This evening I attended the annual celebration for the Greater Ozarks Business and Professional Women’s organization. I had been asked by my friend Noel to be their speaker for the evening – I still have no idea why she was crazy enough to ask me but I was extremely flattered and figured I should try to find something of value to say. I really doubted that they wanted to know how to prepare a hospital budget nor did I think they’d want to hear about my perfect grandchildren or how to knit or ride a bike so I spoke on “Enhance Your Career….Volunteer!” since my goal in life is to be rich enough to be a professional community volunteer.
I thought the only person I’d know would be Noel but I was pleased to see a retired co-worker from Cox along with another lady I’d met before - and I soon connected with this group of gregarious women and already am making lunch plans with one whom I met tonight. I think the speech went well – they didn’t doze off, they laughed when they should have and clapped when I was done – and even if the clapping was because I was done, I was still bouyed by the sounds they made. But I was humbled when they named me runner-up to their Businesswoman of the Year award – I got kind words, a certificate, a gorgeous handmade autumn centerpiece and beautiful roses. Now you may be thinking that runner-up is no big deal – but considering the woman who won it was Patty Penny who founded Penmac, I was honored to even be in the running. When I saw on the program that she was nominated, I knew without a doubt that she deserved the award so I was thrilled for her. Always good to go up against a very worthy opponent!
Thinking back to my undergrad days of long ago, I recall how few other females joined me in the Breech School of Business at Drury College (now Drury University) – I was an anomaly but didn’t know it since my father convinced my sister and me that we could do anything. While my best friends studied teaching, nursing or social work I did case studies and accounting problems. Here’s to all the dynamic businesswomen of the world – whoops – that was a redundant phrase, wasn’t it?
