Transition Brockville              

 
Brockville Women's Network is kicking off its new membership year on Thursday, Sept. 9 with environmentalist JoAnne Fleming-Valin, who will explain how the environment has a direct connection with businesses, the economy and our daily lives.

The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at Brockville Country Club.

Always interested in the environment and the issues that continually evolve, JoAnne Fleming-Valin has sought ways to educate and empower others. Knowledge is power. Defining messages in ways that engage and empower listeners is her goal. What are the stories that make a message meaningful? What are the buttons that move people to change how they see the seemingly familiar? Her insights could change how you see nature. Without nature's free inputs, there would be no business, and there wouldn't even be any shopping.

Fleming-Valin grew up on a farm south of London, Ont. Her father was her mentor as they explored fields and woods together. As a graduate of London Teachers' College, Queen's University and Ryerson University, she has a diverse background in education, sociology and landscape architecture. Her work experiences as co-ordinator of environmental projects in Ontario and British Columbia have given her an overview of many issues, including garbage, water quality and quantity, climate change and health.

She was a landscape architect with her own business in Sault Ste. Marie for seven years. As co-owner of a retail environmental products store and mall manager, she is familiar with the challenges of retail in these uncertain times.
Fleming-Valin is an avid educator, whether teaching pollution economics to water resource technology students, moderator of a workshop at the United Nations Climate Change conference in New York in 2007, or speaking to diverse citizens' groups in Ontario and Ajijic, Mexico. Sharing her knowledge and her passion, she will take her audience on an insightful journey.

BWN was started in 1981 to encourage both personal and career growth of its members. You need not be a businesswoman to join; all women are welcome. BWN encourages and promotes networking among a diverse group of women from a wide range of backgrounds. New members are always welcome.

Monthly meetings are held on the second Thursday of every month at the Brockville Country Club, located on County Road 2 west of the city. A social hour begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and then the speaker or other entertainment. The cost is $28 for members, $35 for guests.

For reservations and more information, call Kim Fenn at 613-924-0165 by Sept. 7.