Summer 2014 | Issue 46
Helga Teitsson: CAWEE, Careers, and Connection The Art of Leadership for Women The Importance of Financial Awareness What Insurance Companies Don’t Want you to Know 7 Things Successful B2B Websites Do Differently Moving Experiences And More...
President’s Message CAWEE – Empowering Women “The mission of CAWEE is to provide opportunities for women to empower other women in the development and advancement of their business and professional lives, fostering financial independence, professional development and personal satisfaction.” To accomplish this, CAWEE hosts a variety of events throughout the year including monthly networking breakfasts, after work events, lunch and learns, and other special events such as an evening to mark International Women’s Day, Spring Into Summer event, Tea at the King Edward Hotel, a golf tournament, and a seasonal party in December. CAWEE is known as an organization that provides high-quality networking and social activities. There are opportunities for members to showcase their own talents and to learn from special guests who are successful entrepreneurs and business leaders. At every function there is time to network, to meet new members and guests, and to expand the relationships you’ve already established.
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I joined CAWEE to grow my business and to meet like-minded women, but it’s given me much more than that. I’ve met so many talented and energetic women who have also become my friends. Volunteering on a committee and the Board has given me the opportunity to continue to develop my leadership skills which, in turn, enhances the way I conduct my business. I’ve also had several referrals for my business, and I know when I refer clients to other CAWEE members they will receive excellent advice and service. Guests are always welcome at CAWEE events and if you aren’t already a member or haven’t attended one of our meetings we would love to meet you soon. Check our website for details and registration for all our upcoming events. Warm regards, Lois Volk, President
4 Helga Teitsson CAWEE, Careers and Connection by Susan Yellin
6 The Art of
Leadership for Women by Laura Pacheco
8 Insurance
Companies
What They Don’t Want You To Know
14 7 Things Successful
B2B Websites Do Differently by Sandra Jean-Louise
16 Canada’s
Anti-Spam Law
CAWEE
by Diane Karnay
18 Introducing Sistering CAWEE’s Charity Partner for 2014 by Sheryl Lindsay
by Heather Freed
10 The Importance
of Financial Awareness
Knowing What You Have and Where It Is by Debbie Shawn
12 Here’s to...
Moving Experiences by Karen Shinn
Upcoming CAWEE Events 20
Helga Teitsson CAWEE, Careers, and Connection By Susan Yellin
For long-time CAWEE member and immediate past president Helga Teitsson, it’s often been difficult to separate her personal and professional life from her volunteer work at CAWEE. Like the time when her son, Andrew, first indicated he wanted to go to law school. While he was only in high school at the time, Helga called up a CAWEE member who opened the door for her son to get a summer job at a law firm. As the years went by, Andrew went from working in the firm’s mailroom in the summer to working full-time as a clerk for a year. Andrew, now 25, is entering his third year of law school. “The fact that he had already been working at a law firm would certainly have impacted his application to law school,” says Helga. Strong appreciation for CAWEE members showed itself again when Helga’s father died suddenly and a CAWEE member helped her figure out the next steps of his estate. A month or so later, it was Helga’s turn to help out when she received an email from that member saying her mother had just died and wanted Helga to help sell her mother’s condo. “The connections at CAWEE often run very deep,” says Helga. “CAWEE has had a big impact on my life in many ways and that’s why I volunteer. It’s given so much to
me that I believe I need to help support it and give it as much as I can.” Helga promises to continue attending CAWEE meetings, but you won’t see her on the board again. CAWEE rules state a member can only serve on the board for three consecutive two-year terms. Her first tour was as membership director, then head of lunch and learns and finally director at large. But she was asked to come back again – first taking on marketing and then as president for two terms. She says one of the biggest strengths she brought to CAWEE was her knowledge of how businesses are run. During her time at CAWEE, Helga hired a bookkeeper to give the treasurer a better handle on the chapter’s financial position and created a drop box for all board information with templates, set policies, and procedures, so new board
members wouldn’t have to start their positions from scratch. “Because we are a volunteer organization and that volunteer board changes all the time it’s important that there’s integrity in the systems so that we can continue to go forward and it’s not as much work for each director who walks into the next position.” Networking and business potential was what originally drew Helga to CAWEE. But she believes the reason people stay is because of the members themselves and the relationships – and friendships – that grow out of being in the organization.
But in her heart she really wanted to be an entrepreneur. When she was only 24, her father suggested she open her own print shop in a spot recently vacated by another print shop – and so she did. As it turned out, one of her clients was from Century 21, and began putting the real estate bug in her system, where it remains today as a broker with RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Ltd. “What I always loved about running my own company was the sales aspect, developing and maintaining those relationships. I wasn’t passionate about photocopying or printing,” she laughs.
What I always loved about running my own company was the sales aspect, developing and maintaining relationships. One of the draws for CAWEE is that members come from all walks of life and all sorts of professions. Helga, for example, started out working at the Toronto Stock Exchange, first as a post clerk, “chalking up the boards with men yelling [buy and sell orders] at me,” says Helga. Then, because she knew how to type, she was able to work on the first experimental post, typing in bids and offers into a computer where it would then come up on the screen. She then worked her way up to being a trader.
While she did earn her real estate license at that time, she had to put her real estate dreams on hold. She had first her son, then her daughter, Rebecca. In the meantime, she sold her print shop and took some time off to be a mom. She then opened a monogrammed embroidery store for towels and baby blankets. It was interesting for a time, but retail wasn’t for her. It was then that she actively moved into real estate. cont. on page 21 Summer 2014 | Issue 46
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By Laura Pacheco “Tell me who you walk with and I’ll tell you who you are,” is an old saying that I often quote. It’s a saying I heard over 20 years ago at a friend’s wedding reception and I think it nicely captures the influence others have on us as individuals. The month of May 2014 will certainly be marked as a month of tremendous learning and “walking” with gifted women who chose to “pay it forward” by sharing their pearls of wisdom with others. I say this because I was able to attend The Art of Leadership for Women event at the Metro Convention Centre on Thursday, May 29, 2014 – talk about having a refresher! The day of the conference also happened to be the day after Maya Angelou passed away. I was pleasantly surprised to see that her works and life were celebrated during the opening remarks. I couldn’t help but think that, somehow, Maya Angelou’s spirit was amongst us, encouraging us to move forward and be our best selves. Erica Ariel Fox, author of Winning from Within talked about knowing your big four – thinker, dreamer, warrior, and lover. As Erica explained, we each have our own inner CEO. You know, that part of us that creates possibilities, sets strategy and vision for ourselves. We each also have an inner CFO, that part of us that seeks to clarify,
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analyze data and manage risk, and, of course, we have our CHRO, that part of us that cares about people and manages relationships. Lastly, we also have our own inner COO, that part of us that ultimately gets things done. Erica pointed out that we need to know our big four first, and once known, we can learn about our profile. From there, we can negotiate with ourselves and, finally, expand our profile over time. Ideally, if someone asks: “do you know how to…,” rather than answering, “No” we want to be in a position where we can confidently say, “Not yet.” Katty Kay, lead anchor for BBC World News America and author of Confidence Code, gave a thought-provoking talk peppered with interesting stories and studies. It was interesting, for example, to learn that men are much more likely to apply for a role if they don’t meet the job requirements of a position than women. Men will likely apply if they have roughly 60% of the requirements whereas women will generally apply when they have most (90%) of the requirements. That’s quite a difference! Katty also referenced a Berkeley study that showed that a leader’s confidence was a much better predictor of business success than their competence. The key message from Katty was for women to act more, think less, and be authentic. Martha Stewart followed Katty. What struck me most was Martha’s down-to-earth, matter-of-fact Q&A talk with conference
“Pressure is a privilege.” You First: Make a Bigger Impact on Your Team. Liane talked about the five different toxic teams that exist and how important it is to start off with a positive assumption and embrace productive conflict. At the end of the day, we need to embrace being a “new nice” – we need to be direct and open and, in changing ourselves, we change the team.
host, Wendy Mesley. She shared many stories with the audience and, true to her homemaker self, and “Martha Stewartness,” she shared the story where she came up with a new technique for decorating Easter cookies this spring. Leave it to Martha. An Executive Panel followed lunch with Wendy Mesley moderating the discussion. Four business women made up the panel. They were: •J ulie Barker-Merz, President, BMO InvestorLine and Head of Direct Investing Wealth Management, BMO Financial Group • Staci Trackey Meagher, Vice President, Enterprise and Partner Group, Microsoft • Tara Fine, Director for Commercial Channels, Dell Canada • Brenda Rideout, Chief Customer Officer, Tangerine. Stories were shared and one of the many memorable ones was when one of the panelists talked about how reluctant she was to tell her manager that she was pregnant with her second child. She had recently been promoted to a new role and she was concerned about the potential impact that would have on her career. Liane Davey of Knightsbridge spoke next. She is also the author of the book,
Hayley Wickenheiser, four-time Olympic gold medalist, was the final speaker. Her talk incorporated video highlights of the Winter Olympic games. “Pressure is a privilege.” That quote was originally said by Billie Jean King years ago. It was repeated by Haley on stage as she talked about the pressure the team experienced along with the trials and tribulations leading up to the Olympics. What was most impactful about Hayley was her truly Canadian “niceness.” After her talk, she agreed to pose with the multitude of people who wanted to take a picture with her. The event coordinator was trying to escort her to the VIP lounge after the conference and stop her fans from approaching, but Hayley explained that she simply couldn’t say “No” to her supporters. As I reflect back, I consider myself to have been quite privileged to be there that day and be inspired by these great women. The conference inspired women to acknowledge that they have the competence to achieve their goals and provided more tools to increase women’s confidence to become great leaders.
Insurance Companies What they don’t want you to know By Heather Freed The major role of a financial advisor is to educate clients so they can work together to develop a plan that works best for you, the client. Advisors act as the intermediary between you and the insurance company, making sure you understand what you are buying and when it will pay out and presenting you to the insurance company in the best light possible. While advisors may be aligned with a certain company, they have a fiduciary responsibility to act in your best interests – not in the best interests of the insurance companies that provide you with the contract. Some of the best performing stocks over time are Canadian banks and insurance companies – as they always make a profit. At the same time, you don’t want to get sick or die, but you do want to pay the lowest amount you can for the coverage you need. This article will highlight some things you need to know. Insurance advisors sell a number of different products, but two of the major categories are life insurance – whether for family or your business – and individual or group health and dental coverage.
Some of the best performing stocks over time are Canadian banks and insurance companies – as they always make a profit.
Health and dental plans When it comes to benefits like health and dental coverage, individual plans are “medically underwritten,” if they include drugs. This means that if you are taking medication or already have a condition, the condition will be excluded from coverage. There is a possible exception to this rule and that is if you are leaving a group plan, you may be able to convert your group coverage to an individual plan within the first 60 days with no medical questions asked. Business owners should note that all of the premiums you pay are considered to be a business expense paid through your company before you calculate your profit. There are programs that will pay for your pre-existing drugs. They usually have a maximum amount that they will pay each year. In addition, there are Health Spending Plans (HSA) or Private Health Spending Plans (PHSP) that enable a business owner to pay medical expenses with pre-tax money. These plans are not true “insurance” as you pay for all the expenses. For people with high drug costs, not covered by a health plan, there are several programs available. You might, for example, need to take a brand name drug as opposed to the generic equivalent due to adverse drug reaction or allergy to the drug’s filler ingredients. If so, you should check out the program offered at www.innovicares.ca.
The Ontario government has the Trillium Drug Program. It is designed for people who are spending more that 4% of their household’s combined net income on drugs. (Net income is the amount shown on line 236 of your Notice of Assessment.) Information about this program can be found at http://www.health.gov.on.ca/ en/public/programs/drugs/programs/odb/ opdp_trillium.aspx. You should know that non-medically underwritten plans (like the ones advertised on TV) are a lot different than medically underwritten plans. If there’s no medical underwriting, either the premiums are higher or the coverage is limited. (You know that there’s no such thing as a free lunch.) You are best discussing your options with a licensed agent. The findings from the insurance company’s underwriting process always end up at the Medical Information Bureau. The bureau holds on to information about all policies that are applied for – whether they have been accepted and are “in force,” or rejected from any or all insurance companies. There is no policy information kept, just the status of all policies applied for, lapsed and in force. So if you think you can go to one insurance advisor and have your case rated at a certain premium – or if your request was denied – and then try to go to another advisor to get a different response, you will get caught. DI vs CI Many people have a list of questions about the differences between disability insurance (DI) and critical illness insurance (CI). DI is an income replacement product – the amount that you are eligible to collect is based on the provable amount of income you earned before you became disabled and the coverage that you purchased. It will pay if you cannot work,
regardless of the reason. CI pays out a lump sum if you get a life-threatening or life-altering disease (as described in your contract) and live (30 days for most illnesses). The amount of CI insurance that you qualify for is based on your lifestyle (versus provable income). Benefit Plans Many businesses set up group plans to encourage employee loyalty and ensure a healthy work force. There are many suppliers of these plans and many ways to set them up, but some advisors design group plans based on the industry you are in and the age of your employees. The monthly premiums are initially based on the benefits you select (higher limits mean higher costs), the age of employees and the number of employees covered. Renewals are based partially on your group’s usage of benefits. There are a number of optional benefits that can prove invaluable in some cases. For example, employee assistance plans (EAP) are relatively inexpensive (about $4/ month/employee). If you have Sandwich generation employees this program can save a lot of absenteeism by assisting them with their family issues. Another program is Best Doctors, which can provide a second medical opinion. Life Insurance When it comes to life insurance, there are many variables to consider as a business owner. Is the primary purpose of buying life insurance to protect your family and personal expenses or your business? Do you require the coverage for a short period of time or the rest of your life? How much coverage do you need? Lots of questions, but the best plan is to discuss your options (and the costs) with an accredited and experienced advisor whose practice includes business owners so that you can review all of your options. Summer 2014 | Issue 46
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The Importance of Financial Awareness Knowing What You Have and Where It Is By Debbie Shawn Are you in the dark about your finances? For many of us, talking about budgeting, investments, debts, and liabilities, causes, at best, our eyes to glaze over, at worst, abject panic. Then you may have the comforting thought: “I don’t need to know this stuff – that’s my partner’s responsibility.” That should be the scariest thought of all! Life has a way of throwing curve balls, and the life we take for granted today could easily look very different in a split second. The catastrophic illness or sudden death of a spouse, the decision to end a marriage (whether it’s your choice, your partner’s choice, or a joint decision), may well mean you find yourself needing all kinds of information at a time when you are already feeling overwhelmed and emotionally fragile. The concept of being organized, keeping track of what we own, and what we owe is one that few of us would disagree with. It’s the shift from thought to action that is the problem. There’s no question that the amount of paperwork we all deal with (even if it’s paperless) can feel overwhelming. Add to that your certainty that you are missing the “math gene,” and it’s no surprise that many people opt for avoidance as their chosen plan of action. Financial Awareness means knowing where the information is when you need it. A filing systems does not need to be complicated. 10
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In fact, the more complicated it is, the less likely you are to use it. Although you might prefer to be primarily paperless, there will always be some documents that you will need to have as hard copies. If you have never “managed the money” because your partner does, sit down with them and learn the system they are using. Explain that you need to know how things are managed, and you need to know before you are in a crisis situation. If you find yourself suddenly having to manage your money on your own: • Purchase a simple accordion file folder for your hard copies and label it “2014”. Filing systems should be individualized to suit your needs. Some people will have broad categories like “Household Expenses”, “Bank Accounts”, while others will detail every item, for example “Enbridge”, “Hydro One”, “Savings Account”, “Checking Account”. Whichever you choose, the important thing is to label each file section clearly so that you will understand what documents go into it. • Begin with the pile of statements, bills, notes, and scraps of paper that are probably on your desk, in a drawer, or hidden in the closet. As you look at each, decide
whether it must be saved (in which case put it into the appropriate folder), or whether it can be recycled or shredded. If you are surrounded by reams of paper, don’t tackle this as an “all or nothing job.” Work for an hour or two at the most. You will make progress and you are more likely to finish the job if you do it gradually. Expecting to organize years’ worth of papers in one evening will only leave you feeling more frustrated by the impossibility of the task! Create a Comprehensive Financial Summary Sheet Most of us have a variety of assets, liabilities, investments, and debts. The purpose of a financial summary sheet is to provide you with an easy overview of what you owe and what you own. More importantly, should you become suddenly incapacitated, your family or designated power of attorney will have the information they need at their fingertips. Separation and divorce settlements begin (and often end) with child custody and money. Knowing about the money and having this information available for your legal team will save you both aggravation and legal fees. Many financial advisory services have templates available to make it easy to create a summary. If you do not have an advisor there is a selection available online. Or you can create a list of your own. What is important is that the information is complete. You need to insure that you list the following; All investments/investment accounts, pensions, all debts, Insurance Policy information (for example, life, health, disability). As you receive bills, statements, or policy renewal information, double check your financial summary sheet to ensure you
remembered to include those assets or liabilities. For each item you include on your sheet, you must include information such as account numbers, the names of the institution that holds the investment/liability, and contact information. As you look at the sheet, pretend that you need to help a friend who has become incapacitated and ask yourself: what would you need to know to be able to handle their affairs? This is the information you want to include in your financial summary sheet. Over the course of several months, you’ll find that your financial summary sheet is doing the job it’s supposed to. You have begun the process of knowing what you have and where it’s located. Many couples set a regular review date (usually annually), to take a look at their finances and make sure that their holdings still make sense for their current situation. If you have a financial advisor, you might be doing this with them already, if not, you’re hopefully doing it with your partner. Your financial summary sheet gives you a great way to begin – everything is listed in one place in a format you understand. More importantly, should life throw you one of those curve balls, you now have easy access to much of the information you will need. And if you’re one of those lucky people who never has to deal with a catastrophic situation, you’ve still proved to yourself that you can be financially organized. Knowledge is empowering, and you’ve learnt a new skill that, hopefully, wasn’t too painful.
The good news is…it’s easy once you decide to get started!
Here’s to... Moving Experiences By Karen Shinn
Moving is ranked as the third most stressful life event, after death and divorce. Now that is a scary thought. Moving is also a major catalyst for downsizing decisions. People tend to move for a variety of reasons: changing health, empty nesters, isolation, financial concerns, nutritional, and medical issues. I recently transitioned from a 662 square foot condo to one that was 606 square feet condo and I must say those 56 square feet made a huge difference. Some would argue I only “lost” a 7’ x 8’ space, but it’s what you can fit in that space that defies all calculations!
d lessons learne . during my move
We call our stuff possessions because, if you’re not careful, they possess you. Even if a move is not in your immediate future, it is always a good time to begin simplifying your home and your life. Clean a drawer each week or tackle the top shelf in your front hall closet one evening. As you hold each item up, ask yourself: “Do I want, use, need, and enjoy this?” You may be surprised at your answers. Anything is possible. In my case, it was possible to buy a condo, sell a condo, downsize, pack, and move within two weeks. Possible? Yes. Practical? Not so much. When you are moving, you will find you need help, and lots of it. Once you have settled into your new home, you will be thankful for the people who helped with sorting, downsizing, packing, and moving, along with celebrating endings and toasting new beginnings with you. Moving the right amount of stuff is always a challenge. Working with a floor plan is always a good idea. But, it is not until you get everything in your new home that you realize what looked good on paper may need tweaking in real life. Better to err on the side of too little stuff than too much. It makes sense to downsize
Is a balcony non-negotiable? Are you prepared to settle for a smaller place if you can be downtown? Once you have answers to these questions, you will have a better idea of what to look for. Your realtor and lawyer will become your best friends (if they are not already). Your house is usually your largest investment; when you decide to sell, you want to make sure you are getting advice from a realtor who understands you and what you’re looking for. Selling? Buying? Renting? Each option involves a legal document or two, so you want to know you have someone who is looking out for you every step of the way.
before you move so you don’t pay your moving company to bring unwanted items to your new home. Know thyself. Once you have decided to move, make a list of the things you want in your new home and neighbourhood. Will you give up living space for a fabulous view? Do you entertain a lot and need a large kitchen/ dining area? Do you have a hobby that requires storage space?
Moving is exhausting and you’re relieved when it’s over. Even with advance planning and organizing, moving day can still be stressful. Create a floor plan and colour-code furniture and boxes for each room so everyone knows where things are supposed to go. The fewer people involved on move day, the better. This is not the time to invite everyone over to see your new place. Let the movers know you are the “go-to” person to answer all questions and solve dilemmas. Once the movers have left, begin unpacking at your own pace. Start with the essentials (and maybe the wine), then, put your feet up and relax. Moving is a work-in-progress and getting everything moved is important; getting it in just the right place is an ongoing project!
Here’s to moving experiences… every one of them!
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7 Things B2B Websites Do Differently By Sandra Jean-Louis
Your website says a lot about your organization. Whether you sell intangible business solutions or professional services, what you say and how you present your content can open doors or slam them shut. To capture prospects online, you need to quickly grab their attention and connect with them. That’s why some elements of your website are non-negotiable if you want to hook prospects and drive them into your funnel. So, just what do successful B2B companies do online to stay ahead of competitors?
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They know who they are
Successful B2B companies don’t hide, nor do they make excuses for who they are. They’re up front about their value proposition and take a stand by clearly stating what they do and for whom. They know what they have to offer and zero in on prospects that “get them” and can relate to their offerings. Think of successful B2C brands like Google, Nike, or Starbucks. They own their space because they don’t suffer from a lack of identity. They know who they are, what they do, and for whom. They don’t compromise.
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They don’t turn off their visitors
Have you ever landed on a website with great expectations, only to click away in frustration? We all have. Maybe the home page was riddled with keywords and made you read each sentence twice. Perhaps the Services pages were laden with geekspeak too 14
Summer 2014 | Issue 46
convoluted to understand. Or, the company’s branding messages were splattered across the site leaving you confused as to what they actually do. B2B websites that work aren’t “salesly” or contrite. Because their ideal prospect isn’t another company or entity, but rather, a person, successful websites attract prospects by using simple language that humans use. Their content is 100% focused on solving their prospects’ needs. Without corporate lingo and popular buzzwords, they repeatedly attract prospects and keep them engaged with easily digestible, entertaining, and educational content.
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They’re credible
Trust and credibility can quickly vanish online. Because a website is one of the first tools prospects use to evaluate a vendor, it pays to include credibility boosters that support your overall business claims. Top-performing companies don’t just publish their success stories, glowing testimonials or engage in social media. They add compelling customer case studies and engaging white papers to their marketing content arsenal to differentiate and position themselves above the generic noise. They use their happy customers’ voices to highlight their products’ special features or services and white papers to set themselves apart at each stage of the buying cycle.
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They don’t get bogged down by SEO
Like it or not, search engines are key to grabbing the attention of prospects because the higher your pages appear on a search result and instantly connect with the user, the more likely they are to at least look at your website. And as long as people continue to
use search engines to get information, SEO will play a pivotal role in how websites and page content rank. Top-ranking websites stick to tried and true effective SEO tactics. Sure, they keep up with any changes and stay on top of best practices to avoid being penalized with lower search rankings. But they also avoid unethical “black hat” techniques that have pushed formerly successful websites and brands down in search rankings. High-ranking websites invest in solid, researched back-end keyword optimization and honest onpage SEO practices to attract the right prospects and keep their content relevant to search queries.
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They make it easy to say Yes
The online environment changes so quickly that a small glitch you innocently thought might go unnoticed can deter prospects within seconds. Rampant typos and grammatical errors are obvious culprits. But nasty surprises aren’t limited to content. Broken links, missing charts, badly cropped images, automatic audio from a video on your home page or a pagelong web form can quickly turn off visitors and spike your bounce rate. Successful websites routinely monitor and evaluate their performance and look for opportunities to improve the content, navigation, usability, and functionalities. They use these opportunities to optimize the user experience and keep prospects returning.
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They break barriers and shut down objections
Unlike their B2C counterparts, B2B websites need to accommodate long buying cycles. Each decision maker can be at a different point in the process so website copy and any downloadable content must answer prospect’s questions and meet them at any given point in the buying cycle.
Companies that excel use engaging educational blog posts, insightful FAQ pages, entertaining webinars, articles, and newsletters. They keep leads in their sales funnels hooked with compelling case studies and white papers and speed up their sales cycles with email campaigns and trial offers.
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They don’t rest on their laurels
How crucial is it to continue to monitor your website’s performance? Just ask the thousands of professional service providers who struggle to differentiate themselves in a highly commoditized market. Landing pages, email subject lines, calls-to-action are just some of the variables that can affect conversions. Without a constant pulse on these and other performance indicators, poorer sites miss out on untapped opportunities, leaving money on the table. Successful B2B companies thrive on learning and finding better ways to speak to their prospects and differentiate themselves. They don’t resist change and know that saying: “But we’ve always done it this way,” can negatively impact their performance and revenue. In short, they test, monitor, and optimize and test again. In the fast-paced world of technology, only those websites that cater to prospects’ needs and keep them engaged until they’re ready to buy will stay ahead of the curve. Follow these tips to uncover your website’s missed opportunities and start unclogging your sales funnel.
Canada’s Anti-Spam Law
By Diane Karnay If you use email to send out notices, updates, or advertisements to your clients and contacts, then you need to be aware of an important legislative change. Set to come into force on July 1, 2014, Canada’s Anti-Spam Law (CASL) will govern all commercial electronic messages (CEMs), other electronic messages, and computer downloads. A CEM is defined as a text message, email, or other electronic message which encourages participation in a commercial activity. This includes emails which advertise or promote a product, service, or a person who provides a product or service. For example, an email announcing a new employee hire or the launch of a new product line would be considered a CEM. CEMs include emails sent to one person as well as mass emails.
The main impact of the new legislation is the requirement that the sender have a recipient’s consent prior to sending any CEMs. Consent can be expressed or implied. Prior expressed consent can be obtained in a variety of manners, including having your customers check off a consent box in an email sent prior to July 1, 2014. In addition, CASL requires that all CEMs: properly identify the sender, provide the sender’s current mailing address, telephone number, and email or website, and provide an easy unsubscribe option. Non-compliance with CASL and its regulations can lead to fines of up to $10 million for corporations and up to $1 million for individuals. Before CASL comes into force, you need to: • Gain an understanding of CASL’s requirements, revise your IT Policy and Procedures and update your business practices to deal with your new CASL
obligations, provide CASL training to all of your workers who send emails to the public, identify and retain relevant records (to show proof of consent – whether expressed or implied), and, if necessary, obtain expressed consents pursuant to CASL, establish a CASL consent record, establish an unsubscribe method and record, and ensure all future CEMs comply with CASL.
CASL Facts • Canada’s Anti-Spam Law (CASL) will govern all commercial electronic messages (CEMs), other electronic messages, and computer downloads. • A CEM is defined as a text message, email, or other electronic message which encourages participation in a commercial activity. • The main impact of the new legislation is the requirement that the sender have a recipient’s consent prior to sending any CEMs. It can be expressed or implied.
With the July 1 date already past, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has just published a number of infographics and a Compliance and Enforcement Information Bulletin CRTC 2014-326: Guidelines to help you develop corporate compliance programs. The CRTC has indicated that it will take the existence and implementation of a corporate compliance program into consideration when enforcing CASL, including in its determination of whether an administrative monetary penalty is warranted. Therefore, it is recommended that you have strategies and compliance measures in place to ensure CASL compliance and to enable your continued use of CEMs in your marketing plans.
• Non-compliance with CASL and its regulations can lead to fines of up to $10 million for corporations and up to $1 million for individuals. • Visit the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to learn more specific information and download helpful infographics. http://www.crtc. gc.ca/eng/casl-lcap.htm.
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CAWEE’s Charity Partner for 2014 By Sheryl Lindsay We were delighted to hear that Sistering had been chosen to be the Canadian Association of Women Executives and Entrepreneurs’ Charity of the Year. We truly appreciate this honour! Fundraising is a very large part of what enables us to keep our doors open and our programs and services running. Sistering is a women’s multi-service organization that was established in 1981. Sistering’s founders (a group of concerned women working in the community) recognized that there was a lack of safe space for women whose lives were affected by poverty, violence, trauma, homelessness, mental health, and addictions. This was particularly true for women living in shelters who had no place to go during the day, and needed supports and access to resources. Sistering was started with a small grant, in one room in the Family Residence shelter at Bathurst and Dundas. The founders’ vision was to provide, not only practical and emotional support to women, but also to be in involved in systemic advocacy to change the social conditions that endanger 18
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women’s welfare. Sistering has grown from that one room to an organization that provides a full range of social and health services, and is an advocacy leader on women’s issues. Sistering operates two drop-in sites: the main location at Dovercourt and Bloor, and a smaller one in Parkdale. The main location is open seven days a week, including all statutory holidays. We have continued to work with women who may not be comfortable accessing mainstream services. Sistering has an open-door policy, which means women can come in with no questions asked, and get to know staff, and can access services at their own pace. They can share their personal stories and build relationships as they feel comfortable. We see an extremely diverse group of women ranging in age from early 20s to well into their 80s. Services are provided in English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Spanish, and Portuguese. At least 60% of the women are survivors of violence and abuse, and 70% struggle with mental health conditions. More than half of the women have children,
but most are disconnected from family due to CAS Children’s Aid Society interventions, mental illness, institutionalization, violence, or abuse. On a daily basis, 200 women come to Sistering to access a wide range of supports and programs. The core services offered are basic needs for daily living such as access to meals, showers, clothing, phones, a safe mailing address, and laundry. We also provide counselling, crisis intervention, community referrals, assistance finding and maintaining housing, primary health care and psychiatric services, newcomer/ settlement service, and employment readiness. Sistering operates two Social Enterprises, Inspirations and Spun studios, based on ceramics and textile work respectively. Here women can learn the skills of running their own micro businesses, and have the opportunity to augment their incomes. Sistering also provides harm reduction services and supports for women struggling with substance use. In addition, we provide a wide range of recreational programming, mainly facilitated by our many volunteers, such as ESL, yoga, beading, and art-based groups. Sistering is involved in a number of advocacy efforts in the community. In keeping with our founders’ vision, these efforts centre on issues that negatively impact the lives of the women we serve. Currently, we are involved in advocacy to create more affordable housing through our work with the Right to Housing Coalition. Lack of access to affordable and safe housing is one of the most prevalent issues facing the women that come to Sistering. Additionally, not having enough income to access public
transit is also a hardship that many women face. Through our work with the Fair Fare Coalition we have been involved in advocating for a low income transit pass. Clearly, both of these issues, as well as the increasing crisis of hunger in the city, are connected to poverty and lack of adequate income. Sistering has, therefore, been active in the Raise the Rates campaign that is addressing the low levels of social assistance. Sistering has multiple funders, but many of our costs are not covered by these sources, and ongoing fundraising is required. For example, our Food Access Program served close to 130,000 meals last year and is an integral part of our services. We rely on donations and fundraising to keep it flourishing, and meeting the ongoing demand for nutritious meals. It is through the generosity of groups and individuals that we are able to maintain so many of these vital services. We would like to thank you, once again, for choosing Sistering to be the Charity of the Year. Please feel free to come by for a tour or visit our website www.sistering.org if you would like to learn more about our programs and services.
Visit www.cawee.net for the latest news and more information on upcoming events. Upcoming CAWEE Events Breakfast Club Speed Networking - Thurs, August 14, 2014 Start Your Day Off Right! CAWEE Breakfast Networking. The Hot House Restaurant, 35 Church Street, Toronto 7:30 am to 9:00 am Annual Golf Classic Mon, August 18, 2014 Enjoy a round of golf with friends and colleagues! Join us for our annual golf classic. Cocktail reception, silent auction/raffle and dinner. All skill levels welcomed! Fabulous prizes for all players. This year CAWEE is partnering with Women’s Law Association of Ontario. Ladies Golf Club of Toronto, 7589 Yonge Street, Thornhill 2:00 pm Start
The CAWEE Marketplace Benefits of Membership Our members are seasoned executives and entrepreneurs who offer a wide range of products and services. We have built a strong network of women who are dedicated to providing the very best service with high professional standards. Check out our Marketplace and find out how one of our members may be able to assist you. If you would like to place an ad in the CAWEE marketplace, please connect with us at contact@cawee.net.
Join the CAWEE Mailing List! Visit www.cawee.net and sign-up.
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What are people saying about CAWEE? “I expected to find CAWEE intimidating and overwhelming, but was so pleasantly surprised to find the exact opposite: welcoming, easy-going, and fun.” ~ Erin “I meet many wonderful women at the breakfasts. CAWEE is so much more relaxed than other networking events. There’s no pressure. I love it!” ~ Manuela “CAWEE is a goldmine of fabulous women who help me in all aspects of my business (and life). At the breakfasts, the people are friendly and energetic and that atmosphere is intimate.” ~ Faith
“I like going to different houses, seeing different people – everything’s always changing. I don’t sit in an office for very long and I’m out inspecting houses, showing houses, meeting clients and I’m negotiating deals – which is very much like my roots of being a stock trader. It wasn’t just running a business, it was working at something I really enjoyed doing.” Life as a real estate broker hasn’t always been easy. With many evenings and weekends booked for house showings, her two children and husband, Jim, gave up many hours of time with Helga. Now, however, daughter Rebecca, 22, helps her show houses. Helga is a big fan of giving back, helping out at her children’s schools, organizing an annual soup-making night for Soup Sisters to spoon out at women’s shelters, and putting together a group to deliver “Get involved,” is the gifts for the Toronto message Helga has for Star Fund just anyone joining CAWEE. before Christmas.
“You work on committees “Get involved,” is the message Helga has and it demonstrates who for anyone joining you are as a person and CAWEE. “You work how you work together on committees and and then business it demonstrates who you are as a person often comes from it. and how you work together and then business often comes from it. You have already demonstrated who you are and how you work and that you are giving back to the organization. That’s valuable… and will really increase your level of enjoyment.”
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Forget Networking. Try Relationship Building. Editor in Chief Kerry Cathers Art Director Krista Downey Assistant Editor/Writer Susan Yellin Contributors Helga Teitsson: CAWEE, Entrepreneurship, and Connection by Susan Yellin The Art of Leadership for Women by Laura Pacheco Insurance Companies: What They Don’t Want You to Know by Heather Freed The Importance of Financial Awareness: Knowing What You Have and Where It Is by Debbie Here’s to...Moving Experiences by Karen Shinn 7 Things Successful B2B Websites Do Differently by Sandra Jean-Louis Canada’s Anti-Spam Law by Diane Karnay Introducing Sistering: CAWEE’s Charity Partner for 2014 by Sheryl Lindsay
Laura Pacheco is a business and finance leader with an established foundation in finance and deep understanding in marketing operations, project management, and market research acquired through over 20 years of progressive experience. Laura earned her MBA from Dalhousie University (Finance and International Business) and is a CGA. Laura is currently Vice President, Research with Finance Executives International Canada (FEI Canada) and Canadian Financial Executives Research Foundation (CFERF). She is also Treasurer of CAWEE (Canadian Association of Women Entrepreneurs and Executives). Contact Laura at 416-366-3007 x: 5111 or at lpacheco@feicanada.org. Diane practices corporate and commercial law in the Business Law Group. She provides general corporate advice to both for-profit and not-for-profit clients, negotiates and implements commercial transactions, and has significant experience in mergers and acquisitions, information technology, e-commerce, privacy, information technology and business process outsourcing, franchising, trademark and copyright matters. She has practiced law and been involved in legal/business affairs, both in private practice and as corporate counsel, for over 25 years. She has represented a leading national company in its procurement and management of software, hardware and technology services. She can be contacted at dkarnay@wvllp.ca.
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Susan Yellin is a former reporter turned public relations and communications professional, bringing strategic thinking and media know-how to proactive communications projects. Susan’s forte is taking complex issues and making them into compelling and interesting pieces aimed at specific target markets. She has an in-depth background of the investment management and insurance industries and their issues, but has also written for members of the legal profession and St. Michael’s Hospital and is game for new projects in any field. Contact Susan at 647-218-3241 or at s_yellin@rogers.com. Karen Shinn is a move organizer extraordinaire and co-owner of Downsizing Diva! The company that helps Boomers, seniors, and their families organize, downsize, and move. call Karen at (416) 528-1642 or visit her company website at www.downsizingdivatorontoeast.com. Sandra Jean-Louis is a B2B and Certified SEO Copywriter. She helps IT, Software, and professional service firms generate more leads with powerful web content and marketing collateral. Visit www.WordCentral.ca or email Sandra@WordCentral.ca to learn more.
Kerry Cathers has been working with small- and medium-sized businesses for over 15 years creating and improving their documents. She brings clarity, purpose and strategy to business writing along with style. She provides a comprehensive style guide for brand consistency through all communications. She works with companies to create strategies for all communications. Kerry has produced reports, procedural manuals, HR documents, employee packages and brochures for such companies as KPMG, Assante, Aon Reed Stenhouse, Canadian Association of Women Executives and Entrepreneurs, and the British Governments’ Ministries of Defence and Agriculture. Check out her website at www.editorsplusinc.com or contact her for a consultation at editorsplus@gmail.com.
Sheryl Lindsay is the Executive Director of Sistering a multi-service organization serving women whose lives have been affected by homelessness, poverty, violence, trauma, and mental health and substance use issues in Toronto. Sheryl is a social worker who has been working primarily with women who are experiencing homelessness, poverty, trauma, mental health and addictions issues for over 25 years. Sheryl has co-authored two research papers on homelessness and mental health. She is also involved in advocacy work on broader systemic issues of decolonization, poverty, homelessness, and violence against women.
Debbie Shawn trained as a social worker and founded Divorce Matters – Preparing for An Organized Divorce to assist people during divorce. Her social work background and business experience give her the unique ability to work with people at a stressful time in their lives to help them gather the information their legal team requires, organize their personal lives and financial affairs, and save money by working efficiently with their legal team. She can be contacted at debbieshawn@divorcematters.ca.
Krista Downey is a Graphic Designer and Creative Problem Solver. Krista genuinely wants to help people, businesses and ideas succeed with her design skills. Good design starts with establishing authentic connections, followed by information gathering and asking the right questions. Her best quality is her ability to interpret information and determine your business, product or service personality. From there, I will work with you to implement meaningful design solutions that will help you cut through the clutter and establish your unique positioning. “I strongly believe great design makes for great marketing.” Contact Krista at 416.577.1251 or by email at info@kristadowney.com. Visit www.kristadowney.com to view her work samples.
Heather Freed, CFP, CLU, CHS is an independent insurance specialist and investment representative. She works for her clients to find them the best and most appropriate coverage. Most of her clients are business owners and self-employed individuals looking to protect themselves, their families and their businesses from the unexpected occurrences of everyday life. Heather helps you “Insure Your Freedom.”
CONTACT US! 401 Bay Street, Suite 1600 Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5H 2Y4 TEL/FAX 416-756-0000 (please leave a message) EMAIL contact@cawee.net