito Park. It was truly special to see so many of you, and even some of your families, in such a beautiful setting. It reminded me of the real, personal connections EWI fosters, not just in our careers, but in our lives.

Summer is finally here, and with it comes sunshine, road trips, barbecues, lake days, and a little bit of that magical slowdown we all secretly crave. This month’s EWI of Spokane meeting is all about Summer Fun and I can’t think of a better theme to embrace as we head into the heart of the season.

Last month, we had the absolute honor of presenting scholarships to some truly outstanding students during our annual Scholarship Banquet.

Spring has officially sprung, and so has our energy after an incredible April Anniversary Meeting! Can we just take a moment to give a standing ovation to the phenomenal Dr. Shari McMahan?  She didn’t just speak to us—she lit up the room with her wisdom, wit, and powerhouse presence. Shari reminded us what it means to lead with authenticity, grit, and heart, and maybe made us all want to add a few more sparkles to our professional toolkits!

April is a big month. Not just because it finally feels like spring is showing up (we hope), but because April 17th marks 46 years of EWI of Spokane—and coincidentally, my 39th trip around the sun. I’d say we’ve both aged pretty well!

Our last meeting at Sonderen Packaging was nothing short of inspiring! A huge thank you to Keva Sonderen for sharing her wisdom on building confidence and connection through the power of saying yes—and just as importantly, saying no, but thanks for asking.

February, a month that celebrates connection, leadership, and the strength of diverse voices, I want to take a moment to talk about something that fuels our success, inclusion.

January marks not only a fresh start but also an opportunity to reflect on the successes we’ve achieved together and the goals we aspire to accomplish in the year ahead.

As the holiday season fills the air with a sense of joy and connection, I find myself reflecting on the meaningful moments that shaped this year. One of the highlights was our November meeting at the Girl Scouts of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho. What a fitting time to celebrate the values of courage, confidence, and character—ideals that shine brightly during this season of giving and growth.

As we step into November, I am so thankful for the valuable insights we shared at last month’s Chapter meeting. Our guest speaker, and valued member, Bridget Walden from Merrill Lynch, provided a thorough analysis of the current state of our economy, offering perspectives that were both eye-opening and empowering.

After last month’s meeting I hope you all left as energized and inspired as I did! As I step into my role as President, I’m deeply grateful for the support and encouragement I’ve received from each of you. Our September meeting was a reminder of the incredible community we’ve built together, and I was honored to share my vision for the year ahead.

I started my journey as our Chapter President by focusing on gratitude, urging all of us to work together in a spirit of gratitude. I have been continuously amazed at how you have all responded. The enthusiasm for EWI our newer members bring to the table, together with the continuing labor of love by our more (ahem) mature members is truly something to be grateful for.

For this last president’s message, I had thought that I would share some words of wisdom that other people have shared with me. After a few runs at it, I realized that this exercise was going to turn into a series of vignettes that all somehow revolved around me. Nobody wants that, so I’m going to keep it to one word of wisdom, which is: “The law empowers women.”

Our Chapter bylaws require two business meetings each year, one of which must be our annual meeting. Our annual meeting includes a financial report of our current year, but primarily it looks to the future. It is at our annual meeting in August each year that we elect our officers and directors for the upcoming year and approve our budget. Although it has not been easy in our post-Covid world for civic groups to maintain their vibrancy, I see great things in our future.

I’ve been listening to a series called “Time Management for Mortals” by Oliver Burkeman. I’m an easy target for anything that has “time management” in the title, but this series is different. It is not a tutorial on somehow squeezing more things into 24-hour blocks. It is about accepting our limitations. (He actually has a session called “The Joy of Missing Out.” I’m sorry, what?)

This month, I would like each of you to consider stepping into a leadership role on our board of directors—or just taking a more active role in one or more committees.

I was raised in an atmosphere of hospitality. We were the house on the block that frequently had a group of children gathered; we were the house where new people at church were invited to dinner; we were the house that had BIG, noisy family holiday gatherings. Much of this was because with four kids, it was a big ask to expect other families to host us. But, I think also that my parents intentionally cultivated hospitality.