A kickoff meeting in November drew 50 women, indicating a strong interest in the area.
NORWAY – Around 30 working women gathered at the Trolley House on Tuesday morning to get to know each other.
They came from all over the greater Oxford Hills. Several worked for local banks. Others were self-employed entrepreneurs, business owners and career professionals.
They are members of the Oxford Hills Chapter of the Maine Women’s Network, a statewide resource for building personal and professional partnerships for women in business.
A kickoff meeting in November drew 50 women, indicating a strong interest in the area for a women’s networking organization, said Diane Jackson of Oxford.
Jackson is the regional representative for U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe and co-owns Breezy Hill cabinetry in Oxford.
“It’s kind of a man’s world” and women in business need their own organization,” Jackson said.
“It’s amazing,” she said, looking around the room. “You’ll just be in awe of what some of these women do.”
Barb Olson, vice president of the Growth Council of Oxford Hills, said the network has created a schedule of events to run through June. “We tried to pick fun topics, with a emphasis on personal growth,” she said.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Tai Chi instructor Betsey Foster of Locke Mills led the group in some basic movements, followed by Norway dancer Debi Irons, who led the group in the Samba. Other presenters included a massage therapist.
Each meeting, which costs $5 to attend, includes a speaker, food and time for networking.
On March 9, local author Sharon Bouchard will talk about the benefits of laughter from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Trolley House in Norway.
The April 15 meeting features Jo Ann Darling, talking about the art of Feng Shui to bring positive energy in the workplace. That meeting will be held from 4:30 to 6 p.m. At the Fare Share Commons in Norway.
On May 13, from 7:30 to 9 a.m., the network will gather at the new Western Maine University & Community College Center on Route 26 in Paris.
On June 8, from noon to 1:30 p.m., Lee Dassler of the McLaughlin Foundation will talk about the healing power of gardens.
On June 18 at noon, the Western Maine Chapter of the Maine Women’s Network will attend the annual meeting of statewide chapters at the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn.
For more information, call Tally Decato, chairwoman of the western Maine chapter, at 743-6715.
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