Village Life

Meet Village Member Michele

2008-11-18T11:10:00.000-08:00

New Village member Michele Catoire is a busy lady. She's helping people near and far add a much-valued personal component back into their lives through her company, Send Out Cards.

Send Out Cards lets you send a card online, but your recipient receives a printed, paper card in the mail (you can use your handwriting as the font). The process takes less than 60 seconds and the result is much more impactful than an email. You can use Send Out Cards for thank you notes, birthdays, as a sales tool - the only limit to its use is your imagination!

All you do is:
• Choose your card
• Write your message
• Click send
SendOutCards prints it, stuffs it and mails it, all for less than a greeting card at the store.

And the Winners Are...

2008-11-13T15:29:00.000-08:00

As follows is the list of winners from last night's Net-Party raffle:

Complimentary Laser Treatment from Ambrosia MedSpa ($105 value):

And the winner is...Kayce Freeman of The Parlor Billiards & Spirits!

Complimentary 65 Minute Massage from Clear Awakening Massage & Bodywork ($105 value):

And the winners are...Alix Mendonca of Oakwood Worldwide and Jennifer Rostenback of GroupDyne.com!

Congratulaions & thanks again for attending our party!

A big thank you to Ambrosia MedSpa & Clear Awakening Massage & Bodywork for such generous donations.

THANK YOU!

2008-11-13T13:02:00.001-08:00

Colleen, Amy & Mark would like to say THANK YOU to the following folks for their support and generosity:

Thank you to Brad, Lisa & the Pogacha crew for providing Pogacha sandwiches, pasta and pizzas.

Thanks to Leanne & Chris at One Hour Parties for the festive Champagne fountain and holiday cookies.

Thank you Jennifer Kranz of Pyramid Breweries for the beer!

A special thanks to our incredible Jazz Quartet:
Charlotte Carruthers – piano/vocal
Brad Benefield – bass
Todd Lien – tenor sax
Gene Oates – guitar/vocal

Thanks to Loma of Ambrosia MedSpa for donating a complimentary laser treatment from Ambrosia MedSpa, and also for helping us out during the party!

Thank you to Clear Awakening Massage & Bodywork for donating a complimentary 65 minute massages.

Thank you to everyone who braved the rain and traffic to attend our event. The turnout was incredible! We hope you all had a good time and made some great business contacts!

And lastly, thanks to our partner-in-parties, Joe Kennedy of the Eastside Business and Eastside Life papers and Eastside Entrepreneurs.

425 Magazine Coverage

2008-11-11T11:55:00.000-08:00

Ethan Chung, Associate Editor of 425 magazine, is going to be at our Net-Party tomorrow. He wanted me to let you know that the May/June issue of 425 magazine is going to focus heavily on local businesses, big and small. He would love to chat with you all about your businesses and answer any questions you may have about 425 magazine.

Great Deal at the NEW Residence Inn by Marriott Seattle Bellevue/Downtown

2008-11-10T15:43:00.000-08:00

Your Home Away From Home For the Holidays…the NEW Residence Inn by Marriott Seattle Bellevue/Downtown.

Enjoy the convenience of downtown holiday shopping by day and views of Bellevue's holiday lights by night.

Studio Suite: $119.00 per night

Rate includes hot breakfast each morning and wireless high speed internet access.

FREE Event: Grow Your Business (The Right Way)

2008-11-10T11:11:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, November 19
5-8 p.m.
The Village Bellevue
121 106th Avenue NE
Bellevue, WA 98004
425.457.7400

Systemize your business in 9 steps and properly plan for its continuation. By leveraging "Time through Systems" and managing your day-to-day activities, your company will see an increase in the bottom line! You've worked hard to build your business - make sure it survives your departure. You'll also learn how estate tax may impact business owners.

Light refreshments will be served
Event is complimentary

Featured Speakers:
Tony Soh & Ryen Shimizu, Financial Advisors - Make Sure Your Business Survives - Business Continuation Planning
David Ravi Sitlani, Attorney & Counselor at Law - Increase Your Knowledge of Wills, Trusts & Powers of Attorney
Chad Rudolph, Certified Business & Executive Coach - Understanding the 9 Key Steps to Systematizing Your Business

For more information or to register, email or call Ryen Shimizu at 425.641.8788

Meet Margit - The Village Bellevue's 1st Member

2008-11-07T15:12:00.000-08:00

A former teacher and school counselor, Margit helps families with gifted teens and tweens release anxiety, frustration, and confusion. The result is better communication, increased self-esteem, more moments of success, and a whole lot more fun in their relationships with family and friends. She specializes in ADD and ADHD and is an acclaimed expert in family relationships, child development, and learning strategies. She speaks to PTA’s and Parent Networking groups and has been featured on Blog Talk Radio. Margit is the author of several books, including the forthcoming title, Gifted with AD/HD: Insider Strategies to Increase Your Child's Happiness and Success.

Margit offers a variety of phone and in-person consultation and coaching packages, including email and texting. Each is designed for maximum success with quick results, and is tailored for each individual family, anywhere in the world.

My daughter controlled my mood for years and then I met Margit. When she says she's a "child development specialist" she means it. Not only does she understand teens (gifted or otherwise) and their battle-weary parents, but also she gave me pointers on how to improve my parenting skills with my younger children so that I don't have to fight the same battle again when they hit their teens. If you have tried everything and are still unhappy, wave your white surrender flag and give Margit a call. It could be the most important call you ever make.
~Sheila, White Rock, Canada

Margit Crane, M.A., M.S., M.Ed., Owner of The Gifted-Teen Coach: Rocketing teens and parents to their highest potential!

Party Ease From Our Friends At One Hour Parties

2008-11-06T14:48:00.000-08:00

Not sure if you're familiar with these guys, but One Hour Parties is a busy person's dream! You pick the theme (or they'll suggest one) and they do ALL THE WORK, including dropping everything off in handy, disposable containers. They have lots of fun party options, including Football Fantasy and Margaritaville, as well as holiday parties of all kinds and ice cream events (including a make-your-own-sundae bar). Ideal for corporate gatherings, they also throw fantastic kids' parties.

Enjoy some holiday merry-making, compliments of One Hour Parties, at our Net-Fest this coming Wednesday!

JAZZ at The Village

2008-11-04T11:31:00.000-08:00

We're excited to offer live jazz at our "Back to Business" Net-Fest (ivity)!" The party starts at five and the music will begin at six. Mark your calendars, this is going to be fun!

A special thanks to our performers:
Charlotte Carruthers – piano/vocal
Brad Benefield – bass
Todd Lien – tenor sax
Gene Oates – guitar/vocal

Join us on Wednesday, November 12, from 5-8 p.m.

Space is limited, so R.S.V.P. today!

Interested in having live jazz at your holiday party? Contact our quartet at goates@centurytel.net or 425.503.5144.

Now is the time to get your business finances under control

2008-10-31T12:35:00.000-07:00

As a business manager of an independent business, you put tremendous amounts of time and effort into running the company. But how do you make sure you are not just running in place?

Profit Mastery® will give you the insight to immediately make more and keep more of your hard-earned money. This hands-on workshop is designed to take the mystery out of the numbers and give you practical financial tools and perspectives to help make better business decisions and get better bank credit lines.

Profit Mastery® will allow you to become more Bank-Able and increase the odds of getting that line of credit you deserve to run your business.

This 16-hour workshop is presented by Steve LeFever and conducted by Village member, Howard Howell. It will be presented in 8 sessions, from 7-9 a.m., starting Tuesday, November 11 through Friday, November 14 and the following week Tuesday, November 18 through Friday, November 21.

Mention this blog posting when you register and receive a $100 special Village discount!

Welcome, Michele of Wink Eyewear

2008-10-30T19:05:00.000-07:00

Michele Bayle, owner of Wink Eyewear, is our newest member! Michele will be at the Village presenting her eyewear lines on the following Wednesdays:

November 5, from 10-3
November 19, from 10-5
December 3, from 10-5
December 17, from 10-5

Do stop in to say, "Hello!"

Wink believes that purchasing glasses should be fun, so they’ve created a new concept in eyeglass shopping. Wink brings the complete eyeglass store (that’s over 450 frames!) to your business or workplace. You then have the opportunity to receive an individual consultation, try on their frames, get feedback from your friends and co-workers (if you’d like), and receive ongoing support from their dedicated customer service team.

Wink Eyewear does more than enable you to see…their styles ensure that your personality is more fully seen!

November Is BACK TO BUSINESS Month At The Village

2008-10-28T15:03:00.001-07:00

Please join us! (And spread the word...everybody is welcome)

Back to Business Net-Fest(ivity)
Wednesday, November 12
5-8 p.m.
The Village Bellevue
121 106th Avenue NE
Bellevue, WA 98004
425.457.7400

Space is limited, so RSVP today to Amy

The election will be over next week, the Dow is up...we at The Village Bellevue think it's time for all of us to emerge from our caves and get back to business!

We're claiming November as, "Back to Business" month. We want to see your faces,* hear about how you're using the economic turndown to your advantage and blog about you!

AND...we're going to party! Join fellow area business folks for an evening of net-working (in a laid-back, casual way), a couple of cold ones and some delish food from our neighbors at Pogacha and other restaurants (list will be posted on our blog).

*Non-members: email today for your special "Back to Business" at the Village in November pass!

Hosted by your friends at The Village Bellevue, Eastside Entreprenuers and The Eastside Business & Eastside Life papers

A Woman's Way: Creating Your Personal Roadmap Through The Retirement Years

2008-10-24T16:16:00.000-07:00

You're invited to join this three-part dinner series:

Session 1: Wednesday, November 5th 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Creating Your Vision and Goals for Your Retirement Years – Susan Carter, Managing Partner, SC Financial Group, LLC
Explore how to “bring the best and shed the rest” in planning your life for your retirement years. By the end of this first session participants will have a clear idea of their values and priorities for the use of their passions, talents, time and money

Session 2: Wednesday, November 12th 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Creating Your Legal Plan –Madeline Gauthier, Washington Estate, Probate and Tax Attorney, Gauthier & Associates
Learn about the legal tools available to allow you to maintain independence and control over personal and health care decisions as well as over financial decisions.

Session 3: Wednesday, November 19th 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Strategies for Funding: Changing Dreams into Real Life –Shane Cloninger & Susan Carter, Managing Partners, SC Financial Group, LLC
Topics will include the key principles in developing a sound financial strategy while accumulating retirement assets, and distribution strategies for creating and managing your income stream throughout your retirement years.

All three sessions will be held at:
The Village Bellevue
121 106th Avenue NE
Bellevue, WA
Dinner and parking will be provided

These sessions are purely educational, and are intended to provide you with a means to identify and prioritize the preparatory work you’ll need to achieve the retirement you desire. In exchange, we ask that you RSVP only if you intend to attend all three sessions. Please RSVP to SC Financial Group at (425) 451-2950 or by e-mail to srcarter@ae.cadaretgrant.com.

Hacker Alert

2008-10-24T14:36:00.000-07:00

I just got a call from our IT department; Microsoft has issued a Windows vulnerability alert. Click here to download their security update.

We've Got The Late Shift On WEDNESDAYS

2008-10-23T14:40:00.000-07:00

For all you folks asking about hosting after-work events, we've got good news for you. Effective immediately, The Village Bellevue is open until 8:30 p.m., so get out your calendars and start scheduling some 6-8 p.m. workshops and seminars. You and your business associates can be productive and avoid the commute crunch!

The Village Is Available Nights & Weekends

2008-10-20T18:59:00.000-07:00

The Village is an ideal downtown Bellevue location for evening or weekend meetings/seminars/workshops. Village members pay $50/hour for after-hours or weekend use.
The hourly rate for non-members is $100. Some restrictions apply. Call 425.457.7400 for more information.

Stop Wasting Your Marketing $$$

2008-10-17T15:18:00.000-07:00

Without a strong, highly differentiated message in place, no marketing strategy will be effective.

Steve MacDonald, nationally recognized branding expert and owner of StudioHDV, is conducting a seminar for business owners concerned about marketing their companies. You'll walk away with a solid plan that can be implemented immediately to differentiate you from your competition and increase your sales.

The Power of Social Media & the Right Brand Promise
Tuesday, October 21 2:30-5:30 p.m. $295
Space is limited; pre-registration is required.
Bellevue Chamber of Commerce
302 Bellevue Square
Bellevue, WA 98004

Protecting Your Reputation

2008-10-16T12:37:00.000-07:00

What's your reputation worth? Are you doing enough to monitor and protect it?

On Tuesday, October 21 at 7:30 a.m., Barry Hurd, President of 123 Social Media, is hosting a Q & A with Dr. Leslie Gaines-Ross, one of the world's most widely recognized experts on CEO reputation, at Columbia Tower Club.

You will get expert insight on the the following:

What is your reputation worth?
How to identify reputation issues.
How to leverage your reputation.
Best practices to mitigate a reputation problem.
Best tools/methods to monitor your reputation.

Registration is $35 and includes the Columbia Tower Classic Breakfast Buffet. Seating is limited, so register today. To do so, please call the Columbia Tower Club Concierge at 206.622.2010.

You're Invited!

2008-10-15T15:28:00.000-07:00

Save the date: We're again partnering with Joe Kennedy from Eastside Business and Eastside Life papers for our next Eastside Entrepreneurs net-party, a casual pizza & beer shindig that we're calling our November Net-Fest, on Wednesday, November 12, from 5-8 p.m. Invite all your friends and associates and relax and unwind (while making good contacts) before the more formal holiday party season begins. Space is limited, so R.S.V.P. with Amy today!

THIS FRIDAY ONLY: A Grande Sized Publici-Tea

2008-10-14T14:59:00.000-07:00

Village Charter Member and Eastside PR maven Nancy Juetten is teaming with nationally-celebrated "Get Booked on Oprah" expert Susan Harrow to offer a Grande-sized Publici-Tea™ on October 17th. For more information and to register (hurry!) please visit Nancy's site.

Full Circle Moment

2008-10-14T14:57:00.000-07:00

I called Nancy Juetten to register for her Grande Sized Publici-Tea™ on Friday. She referenced a conversation we'd had a few weeks ago, during which I suggested she offer her fantastic Publici-Tea™ tips and wisdom in bite-sized tidbits, as I often feel too busy to read much more than a paragraph at a time when her blog posts, to which I subscribe, hit my inbox. Additionally, that morning I had resolved to cease chatting on my cell phone while driving. In the absence of my usual commute gab-fest, I popped in an audio CD. I mentioned to Nancy that I would much prefer her savvy PR advice to Pride & Prejudice for the tenth time, and suggested she consider offering CDs with a 1/2 hour programming format so that people can listen to them on-the-go.

Today Nancy told me that she percolated those suggestions* into a new idea: Publici-Tea™-TO-GO!, a do-it-yourself (DIY) publicity gift bundle delivered in a hot pink tote box. It's filled with tea, chocolate, biscotti, tips, and tools to help recipients learn how to get known as an expert, pitch an article the media can’t resist, and use other resources to earn their own publicity.

Nancy was further inspired (by the hot pink box!) to donate 10% of the Publici-Tea™-TO-GO! proceeds to Northwest Hope & Healing. It was when she got to this part of the story that the hair on my forearms began to rise. Northwest Hope & Healing is an organization founded by one of my all-time favorite people, Christine Smith.

I met Christine several years ago at Seattle Athletic Club - the day her girlfriends organized a 5-years-in-remission celebration at the club. Christine, a mother of two young children at the time, was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 32. During a low-point in her struggle, she received a much-appreciated care package from a friend. That gift inspired her to create "Healing Baskets." She started Northwest Hope & Healing in 2000. It's mission is to provide financial assistance to patients in need, for non-medical support services such as child care, meal service, transportation, and emergency rent. In addition, their signature “Healing Baskets” filled with items such as a teddy bear that can be held during treatment, soothing hand lotion, herbal tea, hard candies, and handmade cards or notes of encouragement) are assembled and delivered, at no charge, to newly diagnosed breast cancer patients.

I was thrilled to hear Nancy's story, and of her decision to benefit Northwest Hope & Healing. Although it's be several years since I've seen Christine, I've thought of her often and wondered how I could help increase awareness of the amazing things she's doing to help women fighting cancer. Now, inadvertently and through Nancy's benevolent burst of creative enterprise, I have!

It's this kind of synergistic connection, which I witness so often at the Village, that makes me feel we're creating something very special here. For more information and Nancy's (much better) version of this story, click on this link.

Amy Centers
Marketing Director, The Village Bellevue

*I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the plethora of helpful tips, advice and suggestions I've gleaned from Nancy's generosity over the past six months. Her kindness has resulted in a nationally syndicated article in which The Village Bellevue was prominently featured, increased attendance at our net-parties, member referrals and many other good things.

For Your Convenience

2008-10-14T14:51:00.000-07:00

New! Extended Hours on Wednesdays
The Village is now open until 8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. Also, we're now closing at 5 p.m. on Fridays.

On-Site Tech Support is Coming Your Way!
Starting this week, we'll have tech support on-hand most days, as well as Laptop Tune Up opportunities on Wednesdays. Stop by the Front Desk for all the details.

Storage
Hey, you don't have to schlep all your stuff! The Village offers several storage options, making it easy for you to leave and lock your paperwork and files. We have convenient mobile file cabinets and large lockers for rent for only $45/month. Small lockers are also available for $30/month. Inquire at the Front Desk today!

Our Convenience Center is Now Open
Whether you find yourself needing aspirin, stain remover or office supplies, our new Convenience Center makes it easy for you to get what you need - so you can get back to work. Just sign for your purchase at the Front Desk and be on your way. Please let us know if you have any suggestions for other items you'd like to see in our inventory.

Full Member Business Support Services
At The Village, we offer many services to help you and your business. We can answer the phone as your business, transferring calls to a voice mail, your cell phone or any of our in-house IP phones. We have mail service on-site, as well as package shipping and receiving. You also can back-up your computer files on our server, ensuring your important documents are safe and secure. Inquire at the Front Desk for more information on any of these services.

New Must-Have Marketing Tool

2008-10-14T14:14:00.000-07:00

Brian Crouch, of 123 Social Media, introduced me to an incredible find last week. The very talented Mark Smith, who just launched his new business, Splainers, creates original, attention-grabbing 3-4 minute marketing movies. What impressed me about Splainers was its commitment to the "Wow" factor, so important in our media-saturated world, as well as its compelling, story-driven creative approach. Spend a minute checking out the sample video on their home page and you'll see what I mean.

Mark Smith, founder of Splainers

Wine Tasting Recap

2008-10-14T14:05:00.000-07:00

We tested our crowd capacity on September 16th, when we hosted (along with our partner-in-wine Joe Kennedy, of the Eastside Business and Eastside Life papers) an Eastside Entrepreneurs Net-Wine Tasting. 150 guests sampled from 7 wineries (see the list below), Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Seastar Restaurant & Raw Bar, Los Agaves Catering, Sizzleworks, AdvoCare energy drinks and delish chocolate cake, compliments of Laughs Comedy Spot. The evening benefited Overlake Service League, which has provided emergency, family and holiday assistance to folks in need in the Bellevue area since 1911.

Let the festivities begin!

Stacy and Jason of BizXchange

Cathy of Seastar Restaurant & Raw Bar, Craig of 425 Magazine and fellow party goer

The Village's own Colleen, a guest and the folks from Anton Ville Winery

Village Charter Member and That Sales Guy Howard and Barry of BizEnrich

Kristal and Rasha

Lori with Leatherback Printing and Loma from Ambrosia Medspa

Pete chatting with Missy, from Sizzleworks Cooking School

A special thank you to the following wineries: Anton Ville Winery, Challenger Ridge Vineyard & Cellars, Hollywood Hill Vineyards, Nardone Italian Wine, PengWine, Washington Wine Company and William Church Winery. Thank you as well to our generous sponsors, BizXchange and Grand Event Rentals.

If we haven't listed your name or business, please email Amy and she'll add it!