Volume 2, Issue 1 January 1, 2007

:
Empowering
Women
To succeed in business
personally & professionally
through Networking & education
while building key relationships &
having fun!

Y o u r r o a d m a p i s y o u r f u t u r e
F r o m o u r P r e s i d e n t — K a t h y H a r d t k e

It is a new year with new
goals, resolutions and commit-
INSIDE THIS ments. This fresh calendar
ISSUE: provides us with a clean slate
each year. Today, we again
face our future reality with
questions, decisions and plan-
ning. Where are we going?
How do we get there? What if
we fail?
December’s
Dinner meeting 2 Many of us get a sense of
Photo Collage
dread when we resolve to
make a commitment, but why?
If we look deeper, we may
understand a fear of failure or
a fear of our truth, a truth that
reveals us as less than per-
Member Spotlight
3 fect. This is our challenge as
Vicki Rae Thorne
women. We often feel that the
best way to avoid failure is not
to commit and to have low
expectations or to settle for
second best. We have a
choice and this year we can
Meet the Board 4 resolve to choose a new
“roadmap”.
cess are more likely.
There are many ways to cre-
ate your “roadmap” and com-
mit to follow it. We are going
to go to the deeper more
foundational level to bring
you more success in all of
your planning this year.
In order to make our busi-
ness planning and resolu-
tions more successful, let’s
take a look at the founda-
tional or “inner” plan that will
hold up our professional and
personal “exterior” plans.
This plan consists of five
simple commitments to make
now. Write them down and
keep them near you to re-
mind you when you are faced
with a challenge.
1. Have COURAGE to face
your fears
4. TRUST that if your plan
fails, the outcome will be
more fulfilling than you could
have ever imagined
5. Have a GRATEFUL
heart
This view on our world would
literally change failure to suc-
cess and fear to anticipation.
What a way to live life. The
importance of making this
commitment will bring joy into
our lives and into our present
existence. This creates us
living “in success” instead of
working towards success.
When you look at your
“roadmap”, where do you see
yourself going? Who do you
want to be? What do you
want to experience this year?
Simply see it, commit to it
and plan for it…it is yours to
have!

We need to have this 2. Have FAITH to take cal-

“roadmap” aiding us on our
journey through life. This in-
Ambassadors 4 cludes a vision, a plan and a
commitment. It has been
proven that with these
choices, your chances of suc-
culated risks
3. BELIEVE with a youthful
spirit having fun and taking
things lightly, like when we
were kids

• Leadership development programs

• ABWA-KU MBA Essentials
• ABWA-KU Management Certificate Series
• In-depth business skills training
• Continuing education certificate programs
• Tuition reimbursement for approved accredited classes
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M e m b e r S p o t L i g h t
V i c k i R a e T h o r n e
P r e s i d e n t O f E a r t h H e a r t ,
Tell us a little about your back-
ground and your current business.
What makes you successful?
I started studying herbs in
1974 because my friends and I loved to
cook – the concept of food as medicine
and herbs as the foundation for pre-
scription drugs fascinated me. When
our older son had recurrent ear infec-
tions I got serious about herbal medi-
cine because I didn't want him on anti-
biotics – and Echinacea worked. My
interest in aromatherapy started when I
enrolled in a weekend class, bought
several essential oils, formulated massage oils for pain and relaxation,
and found how effective they were. I've always been interested in
education – continuing my own and teaching others. I have a Bache-
lor's Degree in Music Education with a minor in Radio-TV-Film fo-
cusing on public affairs, children's and documentary programming. I
chose Jeanne Rose's certification courses in herbalism and aromather-
apy because they emphasize both art and science of holistic medicine
and also encourage writing and teaching as part of a well-rounded
practice.
Earth Heart HerbalAromatherapy was founded to help peo-
ple achieve and maintain health of body, mind and spirit via high qual-
ity education, products and personalized herbal-aromatherapy pro-
grams. I teach classes on holistic health at Elgin Community College,
McHenry County College, ECC School of Massage Therapy, White
Sage Holistic Center, and other community locations. I’ve developed
an original line of herbal and aromatherapy products that includes
inhalations, massage oils, creams, lotions, bath salts, and sprays for a
variety of common ailments. Individual consultations may include an
aromatherapy blend with recipes, dietary suggestions, and a custom-
ized herbal regimen that have helped people with ailments such as dry
skin, acne, colds, chronic sinusitis, fibromyalgia, life transitions and
high blood pressure.
My current success story is an aromatherapy formulation for
anxious dogs that a holistic kennel in McHenry commissioned over 6
years ago. About two years ago I started offering it in my catalogue
and it is now sold in several Chicago area venues including an animal
hospital, health food store, pet store and the original kennel. Nearly a
year ago I was approached to develop an aromatherapy product for
immune system support and sales of that product line have been phe-
nomenal. As a small business, I have the opportunity to focus this kind
of attention on each client, and I believe that is a key to my success.
How did you get involved in WLN – any success stories?
Toward the end of 2005 I began visiting area business
groups with intention to join the one group that could help me take
Earth Heart to a new stage of growth. The open and energetic feeling
within WLN was contagious (and it was the last night to join as a
charter member). I joined that night and have been thrilled with how
supportive the group has been. Recently I began to solicit bids for
marketing-beyond-referrals and am excited to know so many compe-
tent women in WLN to help me achieve this goal.
Who is your perfect client?
One ideal client is someone who is willing to spend the en-
3
I n c
ergy needed on self-care inherent in holistic healing, someone
who has the patience to wait for results that may not be appar-
ent for 2 to 3 months, someone who is willing to communicate
with me about positive and negative changes that occur during
the healing period. Another ideal client is someone who
chooses to use quality products for self and family, someone
who gets excited about a particular product and wants to share
it with others, someone who provides repeat business and re-
ferrals.
What keeps you ahead of your competition?
I practice authentic herbal and aroma therapy which
means working with an individual – examining the whole per-
son, including medical history, lifestyle, previous therapies and
compliance issues – to make custom formulations as part of a
healing plan. I am fortunate to work as part of an integrative
health practice where the best of ancient as well as modern
health care modalities are considered. I am clear about my
strengths and my limitations, and am not afraid to refer a client
to another practitioner if I feel the situation is outside the scope
of my expertise. I also teach classes as much as possible to
offer accurate information on safe and effective use of herbs
and aromatherapy – there is a lot of misleading, sometimes
dangerous, information currently in circulation.
Who is your perfect power partner?
An ideal power partner is open to integrative health
practice and education – this includes a school, physician,
herbalist, massage therapist, psychotherapist, veterinarian,
hypnotherapist or reseller – someone who has personal experi-
ence with my products or services, understands their efficacy,
and is willing to incorporate them as part of a broad spectrum
of health care.
How do you deal with stress? Would you like to share any
tips?
Take a warm deep bath with essential oils and Ep-
som salts. Get a massage – I always take my own essential oil
blends because I love them, they enhance the massage, and it’s
a great way for me to test new blends. Take a walk or lie in the
sun. Listen to the wind or work in the dirt. Cook something
wholesome and delicious, usually with lots of herbs and spices.
Make a cup of herbal tea – Wood Betony and Passionflower is
my current favorite. Practice yoga with beautiful music play-
ing. Read something unrelated to work. Visit with friends and
family – those bright and funny people who bring me great joy
and deep belly laughs.
To learn more about Earth Heart products, classes or services,
please contact: Vicki Rae Thorne, Earth Heart, Inc., PO Box
427, Dundee, IL 60118, VickiRae711@comcast.net or (847)
551-1806.
 President: Kathy Hardtke
Independent Contractor
847-489-5053

President Elect: Pat Kolodziej

PK Tax Services
847-608-6451

Monthly meetings are located at:

Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiono VP of Membership: Anne Ward
1524 South Randall Road Creative Core
Algonquin, IL 60102 847-854-1111
2nd Wednesday of each month
5:30 pm — 7:30 pm

VP of Finance: Sandra Larkin

Lost & Found Life Coach
815-301-5802

If you should have any questions please contact

one of the board members listed or visit us on
the web.
VP of Programs: Kris Freeman
Body Talk Practitioner
847-975-9406

VP of Marketing: Ginger Imes

DS&P Insurance Services
847-485-2408
Ambassadors:
Ambassador of Membership: Siree Sandberg
Ambassador for Visitor Welcoming: Norine Wiebmer VP of Administration: Robin Braga
Ambassador of Events: Carol Palframan Silpada Designs
Ambassador of Events: Lisa Krupp 847-961-5526
Ambassador of Events Wendy French
Ambassador of Programs: Terri Williams
Ambassador of Marketing: Mary Anne Muscat
Ambassador of Events: Kathy Glink
Ambassador of Membership: Lisa Davidson VP of Events: Kim Gaxiola
Ambassador of Membership Gwynne Knutson AG Edwards
Ambassador of Membership: Susan Skawinski 815-338-2550