Women2Women Winter 2014

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MAGAZINE

Winter 2014

Giving Back…From Business CEO to Dedicated Volunteer Valentine’s Day

Recipes That Are Good For The Heart

Sallie Weaver:

Charmaine Anderson, MDSt. Joseph Medical Group - OB/Gyn

is pleased to welcomeOB/Gyn Charmaine Anderson, MD

St. Joseph Medical Group is pleased to announce that Obstetrician and Gynecologist Dr. Charmaine Anderson has joined the group. She received her medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Texas. She is a member of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons, and is also a member of the Berks County Medical Society, the Obstetrical Society of Philadelphia, and is certified in Neonatal Resuscitation.

Dr. Anderson’s office is located in the St. Joseph Medical Group OB/Gyn suite on the first floor of the Medical Office Building on the Bern Township Campus. She will also be working with St. Joseph Medical Group Women’s Services.

Accepting new patients at St. Joseph Medical Group - OB/Gyn 2494 Bernville Road, Suite 100, Reading, PA 19605

Please call 610-378-2899 to schedule appointments.

www.thefutureofheal thcare .org

ContentsKaren Marsdale, Senior Editor | Melissa Varone, Editor

201 Penn Street | Suite 501 | Reading, PA 19601berkswomen2women.com | 610.376.6766

Women2Women Advisory Council

Women2Women, managed by the Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce & Industry,

encourages women to create connections, gain knowledge, open doors and build strategic alliances, and much more. Our goal is to create more women leaders in Berks County by providing a forum where women from diverse backgrounds can learn, share

ideas and mentor each other. Membership is free and open to all women of Berks County.

Women2Women Magazine is a publication of the Greater Reading Chamber of

Commerce & Industry

To join: [email protected]

Stay connected:BerksWomen2Women.com

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The opinions expressed in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide spe-

cific advice or recommendations for any individual.

MAGAZINE

In Every Issue

Women2Know6 From Business CEO to Dedicated Volunteer

8 A Different Type of New Year’s Resolution

12 Recent Transformations: The Woman’s Exchange

4 Editor’s Desk11 W2W Events36 Book Club

Work2Life14 Building Value Statements for Your Everyday Missions

Growth2Go18 The Law of Intentionality

20 Lean In: Keep the Conversation Going

Health2Wellness22 An Alternative Approach to Addressing High Blood Pressure

24 Overcoming Challenges

29 Going Red to Save Women’s Lives

30 A Heart Healthy Valentine’s Day

38 Ask Sassy 40 More Women2Know

© 2014 All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced electronically or in print without the expressed written permission of the publisher.

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Alexa S. AntanavageMargarita M. CaicedoVicki O. EbnerKim Hippert-EversgerdMs. Nancy HobanRobyn JonesDonna LampKaren Marsdale

For Advertising Opportunities: call 610.685.0914 Ext. 1

Read W2W Magazine Onlineat BerksWomen2Women.com

From Business CEOto Dedicated Volunteer: Sallie Weaver

A Heart Healthy Valentine’s Day

Building Value Statements for Your Everyday Missions

6

30

14Winter 2014

Cover Photo: Heidi Reuter Photography

Katherine D. MetrickMary Jean NoonMichele RichardsMatilde Rodriguez Sotomayor MDCarolyn Shultz-SpanoConnie SkipperAnn M. Valuch

4 Women2Women Winter 2014

Editor’s Desk

Welcome Winter!

Melissa Varone, Editor, Women2Women MagazineAssistant VP, Marketing, Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Not only is this the first issue of Women2Women magazine in 2014, but it is my first time as the editor

of this phenomenal publication. Late last year, I can recall having a chat with my dear girlfriend saying how I was a little apprehen-sive about taking on this new task. Her first response was, “this is a great opportunity for you and I think this is going to be really good for you.” I remember walking away with just a little more assurance and confi-dence that I could make a go of this … only a good girlfriend knows exactly what you need to hear. Honestly, her words of encourage-ment were exactly what I needed and I am excited for this new endeavor.

Flash forward to me writing this letter; I am reflecting how much I have enjoyed working with the editorial committee —please see the list of talented volunteers. Not only do they volunteer their time, but they have to put up with me! I also have had the chance to meet women I have not had the pleasure of meeting. We joke at the Chamber that we know everyone in the community, but really there are so many amazing people, especially women, that we haven’t had the chance to meet and learn

their stories. My vision for this magazine, along with

the editorial committee, is to share with you our readers the women in our community. Whether celebrating their successes, sharing their challenges, rejoicing in overcoming their obstacles — the ultimate goal is to share their stories with you. My feeling is that we can learn from anyone and I know we will certainly learn from them as they walk us through their journey.

Another goal for this magazine is to have our readers offer input on what they want to read and topics we should cover. We sent out a survey to all Women2Women members and received a tremendous response. Keep an eye out in future issues for the women and ideas that you recommended! It was a little too late for this issue, as we were planning months prior, but I can assure you that your input is valuable and we are excited to incorporate your suggestions in our editorial content.

My intention was to introduce myself with a ‘Happy New Year’ message, and I simply changed direction. You will see that New Year/fresh start theme in the articles we chose for this issue: A different type of New Year’s resolution — it doesn’t have to be just about losing weight, highlights of women that have a passion for our commu-nity — I hope they inspire you to do the same, overcoming obstacles — these women have amazing stories. Instead, for this mes-sage, I thought it was more relevant to talk about the importance of this publication and our plans for 2014. The issue speaks for itself; I thought it was more important to talk to you about direction and our hope for Women2Women magazine to be a reflection of our diverse and wonderful community.

Happy reading!

Women2Women Magazine!

Women2Women Magazine Editorial Committee

Paula BarronVIST Bank, A Tompkins

Community Bank

Phoebe CanakisPhoebe Pure Foods

Dawn Maurer DerrWriter

Steve FritzVF Outlet Center

Tracy HoffmannHoffmann Publishing Group

Mike JupinaSt. Joseph Medical Center

Julia KleinC. H. Briggs Company

Karen MarsdaleGreater Reading Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Connie SkipperBerks County Intermediate Unit

Melissa VaroneGreater Reading Chamber of

Commerce & Industry

Heidi Reuter Photography

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Women2Know Community & Business Profiles, Insights & Highlights

In today’s world of social media it is relatively easy to find out general in-formation about just about anyone. If

you are a prominent person, it is even eas-ier. So when the editorial committee of Women2Women magazine asked me to in-terview Sallie Weaver for this issue of the magazine I got a little nervous. After being in the business community for quite a few years, I easily recognized her name and knew she was the founder and retired president of Elite Sportswear, Ltd., the most recognized manufacturer of gymnastic apparel. I cer-tainly wanted to do my homework before I spoke with her about “what makes a great leader.” So of course I “Googled” her name. You can find out a lot of factual informa-

tion about a person online through his or her LinkedIn profile, or past articles written about them; but there was one quote in a Reading Eagle interview dated January 25, 2010 that really caught my attention. This was a direct quote from Sallie when the re-porter asked her what she would like to do in retirement — “Being able to give my time and caring to others has always been a true value to me.” I knew after two very short conversations with Sallie even before the interview that I had a good feeling about what has been the hallmark of her successful career as a leader not just in the workplace, but also in the community as well.

There is no question passion is the fuel that drives Sallie Weaver, and she believes it is

inherent in being successful in whatever it is you choose to undertake. Sallie told me that having the passion to really want to succeed is a powerful tool. Passion drives us to tack-le hard problems, overcome weakness, and develop skills that are not naturally inherent in ourselves. For Sallie that was overcoming being an introvert. As she says, “an intro-vert who wanted to succeed.” You can’t be a wallflower and get ahead. Years later Sallie still believes she is an introvert, but she spent time learning the personality traits of an ex-trovert so she could step away from the wall to make things happen. When she tells busi-ness colleagues that she’s an introvert, they of course don’t believe her. She says, “I truly am! When I am in achievement mode, I look

From Business CEO to Dedicated Volunteer

By Paula Barron, Senior VP & Chief Marketing Officer— VIST Bank, A Tompkins Community Bank

SallieWeaver

President, It’s A Gift —The Woman’s Exchange

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and act like an extrovert, but in social situa-tions unrelated to business, you will find me hanging out with all the other wallflowers.”

Sallie claims working hand in hand with passion are other qualities and tools that help define success.

1. Constantly striving for excellence.2. Being the best that you can be.3. Never accepting that good

enough is good enough.4. Having the ability to stay

positive and focused even when things look bleak.

5. Always being optimistic and per-sistent — many things are darkest before the dawn.

My favorite comment during the interview that really struck home for

me was — you have to be brave.

Sallie says the journey to achieving success is scary, because there are usually many risks involved. She thinks many women don’t achieve their goals simply because their fear of failure gets in their way. There is an old saying, “No Risk. No Reward.” She is al-ways surprised at how often she sees women back away from asking for what they need or want because they fear being told “no.”She has overcome every no answer she has ever received. She says, “No doesn’t kill you, but risking a “no” often gets you that needed

“yes,” which gets you one step closer to your goals.”

I asked Sallie if she encountered any stum-bling blocks along the way and how did she overcome them?

According to Sallie, there were definite-ly stumbling blocks. Looking back over

her career, she tells me she never saw them as stumbling blocks at the time. She just looked at them as challenges or problems that needed to be solved. “I think if I labeled them as “stumbling blocks” I might have believed the label and not overcome them.” I wasn’t surprised to learn she is the ultimate optimist, believing that if she worked hard enough that she could achieve anything that she set her mind to. She thought that sound-ed a little cocky, but she believes that is what it takes. She told me, “You cannot look at problems or stumbling blocks as reasons to fail or stop being a creative problem solv-er.” In her opinion, it is just another key to success. She also mentioned the importance of the willingness to listen, learn and distin-guish people who can help you grow, from the naysayers who will zap your passion. When I asked her about mentors through-out her career she said there were many. She would pick every successful person’s brain that she could and watch how successful people responded to their staff and oth-ers. There was a common thread that she used in her own development of her team.

LEAD BY EXAMPLEit helped her define

the culture of her company

TRUST, INTEGRITY & RESPECT for others and a strong work ethic

CREATE YOUR OWN OPPORTUNITIES

by being alert,open-minded,

creative and assertive

SallieWeaver

Sallie is now retired and truly ful-filling her desires to give back to the community. Her current project is

“It’s a Gift.” I asked Sallie to tell us a little bit about it.

It’s a Gift is a wonderful store run by an organization called the Woman’s Exchange. It is a non-profit run by volunteers with the exception of the manager. We have two missions at It’s a Gift—one is to support local and national artisans and the other is to give all of our profits to local charities. When I started as a vol-unteer two years ago I realized the potential that this store had and the impact its charitable giving could make in our community. The longer I volunteered, the more my passion to contribute to the cause grew. What is really great about shopping at It’s a Gift is that you can get in-credible gift items and contribute to a local charity at the same time. I am on a mission to get everyone to make their first shopping stop at It’s a Gift. Not only will they find unique items that they won’t find elsewhere, they will be contributing to a worthy cause every time they make a purchase. That is why we say “A gift from It’s a Gift, is a gift that gives twice.” Berks County has its own gift in Sallie Weaver; there’s a lot we can learn from a woman with such passion.

To learn more about It’s a Gift—The Woman’s Exchange, we have an in-depth article on its history and recent transformation. See page 12.


What is SallieDoing Now?


Women2Know

According to various statistics, less than 10 percent of resolution setters actu-ally achieve their goal so why do we

continue to make promises to do something good or stop doing something bad when the odds are worse than betting at a racetrack? Why position ourselves for failure?

My philosophy on resolutions has noth-ing to do with losing weight but in gaining insight. Nothing to do with failing, but succeeding. Nothing to do with deprivation, but engagement.

And, it’s sure to garner positive results for you, as well.

Each January, I pick a word. Not just any word, but a word chosen through medita-

tion…just for me. A word I need to absorb and apply in all my affairs in order to move forward. One year my word was fortitude; another year clarity; joyous took precedent another time, as did humor.

Whenever I was confronted with a chal-lenge…a lazy co-worker; a dramatic friend; an emotionless spouse; a stubborn in-law; a rebellious teenager; a fearful SELF, I brought that year’s word to the forefront of my at-tention and tried to the best of my ability to incorporate it into my response.

For example, last year my ‘word’ was SOAR. It literally felt like it flew into my head the second I started meditating. On days I felt sad over the loss of my mom

and brother, I relied on SOAR to propel me. At times when I felt frightened to drive down our icy, snow-covered hill or stymied to make myself present in the presence of a powerful person I visualized myself han-dling the situation with poise and SOARED through it.

After more than a decade of this practice, it’s apparent that I have grown spiritually, emotionally, physically, intellectually, aca-demically. Do I have more to learn? More room to grow? Absolutely. And, that’s why there is a plethora of words in the dictionary!

The subtle, yet remarkable effect this exer-cise has is that it transforms who we are, thus we become better listeners, more calculated

By Dawn Maurer Derr, Writer

A Different Type of

NEW YEAR’SResolution

This New Year I vow to lose weight!

Plan of attack:

1. Wake up early (this writer is not a morning person)

2. Go to the gym (after tending to all the barn work)

3. Eat healthier (could be difficult; Oreo-addicted humans live with me)

4. Resist temptation (years of parochial school could serve me well here)

5. Seek support (from other equally-determined resolution setters)

Deadline: Easter

Goal: 10 pounds. (gotta lose enough weight to feel guilt-free when the homemade

peanut butter eggs and marshmallow peeps force themselves upon my lips.)

- Wait. Who am I kidding?


Women2Know

Need help with your WORD?

Get quiet. Seek divine intervention.

Meditate.(Be patient; sometimes the word comes right away and sometimes it takes a week or so.)

Need inspiration? Here are the top 10 words

from my repertoire:

EMPOWERFORTITUDE

PLAYFULNESSFAITH

CLARITYPERSEVERE

JOYSING

DANCEBREATHE

risk-takers, happier co-workers, more engaged spouses, less worrisome parents, more empathetic sons and daughters.

How different the world would be if the nature of New Year's resolu-tions were less superficial and appearance-oriented, but instead character building and selfless.

We all know that what doesn’t work is a proclamation to go on a diet, stop smoking, lose 20 pounds; or willpower, which dwindles over time. What does work are small changes that inevitably lead us to the goal: chang-es in our eating habits, changes in our mindset and behaviors; replacing old habits with new ones.

We may have the best intentions, but the real significance is in the strate-gic plan, so go ahead…meditate…and see what word comes to mind. For the first few weeks, tape the word to your mirror, in your car, at your desk, until it becomes natural and then THINK, CONTEMPLATE, RESPOND.

In this world of e-mail, e-commerce, e-news, ask yourself: does your New Year’s resolution excite you? Does it encourage real change? Do you feel energized to meet your goal?

If not, get rid of it. Start the new year ready to Embrace. Embody. Energize. Empower. I bet by the end of the year you will achieve positive change…and maybe even lose a few pounds or stop smoking or fix your finances or go back to school as a result.

As for me, in 2014, I vow to be lackadaisical in work and tenacious in my personal life. Seriously, my new year’s resolution is to DIVE; jump in and make things happen without my usual hesitation and second-guessing.

Cheers to words!

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Women2Know

Joan Weidman“When my kids were young and I was a stay-at-home mom I made a resolution to cook at least one new recipe a week. The keepers are now in recipe note-books I gave them when they moved out on their own.”

Shauna Kring“Have friends over for dinner to spend quality time together. Each month different friends. We always say let's get together. But we never do. I made it happen! It was great to catch up in person instead of just on Facebook.”

Resolution Inspiration!A few non-traditional resolutions from wonderful,

wacky, wise women I call my friends.

Erin Causa Morrissey“To stop yelling at my two year old.”

Denise Nicoel Hoyos“Redefine. I want to live my life happy, not forced to do things that make me nervous or scared, or make people perceive me as something other than nice and sensible.”

Celeste Houllion Strobel“To try at least one new fruit or vegeta-ble weekly; swim a mile; compete in a triathlon; See how many different beers I could drink in a year.”

What Will Your Resolution Be?

Heather Adams“Two years ago I made a resolution to floss more. Figured it was attainable and I’m still doing it. I go for realistic.”

Danielle Malik“To accept and enjoy where I am and not be constantly trying to change my path.”

Michele Ceccola“To start being good to myself.”

Sharon Mast “Find something to laugh about every day!”

Mary Wert“To start painting again.”

Angelique Lukacs“To stop anthropomorphizing my animals quite so much.”

Deborah Scaringi“Seek balance.”

Judy Engle Aulenbach“My resolution is to triple the numbers of volunteers that come into the Olivet Boys and Girls Club. These kids suffer under unfair stereotypes; the only way we can change that is to have nice peo-ple work with them and see that they are like any other kid— they just come from circumstances that make their lives a bit more challenging.”

Roberta Soos “Balance time given to others with time for myself. To do what I promise.

To keep trying despite setbacks. All sounds great in theory. Going to be hard in practice.”

Missy Orlando“Wear life like a loose fitting garment and don't forget to enjoy the hugs.”


W2W Events | 2014

Patricia McLaughlin & Megan BauerFounder/President & Vice President, Coventry Corners,

Family FirstJune 10, 201411:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Toscani - $20.00

Patricia McLaughlin founded her dream retail shop, Coventry Cor-

ners thirty years ago. Since then it has continuously grown across three locations, evolving from a country gift shop to a creative bou-tique “where trends meet traditions.” Patricia’s retail dream became even more of a passion when her daughter Megan approached her to join the business seven years ago. Join us to learn the keys to suc-cess for this mother/daughter team working to keep one woman’s dream a family reality and way of life.

3rd Annual Women’s Expo and ATHENA Award Hosted by St. Joseph Medical Center & Women2Women Thursday, May 22, 2014 | 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Crowne Plaza - $50.00

The beginning of a new year seems an appropriate time to reflect on how Women2Women has flourished. The growth and impact we’ve experienced over the last three years would

not be possible without the financial support of chamber companies and organizations that recognize the value Women2Women brings to the community. We are so thankful for the commitment and generosity of our valued investors.

You may not realize it, but you have our investors to thank if you’ve ever attended a W2W event through a scholarship offering. What does this mean? Well, each of our investors is granted a number of tickets for their employees to attend events. In cases where investor employees are not able to attend, those tickets are offered up to our general W2W membership. Never let a good thing go to waste!

In 2013 we were happy to see 100 scholarships offered and used for our events. You may be thinking, how did that happen?

We may be contacted by a member who really wants to attend a

W2W Scholarships

particular event, but perhaps money is a little tight that week. The solution? Scholarship!

The Women2Women groups on Facebook and on LinkedIn will make a post when scholarships are available. The solution? Check in online often! (And ‘like’ us on Facebook, or join our LinkedIn group.)We are grateful for the opportunity to offer more scholarships throughout 2014, and hope to see you soon!

If you are interested in a scholarship to an event, please contact Carolyn Shultz Spano at

[email protected] or 610.898.7779

Daria LaTorre Dean of the School of Graduate and Adult Education & Mary Ellen Wells, Associate Professor — Alvernia UniversityEthics And Its Impact On WomenFebruary 11, 2014 | 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.The Highlands at Wyomissing - $20.00

The topic of ethics can be complex and range from social mores to the law. There are always ethical challenges and communications issues we face in our professional lives. Daria LaTorre and Mary Ellen Wells, each with a background in law (LaTorre in criminal jus-tice and child abuse protection, and Wells in corporate and tax law) join us from Alvernia University to discuss how gender issues can make ethics challenges even more difficult when the stakes are high to win or succeed.

Rhonda CampbellRhonda Campbell Consulting SolutionsFollow The Leader: Leadership Lessons From A Children’s GameMarch 11, 2014, | 11:30 a.m.– 1 p.m.The Highlands at Wyomissing - $20.00

Rhonda brings her 25+ years’ experience in training, consulting and coaching to tell us why a title means nothing in the leadership world, why having followers is not a sign of good leadership and why leaving your ego at the door is critical to success. Too often, individuals lead like they are playing a game of Follow the Leader where people follow you simply because you have a title, when really they may not support you or your vision. A leader is great not by her power but rather by her ability to empower. Come learn to be an empowering leader, whether at work or in life.

NEW

DATE!!Look for more information about our 3rd an-nual day of pampering, networking, renewal and re-energizing! We’ll be kicking off our day with the time-honored ATHENA Award. Once again we are lining up a great day of work-shops, speakers and connections that you won’t want to miss.


Some of us have fond memories of visiting The Woman’s Exchange as a child, and, yes, it’s Woman’s and not

Women’s. It’s been one of Berks County’s best-kept secrets for nearly 50 years. Although many Berks County residents may think The Woman’s Exchange is a consign-ment shop, it has always sold an assortment of unique gift items.

Until recently, Sallie Weaver, founder and retired chairwoman of Elite Sportswear, Reading, thought the same. That all changed once she stepped into the little shop in West Reading a few years ago; she walked by it for nearly 30 years. It soon became her fa-vorite store. Now, three years later, she not only volunteers to help run this non-profit, serving as Board President, but chooses to

Women2Know

Recent Transformations

It’s A Gift — The Woman’s Exchange in West Reading

advocate passionately on its behalf. With input from a dedicated Board of Directors, Sallie and her associates have transformed the image in hopes that the brand new sign, awning and canopy, along with the addi-tion to its name, It’s a Gift, will help this non-profit store hold onto its nationwide historical sentiment — and catch the atten-tion of new shoppers.

By Andréa D. Much, Writer

Front row left to right: Lura Stringer, Sallie Weaver Back left to right Carol Fryling, Susan Van Zant, Barbara Logero, Karen A. Nein

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Women2KnowIncluding the revised name, It’s a Gift —

The Woman’s Exchange of Reading, the store has undergone a complete facelift that convinces customers it’s a boutique worth stepping into — especially when gifts pur-chased there will truly be given twice. Don’t let the word “exchange” mislead you to think the merchandise at this store is used. The store retained its original name since the

“exchange” novelty has deep historical roots. Dating back to the mid-1800s, the Woman’s Exchange Movement was born in the form of underground storefronts created so women with charitable needs were allowed the op-portunity to earn income. At its height in the early 1900s, there were about 200 woman’s exchanges nationwide. Today, including It’s a Gift — The Woman’s Exchange of Reading, the total is down to 20.

Inside the Penn Avenue row home with converted store front is a room of treasures filled with women’s jewelry, handmade scarves, home décor, blown and infused glass, pottery and nearly everything else imaginable to dress up a woman, decorate a home or give as a gift. You’ll also find spe-cialty children’s clothing, such as christening gowns, and classic toddler clothing, in ad-dition to traditional toys; items for elegant entertaining and accessorizing gardens; and a pantry stocked with artisan foods, many which are locally made. The store is contin-uously featuring new fashions and flavors, because more than 300 artisans are hard at work, crafting new goods for one-of-a-kind exchange places such as It’s a Gift. It’s all in one charming place and the majority of merchandise is made right here in the U.S.

As a remaining slice of our nation’s history and a true gift to the local community, It’s a Gift recognizes the value of its history and supports it by strengthening its two mis-sions: to help artisans benefit by the sales and distribution of their handmade goods, and give all of the shop’s profits to local char-ities. Women who benefitted from bringing their homemade goods to the woman’s ex-change earned the opportunity to become self-sufficient, marking a historical first.

Of the current artisan work to be found at It’s a Gift — The Woman’s Exchange, Weaver

remarks, “It’s amazing what local and na-tional artists can produce. What truly makes the store unique is that a lot of the artisan work is one-of-a-kind and the merchandise changes on a constant basis, because artisans are constantly making something new.”

Despite several sparkling additions de-signed to inspire gifting, It’s a Gift — The Woman’s Exchange has maintained its values for nearly 50 years. Located at 720 Penn Avenue, this all-volunteer organization is governed by the Board of Directors, with one employed manager and more than sixty faithful volunteers. “It’s hard to find volun-teers, and we are fortunate to have a lot of women giving a lot of loving, tender care to

something they believe in,” says Weaver.

Over the years, this unique store has helped many local charities. This year, It’s a Gift an-nounced its charitable partner and benefi-ciary of profits would be Berks Women in Crisis — a charity with great need that contin-uously makes a positive

impact on women. “A big difference here is that people know they are shopping for a gift that also helps a local charity,” states Weaver.

Shopping at It’s a Gift — The Woman’s Exchange in West Reading may help you rekindle the spirit of giving while seeing how our foremothers paved the way in kinship, artistry and retail.

The Beginnings of The Woman's Exchange

Founders: Nancy Fry, Peggy Bertolet and Polly Smith.The original idea was to open a storefront for a few weeks prior to Christmas. They were given space on Penn Ave in West Reading. The store was stocked with things they made along with a few other people’s things, too. When they had to move, Tom Masano offered them a cottage on the Old Lauers Farm for something like $1 a year. They stayed there with the three of them working/managing it until they had to move due to the development of Lauers’ Tract. It was at that time they moved to the current location on Penn Ave. Nancy continued to manage it until the early ‘80s.

Photo, left to right Carol Fryling, Karen A. NeinHeidi Reuter Photography

Woman’s Exchange of Reading

The Woman’s Exchange is run by

volunteers who give themselves,

their time, and knowledge, as

well as support to artisans and

financial aid to our community.

We have chosen our signature name

“It’s a Gift” because of its

several meanings.

A gift from the Woman’s

Exchange is definitely a gift

that gives many times over!

A NONPROFIT GIFT SHOP

720 Penn AvenueWest Reading, PA 19611

610–373–0960Call for store hours

It's A Gift—Woman's Exchange of Reading will be closed

from January 20 – 25, 2014 for interior renovations.


Work2Life / Balancing Life, Work & Family

Building Value Statements For Your Everyday MissionsFind Work /Life Balance In The New Year Through Personal Value Statements

By Andréa D. Much, Writer

Businesses create mission statements everyday to define their core be-liefs and business direction, while

establishing a set of expectations for their stakeholders. These mission statements pro-vide guidance for evaluating opportunities. Running a household can be very similar to managing a company. Today, many wom-en are balancing careers, kids, family and community activities where all compete for time and resources. Perhaps the New Year is a perfect time to take a page from corporate America and create a strategy to align your time and commitments with those things you value most.

Why not develop a Personal, or Family, Value Statement to define strategies that help you stay true to your core beliefs in finding a better work/life balance and those things you value most? It may help you make better decisions when in the midst of life’s transitional moments, and give you tools to avoid acceptance of the awkward invitations that do not meet your personal interests. If you had to choose between opportunities to spend more valued time with your par-ents, husband or children, or opportunities to network your way to more money with great sacrifices, which would you choose now, and why?

The start of a new year is a prime time to re-evaluate your current decision-making

system to help you better manage the imper-fect trade-offs between work, personal and charitable agendas. Do you want to grow your career, improve your community, find more social opportunities, and how much are you willing to sacrifice time with family and friends to do these? Are there opportu-nities to incorporate your friends and family members into work, networking or social sit-uations, thereby providing lessons for your children, building more goodwill for your causes or adding more value to your core beliefs? Which organizations support these opportunities? A Personal Value Statement may help you build some structure in setting a new course to bring a more rewarding bal-ance to your life.

With the help of Andrea Ditsky, Grace Galanti, Jennifer Quick and Elaine Stanko, Women2Women shares stories and ideas from other women who have strategized solutions and established frameworks for their deci-sion-making. Perhaps their stories may help you define your own personal or family val-ue statement to bring balance to your life in the New Year.

“Everything’s important — and so are my children.”

– Jennifer Quick

Berks County is a very community-driv-en, task-oriented community, notes Jennifer Quick, Director of Sales at the Courtyard by Marriott, Wyomissing. Her job requires a community-oriented professional, and you’ll often find her promoting the hotel at many


Continued on page 16

Grace Galanti and son, Nicolas

Evey, daughter of Jennifer Quick

events throughout the Greater Reading com-munity. Lately, however, it’s been extremely important to find more balance between work and family. “I’ve learned that I can’t do it all; I can’t be at every event,” says Jennifer. While most moms are striving for balance to avoid feeling constantly torn between family and work, and operate with ninety minutes or less free time daily — Quick refers back to her motto, “everything is important — and so are my children.”

While raising a young family— her chil-dren are just 3 and 6 years old — Quick has become more conscientious of the times and events she chooses to attend. Instead of an evening Greater Reading Young Professionals (GRYP) event, Quick will select a luncheon instead — or finds an opportunity to support the community si-multaneously with her spouse and/or family. Recently, Quick stepped down from the GRYP Board, of which she’s been an ac-tive member since 2006. She decided to get more involved with the West Lawn United Methodist Church with more family and community opportuni-ties, and West Reading-Wyomissing

Rotary Club, a service organization where her husband also belongs.

Her restructured value statement has provided more family time, which has also improved her outlook. She shared a recent playground-painting event for the Gilmore Henne Foundation with her daughter, Evey. It was one of the most heartwarming com-munity experiences she’s ever had. “Mommy,

I painted this!” is what Quick hears whenev-er they revisit the playground. She’s proud to know her daughter made a difference in the community at such a young age, and knows she instilling a spirit of giving that will grow into a lasting memory. It’s import-ant for Jennifer to live the legacy with her daughter since her own mother was involved in her community, and it’s important for her children to know their parents can make a difference in the community.

“Practice humanism before professionalism.”

– Grace Galanti

As women, most of us want it all, and certainly, many of us attempt to do it all. Let’s remind ourselves that while total bal-ance is not a practical expectation, we can attempt to create balance over the multiple channels that include social, charitable and personal goals and obligations among work and home life.

“Too often I feel that women are compro-mised to give up parts of themselves to fit some standard that exists out there,” says business owner Grace Galanti, who recent-ly opened a holistic skin care spa in West Reading. Galanti relates that years ago she sacrificed a dependable and profitable career in order to create work in alignment with her own life’s purpose, so that at the end of the day, she would feel strengthened rather than depleted.

As a single mother, Grace Galanti’s inclu-sive approach to professionalism includes a personal value reminder to practice hu-manism before professionalism. “Whether you make the decision to align your career with your children, or maintain speed with a career while implementing a strong sup-port system and communication plan, allow yourself the opportunity to be your authen-tic self,” says Grace.

“There’s always a way.”

– Elaine Stanko, Esquire

“What might mean success for one per-son may not be for another person,” says Elaine Stanko, Esquire. Women travel down individual paths, with experiences of career and home life weighing differently from one another, based on personal desires and core beliefs. What may work for one woman, may not work for another. Success is found

within our own personal set of values as we approach work, life and family.

For Elaine, an attorney at McNees, Wallace & Nurick, it was a huge success to steadily work nearly full-time throughout

every stage of the growth and development of her children. At given times, certain fam-ily members, whether it be husband, wife, son or daughter, may go through busier pe-riods that stress household resources, such as time or transportation. Stanko exemplifies this by sharing how this past season her son played both soccer and football. “But in the next phase, it will be someone else’s turn,” she relates.

“The nature of my position is such that I have so much flexibility that there have been very few occasions that I haven’t been able to make a school musical or athletic per-formance.” In the span of her career, could she have had opportunities to earn more in-come or further capital growth with a title change? Certainly. But according to Stanko, whose children are now in high school,

“my kids will tell you they never missed anything because they have a working mom.”

Elaine Stanko, Esquire


Work2Life

These women who have shared their stories may not have known they were creating Personal, or Family Value Statements, but each has created a better structure to identify those things that are most important in their lives. They have assembled core belief strategies that allow them to prioritize and align career, community and social commitments that meet their unique needs to balancing work and life. A Personal Value Statement may just be the answer to making tougher decisions easier.

“We have to work together to make it work at all.”

– Andrea Ditsky

“I felt strongly about staying home and ex-periencing full-time motherhood,” Andrea Ditsky contends. “When I was home, that was my career.” When the Ditsky family moved from Gettysburg to Reading, Andrea made the decision to stay at home full-time to raise her family. Since the transition to one household income increases household stress, Ditsky added some part time jobs to keep her stimulated.

Accustomed to career stimuli from her ex-perience in the pharmaceutical industry, and upon her transition to stay-at-home mom, Ditsky immediately became involved with other facets. For several years, she coached two sports and held two part-time positions, including the Berks Equine Council, where

she served on the Board. She also picked up part-time pharmaceutical research proj-ects to offset any financial burdens with the family’s switch to a single household income.

Ditsky’s three children, now eleven, nine and six years old, have contributed to a new way of life within the household, one that includes delegated responsibilities that all family members participate in so that Ditsky is free for other roles. “Organization is key to sanity, not only for myself, but in teaching my daughters to contribute to an organized family.”

Is it possible for working moms to not feel constantly torn when shouldering home responsibilities, household financial com-mitments and raising children? The modern female mind races with worry. Am I putting in enough time at work? Am I keeping up with everything at home? When was the last time I helped out in the community? Whether the career hours are full or part-time, as women, we continue to strive for a way to be present in all arenas, while also partnering for better, stronger communities for our families in years to come.

When planning for life’s major transitions, it’s helpful to identify a support system. Most women are humbled to answer the inevitable question that seeks the key to success: “How do you do it?”

“I have a village that helps me with my family,” Quick shares. Crediting her husband, in-laws and a general manager that understands the run-around of young families, it’s this village that helps Quick reserve the energy to accomplish the priorities at-hand.

When you don’t have family nearby, allow yourself to be supported by a system that ho-listically communicates and organizes a strategy that holds a collective focus. Elaine Stanko shares, “I try to rely on friends if needed, but the sensibility is that there is a way to make it work, we just have to figure out the way.”

Identifying where you are and where you want to be with career, family and community can certainly help guide you to better choices; choices that are yours to make and own. Your personal value statement should be assessed every year as your role within the office, your family and your community contract or expand, and your experiences evolve. Here are a few starter thoughts to help you on your journey.

Career• Would a broader network of

professionals enhance my ca-reer and/or income goals?

• Are there professional organizations that provide opportunities to network within my field?

• Are there civic or economic organi-zations that would benefit from my talents, and how would that fit within my career goals?

• Is there a given career or occupa-tion that would allow me flexibility to be more involved with raising a family when the time is needed?

• When would be the ideal time to consider continuing educational pursuits, and how would that fit within my family and career commitments?

Community/Social• When volunteering time, what organi-

zations are doing work that fits with my personal beliefs (e.g. focuses on chil-dren, domestic violence, animals, civic or community engagement, economic development, education, health, arts,

It Takes a Village…

humanitarian efforts, hunger, etc.)?• Can my commitment make a dif-

ference, and does the organization make a difference to those it serves?

• How much time will I be able to give, at what level, and what is expected?

• Are there opportunities to engage family and friends in these pursuits and will the pursuits add intrinsic value to those who participate?

Personal/Family• What sacrifices am I willing to make

to enhance my career or income?• How will I fit my family into my career

and community commitments, or how will I fit my career and community commitments into my family time?

• Are there ways to engage my family and friends to play a bigger role in my decisions?

• What types of choices will give me the greatest flexibility with-out sacrificing too much?


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What Does It Mean To Be In the Family of God?

Identity is defined in relationship. According to the New Oxford Dictionary, the definition of a mother is, “a

woman in relation to her child” while a husband is, “a married man considered in relation to his wife.” If the Trinity is the starting point of Christianity this reality becomes very profound, especially for the Baptized. If we were to ask, who is God the Father? The response necessitates identification in relationship, he is the one who has a child, Jesus, who reveals the Father to humanity. From them processes the Advocate, the holy Spirit to remain with God’s family to teach and guide, and because of the relationship to the Father and Son, the Spirit can be identified.

In Matthew 28:19 we read, “ Go, therefore,and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit.” For

nearly 2000 years Christians have heeded Christ’s command to his disciples. It is a moment where the baptized is freed from sin, reborn as a child of God and in that water symbolically buried with Christ so that they may rise up with him as a new creation, as members of his body. It is here that the baptized Christian finds identity in relationship. This is a relationship with all the Baptized, the “one” family of God because we are first drawn up into the very life that is shared between the Father, the Son and the holy Spirit.

Father Eugene Ritz is the Assistant Pastor of Saint Catharine of Siena Parish in Reading. He was ordained to the Priesthood in 2009 after studies at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia. Originally from Greater Hazleton, he holds degrees in Philosophy and Systematic Theology.

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Growth2Go /Finance, Mentoring & Education

Disclaimer, this was the title of an ar-ticle I just read by John C. Maxwell, Leadership Guru and the author of

over 30 books on organizational leadership. What struck me about this article was just how much it resonated with me as a woman who has come to realize the need for person-al development as part of lifelong learning.

John Maxwell tells the story in this piece about a friend who challenged him with this question when he was a young man start-ing out. “Do you have a plan for personal growth?” As Maxwell states this was a ques-tion that would change his life. Of course he didn’t have a plan, he was working too hard being the professional he was trained to be, and that would naturally get him where he wanted to be.

But wait, is it true that if we work really hard at being, in my case a Chamber pro-fessional or perhaps in your case a banker,

The Law of IntentionalityPersonal Growth doesn’t just happen!

lawyer, doctor or teacher, we automatically grow? The answer is NO, personal growth doesn’t happen on its own and furthermore don’t think anyone else cares about this but you. It’s not up to your employer, or your spouse or others in your world. And, another fallacy, no one improves by accident or with a “little more time.” It takes work.

Your own personal growth is up to you and it must be intentional; only you can take control and make it happen. You must make this a tangible target…I will improve myself in order to improve my life.

I have had the pleasure in the past three years of meeting so many women through Women2Women who are interested in per-sonal and professional development. I encourage them and you to make a plan and start working the plan. Just be aware that this requires some sacrifice, time, mon-ey, maybe even some relationships…but it

will be worth it. Remember how it changed Maxwell’s life…it will change yours.

Women2Women’s mission is to create more women leaders; we are intentional about this and our work validates it. So, begin by setting time aside to attend our programs, participate in Roundtables or Mentor Resource Gatherings; it will make a difference. W2W recently launched a pilot “Lean In Circle” that is proving to be a great success; we have plans to announce the for-mation of more of these popular venues in 2014…stay tuned, we will continue to have more resources available designed specifically to assist with your personal development.

Maxwell closed by writing, “I don’t know any successful person who thinks growth comes quickly and climbing to the top is easy. It just doesn’t happen. People create their own luck.”

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Growth2Go

Lean In: Keep the Conversation Going

By Karen Marsdale

Joni NaugleFor a myriad of reasons, women still lag

behind their male counterparts in reaching the executive suite. We must acknowledge that women and men are different – bio-logically, emotionally, and how our brains work. Sheryl Sandburg’s book provides insight into why and how women can “lean in” or “lean out” during their careers and feel good about the choices we each make for ourselves. The ultimate goal is to be the best version of yourself that you can be!

Elaine McDevittI thought the first part of was much

better than the last because it focused more on women having an intelligent and confident voice not only in a business environment, but in all areas of our lives. The author’s wide range of leadership ex-amples, both in and out of the office, was inspiring, especially to the younger gener-ation who are just now getting a foothold in business and as adult contributors in their communities.

The jungle gym analogy for achieving success was new to me and I loved it! It gives the reader a sense that there is breathing room in careers…it’s OK to ex-plore new experiences, being open to all

possibilities…and they don’t have to be linear to be the right move to make.

While I do understand the author’s push for women to “stay in the game” to achieve more and forge pathways for the future generations of women lead-ers, I believe strongly that life isn’t all about money and business success. Women should be able to stay home and raise their families if they are financially able to do so and want to do so. Being a good mother…PARENT…deserves more respect than it is sometimes given.

Sandy ChristelWhile reading this book, I was thinking

of myself and my daughter. But my son had read the book and shared that he planned to implement several areas into his training program. He shared with me his experience that women are more vague in sharing their achievements while applying for jobs; whereas men may even exagger-ate them. He added that women tend to not even apply for jobs if they think they are not qualified whereas men will barrel on.

Laura Humphrey-BunnWhile reading , I found myself nodding

in agreement. Coming from a matriarchal

society, Native American Mohawk Iroquois, leadership is part of our DNA. At the same time I was disturbed by the existing gender bias statistics.

“Having it all” is one’s perception. I am fortunate to have a husband who is a team player and an occupation where I can make my own schedule to “have a lot.”

I thoroughly enjoyed the book. My favor-ite quote from the book is from HBS “The result of creating a more equal environment will not just be better performance for our organizations, but quite likely greater hap-piness for all.”

Women2Women MemberAs a younger woman in the work force

helped me see that it is OK to work hard, be present and engaging in the work setting and not have to apologize for that. That it is OK to be a strong woman who asks for what she deserves and that it does not make me a bitch. The best part was that it opened the door for the “Lean In Circles” and that it is OK to need their help in making me a better person. We need less of the negative competition between us and more support.

Whatever your opinion of Sheryl Sandberg’s bestselling book Lean In, or her personal philosophy relating to women in the workplace and the need to “Lean In,” the major take-away for me was what Sandberg says at the end of the book. She encourages women to keep the conversations going.

In that spirit, Women2Women intends to keep talking about the issues that women face in the workplace, the home, and the community. We will keep the conversation going and we want you our readers to talk to us as well!

We asked readers and Women2Women members to give us their thoughts on Lean In, so here goes…enjoy!


Growth2Go

Karen WangI thought one of the most important concepts the book re-

vealed to me was how young women in professional tracks “lean out” in anticipation of the time when they will want to take time out for childrearing. As a physician, I just completed my training around the time I turned 30, pregnant with my first child, so there wasn’t much chance to lean in or out before I was a mother. But I think it’s important to consider that professional women of all va-rieties make decisions about the type of jobs they accept based on anticipating motherhood, which ultimately might hold them back in the workforce. The best advice I ever got about having children as a woman in medicine was during a panel discussion in medical school where the consensus was to have children when you and your partner were ready to have children, because there was no “good time” career-wise in medical training. I continue to share that advice with the medical students, male and female, that I work with today. I think Sheryl Sandberg also highlights the importance of an equitable marriage and a true partner in career success for women. I think for years people have known this was true for men, that they needed the behind-the-scenes person at home, and likely also similar people behind them at work, to really succeed. That’s true for professional women too, and I know that I could not have achieved much of what I have in my career without the 50/50 partnership of my husband, Dr. Bryan Wang.

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Mental, Spiritual, Physical Health & Wellness

Most of us understand that a nor-mal blood pressure is somewhere around 120/80, but what do

those numbers really mean? You probably already know that an elevation of either number is not a good thing and you may worry when you hear that your blood pres-sure is elevated. Blood pressure increases can be normal during stressful situations such as a visit to your doctor or dentist. However, if

our blood pressure remains elevated for ex-tended periods of time, it can start to cause other problems throughout our body.

Blood pressure is essentially a ratio of the systolic and diastolic pressures in the heart. Systolic pressure is the arterial pressure while your heart is contracting. Diastolic pressure is the arterial pressure while the heart is in relaxation and refilling with blood. When either of these numbers are too high, it

means that your heart has to work harder to pump your blood. Blood pressure can be high because of stress, diet, plaque formation, weight, kidney disease, thyroid problems, and genetics.

In addition, another important number to pay attention to is your pulse pressure. The pulse pressure is the difference between the systolic pressure and the diastolic pressure. If the pulse pressure is above 40, it indicates an

By Gail Eiceman, RN, BS, CCN Elizabeth M. Hassel, BS

An Alternative Approach: Addressing High Blood Pressure

Health2Wellness


increase in stiffness in the arterial wall. This lack of elasticity within the arteries can be the result of arteriosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. Arteriosclerosis decreases blood flow, which can lead to increased risk of a heart attack or stroke.

The big question is what can we do about high blood pressure or an increased pulse pressure?

From an integrative health approach there

are many natural ways to de-crease blood pressure, therefore potentially decreasing your risk of heart attack and stroke. An integrative approach involves the incorporation of tradi-tional western medicine and natural medicine. Integrative medicine practitioners in-vestigate the root cause of particular ailments. With the aid of proper nutrition and natural, well-documented and researched herbal supplements, the basic biochemistry of the body starts to work together again to resolve ailments.

Specifically for high blood pressure, here are some well-re-searched natural therapies:

Olive Bark ExtractBlocks the beta adrenergic

activity and therefore lowers blood pressure. The dosing for olive

bark extract is 500mg three times per day.

Magnesium OrotateAn electrolyte that aids the heart; recommended dose

is 3000mg once a day.

Coenzyme Q10Should be taken in

the soy-free ubiquinol form; the type of CoQ10

is very important.

Pyridoxal 5 Phosphate (P5P)

Also known as active-B6; greatly increases the

HDL or good cholesterol. P5P with the amino

acid Taurine have been shown to greatly reduce blood pressure together.

Gail Eiceman,

Elizabeth M. Hassel,

To help lower an increased pulse pressure, Vitamin C at 2000mg (corn free) per day helps with the elasticity in the arteries. A good source of Vitamin C is Amala Berries. With any supplement recommendation, please know that the quality of the supple-ment is very important. It is best to consult with someone trained in Integrative medi-cine before beginning any regimen.

Another thing to consider is checking to see if you have a well-balanced diet full of whole foods. A whole foods diet is based on plenty of fresh vegetables and noncom-mercial or prepackaged foods. Decreasing the amount of white sugar and adding more vegetables into your daily diet will improve your overall health. Some professionals also suggest salt restricted diets as well. Also, drinking half of your body weight in ounces of clean spring water will also aid in improv-ing your health. Some form of daily exercise is very beneficial whether it be going to the gym or deciding to park farthest from the door at work or your favorite shopping plaza. Finally, for anyone dealing with high blood pressure, try to include deep breathing and de-stressing techniques in your daily life.

If you are experiencing a rise in blood pressure, it is important to seek medical care whether it is from a traditional allopathic doctor or someone who is certified in inte-grative medicine. Elevated blood pressure readings should not be ignored. There is a reason it is called the “silent killer”; often a patient with heart disease may be asymp-tomatic. Get to know your numbers. If your numbers are elevated, change what you can to help take control of your numbers by liv-ing a healthy lifestyle and seeking the help of a trained professional.

In the health care profession for over forty years. She began her career as a Pediatric Nurse after receiving her nursing degree from Chester County Hospital. She was recognized by be-ing granted the Outstanding Award in Pediatric Nursing.

A 2011 Graduate from The Pennsylvania State University where she received her degree in Nutrition. Currently she is a candidate for her Graduate Degree in Nutrition and Integrative Health from the Maryland University of Integrative Health in Laurel, Maryland.


Health2Wellness

In the spring of 1999, just after celebrat-ing her 44th birthday, Margaret McIntosh

broke her neck riding a young horse. She experienced no pain, she simply could not move, and was paralyzed from the neck down. With a diagnosis of incomplete quadriplegia, she had to depend on other people for the simplest things, such as rolling over in bed or pulling up the covers. “I was afraid if I start-ed to cry, that I would not be able to stop,” shared Margaret. “I was overwhelmed by the love and support of my family and friends.”

“Since my accident, everything I do is ori-ented to becoming stronger.” After six weeks she left the Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital and was able to walk short distanc-es with a walker. Incredibly, after one year of physical therapy, she could walk using a cane, swim and, most importantly, ride. One of her fellow competitors ran a ther-apeutic riding facility. “She ran next to me when I began, made sure that I always had safe horses to ride and encouraged me to fol-low my competitive instincts to Paralympic equestrian competition.”

Strong WomenCONQUERINGLife’s Struggles

Margaret McIntosh

By Phoebe Canakis,Owner—Phoebe’s Pure Foods


Prior to the accident, Margaret had rid-den horses for her whole life and was an accomplished rider. She competed at the International level in Three-Day Eventing for ten years completing the prestigious Olympic level Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in 1998. She was chosen for several United States Equestrian Team training ses-sions in 1999 and her immediate goal was the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.

But that hasn’t stopped her; she proudly states that she is probably in the best shape she has ever been in! She still can't walk far or fast or independently but she is stronger than ever. In 2012, she rode in the selec-tion trials for the Paralympics in London. Although she missed making the team by 1/10 of one percent, it was the culmination of twelve years of fighting back. Where is

she headed? “I have a wonderful horse and am working toward the qualification trials for the World Equestrian Games to be held in Normandy in August of 2014.”

When asked what she lost? She candidly stated, “I was a professional horse trainer.

I have never let myself even think about how I will never enjoy the high spirits and athleticism of a young horse or the adren-alin rush of galloping across country or the powerful explosion of a good jumping

“I was overwhelmedby the love

and support of myfamily and friends.”

horse…or even a walk on the beach, hand-in-hand with my husband…”

But when asked what she has gained, Margaret shares “a whole new appreciation for my husband who not only nurtured me from the first moment after my accident but continues to do a thousand quotidian acts to make my life run more smoothly! As an incomplete quadriplegic, unlike a complete spinal cord injury, I was given the oppor-tunity to recover. I see that as a mandate to work as hard as I can ever mindful of those who have every desire but no physical pos-sibility for improvement. Disabled people have no excuses to feel sorry for themselves these days! Just set short term and long term goals and never give up!”


Health2Wellness

Mary Ellen Mahan has gone from 311 pounds to motivating others to lose

weight and exercise — one of her largest accomplishments in life. A demanding corporate career, dedicating long hours to her profession and always focusing on her customers, didn’t leave much time for Mary Ellen to focus on her health and wellness.

That all changed when they started a weight loss program at her work primarily to improve attendance and employee mo-rale. She joined the challenge to demonstrate support and was more successful than she ever expected. At the same time, Mary Ellen knew that she wanted more control over her work and wanted to change her behaviors. Mary Ellen shared, “Of course to add more stress to my life, my partner and I were in the process of separating. Bottom line is that there were a lot of things changing in my life and starting a personal transformation was something that would allow me to add more control to my life.”

Prior to the weight loss, Mary Ellen was someone who gave too much of her time to work. She was quick to rationalize why work was more important than taking care of herself. Success to her, was defined by work accomplishments. “Working out and planning my food choices was just too time consuming and there was no time to fit them into my day.” Excuses were not tolerated at work, yet they seemed to be acceptable when it came to caring for herself.

Mary Ellen lost a total of 153 pounds! More importantly she shared that she also lost the part of her that tolerated negativi-ty and allowed excuses to take priority over change. She always believed in her abilities

— except when it came to weight loss. After the weight loss, she gained a stronger belief in herself and an understanding that hon-oring personal commitments and promises should take priority over anything else in life. She also learned that success is not always trying to be the best at an activity; it is being the best that you can possibly be.

How did she do it? Mary Ellen started with small promises. She set goals. She kept track of her performance. Don’t be afraid to fail. Like she says, “You don’t need to be per-fect; you just need to get back on track right

away. If you track what do, you will be able to literally see how far you have progressed.”

When she started trying to transform her-self she had lots of reasons why she would not succeed. Her strategy was to look for ways to turn the “can’t” comments into “how can I” comments. This mindset is one that focuses on success and not excuses. After awhile she truly began to believe that any obstacle could be overcome if she wanted to and if she was creative enough in figuring out how to proceed.

Mary Ellen Mahan

Her journey has been more than shedding weight; it has been a quest to prioritize posi-tivity, enjoyment and happiness. Negativity has been shed. She may look different phys-ically but she is also different on the inside.

“Life is too short to wallow in doubt, sorrow and “what-ifs.” I choose not to now and it is amazing how much more enjoyable every day is.”

“Life is too short to wallow in doubt, sorrow and “what-ifs.”


Health2Wellness

Maureen Gallagher Fey’s life in recent years has been full of obstacles: her

daughter’s cancer diagnosis in 2005, her al-coholism and recovery, her daughter’s relapse with leukemia in 2011, a divorce, bankrupt-cy and the loss of her home. In an intimate interview with Maureen she shared that the single biggest turning point of her life was Christmas Eve in 2007, when her spiral into alcohol addiction bottomed out and her chil-dren were taken from her. “Throughout my six short years in recovery, I’ve been through my fair share of challenges,” said Maureen. Her divorce and custody battle have unfor-tunately been bitter. She managed through bankruptcy and near foreclosure as a result of the divorce, single-handedly raised two teen-agers on her own, and dealt with her oldest child being diagnosed with a leukemia re-lapse. In addition to her daughter undergoing chemotherapy and radiation, her treatment included a bone marrow transplant. Maureen experienced a very extended period of un-employment as a result of caring for her daughter and ultimately lost her home. “It seems the more struggles I’ve had, the stron-ger I’ve become. Not powerful, just stronger.”

Before her recovery, Maureen felt for a good part of her life that life was out to get her. She felt that the things that happened to her were far worse than what others go through. “I thought people should change who they were for me, center their worlds around me. I thought sometimes that bad things only happened to me and I resented people who seemed to have it good.”

Maureen has a completely different per-spective and way of looking at life now.

“Acceptance that everything I have is every-thing I need.” She has a desire to seek ways to become a better person and to surround herself with people who feel the same way. She has also experienced a realization that there will might be steps backwards that she can’t control, but never loses sight of the ability to move ahead.

When asked what advice does she give to others? Maureen frankly stated, “I don’t really give advice. I try to lead by exam-ple instead.” Instead of doling out advice, Maureen prefers to be a shoulder to lean on, just like others have been for her. But

Maureen Gallagher Fey

the person has to want to forge ahead. She learned that she can’t do that for people, or tell them how to do it. She hopes that she will lead by example and others will see from her actions that it can be done.

Once Maureen realized that she was pow-erless over everything but herself she was able to adapt to change and move forward. Her advice, “Some challenges are harder than others, but they’re not insurmountable

“It seems the more struggles I’ve had,the stronger I’ve become. Not powerful, just stronger.”

if you alter your perception of them. What is the worst that could happen? That’s always a great question to ask yourself. Then figure out a way to work through it. Sometimes you will lose, we all do. But you have to be able to learn from those times.”


Health2Wellness

Karen O’Connor was plagued with health issues from her late teens to early 20s.

After giving birth to her second child at age 29, she developed Grave’s disease, an auto-immune disease of the thyroid that makes it become hyper. Running had always been a part of her life but after her diagnosis with Grave’s she couldn’t run at all. A few years later as her health deteriorated and getting out of bed became an issue, she was diag-nosed with Lupus at the age of 34. “Running was not even a thought; my thoughts were how do I deal with such pain and disabili-ty,” shared Karen. “I was no longer able to care for myself, let alone my two kids.” She was later diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Reynaud’s disease, Sjorgens syndrome, IBS, GERD, kidney disease, heart and lung prob-lems, and migraines. Karen was in and out of the hospital and seeing so many specialists that she couldn’t remember what her life was like before illness. It consumed her and soon it felt like death was at her door step. “I needed to do something about my life, even

Karen O’Connor

though I felt hopeless.” At one point, she was on 15 drugs and they weren’t helping. She sought alternative therapy.

Within 9 months, she regained her health and was off all of the drugs except for a thy-roid medication. After the 9 months there was no sign of Lupus or MS! After her recov-ery, Karen decided to dedicate her time in helping others. “I wanted to pay it forward. I overcame so much, illnesses that I was told I would never get well from, to wellness. It was a mind, body, spirit approach that gave me that balance, great health and well-being and for that I am forever grateful!”

Since her recovery, Karen has a better at-titude and outlook on herself and life. She believes that the body has the amazing abil-ity to heal itself. “I truly did the work to be

my own healer by balancing my mind, body and spirit naturally.”

When asked what advice do you give oth-ers, Karen easily answered, “We only have this one life, do you want to just exist in it or do you want to live it. Change your thoughts to positive ones (mind), be mind-ful of choices to how you fuel and exercise your (body) and live with purpose and pas-sion rather than just exist (spirit). With that approach you will have wellness!”

Karen’s attitude and outlook on life has helped her on this journey of life. She be-lieves that life is always changing so with a positive attitude and outlook, change shouldn’t scare you, rather accept it and know that you can deal with anything that life’s changes hand you. Believing allows her not to worry so much, something she did a lot and that she believes is worthless negative energy to put upon oneself. “I can’t control life’s changes but I can get through it now because of my positive attitude and outlook of the situation.”

As a side note, Karen did run again— she completed a half marathon in 2010, 4 years after getting well.

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Health2Wellness

Heart disease is the number one kill-er of women, causing one in three women’s deaths each year or one

woman every minute. It kills more women than all forms of cancer combined. Even more frightening, 90 percent of women have one or more risk factors for develop-ing heart disease.

Heart disease affects every woman, and man, differently and can take many forms such as an abnormal heart rhythm, called an arrhythmia, a heart valve problem, or ath-erosclerosis, which is a build-up of plaque in the walls of the arteries that may lead to a heart attack. Unfortunately, 64 percent of women who die suddenly from coronary heart disease had no previous symptoms.

Recognizing symptoms of heart disease can often be challenging, particularly for women whose symptoms are often different than those for men. Many women believe that the telltale sign of a heart attack is extreme chest pain, but that is not always the case, particularly for women. Common heart attack symptoms in women include:

• Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.

• Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

• Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort.

• Breaking out into a cold sweat.• Nausea or vomiting.• Lightheadedness.

The best thing to do if you or someone you know experiences any of these symptoms and believes something may be wrong is to call 9-1-1 and follow the operator’s instructions.

Women who consider themselves healthy often misdiagnose or dismiss the symptoms of a heart attack because they don’t think it could happen to them. That is why it is crucial for women to learn about heart dis-ease, know their risk factors and begin taking steps toward a healthier lifestyle.

There are seven key lifestyle changes that can make a big impact on improving heart health.

• Don’t smoke• Manage your blood sugar• Get your blood pressure

under control• Know your family history• Stay active• Lose weight• Eat healthy

The first step toward better heart health should be a visit with your doctor to discuss your personal risk factors for heart disease, including family history, no matter what your age. Your doctor can also perform basic screenings, such as blood pressure and cho-lesterol, which can tell you a lot about your personal risk for heart disease. Even if you are young and healthy now, knowing these numbers early will make it easier to spot a possible change in the future. They can also discuss if you need to make any of the other suggested lifestyle changes to improve your heart health.

Ten years ago, the American Heart Association set out to make a difference in women’s heart health by launching the Go Red for Women movement to raise aware-ness among women about their risk for heart

disease, living a healthy lifestyle and empow-ering other women with information that could save their lives. At that time only one in five women knew that heart disease was their number one killer. Since then, there has been a 23 percent increase in awareness that heart disease is the number one killer of women and more than 300 women’s lives are saved every day from cardiovascular diseases.

February is recognized as American Heart Month, but to shine a spotlight on wom-en’s heart health, the Go Red for Women campaign is also celebrating National Wear Red Day on Friday, February 7. National Wear Red Day encourages women and men of all ages to “Go Red” to raise awareness about women’s heart health. In communities across the country, workplaces encourage employees to wear red, news anchors wear red and report on heart health news, fa-mous landmarks are set aglow in red lights, and shop windows display their red wares. Visit GoRedForWomen.org/WearRedDay for ideas about how you can join in on the National Wear Red Day fun.

GOING REDTo Save Women’s Lives

For more information about women’s heart health and the Go Red for Women campaign,visit GoRedForWomen.org or call 610.867.0583 to learn how you can get involved in

the Berks County area.

By Larissa Bedrick Communications Director, Berks/Lehigh Chapter, American Heart Association

Health2Wellness

Preparing heart healthy dishes is as easy as trimming fat and sodi-um from your recipes while adding more flavor and fiber found in vege-tables. By substituting plain, non-fat Greek yogurt for heavy cream, in both the Scallops and Quiche rec-ipes, we trimmed fat calories. We also trimmed fat and calories by substituting a soft cheese (feta/chèvre) for the hard cheese (ched-dar). 1 ounce of feta has 74 calories and 6 grams of fat versus 1 ounce of cheddar that has 113 calories and 9 grams of fat.

Dessert is elegant and a cinch. Did you know pears are an excellent source of heart healthy, dietary fiber?

Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday this year so versatility is key in this menu, taking you from a traditional breakfast or brunch to lunch and dinner. It is also a simple menu to follow for entertaining a group of friends for Valentine’s Day.

A Heart Healthy VALENTINE’S DAY!

Celebrate Over Breakfast,

Brunch, Lunch or Dinner

By Phoebe Canakis


Photo by Phoebe Canakis


Health2Wellness

Granola ParfaitSavoring a sweet bite is as much about the simplicity of flavors as it is about the visual appeal. In a stemmed glass layer the list of following ingredients to make a gorgeous fruit parfait.

Ingredients:A peeled and cubed orangeNon-fat Greek yogurt optionally flavored with vanilla bean seeds, honey or a squeeze of orange juice Pomegranate seedsMaple nut quinoa granola

Feta, Mushroom and Red Pepper Crustless QuicheServes 6 – 8

Ingredients:2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil, CA Olive Ranch8 ounces baby bella mushrooms, chopped1 shallot or small onion, chopped1/2 cup diced fennel1/3 cup chopped roasted red pepper1 clove garlic, chopped1 teaspoon dried thyme1/2 teaspoon salt6 eggs1/2 cup yogurt1 cup prepared quinoa or prepared black beans1/2 cup crumbled feta

1. Preheat oven to 350˚. Prepare glass pie dish with non-stick spray or butter.2. In a skillet at medium heat sauté the olive oil, mushrooms,

shallot, fennel, roasted red pepper, garlic, thyme and salt until the mushrooms are tender, about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.

3. In a mixing bowl whisk the eggs with the yogurt until smooth. Whisk in the quinoa and pour into the baking dish. Sprinkle the feta onto the egg mixture followed by the vegetable mixture.

4. Bake for 35–40 minutes. Serve warm or chilled.

Maple Nut Quinoa GranolaMakes approximately 6 cups

Preheat oven to 300˚.

Ingredients:2 cups organic rolled oats (gluten free oats, if you prefer)1 cup organic quinoa, red if available (only for the pretty factor)3/4 cups pecans, chopped1/2 cup almonds, slivered or sliced1/4 cup pumpkin seeds1/4 cup sesame seeds1/2 cup coconut flakes, unsweetened2 tsp cinnamon1 tsp nutmeg1tsp vanilla extract1/4 cup raw, organic agave6T maple syrup2T EVOO or coconut oil (in liquid form)

Mix all these goodies in a large bowl. Spread evenly on a large baking sheet, lined with parchment paper. Bake for 25 minutes. You should check 15 minutes in to make sure it is cooking evenly and stir if necessary. Cool and enjoy!


Shaved Fennel & Apple SaladServes 2

Serve as a brunch salad with the quiche or as a side with the dinner scallops.

Ingredients:½ fennel bulb, about 1 cup very thinly sliced1 small tart apple, sliced2 teaspoons chopped fennel fronds2 teaspoons lemon juice2 teaspoons orange juice2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil, CA Olive Ranchpinch of salt, to taste

Gently toss all of the ingredients and serve chilled. Use some of the extra breakfast pomegranate seeds to sprinkle on the top.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Mustard VinaigretteServes 2–4

Health2Wellness

Enjoy hot or chilled, seasoned as-is or with a simple vinaigrette. Toss leftover sprouts with your favorite cooked grain or rice, nuts, dried fruit and a vinaigrette to serve on a bed of greens.

Ingredients:16 ounces brussels sprouts, cleaned and cut in half1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil,

(I prefer Seasons Taproom Chipotle infused EVOO)pinch of saltpinch of pepper

1. Toss the sprouts with the olive oil, salt and pepper. Spread over a foil lined baking sheet and place in the center of a preheated 450˚ oven.

2. Check every 10 minutes to toss and roast until golden.3. Serve as-is or make a quick dressing by whisking

4 tablespoons of the poached pear liquid, 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil and a tablespoon of Hemptzel’s Honey Horseradish Hemp Mustard.

This recipe comes from Karen Meyers Haver, Executive Director at the Berks Art Council. She and her husband prepare this dish for special occasions, romantic dinners included. I made minor adjustments to reduce the amount of butter and cut out the heavy cream without compromising flavor. Is there a more perfect way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than with this dish and the arts.

Photo by Phoebe Canakis


Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Mustard VinaigretteServes 2–4

Health2Wellness

Champagne and Shallot ScallopsServes 2

Sauce Ingredients:2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil, CA Olive Ranch1 shallot, diced1 cup chicken or vegetable stock2 tablespoons non-fat Greek yogurtsalt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

In a small skillet sauté the shallot and olive oil on medium low heat until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the stock and bring to a boil. Cook over medium high heat until reduced by almost a half. Pour the liquid into a cup and whisk in the yogurt. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Scallop Preparation & Ingredients:Karen said the secret to a golden crust on the scallops is being sure they are dry and the pan is hot. 8 sea scallops, rinsed and dried1 tablespoon clarified butter, I prefer Simply Ghee1/2 cup champagne or sparkling winesqueeze of lemon juice2 teaspoons diced chives

1. In a sauté pan heat the clarified butter over high heat and add the scallops. Be sure the scallops are not crowded/touching each other. Cook for 2–3 minutes on each side, until golden.

2. Remove the scallops to prepare the sauce. Reduce the heat to medium whisking in the champagne until it reduces. Whisk in the reserved shallot sauce and add the scallops. Add a squeeze of lemon juice, to taste. Top with diced chives and serve immediately.

3. Serve on a bed of black rice or root vegetable puree.

Photos by Phoebe Canakis


Champagne Poached PearsServes 4

Ingredients:4 bosc pears, peeled leaving the stem intact1 ½ cups champagne or sparkling wine½ – ¼ cup orange juice1 cinnamon stick4 tablespoons local honey or to taste

Optional additions:1 vanilla bean, seeded4 cloves1 inch fresh ginger, peeled and sliced into discs1 teaspoon PureBlend Tea’s Cinnamon Orange Hot Toddy Tea Blend

1. Combine the wine, orange juice, honey and cinnamon stick in a 8 cup sauce pan and bring to boil. Add the pears and simmer for about 20 minutes or until tender.

2. Cool pears in wine mixture to room temperature. You can refrigerate them in the poaching liquid until you're ready to serve them. Serve warm, at room temperature or chilled.

3. Top with a dollop of slightly sweetened mascarpone, ice cream or crumbled amaretti cookies.

Health2Wellness

Massage therapist Glenna Seelig, at JSMedi Spa in Sinking Spring, shared this deca-dent dessert she prepares for special occasions and enjoys served with a small dollop of Lancaster Longacre vanilla ice cream. I reduced the amount of processed sugar found in traditional recipes by using orange juice and a small amount of honey. You can consider apple juice or cider in place of the champagne.

In true Valentine’s Day form, Glenna suggests the gift of a mini-massage for your partner. “Sitting on the sofa, with your partner’s feet in your lap is a comfort. Taking the time to gently massage their feet can ease stress, relax your partner and say an unspoken, I love you.”

Phot

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y Ph

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Can

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Business ManagementThe Nuts & Bolts of Running

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Book ClubSee What Other Book Clubs Are Reading…

The Spirit Book ClubThe Art of Racing in the Rain By Garth Stein

Here is what the book club leader said about it…The Art of Racing in The Rain will teach the reader about love, life, death and how to be a better human. This is a “can’t put it down” book that will make you laugh, cry and sometimes leave you in shock. The beautiful, poet-ic language lulls the reader into a quiet contemplation: how blessed one is to be alive. Our next selection is Orange is the New Black.Submitted by Phoebe Canakis, Owner - Phoebe’s Pure Food, LLC

WOWW (Woman Over Words and Wine)The Final Appearance of America’s Favorite Girl Next DoorBy Stephen Stark

This unusual and appealing novel could have been written by a woman, and I mean that as a sincere compliment. It isn’t often that I find a romantic story written by a man truly appealing from a female perspective, but this one is satisfying, and more. Meet main character Ellen Gregory, comic genius and sassy with-it woman who is questioning her purpose and place in life even as she reaches the height of fame and fortune. Throw in a creepy kidnapping plot set in the eerily unreal world of

Hollywood, a love affair that will make you ache with jealousy for one of your own, and the thoughtful and lovely prose, and you have a brief outline of this book’s numerous and inven-tive riffs.

Smart and sexy, Stephen Stark’s The Final Appearance of America’s Favorite Girl Next Door is more than a romance, however. For the thinking reader, it is an exploration of the phe-nomenon of celebrity, of the difficulty of finding and giving value to one’s own true self, and even a scientific inquiry

into the nature of time and its effect on narrative and experi-ence. Throw in the of-the-moment quirky sub-plot that explores the human-computer interface, and you have a fast-moving read that satisfies on many levels. For those who prefer to read without questioning life’s deeper meanings, its kick-a** plot and well-rounded characters will keep you glued to your e-reader when you should be getting on with your own life.Submitted by Angelique Lukacs, Contributing Editor - Practical Horseman Magazine and Manager - tackoftheday.com

The First Rule of Book Club The Book Thief By Markus Zusak

Markus Zusak's unforgettable story is about the ability of books to feed the soul. It is 1939. Nazi Germany. Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-play-

ing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement. Submitted by Tracy M. Beaky, Learning & Development Business Partner - VIST Bank, A Tompkins Community Bank

• •


See What Other Book Clubs Are Reading… HEIDI MASANO

[email protected]

We have an obligation to ourselves and in our culture to read for pleasure. As author Neil Gaiman said, “If we read for pleasure, if others see us reading, then we learn, we exercise our imaginations. We show others that reading is a good thing.”

We all have an obligation to daydream. Additionally, Gaiman tells us we have an obligation to imagine. He finds that it is easy for us to pretend that nobody can change anything; that we are in a world in which society is huge and the individual is less than nothing. The truth is, as individuals we change our world repeatedly. Individuals make the future and we do it by imagining that things can be different.

Be the one to start a Book Club this year and interest your friends to read for pleasure; to enrich their daydreams; to imagine changing our world. And be part of Women2Women’s Green Eggs & Hamlet.

1. Invite a core group of at least 2 to 4 people you are already connected to. You may want to ask each of these new members to bring a friend. A Book Club of least 8 to 11 works well.

2. Set a regular meeting time monthly or bi-monthly at the same time in the evening. Scheduling a routine date and time eliminates working around schedules.

3. Decide on the first book to read. You can decide your-self or include your core group in selecting a current bestseller with wide appeal.

4. Establish ground rules with your core group or all the members. Determine how books will be selected; who will host; who leads the book discussion and what kind of membership commitment is expected.

5. Meet the first few months. If the Club is small, contin-ue to invite people. Some folks are more prone to join an already established Book Club.

6. Decide on a name by the end of the first meeting. Have members make suggestions and vote, making the Club official and helping the members feel like they belong.

7. Make every Book Club meeting a celebration to discuss what has taken time to read and having a good time of coming together.

8. Join us on Green Eggs & Hamlet on BCTV bi-monthly the first Wednesday of the month starting February 5th or join us with your Club online http://www.bctv.org/bctv/watch_live/wl_bctv/

Book Club

Robin Costenbader-Jacobson,Professional Life Coach RC-J Consulting Associates, LLC

IMAGINE: Green Eggs & Hamlet

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Book Club

Dear Sassy,Recently, while my husband and I were on vacation,

my mother stayed at our house and decided to give my entire kitchen an overhaul. She cleaned out every drawer, rearranged my pantry, gave my microwave and coffee maker a complete makeover and washed all my linens, aprons included! Mother even had the nerve to clean out my spice drawer…leaving the expired spices on the counter! How can I politely tell her to stay out of my drawers?

- Perturbed in PA

Dear Perturbed in PA,Honey, you are looking at this the wrong way. Some

people may be mortified, but if that were my mother, I would be so grateful! Life is busy enough to find time to clean out your cupboards, polish your microwave and scrub every nook and cranny. I grew up learning how my grandmother and mother would schedule their week around housekeeping chores, similar to the way Martha Stewart plans out her monthly calendar in the front of her magazine. When my mother shares with me that my Nanny would do the laundry on Mondays, iron on Tuesdays, clean the first floor of the house on Wednesdays, second floor on Thursdays and do her marketing (food shopping) on Fridays, it makes me feel less of a homemaker! I’m lucky if I get the ironing done once a month, and laundry – let’s not even go there. Now, times were different back then, typically our grandmothers did not work full-time, so we ladies of today should not beat ourselves up!

If my mother came and helped me the way your mother did, I would be overjoyed with glee. These are the chores that I rarely have time to fit into my schedule. So the next time your mother house sits, don’t be stressed – be happy that she wants to make your life just a little bit easier and give her a hug.

- Cheers, Sassy!

The current selection, as suggested by readers like you, is:

The Language of Flowers, Vanessa Diffenbaugh

The Victorian language of flowers was used to convey romantic expressions: honeysuckle for devotion, asters for patience, and red roses for love. But for Victoria Jones, it’s been more useful in communicating mistrust and solitude. After a childhood spent in the foster-care system, she is unable to get close to anybody, and her only connection to the world is through flowers and their meanings.

Now eighteen and emancipated from the system with nowhere to go, Victoria realizes she has a gift for helping others through the flowers she chooses for them. But an unexpected encounter with a mysterious stranger has her questioning what’s been missing in her life. And when she’s forced to confront a painful secret from her past, she must decide whether it’s worth risking everything for a second chance at happiness.Join the live discussion on BCTV on February 5, 2014 from 8:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Catch up with Green Eggs & Hamlet’s Current Selection…

Read along with Women2Women’s book club, Green Eggs & Hamlet. Get together

with your own book club to read and discuss, or call in to the live Green Eggs

& Hamlet discussion on BCTV!

Ask Sassy!Welcome to the newest addition to Women2Women magazine

Similar to Dear Abby, Ask Sassy will be a regular feature column where readers submit their questions,

problems, concerns or challenges. Ask Sassy is not a licensed therapist or board certified psychologist so she may answer a little differently than Abby. But, her wisdom and practical and sensible advice is drawn from years of experience and may

be delivered with a twist. Write Ask Sassy at [email protected]


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Women2Know

QA& : More Women2Know looks behind the scenes at outstanding women who have successfully contributed to an organization’s successes, inspire and motivate others to achieve, and personify the mission and objectives of Women2Women.

Q: What has led you to your current career path?

A: I have always sought tasks that were in-teresting and a challenge to me. Most have been volunteer positions, but the lack of reimbursement didn’t impact the amount of effort put forth. I graduated with a BS in Education from Penn State in Art Education. I believe the arts and art appreciation add a dimension to everyone’s life that allows each of us to have a broader view of our world.

Each of the positions I have taken have had the link of education in one form or another. I have taught high school art, been chair of the Art Show at Reading Hospital as part of Garden Party, was President of the Auxiliary (now called the Friends) at the Reading Hospital, served several terms on the Reading Public Museum Board, have been a Museum docent, founded Art of the Craft with Flip Imber, volunteered with the Museum Shop and am currently Manager of the STORE at GoggleWorks Center for the Arts; and founder and co-chair of Arts Festival READING. Although many of those positions are not directly teaching, each has an element of sharing information and insight into the arts.

Q: What inspires/motivates you to make a difference in our community?

A: I especially enjoy the challenge of starting new events. Chairing the first Tower Ball and the first Tower Golf for Reading Hospital helped to create proceeds for the Reading Hospital Auxiliary. Art of the Craft at the Reading Public Museum created income and added to the proceeds of the Museum Shop which was one of my volunteer positions while on the Museum Board. In each case I’ve had the opportunity to meet and work

with intelligent, creative, interesting, and in most cases fun, people who have a common goal. It has been an enriching experience.

Q: Tell us about your most recent accomplishments.

A: When I began at GoggleWorks STORE almost seven years ago — I was given the opportunity to create a store that featured the work of GoggleWorks artists, and items for everyone who came into the building for the classes and programs offered by GoggleWorks, as well as for youth who par-ticipate in some of the other non-profits who share space in the building. The STORE has grown to include over 200 local and regional consigners. The STORE features American made products with a particular focus on the GoggleWorks artists’ work and our Glass and Ceramic Studios. All proceeds help sup-port the mission of GoggleWorks which is to nurture the arts, foster creativity, promote education and enrich the community.

Q: What was your biggest challenge in all of your endeavors?

A: Founding Arts Festival READING for GoggleWorks was my biggest challenge. Luckily, each of the community based com-mittee members who joined me, brought their expertise, time and talent and we worked to-gether to create an exciting, entertaining and creative festival that brought people from near and far to downtown Reading. Last year, the second year, the festival hosted 60 visit-ing juried artists who joined our 30+ studio artists and GoggleWorks studio managers to create an outstanding event for our commu-nity. The festival brought many new visitors (over 2,000 to be exact!) to GoggleWorks and the City.

Manager, STORE at GoggleWorks

Center for the Arts and Chair, Arts Festival Reading

Penny Golden

Art Advocate Devotes Her Time in Developing and Growing

Initiatives in Our Community.


Women2Know

Q: How have you led other women in their career paths?

A: As each of the volunteer projects has developed, our committees have added younger volunteers, both men and women, who bring their ideas and energy to the project in addition to replacing the older volunteers when they are ready to step back. This practice helps en-gage more people in the projects and expands volunteerism in general.

Q: Is there a philosophy that you live by?

A: The thread that ties everything together for me is trying to be positive, support those around me including family, friends, staff and volunteers. It’s so much easier to have fun doing something than it is to feel like its “work.”

Q: What do you do to set work and play boundaries?

A: Having the right balance of work and play is sometimes difficult. I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, playing golf and traveling. At the same time, I manage GoggleWorks STORE, meet with each of the consigners every 8–12 weeks and also work with each of the committees for Arts Festival READING. It’s not that easy to maintain balance.

Q: What 3 things do you recommend to assure success?

A: Be dedicated to anything you attempt, surround yourself with people who you enjoy and who enjoy what they do, and do things in a timely manner (it’s much less stressful!).

Q: Anyone influence you?

A: While on the board of the Reading Public Museum I was asked to help revitalize the Museum Shop. I hadn’t had any retail experience to that point, so I asked for a partner with knowledge. At the time Flip Imber was a member of the Board and she agreed to join me. She and her husband, Herman, had owned the Jeanette Shops, a women’s clothing business with several locations. They were retired, but their expertise and experience was quite valuable. Flip challenged her husband to develop a few simple retail rules that we could follow that would guarantee success. We followed them carefully and very quickly realized the goals that had been given us. I continue to value that advice today while running GoggleWorks STORE.


Advancing Health. Transforming Lives.

Megan

before surgery

Megan

eight months after

gastric sleeve surgery

WeigHT-Loss surgery AT

reAding HeALTH didn’T

jusT TrAnsforM My body,

iT TrAnsforMed My Life.

readingHealth.org 484-628-HeLP (4357)

If you are more than 100 pounds overweight and considering weight-loss

surgery, let the Weight Management Center at Reading Health System help

you take the next step toward a healthier life. You can join our information

session online to learn about our comprehensive program from the comfort

of your own home!

To learn more about our upcoming information sessions, call

484-628-HeLP (4357) or go to www.readinghealth.org/events.

Weight-loss surgery at Reading Health

was the best choice Megan ever made.

Now AvAilAble oNliNe!

Visit www.readinghealth.org/wmc and click “watch our online session.”

Q: Why is your position unique to women in our community?

A: At Tweed-Weber, we do strategic plan-ning and market research (customer surveys, employee surveys, market assessments, non-profit board of director assessments, etc.). I think doing this kind of consulting work is unique in Berks County. The market re-search side of our business, where I spend most of my time, is extremely interesting. We work with a wide range of for-profit and nonprofit organizations to help them iden-tify what internal and/or external research will help them make important, strategic decisions with clarity and confidence. One day we are working with a human service or-ganization, the next an engineering firm, the next a candy manufacturer, the next a library system, etc. The list goes on. Although our client base varies, the research process we use to obtain the information they need re-mains the same. Using research data to help clients increase sales, grow a product line, better understand employee perceptions, en-gage nonprofit board members, and/or gain more visibility in their markets, is exciting and very rewarding.

Q: Would you wish to acknowledge a mentor or friend who helped you aspire to this point in your life’s journey, and why?

A: I can instantly name five mentors that have had a huge impact on me. Two are peo-ple I worked for over 25 years ago before Tweed-Weber; Lori Wood (Noll) and John Pachuilo. One is my current business partner at Tweed-Weber, Al Weber, and the other two are my parents, Tom and Adrienne Danks. Lori Wood instilled in me the desire to work and achieve the professional goals I set for myself. John Pachuilo instilled in me the importance of being committed and dedicated to your work. Al Weber instilled in me the need for value, meaning, and in-tegrity that must be the foundation for your work. My father taught me at a very early age that being a responsible person who con-tributes to the world around me will always result in something good. And my mother always taught me to stay true to myself and to know that God is the only one I need to impress; that way, I’ll never have a need for a big ego. There are so many other people in the Berks community I would consider mentors that I work with today (too many to mention), and I feel truly blessed to be gifted in my life with such wonderful people.

Q: What do you do to set work and play boundaries?

A: A lot of people talk about “having balance” today. I think there is an unrealistic view of what defines a healthy work/life/play bal-ance. I subscribe to what one of my mentors taught me years ago. It reshaped how I view my life. He believes a better way to think about it is through “integration.” How are you integrating, instead of balancing, every-thing you need to do and want in your life? For me, different aspects of my life take over and require more attention at different times, and I’m OK with that. Sometimes I need to work like a maniac, and other times my home life shouts a little louder and I need to answer the call. It’s much less stressful when you take the pressure off yourself to achieve a complete balancing act and, instead, stay flexible realizing that an always fluctuating integration of work and life actually IS bal-ance. It just looks different sometimes. I think it makes for a happier life.

Q: What’s your mission?

A: Gratitude. My personal mission is to ac-knowledge and be grateful for, every day, the

many blessings in my life. I try to remind myself often that what I may take for grant-ed, someone else is praying for.

Q: Is there a philosophy that you live by?

A: My philosophy is a basic one — learning is never over. Every day is a chance to learn something new. I believe anyone, from new-born to 100, can impart great wisdom if you pay attention to them. I also believe strongly that animals are the best teachers of what humans need to learn most.

Q: What do you consider to be the main asset of women?

A: On a personal level, I think the answer would differ depending on the personality, beliefs, and talents of each individual wom-an. On a professional level, I believe a few common assets would be confidence, empa-thy, humor, graciousness, and the ability to work collaboratively with others.

Q: What do you consider to be the main threat of women?

A: I believe, man or woman, there is no greater threat than yourself. As the quote says, “A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking, because her trust is not on the branch but on her own wings.” If a person believes in himself/herself, oppor-tunities can be endless.

Q: What words of wisdom would you offer to other women?

A: The greatest words of wisdom I can share is something my father used to tell me and my sister all the time growing up. He would talk to us about “the glass ceiling” and how to approach it. He said if we ever ran into barriers, we should always look at it as “a mirrored ceiling,” not glass, because it would require us to look back at ourselves to get beyond it. I have been very lucky in my life. There have only been a few times, early on in my career, that I felt the pressure of the

“mirrored” ceiling, but I realized my father was right. Getting beyond an obstacle, for a women or man, is all about your attitude towards it and how you take personal own-ership of it.

Women2Know

Sharon DanksVice President, Tweed-Weber, Inc.

Advancing Health. Transforming Lives.

Megan

before surgery

Megan

eight months after

gastric sleeve surgery

WeigHT-Loss surgery AT

reAding HeALTH didn’T

jusT TrAnsforM My body,

iT TrAnsforMed My Life.

readingHealth.org 484-628-HeLP (4357)

If you are more than 100 pounds overweight and considering weight-loss

surgery, let the Weight Management Center at Reading Health System help

you take the next step toward a healthier life. You can join our information

session online to learn about our comprehensive program from the comfort

of your own home!

To learn more about our upcoming information sessions, call

484-628-HeLP (4357) or go to www.readinghealth.org/events.

Weight-loss surgery at Reading Health

was the best choice Megan ever made.

Now AvAilAble oNliNe!

Visit www.readinghealth.org/wmc and click “watch our online session.”

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Documents

Women2Women Winter 2014