Our membership is constantly seeking advice, support, training and information from service providers to help further their business practices. If you or someone you know would be interested in participating as a one-time sponsor at a WIC monthly meeting, held the third Thursday of each month, please contact us for more information.

In this new year, WIC will continue to focus on enhancing your professional success while at the same time, increasing our focus on a new area: Visibility. We aim to increase awareness that WIC provides experienced consultant talent to the Bay Area community and drive people to our website and directory. Just as WIC will work for you, we'll also be asking you to help WIC help you.

One of our initiatives includes monitoring PR Leads, a service summarizing postings from journalists looking for people to interview. You, too, can keep an eye out for PR possibilities for WIC and let us know if you find one. If you get press, let us know. We'll post it on our website, too.

Another initiative will be to increase the circulation of our Corporate Newsletter while turning it into a best practices publication. We'll be soliciting your articles to include in the newsletter and on our website to demonstrate the expert solutions to business problems that you bring to clients.

We'll look to make our website into a destination site, including your research, articles and press about you. You'll be hearing more about our plans in the near future.

Finally, we welcome volunteers to help make WIC a success. We are looking for a Member Communications Co-Chair to work with a team on our internal newsletter, WIC Direct. We seek a Silent Auction Co-Chair and committee members. We welcome people to join our Writer's Pool to provide writing support for WIC initiatives. You can contact me at dhenken@highlandteam.com if you are interested.

Sincerely,

Deborah Henken
President, Women in Consulting

What are the current outsourcing trends for Venture Capitalist's and their Portfolio companies? What is considered a core outsourcing service for a fast-growing firm in Silicon Valley? To find out, read what VCs are saying about their portfolio companies by reading a new article entitled "VC Outsourcing Intelligence-What VC's are saying" by WIC member Sherry Prescott-Willis.

WIC members kicked off 2004 to a great start with January's WIC meeting entitled "Annual Business Meeting and Best Practices," a guided discussion led by Jane Black and Janis Hom. Members were assigned best practices topics per table at the meeting. Topics included the following: Administration, Operations Finance, Client Care and Management, Consulting Partnerships and Alliances and Marketing and Sales.

In a collaborative and team-oriented spirit, each table shared best practices according to topic and discussed best tools that worked best in their own respective businesses. Networking discussions were a highlight for members at this first 2004 meeting for WIC! Special thanks go to Jane Black and Janis Hom who captured all the best practices from the shared topics in a presentation format for all members to share!

First impressions - we've all heard that they are incredibly important! Come to the February WIC meeting to gain insights into increasing your first impression clout. Using a 'reality TV format', two experts will share their expertise in how to put your best foot forward. To register, go to: http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=61190

WIC Workshops are back in 2004!

Don't miss out on Nicole Shapiro's widely popular workshop on "Negotiating Without Selling Out." At this February 24th workshop, you will gain tools, strategies and approaches for the best negotiation outcome for you and your consulting business. You'll get the fees you deserve, want and need while building long-lasting relationships with prospects and clients. Look for the registration information, coming soon!

About Nicole Shapiro: Nicole Schapiro, named a 21st Century Dynamic Woman by the American Business Women's Association, has been president of her own global organizational development, training and management consulting firm since 1972. Her client list includes Eastman Kodak, Xerox, NASA, AT&T, MCI, Dow Corning, Pacific Bell, ETrade, Stanford University, Microsoft, HBO, Comedy Central, and Ford Motor Company. Her ability to communicate, understand and motivate people is often described as "magical."

Date:	February 24, 2004
Time:	9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Lunch is included in the seminar fee)
Location:	Pacific Athletic Club, Redwood Shores
Cost:	$195 WIC Member -- Early Bird Discount ($250 after February 9) $225 Non-Member - Early Bird Discount ($295 after February 9)