The American Business Women's Association was founded 75 years ago on September 22, 1949. The Novi Oaks Charter Chapter ("charter" meaning the first chapter founded in a particular city) was founded by Bettie Archer Johnson on January 29, 1990. Since our January 2025 meeting was via Zoom only, we held our 35-year celebration on December 11, 2024, at the Novi Public Library.
A lot has changed in 35 years. We have more women business owners, many new members, a few younger student members, and after all of these years, some newly retired members. The careers and occupations are widely varied. We truly epitomize the first line of the mission of ABWA, which is "to bring together businesswomen of diverse occupations." As always, we are helping ourselves and others grow personally and professionally.
The mission of the American Business Women’s Association is to bring together businesswomen of diverse occupations and to provide opportunities for them to help themselves and others grow personally and professionally through leadership, education, networking support, and national recognition.
We focus on providing a quality meeting experience for our members and guests by bringing in great speakers and programs. We continue to "stretch and grow, reach and learn," as it states in the new member initiation script. Thanks to technology, we can now communicate instantly online. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us have learned to use Zoom - so we can go virtual whenever it is necessary! As we start 2025, we are looking forward to welcoming new members and learning together.
Guests are always welcome to attend our meetings. Men are also welcome in ABWA! National membership in ABWA only costs $125 per year for people 18 and older, and only $50 per year for students of any age (must be at least 18). Our local Novi Oaks Chapter dues are only $24 per year.
This $149 total investment can bring great rewards and is a worthy investment in YOU!
One of the greatest things about membership in ABWA is knowing that our National Executive Director, Rene' Street, will always work to keep our organization current and vital. The speakers she obtains for our spring Regional Virtual Conference and our National Women's Leadership Conference in the fall are fabulous!
The online learning system, the Apex Campus (download curriculum on our Scholarships and Education page), provides all members the opportunity to learn vital business programs and build career and personal life skills (5S, Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, Microsoft 365). Taking the courses that are offered by the GEMBA Academy through ABWA, our members can save thousands of dollars while not only increasing their knowledge, but increasing their value to potential employers and to their own businesses.
Consider joining ABWA today and come meet your new friends. To join ABWA, visit www.abwa.org.
Comments