Women attending last week’s organizational meeting of the Women’s Network of South Okanagan were (from left, along wall): Christine Hewitt, Waverly McKeage, Michelle Weisheit, Karen Vaters, Angela Wilson, Regina Puetz, Leanne Scott, Caron Keens and Joanne Messier. The four women in front are: Lorraine Martin, Julie Varney, Patricia O’Connor and Alicia Osland. Not pictured is Chandelle Hay. (Richard McGuire photo)

Efforts to establish a Women’s Network of South Okanagan were off to a good start when 13 local women turned out for an organizational meeting last week.

Lorraine Martin, a former snowbird from Regina, who has now settled in Osoyoos, initiated the group and will serve as its co-ordinator.

Martin said she belonged to a women’s network in Regina for about a decade and when she met women here, she thought of starting one.

The idea struck her, she said, when she was walking downtown one summer Saturday and started talking to vendors at Market on Main.

“I just asked for women’s cards and if they were interested or if they’d heard of a women’s network,” she said.

Although many hadn’t heard of them, about 45 were willing to let her put them on an email list.

“Every time I saw a woman, I was on a roll all summer,” Martin said. “That’s how it started. And then I started sending out messages and putting things together.”

Martin said the goal of the Women’s Network is to achieve a supportive networking environment to encourage women to develop their individual talents.

“We just invite women of all walks of life who are interested in personal growth to advance their personal growth, their careers and businesses,” she said. “They just learn from each other and anybody can belong.”

It may be a sharing of knowledge or sharing of skills, she said.

In the future, members may be asked to host a lunch meeting and give a presentation on what they do, she said.

“There will be some questions and answers so everybody has a chance to talk about what they do and what they want,” she added.

When the group held its organizational meeting on Oct. 16 at Troy’s Grill, the main result was to chose a new executive.

But the other result was enthusiasm and excitement, Martin said.

In addition to Martin as co-ordinator, the other executive members are Julie Varney as secretary, Alicia Osland as treasurer and Leanne Scott and Chandelle Hay as publicity and promotion.

The group plans a membership drive meeting on Nov. 20 at Troy’s Grill from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Martin said membership is open to women in the South Okanagan, including those who live in such communities as Keremeos or Rock Creek, but who come to Osoyoos and Oliver for activities such as markets.

Lorraine Martin can be contacted at [email protected] or at 250-408-4846.

RICHARD McGUIRE

Osoyoos Times