Featured Articles | Women Can International Inc

It’s important to reflect back, before moving forward…

June 7, 2010 By Hayley Leave a Comment

Find more photos like this on Women Can International

Today as I was going through my computer and cleaning up files – a bit of a deadly boring job – I found some files that I had totally forgotten about and suddenly my heart was inspired, once again, to put my hand to the plough that is Women Can International Inc, my labour of love.

One of these files was a book, a Pictorial History of Women Can International Inc 2007-2008, that I had put together back in 2008 that tells the first year of the association. It was as I watched it in slideshow form that I was once again touched by the vision I had when I started Women Can International Inc.

What touched me most was the faces of the women and I was immediately transported back to each of the events and I was asking myself why did they come and what was so magic about the moment that it always left me so energised?

I think the main thing that I could put my finger on was this sense of excitement about being connected…not just to people we know and already love, but to the wider community. It was almost like, “Who will I meet today and how will that positively influence my life?”

What I have loved most about the association has been the connections. I have loved every minute of meeting new women and inviting them into my world and have felt privileged to be invited into theirs. Some of my very best and dearest friends have come via the network and I think my life would have been very much poorer if I had never connected with them.

I’m writing all this to encourage you all, ladies, wherever you are to reach your arms of love and encouragement out to the women around you. You don’t have to be part of a formal group, like Women Can International Inc to do this.

The concept of the Girlfriend Club came about from my recognising that there were women in all the different aspects of my life – my work buddies, my girlfriends from church life, my extended family, my neighbours – and by bringing them all around the table for a meal I saw the magic that comes from new connections and being connected. I figured that if I loved them and they loved me, then perhaps they may love each other too and I was completely right.

If you are not in Perth, please take this opportunity to consider hosting a Girlfriend Club in your locality. You don’t have to do anything other than invite the women in your world to meet you for a coffee or a meal or a discussion and get them to bring the women from their worlds too. The magic is in the moment. If I could be in your local area I would facilitate the meeting for you but alas I am based here in Perth, so am only able to host local events. I just hate the thought that there are women all around the world who support us but don’t have the opportunity to experience what we are experiencing. But it doesn’t have to be this way and if you need support, I am only a SKYPE (Haylesbaby) or FACEBOOK Chat away.:))

I am so looking forward to creating the next chapter of the WCI history…won’t you help me create an inspiring chapter for all.

Hayley xxx

You can see the photos from the early events on our ning.com community site, http://womencaninternational.ning.com.

Filed Under: Featured Articles, From the Chairperson's Desk Tagged With: History, Women Can International Inc

Congratulations to June Kelly on her new role…

May 26, 2010 By Hayley 1 Comment

Is this the face of the next world Talk Show Host sensation?Or is June Kelly already pulling her hair out at the thought of sharing a couch with a panel of men on the new Internet TV Show, "What Men Think?"? Read on to find out more...

We have greatness in our midst ladies. Move aside, because June Kelly is about to take the internet TV community by storm.

Successful in her audition for the role of the only female host on the new Internet TV show “What Men Think” on Loco TV, June is revelling in the opportunity to control a few men on the couch!

No, she won’t be getting the whips and chains out, instead she will be brow beating them with the questions we are hoping you will all want answered and be willing to watch! While we’re on that, what would you like to know about how a man thinks?

A special invitation is extended to women aged between 25 and 35 years who would like to be in the studio audience for the filming of the episodes on 20 June 2010 between 11:00am and 4:00pm at a studio in Osborne Park. If you’d like to participate contact June to get the finer details.

June would also like the help of the WCI community in formulating some conversation starting questions…they can be as controversial as you like, but please don’t make her blush! Just post your questions as a comment on this page and June will be popping by to read regularly. Let’s give her plenty of fodder for her new endeavour.

Rumour has it that Steve, the Producer, has asked June to dress and act “edgy”. Now what does an “edgy” woman look like? I’d love you to leave a comment if you think you know the answer to that one and can give June some guidance. After all, her first attempts at dressing edgy resulted in her husband banning her from leaving the house dressed like that! I can’t wait to see the new June unmasked and dangerous.

At the end of the day, it should be some great exposure for June as she pursues her dream of becoming a TV Talk Show Host. Move over Oprah, cause our June is coming through! Can’t wait to see her in action. Come along to our Girlfriend Club and find out more on 5 June 2010. See our events tab for more details about the Girlfriend Club event under the Choices Event tab.

Filed Under: Featured Articles, Membership News & Views Tagged With: June Kelly, Loco TV, Men, Talk Show Host, Thinking, Women

Fundraising cheque presented to Woodvale Senior High School…

May 26, 2010 By Hayley Leave a Comment

I am very excited to announce that we were able to donate $500 to the Shine Young Women’s program at Woodvale Senior High School from the money we raised at our Petticoats & Pearls event in March 2010.

As you can see, Eliza Jane Barnett, one of the inspirational young women from Woodvale Senior High School presented the cheque to Carol Stokes, the Chaplain, on behalf of Women Can International Inc. Eliza Jane was very influential in helping us get our event up and running, starring in our promotional video and advertising campaign, so it only seemed fitting that she have the joy of making the presentation.

I love that Women Can International Inc is so community focused and influencing our community through the combined efforts of the women connected to us. Thanks again ladies for all your hard work and to those ladies who connected for the day. Also to our MANY fabulous sponsors…visit our sponsors and let them know where you heard about them! They just were amazing! You all made it a wonderful day and I can’t wait until 2011 when we can run the event again and grow it into something Perth can really look forward to as an annual day out for the ladies.

Just on that note, if you would like to contribute to the next event through serving on the organising committee or donating goods, please pop me an email and I’ll add you to my list which thankfully is already growing!

Some footage of the event coming soon…we’re taking our time to put together a great memory for all who attended.

Filed Under: Featured Articles, From the Chairperson's Desk, Membership News & Views

Just Because We Can Event at Darlington Eastate Winery & Restaurant – 7 June 2010

May 11, 2010 By Hayley Leave a Comment

Chantal Vanderhaeghen asked me to distribute this information to the Women Can International Inc community. If you are in Perth on 7 June, 2010 this will be a fabulous fundraising event in support of the Breast Cancer Foundation of WA.

Filed Under: Featured Articles, Membership News & Views

Media release: Choices, A Workshop for Women

May 10, 2010 By Hayley Leave a Comment

“Making choices in life can often be difficult, causing us considerable stress,” says Founder and Chairperson of Women Can International Inc, Hayley Solich.

“Before I separated from my partner in 2007, I felt quite powerless. But after a horror year living in a one-bedroom granny flat with my husband and four children, whilst caring for my incapacitated in-laws, I learned that despite our circumstances we always have a choice,” continues Hayley

It was when her girlfriends supported Hayley, and helped her to gain the courage to make the break from her husband, that she suddenly experienced ‘the liberating power of choice’.

It was during this time of separation that Hayley founded Women Can International Inc (WCI), a positive Perth-based women’s association that seeks to support women to find and take the next step in their journey, encouraging them to make positive choices.

Two years on, Hayley is back with her husband and enjoying a much more respectful and nurturing relationship and sees that time of separation as a gift to her marriage.

Hayley and the team at Women Can want to pass on to others what they have learned through this and other life experiences.

Choices: The Power of Possibility Workshop for Women is being held on Saturday, 5 June 2010 at a private luxury holiday home in Quinns Rocks from 10:00am-2:00pm. The women of Perth are invited to participate in what is going to be ‘an exceptional workshop full of light bulb moments’.

The goal of the workshop is to place in the hands of women, effective decision-making tools so they can make positive choices in their lives.

The workshop will cover: Sowing and Reaping – How what you do today will be instrumental in the opportunities you harvest in the future; Cultivating the Garden of Opportunity – What are you planting in the garden of your life and how are you nurturing it; To Plant or Not to Plant – Getting solutions to life’s big questions; The Communal Garden – Co-creating solutions to community situations; and Fences, Gates & Borders – Creating, recognising, and responding to personal boundaries.

All women who would like the opportunity to learn how to use decision making tools effectively, gain an awareness of how their choices may be affecting their opportunities and also develop their community partnership skills are invited to participate in this practical and interactive workshop.

Highly subsidised by sponsors The Creaticians, this four-hour workshop includes a light lunch, tea and coffee.

To register for this event contact Hayley Solich on 08 9375 2007 or 0404 732 578 or visit www.womencaninternational.com. Bookings are essen

Filed Under: Events, Featured Articles Tagged With: Choices, Decision Making, Events, Women, Workshop

The Girlfriend Club goes to the Bodhi Tree Cafe 1 May 2010

April 18, 2010 By Hayley Leave a Comment

We are off to the Bodhi Tree Cafe for our next Girlfriend Club event. We had such a great time there for our last event…lots of lovely new faces to enjoy.

For this Girlfriend Club event I’d like to encourage you to invite some of your family along. You may have a sister-in-law, a mother, an aunt or the like who would benefit from the opportunity to form some positive connections.

The benefits of attending the Girlfriend Club are:

Growing your friendship with myself and the leadership team so we can support you better
Getting to service your girlfriend relationships (or relationships with the women in your life)
Meeting new women who may be influential in your future
Enjoying the ambience of a great cafe and very healthy food

If you’d like to know more about the event, please feel free to call me on 08 9375 2007 or 0404 732 578. It’s also a great opportunity to have a chat with our Membership Coordinator, Jennifer Crossland, who can help you to make positive connections.

Looking forward to seeing you at the next event or at our Choices Workshop in June.
Hayley

Filed Under: Events, Featured Articles, From the Chairperson's Desk, Membership News & Views Tagged With: Association, Cafe, Friendship, Fun, Girlfriend Club, Lunch, Meeting, Networking, Women Can International Inc

Don’t worry if you don’t know why!

April 8, 2010 By Hayley Leave a Comment

In my life there have been many things that I have done, often at my own expense, that when questioned by others I have just had to say, “I don’t know why, I just know I need to do this.”

The beauty is that further along the pathway it becomes completely evident to me why I needed to do them as they were the stepping stones in the pathway that has led me to be the person that I am today, doing the things that I am doing.

What this has taught me is to value every experience, sucking the marrow out of life and being grateful for the many wonderful opportunities that have graced my life.

I just wanted to encourage you that sometimes what on the surface looks like it has nothing to offer you in the way of tangible benefits, yet you feel drawn to the opportunity, that it may have hidden treasure and that those around you may question you and you may not have an answer to give them immmediately.

If I stopped writing back when the first person questioned my ability or my use of my time I would never be feature writing for a national magazine now. And if I had questioned writing for that magazine for no payment immediately, I would never have gotten the opportunity to get my name known in the writing world. And if I had never started the Pearls Women’s Magazine project, I would never have gotten my foot in the door at the National Women’s Magazine. And if I’d listened to those that were questioning the value of giving my time to develop Pearls, all those people who read the magazine and their lives were changed in some positive way would never have happened.

Sometimes risks are essential if we want to find the hidden treasure.

I think you get my picture. You just never know when what you are doing has a positive spin off for others or for your own destiny, even if it is painful and a negative experience at the time.

There is a verse in the Bible that I love and brings me comfort. It says, “All things work together for the good…”

You may not understand which thread you are sewing with at this time in your life, but you are creating a rich tapestry and one day you will get to see it from the top side down, not just the underside up. Keep sewing!

Filed Under: Featured Articles, Women's Wisdom

Women’s Wisdom and Just for Fun

April 7, 2010 By Hayley Leave a Comment

Do you have wisdom to share? Do you have an event we can support?

Firstly, Women’s Wisdom. As you may be aware, at the end of the year we are hosting our first Nurturing Women’s Wisdom Forum on 3 December 2010. I am so excited about this event, as I see the value in passing on of wisdom from one generation to the next and from one individual to another. This is a part of our work as women…to absorb the wisdom from each situation in our lives and to pass on that knowledge to one another. This is what makes us strong.

So to start this process a little early to get our juices flowing, we have decided to include on our site a category for posts by our members sharing their wisdom. On the right hand side of the home page about half way down, you will see a pull down menu called categories. To quickly find posts under the Women’s Wisdom banner, click on the link Women’s Wisdom.

I invite all members to share their wisdom by emailing me an article for this category. It doesn’t have to be lengthy, although it can be if required. Please include at the end of the post a link to your own website or other information to identify you as the author.

Secondly, Just for Fun. We are very keen to connect with, embrace and support other women’s visions, dreams and businesses. We believe in being inclusive and as part of this goal we do not want to be in competition with other groups and certainly not with our own members. So we invite women to submit their events to us and we’ll add them to the site under the Just for Fun category. We’ll also include them on our calendar where they enhance our programs.

We all need to have opportunities to socialise, to participate in self-development, to increase our circle of influence through networking and to feel like we are part of a bigger picture. By embracing one another’s visions, we can help to meet these needs, so please, let us know what you’re up to and we’ll do our best to support you as best we can.

Looking forward to receiving submissions for both of these opportunities.

Filed Under: Featured Articles, From the Chairperson's Desk, Just for Fun, Women's Wisdom

Calendar a new addition to our site

March 20, 2010 By Hayley Leave a Comment

We are now using Google Calendar to schedule our events. Please check out our calendar of events located under the Programs tab.

We will be updating the calendar regularly and adding other people’s events, as our vision is to build bridges in our communities and we believe this includes supporting others in their events. If you are a part of a club or group or you are organising a social event and would like us to promote it, please complete our Contact Us form and include the details of your event name, date, location, any costs associated and a brief description and we’ll add it to our calendar.

Filed Under: Featured Articles, Membership News & Views

The Girlfriend Club goes to the Bodhi Tree Cafe, Mt Hawthorn

March 16, 2010 By Hayley Leave a Comment

Yes, it’s that time again. Time to gather your girlfriends and meet up for a coffee with the Girlfriend Club.

Tuesday, 3 April 2010

Please note: We are starting this Girlfriend Club at 11:00am. Now there is no excuse for not being able to get out of bed to join us. )

Cnr Scarborough Beach Road and Oxford Streets, Mt Hawthorn.

You can’t miss it, it’s right on the corner and looks like a bookshop/Cafe.

Please invite the women in your world that you’d love to spend some time with…we’ll be inviting ours. This is an excuse to get out of the house, to have an empowering time with women who are positive, motivated and resourceful. You never know when you might meet someone who is going to be instrumental in helping you take the next big step in your life adventure!

We have opted for the Tuesday because of the Easter Long Weekend, so make the most of the opporutnity to connect with some great ladies.

Look forward to seeing you there!

Hayley

Filed Under: Events, Featured Articles