Lifestyle Lifters - Fashion for Development

Where in the World are our WWRG Jetsetters these days?

Judging by the map of visitor's locations on the sidebar to the right side of this page - practically everywhere!

As I indicated in my post last November, we are moving swiftly toward our goal to become the leading resource for Women of Wealth and Influence by bringing you on-demand, real-time content on Social Media Technologies that are now the most rapidly growing base of users - Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIN.

Since our relaunch in January 2011, our own Face and Voice of WWRG - Evie - has been around the world of fashion, both literally and virtually.

We are excited that her "Fashion for Development" project in conjunction with South South News, is now in full swing and receiving rave reviews. South South News is a leading digital media platform for the countries of the South that is facilitating, connecting, and publishing news on various efforts in sustainable economic and social development to audiences and multiple constituencies not only in the South but also around the world.

In a series of interviews conducted during NY Fashion Week last month, Evie highlighted the new collections of some of the world's most famous and socially involved designers including IvanaHelsinki (Paola Suhonen), Norma Kamali, and Zang Toi.

In these interviews, you will hear IvanaHelsinki speak about her support of UNICEF Dolls, Norma Kamali talk about how she helped girls in an Orphanage in India by using their embroidery in her clothing line, and Zang Toi's thoughts on how fashion can help women in developing countries - his support of battered women in Madagascar via his charity work there is just one example.

Here are the interviews courtesy of South South News:

Ivana Helsinki
Norma Kamali
Zang Toi

Please follow Evie and I on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EvieofWWRG and http://twitter.com/JBHIVof WWRG respectively.

Remembering Winston S. Churchill, IV

Today, March 2, 2011 marks the one-year anniversary of the passing of Winston S. Churchill, IV, Grandson of Sir Winston Spencer-Churchill one of the great leaders of our time, following a long and valiant battle with Prostate Cancer.

He will always be in our thoughts and prayers, as will his faithful and courageous widow, Luce, who never left his side during Chemo treatments that left him weak and unable to maintain the energetic lifestyle to which he was so accustomed.

Of his wife’s devotion he said, "We had a friend over from Palm Beach who said that I have a team of highly qualified, devoted, round-the-clock nurses. They are all called Luce.” Never more true was the saying “Behind every great man, there is a great woman.”

Throughout his life, young Winston, IV (shown above with Sir Winston and father Randolph) strove to preserve and emulate the leadership style of his famous Grandfather.

In his Obituary published March 3, 2010 in the British Newspaper, The Telegraph it was noted that “Churchill was frequently at the bedside during his grandfather’s final coma; his elder son Randolph was born two days before the great man died. At the funeral he and his father walked beside the gun carriage, and afterward Lady Churchill came to stay. He kept the flame alive as a trustee of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, an honorary fellow of Churchill and an honorary LLD of Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri, where Sir Winston’s “Iron Curtain” speech was delivered (March 5, 1946).”

Perhaps his greatest legacy is his work on a book of famous speeches by Sir Winston entitled “Never Give In: The Best of Winston Churchill's Speeches”, Hyperion, 2003.

The book, unfortunately, doesn’t include Churchill’s secret speech to the House of Commons, given April 23, 1943, in which he cataloged his country’s dire military situation and expressed faith in the United States. But the stirring testimonies during the dark days of the war and even after his political defeat show such grace and eloquence: “Never flinch, never weary, never despair,” he declared.

I wonder what he’d make of the current whining by the so-called leaders of modern times. Perhaps a copy of Winston, IV’s book should be required reading for every Member of the US Congress. If you believe this to be true, consider purchasing a copy and dispatch to your elected official.

I can think of no greater way to honor the life of Winston, IV.

TGIF - Big Apple Treat for Women - Power & Politics Event

Last October, I put up this post with some thoughts on how far Women have come since gaining the right to vote some ninety years ago.

The power of women, although a long time coming, has never been stronger. And armed with an increasing share of the world's wealth, these women are making significant strides toward solving some very difficult problems. The increasing poverty among women and children around the globe is but one example. A lack of access to proper education for the world's children, especially girls, is another.

But for many of these issues to be given attention and focus, we must see the balance of power in the global political dynasties shift more toward women. When I attended Harvard Business School a few years back, I used the opportunity to study the Corporate and Geo-Political Governance systems that predominate most nation states. It turns out that most systems of government are based on Family Oligarchies. The U.S. is one of the few economic systems that allows "fractional ownership" by many shareholders. In Europe, for example, a few families have control or a controlling interest in most of the industries within a country or region.

Almost all of these interests are under Male control, although this is changing with the die-off of Patriarchs and a lack of male heirs.

Not surprisingly, these same families hold key positions in the Political Structures of these countries, and again, most of them are held by men.

For those of you fortunate enough to be in NYC this weekend, I highly recommend attending a program being held at the 92st Y entitled "Women, Power, and Politics". Author Gloria Feldt (her latest book featured in graphic above) will be part of the distinguished panel along with Congresswoman Nita Lowey. Learn how the woman's progressive agenda is going.

My heart is all a flitter now that I discovered Twitter!

Ok. I admit it. Blogging is SO 2010! I've been bad about about bringing new content to this blog because I have fallen for a new love: Twitter.

I feel sort of cheap, though, virtually abandoning my faithful posting of daily insight. I take such care in crafting each day to be a theme; Monday's Motivational Makeover, Tuesday's Treasure, Wednesdays Women of Courage, Thursday's Truth, TGIF, Lifestyle Lifter's, Sunday's Sanctuary.

It turns out that I am not alone in changing direction toward the more "real-time" ways to reach an intended audience. This recent article in Crain's Chicago Business featuring Liz Strauss, professional blogger, web strategist and founder of SOBcon, an online business conference highlights a recent decline in viewership of blogs and a shift toward "Tweeting".

As Liz will tell you, blogging needs to be part of a co-ordinated business strategy that includes many elements of Social Media. It pays to get someone whose expertise is in Social Media strategy like Liz to provide a plan. There is no doubt in my mind that online social media is here to stay and poised for explosive growth in the next few years.

I can tell you that I plan to roll out several new platforms as I expand the Wealthy Women's Resource Guide to become a leading source for information and experts as they relate to you, the Woman of Affluence and Influence.

In the meantime, please follow me on Twitter (@JBHIVofWWRG). I will make sure that each new post to the blog is announced as they are posted.

You may also continue to use this blog as a reference, as I have tried to include appropriate Labels at the end of each post so that you can see a common thread or look for specific topics.

Thank you for your continued loyalty. I hope my viewers in five continents across the globe continue to tune in via Twitter. It is both an honor and a pleasure to see this network grow.

Life Style Lifters - The New "Face" of WWRG

Many of you are no doubt wondering "where in the world is WWRG?".

Well, after a long hiatus, we are back. The time we have spent out of public view was used to plan the launch of WWRG in the fastest growing social media vehicles on the planet right now - Facebook and Twitter.

The Facebook page for WWRG may be found at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wealthy-Womens-Resource-Guide/135090446545532

I know many of you also follow twitter, so we now have a new Face and Voice for you to follow. Her name is Evie and many of you know her as a frequent guest blogger in this Lifestyle Lifter's column.

You may follow Evie as she travels the globe to bring you the latest in Passion, Romance, and Fashion. Just go to @evieofWWRG and join in as a follower.

I also have a twitter handle - @JBHIVofWWRG. Together, we will bring you the latest happenings among our rapidly expanding global network of well-connected, and influential women.

We will continue to bring you the more "in-depth" insight through this blog. Now, however, you have the ability to access our network 24/7/356 through Twitter and Facebook and join the ranks of women that view this blog in five continents!

TGIF - Pre- Holiday Dining at The Rock Center Cafe

As many of you know, I am a ferocious Foodie. I am fortunate to have access to a number of fine restaurants around the globe, thanks to some connections that my network has brought to me, and by recommendations from my faithful readers.

While I am not a Food Critic (I leave this to experts such as Zagat or Michelin Guides), I do appreciate when I receive VIP level service even though the staff may not know who I am.

This was the case yesterday when I had arranged a mid-morning "brunch" meeting with a colleague. When I arrived at the Rock Center Cafe in the Rockefeller Center Building in Midtown Manhattan I was told that Breakfast seating had ended and that Lunch was available beginning 11:30am. The time was now 10:30, my guest was arriving in 15 minutes, and had to leave for another appointment shortly after noon.

Oops!

Fortunately, Ken Gordon, VP of Operations for The Patina Group, the firm that operates the RCC was standing in the reception area. He had overheard my conversation with the Hostess, and immediately offered a solution.

Ken seated me in a quiet area of the restaurant, and had one of his wait staff bring coffee to me. Keep in mind that this was BETWEEN service hours.

When my guest arrived, I told Ken that we had a short window in which to eat once the official lunch service began at 11:30. He not only offered to take our Lunch order in advance of this time, he went beyond the call and asked if we would prefer something more like Breakfast. As my guest and I had both been looking forward to this, we immediately took Ken up on his offer.

I was truly awed when our beautifully presented and extremely tasty dishes were served less that 15 minutes later! The time was now 11:15 well into the hiatus between seatings.

Our waitperson, Mike, never failed to ask if we needed anything. At many restaurants, patrons experience a "black hole of service level" if seated late into a period of transition as they busily change over place settings, etc. This was definitely NOT the case here!

This was as fine a dining experience as I have had in quite a while. As you make plans for the weekend, please add "eat at one of the Patina Group's fine restaurants" to your list. You may find one of their locations by clicking here.

If any of you are planning to be in NYC over the holidays, there is no better view of the festivities in and around Rock Center than a seat in the cafe overlooking the Ice Rink and the famous X-mas Tree.

If you are contemplating a private holiday affair, I'm sure Ken or one of his staff will be more that happy to assist you with your plan.

Based on my experience yesterday, you are in the best of hands!

Tuesday's Treasure - Holiday Tips v.2 - Giving Back

In last Saturday's Lifestyle Lifter's post, I began a series of posts intended as "Holiday Tips for The Wise".

Today I'd like to introduce you to Meera Gandhi. Her work in tireless support of many charities, non-profit organizations, and for profit ventures are too numerous to list. For a detailed look at what she has done and where she is going, click here. Her latest passion is as Founder of The Giving Back Foundation.

In a article you may read in it's entirety by clicking here , Meera gives six tips for giving during this upcoming Holiday Season:

1. Write a check. The easiest way to make a difference is to donate money to people who are doing work that you believe in. Every bit counts from as little as $10 to a $10,000.

2. Reach out to people. The simple acts of being kind and helpful is truly a way of giving back. If someone asks for your assistance, help out as much as you can.

3. Commit your time. Everyone can spare a few hours during the month. Spend it at your local soup kitchen, working for a charity or mentoring another person.

4. Be kind to yourself. Most people are running around ragged from just their daily routine. Give yourself some time to relax and recuperate. If your own well is dry, you’ll have nothing to give others.

5. If you have to say no, say it in a kind way. It’s not possible to help everyone who asks, but if you refuse kindly and perhaps put the person in touch with someone who can help, you will keep the circle moving.

6. Open up your contact list and share knowledge and experiences. Sometimes, giving can be as simple as helping others through your own knowledge or personal contacts. It requires very little effort on your part, but it can help others immensely.

Her latest project is called Giving Back. Meera has produced a documentary of this initiative and I am privileged to have been invited to a private screening tonight. She has a special mission: "We are to the universe only as much as we give back to it."

I couldn't agree more!

Here is another Holiday Tip to all you smart, impact-full, and well-connected women in my Network:

Put the DVD of Giving Back on your Holiday Gift List! You may purchase a copy by clicking here. 100% of the proceeds go to the charitable activities of the Giving Back Foundation.