February 2012

“The purpose of life is a life of purpose."
Robert Byrne (b. 1928); American chess champion

While watching the Winter X Games in Aspen, I saw banners, ribbons and signs with the name of “Sarah”, and many athletes talked about Sarah Burke during their interviews. “Celebrate Sarah” - then I heard the story.

Sarah Burke recently died at the age of 29 after a training accident. She was a Canadian freestyle skier who lived with purpose and passion. As a teenager she competed with the boys because there were no divisions for girls. She was a pioneer in the sport of women’s halfpipe and slope style skiing and successfully lobbied to have halfpipe skiing added to the 2014 Winter Olympics. She proved that women were good in the sport. A 4-time X Games gold medalist, she was a gold medal hopeful for the 2014 Winter Olympics Games in Russia.

Sarah fought through a broken back and numerous injuries to become the best female freestyle skier, and some say that she defines the sport. She loved what she did, and she had a passion for promoting women in the sport of skiing. That’s living a life of purpose! It’s so sad to lose someone, and yet her fellow athletes are asking that we celebrate Sarah by doing as she would have done, and push past whatever limits you set for yourself yesterday.

Our purpose as an organization is to provide opportunities to help ourselves and other women grow personally and professionally. That is the purpose we as ABWA members have in common. We promote women in business, one step at a time! In addition to what we learn from our speakers, each of us has something to share that moves someone else farther along. We don’t need to be talented athletes or high profile personalities to have a positive impact on someone else!

What limits have you set for yourself, and how can you push past them? That’s a tough question! Be involved with Pikes Peak Chapter and use the opportunities that it gives us as a resource to pursue our purpose! We are stronger together. We can push past our limits, one step at a time. The February meeting is the perfect time to take the next step!


January 2012

Our 50th Anniversary Celebration last month was wonderful! I never knew we had such style and talent among our members! Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make our event successful. The chapter was especially honored to have Colorado Springs Councilwoman and President Pro-Tem Jan Martin as part of the celebration.

“Share the Past, Build the Future” is the perfect theme for Pikes Peak Chapter. Now that we have shared the significance of the past 50 years, it is time for us to begin Year 51. Welcome to our first new member of our 51st year - Stephanie Ewing! We will build the future by introducing other business women in our community to ABWA and sharing our vision of how we can make a difference in women’s lives.

Why would someone want to join Pikes Peak Chapter and ABWA? There are multiple reasons, such as:


Our mission to bring women together to grow personally and professionally remains as relevant as it was in 1949 when ABWA was founded. Now we have the exceptional opportunity to begin building the future for the next 50 years! As members, we are looking forward to welcoming others who share the vision. If you are not a member, consider building the future with us!


December 2011

The time has come! Our chapter is celebrating 50 years in the Pikes Peak region! Founded on December 19, 1961, the Pikes Peak Chapter was ahead of its time by providing business training and networking opportunities for women.

There have been many changes in the last 50 years, and successful leaders learn to use change to their advantage. ABWA was the all-woman counterpart to the many all-male groups that flourished in business and communities until 1987. The U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling that opened the doors to all-male and all-female groups to members of the opposite sex. How did ABWA and the Pikes Peak Chapter respond? Membership was opened to all individuals who supported the mission of advancing businesswomen through leadership, education, networking support and national recognition. The networking circle became larger!

“Share the Past, Build the Future” is a theme that applies to our chapter in a very significant way. Our past is rich with accomplishments, and our future is waiting for us to define it! Every member contributes her own interests, skills, and experiences to our collective wisdom. Our chapter is committed to embracing the inevitable changes we will face, personally and professionally, and together meeting the challenge. We are stronger together! Women supporting women – oh, and yes, even men supporting women!

We as chapter members will have a wonderful time celebrating our anniversary! We are also looking forward to the privilege of introducing ABWA and the Pikes Peak Chapter to other businesswomen in our community. Perhaps this is your time! Please join us for our 50th Anniversary Celebration on December 13!



November 2011

President Abraham Lincoln signed a proclamation October 3, 1863, making Thanksgiving a national holiday. Sarah J. Hale campaigned for many years to make Thanksgiving a nationally observed holiday, and she wrote a letter to President Lincoln urging him to issue the proclamation to establish the holiday as a step toward unifying the nation during the depths of the Civil War. A dedicated woman is given credit for establishing Thanksgiving!

From what I read about Sarah Hale, I’m sure that she would have been a promoter of ABWA, if the organization had been around in the 1800s! Most women were not formally educated, so she learned from her mother and augmented her self study by teaching (EDUCATION). She started a small literary club and began writing. With the unexpected death of her husband in 1822, she became a single parent with five children. Her husband’s Masonic colleagues helped her set up a millinery business and publish a book of poems (NETWORKING SUPPORT). The book’s success brought a difficult decision when the headmaster of Cornhill School for Young Ladies was impressed enough to offer her the editorship of a new magazine devoted to women (PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT). She left four of her five children to be raised by relatives as she relocated to Boston to begin a long and successful career as an editor (LEADERSHIP). As her influence grew, she became involved in several social causes, such as the formation of the Seaman’s Aid Society, fundraising for the completion of the Bunker Hill Monument and the preservation of Mount Vernon, and several education related causes (NATIONAL RECOGNITION). She worked specifically for the advancement of women. She supported Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell’s bid to become a physician, as well as the attempts of women to become overseas missionaries. Vassar Female College changed its name at her objection to Vassar College and allowed female instructors. Hale continued to advocate the economic independence of women. Although she did not join the suffragists’ call for women to enter the political arena, she concentrated on the education and development of women in what she considered their proper sphere. Sarah Hale died in 1879 at the age of ninety-one. She lived in a time when women faced tremendous social and economic obstacles, and she used her experiences to advance the lives of others.

Hillary A. Bufton, Jr., founder of ABWA, lived in a time when women supported World War II by building weapons and taking on the jobs of men who were away at war. He recognized their positive impact on the economy and their desire for equal business opportunities after the war. ABWA began advancing the lives of others in 1949 by providing business training and networking opportunities for women of diverse occupations and backgrounds. The Pikes Peak Chapter-ABWA has supported women in the Colorado Springs region since 1961 with opportunities to grow professionally through leadership, education, networking support, and national recognition. Please join us December 13 as we celebrate our 50th anniversary!


October 2011

The month of October received its name from the Latin numeral “octo” meaning eight, because in the first Roman calendar it was the eighth month. It is the tenth month in the Gregorian calendar and the first full month of fall.

How can this be fall? The calendar says it is, but so far the weather tells me this is an extension of summer. I spent a few days in Aspen and enjoyed the combination of spectacular fall scenery and comfortably warm weather. I didn’t need a heavy coat even once!

When I am in the mountains, I always feel inspired and empowered!  Our September speaker, Suzanne Tulien, talked about what drives inspiration and the desire to be part of something bigger. Those who “believe in the cause” become advocates who recruit others and champion the brand.

ABWA is an international organization that offers opportunity and support for women, with a focus on local relationships. Pikes Peak Chapter offers the education and networking support that so many are seeking! As a member, aren’t you inspired by our story and our commitment to help others? It is exciting to be part of something bigger. Be an advocate for our chapter as you are out in the community. As a guest, join us for relationship-based networking and great speakers as we count down to December and our chapter's 50th Anniversary celebration!


August 2011

I was fortunate to attend the US Women’s Open at The Broadmoor one morning, and I watched the world’s best women golfers compete for the title. I was surrounded by tradition. Even the spectators had a code of conduct! Phones and cameras were not allowed, and everyone showed respect for the traditions of the tour. This was the 66th year for the competition, and everyone had specific tasks to perform. People celebrated those tasks that have been repeated year after year. The Broadmoor, which is steeped in tradition, was the perfect venue for such an event.

ABWA is an organization that celebrates tradition. Pikes Peak Chapter is marking its 50th anniversary, and we are celebrating our long-standing tradition of providing personal and professional growth to women in diverse occupations and life situations. We have so much to be proud of! I’m looking forward to this next year, and I hope that you will join me in keeping our traditions and shaping new ones for our chapter to embrace!

Best regards,
Patrice Christian, President
Pikes Peak Chapter
American Business Women's Association


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