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A T H E N A   Leadership  eNEWS                             February 2016
   

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2016 ATHENA INTERNATIONAL REGIONAL SUMMIT
  Ignite 8
CELEBRATING 35 YEARS 
REGISTER TODAY!

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IGNITE YOUR PASSION.
IGNITE YOUR 
LIFE.

Registration is open for the ATHENA International 35th Anniversary Leadership Conference. Join us for three days of world-class inspiration, motivation and business networking at Ignite8.

For more information, contact us at winmichigan@gmail.com.

 

September 25-27, 2016
Lansing, Michigan, USA, where ATHENA was founded.

Hosted by

   
 
 
 
 
WORK OF ATHENA LEADERSHIP MODEL ADVOCATE RECOGNIZED AT THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS
For the last 4 years Martha Mertz, founder of ATHENA International, has taught the ATHENA Leadership Model (ALM) to women in Perryville Prison in Goodyear, Arizona. The ALM, published in 1989, was funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and written by a group of national authorities on leadership. The purpose of the ALM was to define how women lead based on feedback from hundreds of ATHENA Award recipients across the country and beyond. The core of the ALM is comprised of eight tenets of leadership common among women leaders: authentic self; relationships; giving back; collaboration; courageous acts; learning; fierce advocacy; and celebration and joy.

This Perryville Prison effort is changing minds and lives and the women participants are not going back to prison once they have been released. The statistics are quite phenomenal!

Martha ended up at Perrysville by way of Sue Ellen Allen, the founder of Gina's Team. Gina was Sue Ellen's cellmate who died while incarcerated and it is in her name Gina's Team delivers programs to provide women a path out of prison, back into the community and out of additional trouble with the law. Sue Ellen Allen was recognized in person by President Obama at the State of the Union address.

THE WHITE HOUSE 
Office of the Press Secretary 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
January 10, 2016

White House Announces Guests in First Lady's Box - State of the Union Address 
 
WASHINGTON, DC - The following individuals will be seated in the box with the First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden and Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President, at the State of the Union Address on Tuesday.

For the President's final State of the Union address, the individuals who will be seated in the guest box of First Lady Michelle Obama represent the progress we have made since the President first delivered this speech seven years ago - from the brink of a second Great Depression and two costly wars to an economy that is growing and renewed American leadership abroad. Their stories - of struggle and success - highlight where we have been and where America is going in the future, building on the best of what our country has to offer. The guests personify President Obama's time in office and most importantly, they represent who we are as Americans: inclusive and compassionate, innovative and courageous.

Information about these guests and news about the State of the Union is available at
https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2016/01/10/meet-guests-first-ladys-2016-state-union-box.

NASHVILLE ATHENA AWARD PROGRAM OFFERS SCHOLARSHIPS TO YOUNG WOMEN
Kristen Kindoll, For Williamson 11:02 p.m. CST January 12, 2016
"Nashville's Athena statue, which sits inside the Parthenon, depicts a golden warrior who is a symbol of wisdom, fortitude and leadership. Similarly, the ATHENA Award scholarship program honors those attributes in young women who wish to continue their higher education.
The Nashville chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) brought the ATHENA program to Music City in 1990. In 1995, the annual organizing responsibility of the event was transferred to the Cable Foundation. The ATHENA program is supported by collaborative efforts of local women's organizations, along with key partnerships with individual sponsors and businesses...
"Women from across Nashville and Middle Tennessee are nominated for special recognition as the embodiment of Athena's spirit," she says. "While each nominee exemplifies leadership, superior performance, commitment to community and unselfish assistance to women and women's issues, only one nominee in each category (traditional and young professional) is selected as the Nashville ATHENA Leadership Award recipient."
The Nashville ATHENA Award program bestows scholarships totaling $30,000 to honor the accomplishments of women in the Nashville metropolitan area. This year, the program will award eight scholarships to high school seniors varying from $1,000 to $5,000. The awards can be applied to either in-state or out-of-state college institutions. Applicants must reside in the greater Nashville metropolitan area (Davidson, Wilson, Williamson, Robertson, Sumner, Cheatham, Dickson or Rutherford counties)....
For more information about the Cable Foundation and the scholarship, visit www.nashvillecable.org.
"Athena's spirit lives on in those individuals, who use their vision and persistence to excel, while reaching out and opening the way for others," Overton says."

ATHENA LEADERSHIP AWARD CELEBRATIONS   
ATHENA Award Recipient Sarah Jennings (center) pictured with ATHENA Board Director Jan Davies McDermott (left) and ATHENA President Dianne Dinkel (right)
LANSING, MI
Sarah Jennings, an outstanding certified public accountant (CPA) and certified fraud examiner (CFE), saw the need for a strong women's advocacy group in Mid-Michigan. Along with four other women, Jennings founded the Women's Interest Network (WIN). WIN became an organization that offered professional development, education, mentorship, access to informal mentors (Lansing's most influential women), and networking opportunities to women in Lansing.
Working closely with the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, ATHENA WIN was created and organized under the Lansing Regional Development Foundation. Jennings looked to expand this program further. Achieving this effort, The Emerging Leaders program was purchased through ATHENA International. Here, participants discuss one topic per month based on the ATHENA Leadership Model and Becoming ATHENA, written by Martha Mertz.
Jennings was also instrumental in the decision by ATHENA International to bring its annual convention, IGNITE to Lansing in September 2016.
In addition to all that she does with ATHENA WIN, Jennings also supports and volunteers fearlessly in other organizations in Lansing. Jennings supports First Tee of Mid-Michigan where young people are introduced to Nine Core Values while learning golf, similar to the Eight Tenets of Leadership taught in Becoming ATHENA. Jennings also supports the American Red Cross and Lansing Symphony Orchestra, while staying involved at her son's preschool. Jennings' latest community endeavor is Hatching, where she provides answers and advice to local entrepreneurs on accounting start-up questions and attends monthly meetings with other professionals.  

CARTHAGE, MO
By Rebecca Haines, The Carthage Press 
Posted Jan. 25, 2016 at 9:00 AM
A long line of ladies awaited the name of the next ATHENA Award recipient, and applauded with big smiles when Tina Hallmark approached the stage Friday evening at the Carthage Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet.
"I was completely shocked, humbled and most of all honored to be recognized by the wonderful women that were the previous recipients of the ATHENA Award," Hallmark said. "I do not serve or do things to receive accolades or recognition but by faith, I just follow where I believe God is sending me." Continue Reading

ROCHESTER, NY
Rochester, N.Y. - Center for Youth Executive Director and Rochester City Council Person Elaine Spaull was presented with the 30th annual ATHENA award Thursday.
"The Women's Council continues to realize its mission of recognizing and empowering women leaders in Rochester through the ATHENA Awards by showcasing our area's best and brightest talent. Once again, our ATHENA Awards recipients and finalists represent an exceptional group of professional women who are committed to the growth and prosperity of their individual businesses and the economic and philanthropic development of the Greater Rochester community, as well as exemplify the overall ATHENA model of leadership," said Wende Knapp, Women's Council President.
Melanie Work, partner at Trevett Cristo, Salzer & Andolina, P.C., took home the Women's Council's second annual ATHENA Young Professional Award.
The ATHENA Award is presented annually by the Women's Council.

BECOME AN ATHENA INTERNATIONAL FOUNDING LIFETIME MEMBER 

We're excited to announce that our ATHENA Membership website is up and running! The site is still under construction while we work to develop and enhance it, but we wanted to make it available to all our constituents. We welcome you to join as a member and experience the benefits of our site!   

As a supporter for ATHENA International, you are very familiar with ATHENA and the incredible programs that are offered each year in cities around the country. You will be pleased to know:

  • The ATHENA Award Programs continue to grow in new cities each year
  • Growth in ATHENAPowerLink®, the new ATHENA Leadership Day Luncheon, ATHENA Connections® and ATHENA Leadership Forums will help us expand globally and fulfill our mission
As we launch our new ATHENA Membership Program and website, we would like to invite you to join us in becoming an ATHENA International Founding Lifetime Member.  
  • One time investment of $1,000 provides membership with 100 Founding Lifetime Members (membership will close at 100)
  • The 100 Founding Lifetime Members will be permanently displayed on the ATHENA International website and annual publications.
Join us by REGISTERING ONLINE today and become part of this Founding Lifetime Member Group!

 

IN THIS ISSUE
REGIONAL SUMMIT
ATHENA LEADERSHIP MODEL
NASHVILLE ATHENA SCHOLARSHIPS
ATHENA CELEBRATIONS
BECOME A FOUNDING MEMBER
ATHENA CELEBRATIONS
ATHENA BOARD
ATHENA Award
Celebrations

JANUARY

1/29/2016 Altoona, PA
1/29/2016 Lawrence, KS
1/30/2016 Bowling Green, OH
 
FEBRUARY  
2/1/2016 Hilo, HI
2/5/2016 Flagstaff, AZ
2/9/2016 Manitowoc, WI
2/16/2016 Midland, MI
2/18/2016 Burleson, TX
2/18/2016 Champaign, IL
2/18/2016 Kaysville, UT
2/23/2016 Greenville, SC
2/24/2016 Owensboro, KY
2/26/2016 Evansville, IN
2/27/2016 Glenwood Springs, CO
 
MARCH
3/1/2016 South Bend, IN
3/3/2016 Okemos, MI
3/6/2016 Bel Air, MD
3/7/2016 Marion, OH
3/8/2016 Madison, WI
3/10/2016 Great Falls, MT
3/16/2016 Buffalo, NY
3/23/2016 Bay City, MI

 
For event details, click here
 
ATHENA International
Board of Directors

Jan Maddox
Chair  
   
Judith Lancaster 
Vice-Chair   
   
Mary MacLaren 
Vice-Chair
 
Colleen Moore Mezler
Secretary
 
Carla Carstens
Treasurer
 
Martha Mertz
Founder

Angie Boyd Chambers
Director 

Christine Brown
Director Emeritus

Andrea Conner
Director 

KL Daly
Director  

Joselyn DiPetta
Director 
 
Janet Green
Director

Michael Herald
Director

Tiffany Hughes
Director

Janine Janosky
Director 

Ruth E. Johnson
Director 

Mary Ann Jones
Director 
 
Karen Keene
Director  
 
George Lemon
Director 
 
Jan Davies McDermott
Director 
 
Carla R. Michelotti
Director Emeritus

Patricia Pierce
Director Emeritus

Norma Rist
Past Chair 
Director Emeritus
    
Ellen Ruddock
Past Chair   
Director Emeritus 

Linda Peek Schacht
Director   
 
Debra Adams Simmons
Past Chair 
Director Emeritus  
  
Chuck Spadafora
Director 
 
Linda Stevenson
Director
 
Mona M. Stone
Director
 
Brendan Surma
Director
 
Lolita Toney
Director 
 
Yvonne Wood
Past Chair
Director Emeritus 

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ATHENA International Mission
  Supporting, developing and honoring women leaders. 
  Inspiring women to achieve their full potential.
  Creating balance in leadership worldwide.
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