OWIT-Toronto Re-launches www.owit-toronto.ca

OWIT-Toronto is pleased to announce the successful re-launch of www.owit-toronto.ca, our new website, recently developed by Litmus Design. The Litmus team worked closely with OWIT-Toronto volunteers to develop a website that positions OWIT-Toronto as a premier information source for women involved in international trade by means of a user-friendly format that enables site visitors to easily access the information they are seeking. We want to ensure that we continue to bring value to our members through the resources available on our site, which will be updated frequently to keep site visitors coming back.

The new layout clearly separates OWIT news and upcoming events, with events being broken down further for ease of reference into OWIT-Toronto events, OWIT-International Events and Other Trade Related Events.

Our website also now offers online payment to allow both OWIT-Toronto members and guests to purchase memberships and register online for events easily and securely through PayPal, using either an existing PayPal account or any major credit card. There is no additional charge for this online payment, which was implemented as a means of saving time for our busy members and guests.

Finally, the new site design includes an important new login section for OWIT-Toronto members, providing you with valuable information available exclusively to members such as downloadable trade resources. OWIT-Toronto members will be emailed a unique password and simple instructions over the next couple of weeks to allow you full access to this members login section of our new site.

is managed by the company’s owner and Creative Director, Ursula Gallagher. Using Ursula’s signature style of clean and organized design with streamlined content and messaging, Litmus Design offers a full range of graphic design services.

Please visit OWIT-Toronto’s new website online at www.owit-toronto.ca. We would love to hear your feedback. Please email questions or comments to OWIT-Toronto’s VP, Communications, Katherine Fisher at katherine@promotionsolutions.net.

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Event Write-up by Jennifer Chapman and Susan Baka “In Praise of OWIT Women” – Annual Summer BBQ and 2006 JoAnna Townsend Award

The Honourable Sarmite (Sam) D. Bulte, a former Member of Parliament for Parkdale-High Park who was appointed Chair of the Prime Minister’s Task Force on Women Entrepreneurs in 2002, was awarded with this year’s JoAnna Townsend Award at the Annual OWIT Summer BBQ, held at The Boulevard Club in Toronto September 27.

The award, sponsored by TLI - The Mandarin School, Ann Wylie-Toal Designs, Export Development Canada , Hodgson Russ LLP, and Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, recognizes an outstanding woman in Ontario who, through her business and personal networks, fosters opportunities that actively support women entrepreneurs to achieve success in international business.

The award was presented to Sarmite by JoAnna Townsend’s daughter, Ariane Friesen, who spoke of her mother’s pioneering work. JoAnna was a tireless champion of women entrepreneurs who passed away in 2004 after a courageous battle with brain cancer.

The night’s keynote speaker was Marg Hachey of Duocom Canada Inc, who shared these key ingredients to a successful business, which she has coined “The Joy of Six”:

1. Compelling business model – Is there a strong market need for your product or service?
2. Strong management team – Remember that you can’t do it all yourself.
3. Profitable financial model – Know your strategic advantages to exploit.
4. Powerful marketing strategy – Effective does not necessarily have to be expensive.
5. Robust technology – Ensure it is scaleable and can grow with you. Invest in a good contact management system and database.
6. Global expansion – Tools like audio conferencing and web conferencing make it much easier to do business around the globe without having to leave your desk.

Duocom, a $50-million company that provides leading audio-visual and staging solutions, has earned recognition as one of Canada’s 50 best managed private companies two years in a row.

For the full story, please visit our website at http://www.owit-toronto.centsa/ev/past_events.html#article4.

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 Networking – or building and utilizing interpersonal connections – is an important skill for generating both personal and professional opportunities to get ahead in today’s highly competitive marketplace. On October 26, OWIT-Toronto hosted an informative breakfast seminar entitled “The Art of Effective Networking for Conferences and Tradeshows.”

Speaker and author Donna Messer, of ConnectUs Communications Canada, delivered the seminar, sharing her networking expertise and tips for effective networking that she has learned over the years:

• Be prepared. Find out what kind of people are going to be at the event, identify the people you want to speak with, and do as much research about them as you can.
• Think of ways to find common denominators. People like people who are like themselves, so be prepared with information about yourself and questions to make the conversation flow.
• Perfect your “infomercial.” When someone does ask you what you do, you need to be able to articulate, in a clear and concise manner, not only your business but also how it could benefit them.
• Recognize that there are different communication styles. Understanding your own communication style will help you identify other people’s communication styles and help you to communicate effectively with them.
• Have lots of business cards. You want to be sure to exchange contact details with the people you meet, and business cards are the currency of networking events.
• Follow up. Some say that networking really starts when the event is finished.

ConnectUs Communications Canada ( www.connectuscanada.com ) is one of North America’s largest business matching companies.

For the full story, please visit our website at http://www.owit-toronto.ca/events/past_events.html#article5

Profile of an Influential Woman in International Trade
The Honourable Sarmite (Sam) D. Bulte

The Honourable Sarmite (Sam) Bulte , recipient of OWIT-Toronto’s 2006 JoAnna Townsend Award, has been actively involved in fostering growth and opportunities for businesswomen and entrepreneurs for over 25 years in both the private and public sectors.

Sam has long been active in supporting women entrepreneurs to help achieve success both locally and internationally, as her participation in women’s organizations alone can attest to. As President of CAWEE in 1987-88, she was responsible for its admission as a member of Les Femmes Chefs d’Enterprises Mondiales, a global organization of women entrepreneurs in 35 countries. She was a founding member and Director of Women Entrepreneurs of Canada (WEC) in 1992, and organized the first US-Canada Summit for Women Entrepreneurs that same year. She also chaired FCEM’s international conference, “Launching Global Networks” in Toronto in 1997.

As an MP from 1997 to January of this year, Sam’s support of women in business continued. As a result of her participation in the first Canadian Businesswomen’s Trade Mission to Washington in 1997, Paul Martin, then Minister of Finance, agreed to hold the first all-women entrepreneurs pre-budget consultation, also in 1997. Between 1997 and 2003, Sam represented the Government of Canada at the Women Leader’s Network of the APEC economies. And in 1998 and again in 2000, she led a trade and investment mission to the Baltic countries.

As Chair of The Prime Minister’s Task Force on Women Entrepreneurs in 2002, she travelled across Canada to solicit input for the Task Force Report released in 2003, which included recommendations on promoting women in international trade and helping women entrepreneurs in a variety of ways. In 2005, she was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry, with special emphasis on Women Entrepreneurs. She continues to be active in the Liberal Party to ensure the Task Force recommendations continue to form part of the Party’s platform.

This is not the first Award that Sam has won. For example, in 1998, she received the Canadian Embassy in Washington’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to Businesswomen Associations in Canada. She has worked tirelessly to advance women’s economic independence and has been a champion in the cause to encourage more women to start and grow their businesses nationally and globally.

Upcoming OWIT-Toronto Events

 Check www.owit-toronto.ca frequently for updates.

Miami to Host Next International Conference

The Miami Chapter of the Organization of Women in International Trade is sponsoring the 2007 OWIT conference and is preparing an amazing program. To be held November 7-9, 2007, the conference will feature top national and international trade experts from both the government and private sectors. It will consist of plenary sessions as well as three tracks focused on interactive educational sessions with take-away tool-kits, controversial international trade topics with pro/con viewpoints, networking opportunities, and an on-site data security survey. Plan now to attend. You will leverage your membership in our international organization and expand your contacts with members from around the world.

Visit www.owit.org for more information.

Trade Mission to the Gulf States

Women Engaging in Bridge Building (WEBB) is pleased to announce its first trade mission to the Middle East for women in the education/training and financial sectors, to be held in March 2007. This trade mission in will bring together a delegation of approximately 20 influential businesswomen in Canada plus sponsors and match them with leading, dynamic businesses from the Gulf. This private sector initiative will travel to Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, Manama in Bahrain, and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.

For more information, visit http://www.owit-toronto.ca/news/whats_new.html#article8

10th Anniversary Women's Trade Mission to Washington, D.C.

2007 marks the 10th anniversary of the historic first all-women's trade mission to Washington, D.C.

In November, 1996, the Honourable Sergio Marchi led 115 Canadian businesswomen on the first ever all-women's trade mission. That trade mission resulted in $35 million in deals being signed, and became the launch pad for the first research on Canadian women exporters and the even more historic Canada-USA Businesswomen's Trade Summit. Sam Bulte and Andrina Lever would like to invite you to make Washington, D.C. rock again.

If you are interested in participating in the 10th Anniversary return Women's Trade Mission to Washington, D.C. in November of 2007, please contact Andrina Lever, President, Lever Enterprises, at 416-920-5114 or aglever@rogers.com.