HAPPY NEW YEAR – PWNCR – THE BUZZ – January 2021

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January 10, 2021
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Professional Women’s Network of Costa Rica

Presents

The Buzz – January 2021 Edition

A Message From Our President

HAPPY NEW YEAR - PWNCR - THE BUZZ - January 2021 1Andrea Minicola

Dear Sisters,

I am thrilled and honored to be the President of The Professional Women’s Network of Costa Rica. In March, 2021, I will have been President for 2 years! Time goes by so quickly! We have a great Leadership Team this year, and I am excited to be working alongside such an incredible group of women. We look forward to connecting and elevating all of our members!

2020 was a year of challenge and change not only for the PWNCR but for all mankind. Despite the challenges, the PWNCR had a productive year and stayed strong and on track as we pivoted through the pandemic. We saw our programming and speakers go from face to face events to virtual events, as we tried to continue to provide our members with important tools to lead and grow within our careers & businesses.

Proudly we started our first attempts at Virtual Lunch & Learns and Virtual Round Tables. Our members also came together in a huge way and together we raised more than $1000 for The Rahab Foundation and also for Animales de Asis. In July we hosted our 10th Anniversary Event! Time goes by so quickly.

I am looking forward to an exciting year ahead as we host safe “COVID” friendly gatherings, zoom meetings, grow our membership, offer engaging programming and come together again for this year’s social responsibility projects to help and support our communities together.

Warm wishes for a happy and healthy 2021,

Andrea Minicola

Our Next Virtual Meeting

website-sara-basloe-event

Join us for our next meeting January 16 with Sara Basloe  – Goal Setting & Mind Mapping Event- via zoom.  This Free event for paid members begins at 10am,

What to expect?

To laugh and dream – to identify some key goals for you for 2021.

To gain new understanding and insight into the profound value and art of setting personal and professional goals.

Our goal is for you to have the most successful year ever as a result of what we will show you in this introductory workshop.

Preparation & Supplies:

Before the workshop you will need to register. What you get out of this workshop will be proportional to what you put into the process.

Please have either some blank white paper or a piece of white poster board and a pile of coloured pens/crayons or felt pens.

Zoom Link – access link will be emailed upon registration


Register for Our Upcoming Event

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What Is Member Spotlight?

The PWNCR turns the spotlight on our members!  We want to highlight how they are making a difference in the industry and/or local community and how they have benefited from their membership in the PWNCR  To be highlighted on our website and in our newsletter contact Andrea – president@pwncr.com. If you would like to nominate a fellow member that has made a lasting impression,  info@pwncr.com

Rayna Levin

rayna levin spotlight

QUESTION & ANSWER

 Q/ How long have you been a member of the PWNCR? 

A/ Since 2019.

Q/ What has been your favorite PWNCR event to attend? 

The last one I attended was the holiday fair at Tin Jo.

Q/ What do you feel is the most rewarding part of being part of the PWNCR?

A/ the networking and group effort to support each other’s businesses. I’m also in a local professional women’s group here in Osa – the Professional Women’s group of Costa Ballena.

Q/ Why is being a part of a women’s network important to you?  

A/ Because women often share the same challenges in the workplace and the networking is invaluable. feeling the energy that comes from women run businesses is inspiring.

Q/ What advice do you have for women who are thinking about becoming a member of the PWNCR ?

A/ Take time to find out about who is in the group and what services they offer. they might be the first ones you want to go to if you need one of their services.

Q/ Where do you work? 

A/ I work from home in Sierpe de Osa looking out at the estero Azul canal which is well known as the route of the Sierpe Wildlife tour.

Q/ What is your position and what does it entail? 

A/ I own and operate MuchaCostaRica (travel agency) and Sierpe Outfitters (tour company) and a side business of Original Rayna Bags (purses, totes, yoga bags and more). I plan custom vacations for families, small groups and students as MCR, coordinate private day tours to Caño Island, Corcovado National Park and the Sierpe mangroves as Sierpe Outfitters.

Q/ What are you doing right now in your life that excites you? 

A/ Taking advantage of the zero tourism season and doing some sewing, improving my website for MuchaCostaRica and doing some research into developing a new branch of MuchaCostaRica – MuchaPanama.

Q/ Share some info about your family/personal life. 

A/ I’ve lived in Costa Rica since 2005 and in Sierpe since 2008. I’m fortunate to be able to live in a remote nature filled location and share my life with my daughter Kaila and my neighbors most days are only monkeys and scarlet macaws. It’s pretty quiet here but nature inspires me everyday.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
What Can You Do to Stay Involved?

HAPPY NEW YEAR - PWNCR - THE BUZZ - January 2021 3

The Women’s Club of Costa Rica is a philanthropic organization supporting empowerment through education and self-awareness.

They need our help with their program SCHOOLBOOKS for KIDS 

Over the last 7 school years, The Women’s Club of Costa Rica joined the initiative taken by La Nación as their Social Responsibility Project, to provide affordable, actual, and attractive schoolbooks at a cost much lower than the other editorials offering schoolbooks for the educational market in Costa Rica.

We are very proud to be able to take part in this incredibly worthy project and hope that this appeal will encourage you to personally participate. A set of textbooks for a single child costs 6,600 colones, approximately US$12.00. Every single donation will help stimulate one young child’s learning process. Please be generous!

Support our Schoolbooks for Kids project!


Make a donation

Interested in helping with this project? Please Contact Us.

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What Is Small Business Spotlight?

ATTENTION: Local Small Business Owners! Are you interested in reaching potential customers? If so, we would like the opportunity to help you reach that goal. The best part is ….it’s 100% FREE!
Our marketing / social media reaches 100,000+ residents in Costa Rica each month and we want to help your business/brand succeed!  Email Andrea president@pwncr.com to be featured in our next newsletter and to be promoted through our social media.

Margaret Centorcelli Photography and The Tico Market

Margaret Centorcelli business spotlight

Q/ Contact Details

A/ 

  • MargaretCentorcelliPhotography@gmail.com
  • TicoMarketAtenas@gmail.com

Q – Where is your business located? 

A/ Margaret Centorcelli Studios – Residencial Roca Verde, Atenas The Tico Market, Rt 3, 100 meters East of the Monumento Nacional al Boyero Costarricense, Atenas

Do you have a website you can share so our members can check out your business?

www.margaretcentorcelliphotography.com

Q – What is your job title?

A/ Owner of Margaret Centorcelli Photography, Artistic Director of The Tico Market

Q- How long have you been in business in Costa Rica?

A/ 3.5 years as the owner of Margaret Centorcelli Photography and my partnership in the Tico Market is a new venture for me.

Q- Why do you do what you do?

A/ Because I love to share the beauty I see around me everyday.  I am thrilled to see people excited when they see their portraits

Q- Why did you choose Costa Rica?

A/ I choose Costa Rica for a variety of reasons.  On my first vacation here I was awed by the culture, the people are amazingly welcoming and the climate is hard to beat.  I appreciate the available health care and the fact that everyone has health care.  I love the fact that Ticos do not judge each other based on political ideology, and that the multiple party system seems to work much better than the nightmare of US politics.  We are close enough to all amenities, but far enough away to feel the Pura Vida vibe.

Q- Are you from Costa Rica or did you relocate here?

A/ I was born in New Jersey, USA, and spent my adult life in New York City, and Long Island.

Q- What are your biggest challenges as a business owner?

A/ Right now, our biggest challenge is the COVID Pandemic and subsequent restrictions.

Q- What are the biggest rewards?

A/ Seeing the smiles on the faces of clients who love their photos, and hearing people say that they enjoyed the process, even though they didn’t think they would.  In the store I like to see happy customers that tell us they can’t wait to bring their friends.

Q- What will people get from your business that they won’t get anywhere else?

A/ There are plenty of photographers and souvenir stores in Costa Rica.  What makes us special is that we offer high-quality works of art, not trinkets made in China.  My outdoor studio and ability to put my clients at ease makes me a great choice.  I also offer a 100% guarantee on satisfaction.  There is no fee for photoshoots done in my studio, you only pay for the images you chose.

Q- What’s one piece of advice you would give to someone starting a business in Costa Rica?

A/ Know your market, this isn’t the same as the USA.  Be able to serve both the expat population and the locals, you will need both to thrive.

Lunch and learn – Shameless Self Promotion

Objective: To help you promote yourself, to Network, to teach us, to help you grown to learn new things!

Covid-19 has presented new challenges but also new opportunities. We all have to THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX! As a result of the current social gathering restrictions, membership had to shift our thinking to compensate. Now we have to do everything online!. Don’t miss the boat! Pivot and change how you do business by signing up for a Lunch and Learn or by attending. We need to continue to grow and support each other!

What is Lunch & Learn? “Lunch & Learns” are 25-30 minute sessions held online via FacebookLive or Zoom. The sessions are hosted by both members and followers of PWNCR who want to share useful information about a topic of their choice while simultaneously promoting their business. The best part of this initiative is that all sessions are recorded and can be accessed after the fact through the PWNCR Facebook page.

If you or someone you know is interested in hosting one of these sessions, please contact info@pwncr.com with the subject line “Lunch & Learn.”

Check out our Lunch & Learn with Kathy Rothschild!

A Message From Our Vice President

I love this network and appreciate the support we provide to each other. I have gained inspiration and renewed enthusiasm for our success through individual conversations I’ve been able to have this past year with you all. Thank you for all that you do to contribute to our network!

I did want to mention that in addition to the virtual events and social responsibility campaigns that Andrea has mentioned, our Leadership Team members have also provided quiet support to our membership including:

  • Maintaining an active WhatsApp group that continues to provide support and networking to our over 50 members who follow along there
  • Maintaining an active Facebook page with 2,650 followers and climbing. Continuing to get engagement by sharing uplifting memes, stories and videos on a regular basis. Each post regularly reaches over 250 people!
  • Providing networking to individual inquiries for new members and other requests via email, phone, WhatsApp and Messenger.
  • Created a Pop-up Virtual Holiday Product & Service Fair for Small Business Saturday in November on Facebook

We want to learn from this past year and do even better in 2021! Your PWNCR Leadership Team has come up with a poll entitled: “What did the PWNCR do for you in 2020?” We would truly love to have your feedback as we continue to plan for a full schedule of events in 2021. Please take 5-10 minutes to fill it out! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KDND56G

Best wishes for your health and success in 2021! I am hoping to see each of you soon – be that virtually or in person!

– Sarah Joy Staude

HAPPY NEW YEAR - PWNCR - THE BUZZ - January 2021 5

Join Our WhatsApp Group

From Phylliss Crist

As a member of the PWNCR you are cordially invited to join us to WhatsApp chat about all facets of personal and professional growth at our general group called “PWNCR.” The second group is dedicated to information about any aspects of COVID-19. It is called “PWNCR COVID-19.” Phylliss Crist will happily add you to either or both groups.

Connect with Phylliss on WhatsApp and let her know which groups you’d like to be included in: exotics2@gmail.com or 786 569 4382

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Share Your News!

To submit an article about your life/business, contact Andrea Minicola at 8498-2458. We can use our website and social media to help you promote your brand, job advertisements, online events, blogs, workshops, or even job change announcements!

5 Productive Things a Business Owner Can Do during COVID-19 Isolation

Learn about some of the things Andrea Minicola did to be productive during the world pandemic.


Read Article

HAPPY NEW YEAR - PWNCR - THE BUZZ - January 2021 8

PWNCR Membership and Benefits

Dear PWNCR Members,

Rommy Herrera, Membership ChairThe Membership Team wishes you a very Prosperous, Healthy and Happy 2021!
During the past few years at Professional Network of Costa Rica we have made incredible
nice friendships and business connections, we are all great women, and you are one of us.
Time has gone by and it is time to renew our memberships.

We are announcing a CHANGE IN THE PWNCR MEMBERSHIP FOR 2021:

  • The annual membership fee for 2021 is 15.000 colones and it will cover from January to December 2021.
  • If you paid your membership last in 2019, it is time to renew it and we invite you to please pay by February 15 th.
  • If you paid in 2020, we consider it a free year due to the pandemic and all the challenges involved, your membership is paid through December 2021.

 

You can deposit at either one of the following accounts:

  • BANCO NACIONAL DE COSTA RICA
    Rommy M. Herrera Ced. 107640571
    CR78015103620010558573
  • BANCO POPULAR
    Rommy M. Herrera Ced. 107640571
    CR89016111132137147591

Once you have made the deposit send us an email to: info@pwncr.com, SUBJECT: Membership Deposited

The Membership Team will update it and you will be able to take advantage of all the amazing activities that are coming up virtually and in person (when it is safe to meet again) We will be incredibly happy to continue having you as one of our appreciated and valued members.

Have a Beautiful and Productive Week!

Rommy M. Herrera,
Membership Director

Rommy M. Herrera
Ced 1-0764-0571
Banco Nacional de Costa Rica
CR78015103620010558573
Banco Popular
CR89016111132137147591

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