Networking groups you should know about
The May issue (how did it get to be May already?!) of Women’s Business is all about the groups and places and ways that women connect.
We tried to be as wide-ranging as possible — running the gamut from peaceful Grailville to the busy blog at www.WorkingMomsAgainstGuilt.com. We also mention several women’s clubs and associations.
The danger — the almost-inevitable outcome, in fact — is that someone’s favorite club gets left out. If you’re that unlucky someone, or you’d like to share more about your group than I wrote in the paper, this is your chance! What women’s networking groups should Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky women know about?
Cindi Andrews, Editor
Top worries for women-owned businesses
Ever wonder what women business owners across the country see as their biggest issues? Yeah, like you have gobs of extra time to sit and ponder other business owners’ problems.
But the national nonprofit Women Impacting Public Policy had time to wonder, and to ask via a recent survey.
Not surprisingly, health care was far and away the No. 1 concern cited. Unlike in past years, however, half of respondents said responsibility for providing health coverage shouldn’t fall chiefly on employers.
The No. 2 issue was energy costs and No. 3 was … can you guess?
I doubt it!
… The third-biggest concern among women business owners nationwide is … the environment.
Do you think Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky women business owners would rank their top concerns the same? What are your biggest issues as a business owner?
Check out WIPP’s full press release, below, and post with your own views on your most critical business issues. While you’re at it, you can also tell us what specific problems or questions we might be able to find a columnist to answer for you in a future issue of Women’s Business!
Cindi Andrews
Editor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATIONAL POLL RANKS HEALTH CARE AND ENVIRONMENT AS TOP CONCERNS OF WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS“What Women Want” Bipartisan Survey Reveals Common Ground
WASHINGTON, DC (April 17, 2007) — Although health care was
overwhelmingly named the most critical issue affecting their businesses, nearly two-thirds of women business owners surveyed also believe that global warming and changes to the environment will affect them professionally and/or personally. These results of a national bipartisan survey of women business owners were released today by Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP), the nation’s largest bipartisan women’s business group. “What Business Women Want” is an annual online poll conducted by WIPP to gain insight on issues affecting the growth of women-owned businesses.
“Women entrepreneurs have a unique perspective on national issues because they are the only demographic with their finger on the pulse of both the business and the family wallets,” said WIPP President Barbara Kasoff. “WIPP’s surveys continue to be an accurate forecast of general populace opinion on economic issues because the results reveal common sense and common ground across party lines.”
While this was the fifth year that health care concerns were ranked number one, in a significant shift from previous surveys, half of those surveyed do not believe that business should be the main provider of health care coverage. The survey respondents also were definitive in discussing possible solutions to the health care crisis and in the belief that business, large or small, should not shoulder the responsibility of being the main provider of health care coverage.
In a show for current legislation, more than 85% of those surveyed want small employers to have the option to access the same insurance programs offered to government employees and 64% believe that the number of uninsured individuals would decrease if business owners were allowed to shop across state lines for more competitive rates. The majority supported small business tax breaks as an incentive to offer employee health coverage
Concern about energy costs ranked as the second most critical issue at 52%. More than half of all businesses (52%) said they have plans to alter business practices to either conserve energy or become more environmentally friendly and 35% reported offering technological initiatives and/or business/service product offerings to increase energy efficiencies.
Two-thirds of the respondents believe that global warming and environmental changes will affect them or their businesses and 45% want to see the government use both incentives and regulations to encourage businesses to encourage conservation.
Tax reform and the federal deficit tied at 51% each for third place. Eighty- one percent believe the current tax structure is in need of comprehensive reform. Women entrepreneurs want several tax cuts made permanent, including the estate tax, capitol gains and dividends, and expensing for small business. Regarding the federal deficit, 67% stated that federal spending should be reduced to decrease the rising deficit.
“The results of this survey will impact our efforts in working with Congress and the Administration to develop common-sense solutions that foster the growth of America’s 10.6 million women-owned businesses,” said Kasoff.
The 2007 “What Business Women Want” bipartisan national survey was conducted Jan. 22 – Feb. 9 and included 400 respondents. To read the complete survey, visit www.wipp.org.# # #About Women Impacting Public Policy:
Women Impacting Public Policy is a non-profit, national bipartisan group with over half a million members. WIPP is The Collective Voice in Washington, DC, for 46 national women and small business organizations. WIPP strengthens its members’ sphere of influence in the legislative process, creates economic opportunities for members and builds alliances with other small business organizations. Visit www.wipp.org.
And down he goes … a victory for free speech
So CBS acts (finally). Women, African Americans and other reasonable people have exercised our/their freedom of speech and won.
The people who claim to hate Don Imus’ message but defend his right to say it on radio and TV airwaves misunderstand what “free speech” means. Imus was and is free to say whatever he likes on any street corner in America. But he doesn’t own the airtime he occupied, any more than a newspaper writer owns the newshole that holds her story.
There are three kinds of content in a typical newspaper: editorial or news, which is supposed to be objective and factual, written without personal or corporate biases; opinion or commentary, which expresses the views of an individual or the newspaper owner/management; and advertising, in which someone pays for space to express whatever opinion or information they want, within some bounds. TV news channels’ content can be similarly characterized.
Imus could theoretically buy airtime and run a commercial that says virtually anything that’s not obscene. If stations refused to sell him the time, he could run it on YouTube. Our free-market version of freedom of speech doesn’t give anyone an inherent right to free airtime — or free newsprint – except possibly in the case of some candidates for public office.
Cindi Andrews
A College Student’s View on Imus
After speaking with family, friends and colleagues about the comment made by Don Imus, an interesting question has come to mind. Has Imus apologized enough?
As a current college student and female, I am very appalled at Imus’s comment. It is beyond ignorant and his remark has not only hurt his reputation to the brink of destroying his career, but his dignity has been revoked. After reading recent blogs and discussing the issue in further detail, it’s clear that Imus has not only hurt his relationship with the Rutgers women’s basketball team but he’s hurt his relationship with women everywhere, the NCAA, African Americans, and the Rutgers community.
Imus has hurt himself but even more so, hurt the feelings of thousands of individuals. This is when the question came to mind, “Has Imus apologized enough?” He is fighting for his job and apologizing every chance he gets. He is meeting with the Rutgers women’s team on Tuesday, but even players have stated that what he has done is not excusable. I ask you now, has Imus apologized enough? What is an apology?
Personally speaking, I believe Imus has apologized enough. I have heard him apologize on the radio, on television, seen clips on local news stations and on the Internet. Imus knows he has made a mistake and is trying to make up for it. Although I have heard him apologize more than a dozen times I do not believe I can accept his apology. What has been said cannot be taken back.
Once I realized I could not forgive Imus’s rude remark, I began to question what an apology is. Dictionary.com states an apology is “a written or spoken expression of one’s regret, remorse, or sorrow for having insulted, failed, injured, or wronged another.” I know we all know what an apology is and throughout our lifetimes we apologize but at some point, is an apology effective? It is necessary to apologize to demonstrate you understand you have hurt someone else but at the same time, the damage has already been committed. Now, the fate of acceptance lies in the hands of the individual who has been hurt.
I am not trying to say that I do not believe apologies are effective, I think apologies need to be said when wrong has been done. It is important for the other person to hear that remorse. It is a life lesson to be able to realize one’s mistakes, apologize, and learn from them in order to grow.
With this said, you’re probably questioning now “Well if you understand people make mistakes and can forgive, then why can’t you forgive Imus and accept his apology?” Believe me, I’ve asked myself this! I don’t know why exactly I can’t forgive Imus. I believe his comment was very detrimental. He not only insulted a basketball team, but also used unacceptable language. It shouldn’t be said to anyone regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.
Today’s society is very diverse and we’ve overcome issues throughout history. What Imus said hurts women and seems to take us back to the era that women were subordinate to men. These remarks cannot be allowed and we need to speak out about the issue. As a young woman, I believe I am capable of doing anything I set my mind to and if someone is going to call me a “nappy-headed ho,” you better believe I’m going to do everything I can to make sure it does not happen again.
Zofia Romanowicz, intern
Our take on Imus
We at Women’s Business are outraged at the vile comments made by Don Imus about the Rutgers women’s basketball team. WB joins the call for his ouster and cheers those companies – including Cincinnati’s own Procter & Gamble – that have pulled their advertising from his show.
Two things strike us about the situation.
The first is the dignity with which these young women responded in their press conference. How much clearer can it be that the typical portrayals of young people – particularly African-American young people – as uncaring, unproductive and undisciplined are off the mark? These are young women of character, intelligence and unlimited potential. Imus doesn’t have a thimbleful of the integrity that any one of these women possesses.
The second is that this is sadly just an unusually public example of a common experience in the African-American community. Many of our white colleagues would like to think these bigoted comments represent a few backward individuals and that racially offensive and insensitive acts are a thing of the ’50s and ’60s.
Not true.
Recently, two different African-American colleagues shared stories of being mistaken for coatroom clerks while attending events at private clubs. Many have shared stories of being followed by police cars when driving to business appointments through high-end white communities. And yes, there are many experiences of walking down the street and passing someone who whispers the n-word or h-word as they walk by.
This happens today. This happens here.
Absolutely, be enraged about Imus. Absolutely, demand action. But don’t stop there. Racism is an issue that still permeates our community. There must be more each of us can do – what are your thoughts?
Vanessa Freytag, Co-Publisher
Debbie Dent, Co-Publisher
Cindi Andrews, Editor
