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Hilo and Kona – Today Astania Caputo, Executive Consultant with Rodan & Fields Dermatologists, announced her association with the innovative women’s networking organization, THE HEART LINK NETWORK. Astania Caputo has acquired the rights as a Heart Link Pioneer Leader to bring this new and innovative program to Hilo and Kona every month.
THE HEART LINK NETWORK (HLN) is an international networking program specifically designed to support and nurture women entrepreneurs, providing an informal forum to help them explode their businesses. It is a unique and powerful marketing tool for women who want
to link with resources, build deep and lasting professional and personal relationships, grow their businesses and support their fellow female entrepreneurs.
Astania Caputo described her first experience with HLN by saying, “After speaking with the President of HLN, Laura Wells, I knew having an established networking organization that has over 170 chapters throughout the United States and Canada needed to be erected in the Hawaiian Islands to service the personal and financial growth of the communities.”
Once per month, a group of 10-25 women meet in the home of Astania Caputo or stated facility from 6:00 pm -7:30 pm. An informal dinner is served while socializing. During the meeting time, each attendee is allowed three minutes to showcase her product or service, distribute literature or demonstrate her goods. There is a brief opportunity afterward to share recent successes. Only one representative per industry is permitted to attend each meeting. No membership is required. The meeting fee is a nominal $20.00 to cover the cost of the meal and reserve the industry-exclusive seat. Go to www.96743.theheartlinknetwork.com to register for the next gathering.
THE HEART LINK NETWORK™ was founded by Dawn Billings, entitlement expert and author of over 15 books. In 2008 Dawn was selected as one of the nation’s 80 emerging women leaders by Oprah magazine and The White House Project. In addition to her role as CEO of HLN, Dawn is also an executive coach and highly sought-after public speaker on the
topics of parenting and relationships.
Astania Caputo was a Business Etiquette and International Protocol Speaker in Chicago. After moving to the Islands, she founded Moms in Momentum, an organization that has grown to over 250 members in over three years. Her goal now is to once again serve the community by pioneering an HNL Chapter that services women in business and women
seeking new business opportunities.
To learn more about THE HEART LINK NETWORK, visit
www.theheartlinknetwork.com or contact Area Coordinator, Astania Caputo.
Astania Caputo
808-345-3191
astaniainhawaii@gmail.com
IMO > 20.00 is a lot for an "informal meal". What does it include besides the floor for 3 minutes ? Who will be your Premere speaker ? I think you will be better off charging your 6.00 to sit and watch kids play together while eating pot luck Astania.
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How can you network with your peer group if only one representative of each industry is allowed? One tourist industry person and then that's it? And all you are networking with is other women yet women are a small minority in the trade? Seems you are limiting the meager options before you've even started.
"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson
"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson
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quote:
Originally posted by Hcatz: How can you network with your peer group if only one representative of each industry is allowed?
Other networking groups limit to one from each profession also. It works in other groups because members develop loyalty to each other and refer business to each other. Depending on the dynamics of the individual group (which varies), it can work very well, and increase business.
quote:
Originally posted by Hcatz: And all you are networking with is other women yet women are a small minority in the trade? Seems you are limiting the meager options before you've even started.
I would think that limiting membership to women only would seriously reduce the groups effectiveness.
I would also think that not having set membership throughout the year may trash the effectiveness of the group; more socializing than focusing on business.
I'm familiar with BNI ( http://www.bni.com/AboutUs/WhyJoin/tabid...fault.aspx). It can work well, as can other groups with similar models.
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
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Twice in the past I've been invited to join these kinds of organizations, and even was asked to start one. In all cases I declined. The weakness of these kinds of networking groups as I see it, is they don't have quality standards to help determine who they let in. If you've got the money and are lucky enough to sign up before your competitor, then you are a member. And yet they expect you to recommend each other based on a "purchased" membership? (Granted, some of the networking organizations require a recommendation as a prerequisite for membership, but this in no way assures that only quality outfits get in.) For this reason I would never recommend an organization to a client based on membership to a networking group, so why join? Don't want to chance introducing a low quality organization as it would reflect poorly on my business.
That said, I imagine it could work if a robust audit system was established to ensure selection of only top notch players. Of course that would add cost, translating into more costly membership.
Tim
A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions--Confucius
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punafish, now you went and pissed off Mrs. Oink:
punafish,
Sorry to hear you feel that way, and I would guess that you haven't actually been interviewed to join a group, although you mention that you've been asked to start one.
Your answer suggests that you haven't checked out ALL the networking groups, otherwise your opinion might be different. BNI, Business Network International, is an international, high standard, quality network group. One must be interviewed to join, and it's not about who pays first or has the fattest wallet. You must abide by strict policies and ethics, and it's not about "you", but helping others through networking. In other words, giver's gain. Prior to joining a BNI chapter, one is interviewed and references and credentials are thoroughly checked prior to being offered membership. The meetings are structured, and members are encouraged to meet with one another outside of the normal meetings to better learn how they can help one another. The cost paid for BNI membership is nominal compared to the rewards. With any networking you have to "work" it and be sincere for it to be successful.
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
Posts: 1,168
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Joined: Jun 2005
Ha ha. So sorry Mrs. Oink! And sorry to paint all groups with a single brush, because it's not fair. I'm speaking only from my limited experience. But then, I'm in a different business with completely different cultural expectations and standards. In other words, the networking organizations that I've been exposed to don't work for me. But I can see them working for others.
I'm a bit jaded in that I worked many years in quality control (and still do indirectly), specifically qualifying suppliers to ensure their standards match my client's (and former employers') expectations. It's not easy to qualify organizations, and even when it's done diligently and thoroughly (I'm talking full-blown systems'reviews), some suppliers slip through the cracks. In some cases it's not a bad thing, as long as the supplier is humble enough to reflect and improve. It's worth noting that my customer base has extremely high and tight standards for quality.
That said, BNI was one of the organizations I was invited to join. (A family member also was in the group.) After several informal interviews, they urged me to join, even though they had no way of knowing who I was and whether I had a quality product. (It would be nearly impossible for them to evaluate me, as I'm in a rare niche business.) What I can say for sure is that I knew enough about some members in the group to know I'd never recommend them, hence my reluctance to join. I also attended one of their meetings. I acknowledge the value of networking within the context many of these businesses operate. But to be frank, much of the meeting came across as "feel-good therapy" with lots of applause and "positive reinforcement". That in itself isn't a bad thing, but it seemed a bit over-the-top at times. Again, JMHO. I can see the value for some businesses in certain contexts, but it doesn't work for me.
Please don't think less of me Mrs. Oink. I respect your point of view. And in no way should my personal experience with BNI reflect on the entire organization. The fact that BNI exists and continues to thrive is proof it's doing something right. Just offering my two cents from a different perspective, and really, two cents is about all it's worth.
P.S. I'm not nearly as bad as Oink says I am ;-)
Tim
A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions--Confucius
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PunaFish just stirring up trouble again. You should see him on 'other' forums. Sheesh... 
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quote:
Originally posted by Hotzcatz
How can you network with your peer group if only one representative of each industry is allowed? One tourist industry person and then that's it? And all you are networking with is other women yet women are a small minority in the trade? Seems you are limiting the meager options before you've even started.
"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson
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Joined: Jun 2011
To all the posts,
I'm glad to see the varied opinions and remarks. I can only add that I started a moms association over 3 years ago that has now grown to almost 275 members. It brought unity to the community and support for mothers who have a 24/7 job. So why not network with women within a business association as well? It does not prevent me from joining another. Also, I was interviewed by the BNI. I spoke at one of their events. They stated I was a remarkable speeker and offered me a membership. However, there was a woman who had the industry slot. The association recognized that some changes should be made and have members select certain specialties within their field so the opportunity would open up to others. They even took it as far as taking a vote but the woman strongly opposed it. Of course, she did not welcome the competition. As far as membership dues, this networking group does not have one. I am licensed by them and I pay them monthly. The members pay per event $20. I can say with my extensive experience that this is not much to contribute. I provide dinner, a facility, all office supplies for promotion purposes and take home. I also put in countless hours of creating promotions, talking on the phone and driving to newspapers, radio stations and personally walking the strip to hand deliver information and invites. Obviously it comes from the heart and with that said what I put in is what I get out personally and financially. Also, as far as socializing...you are building trust. Need I say more? Hope this enlightens your perspective. quote:
Originally posted by oink
punafish, now you went and pissed off Mrs. Oink:
punafish,
Sorry to hear you feel that way, and I would guess that you haven't actually been interviewed to join a group, although you mention that you've been asked to start one.
Your answer suggests that you haven't checked out ALL the networking groups, otherwise your opinion might be different. BNI, Business Network International, is an international, high standard, quality network group. One must be interviewed to join, and it's not about who pays first or has the fattest wallet. You must abide by strict policies and ethics, and it's not about "you", but helping others through networking. In other words, giver's gain. Prior to joining a BNI chapter, one is interviewed and references and credentials are thoroughly checked prior to being offered membership. The meetings are structured, and members are encouraged to meet with one another outside of the normal meetings to better learn how they can help one another. The cost paid for BNI membership is nominal compared to the rewards. With any networking you have to "work" it and be sincere for it to be successful.
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
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