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On April 3, 1979, Phyllis Holt, Diane Brady, Rena Plank, Audrey Polchies, Carol Pryke and Audrey Wilson discussed the establishment of a women's "network" in Milford, CT to address the common business issues and interests faced by women business owners, executives, professionals, and entrepreneurs.
On September 12, 1979, the Network of Executive Women was unanimously accepted by the Milford Chamber of Commerce as an affiliate. Membership grew to include women from all sectors of the City's business community, as well as from surrounding areas.
In June of 1996, Network became independently incorporated. We remain closely associated with the Milford Chamber of Commerce, and the Network President serves as a member of the Chamber's Board of Directors.
WOMEN HELPING WOMEN
One of the primary community services that our Network established is an annual scholarship program, which helps to provide money for educational programs for women who would not ordinarily be able to afford them.
Network scholarship awards embody our motto of "Women Helping Women." Each year, they enable women in need to fulfill their dream of education and qualify for meaningful employment.
For more than 3 decades, Network has thrived and grown from a nucleus of the 6 business women brought together by Phyllis Holt to a current membership of almost 100.
Members continue to share their knowledge and experience with each other, making Network of Executive Women the vital organization envisioned by its founders in 1979.
If you believe you meet Network's membership criteria as outlined in our membership page, we hope you will consider joining us!
On September 12, 1979, the Network of Executive Women was unanimously accepted by the Milford Chamber of Commerce as an affiliate. Membership grew to include women from all sectors of the City's business community, as well as from surrounding areas.
In June of 1996, Network became independently incorporated. We remain closely associated with the Milford Chamber of Commerce, and the Network President serves as a member of the Chamber's Board of Directors.
WOMEN HELPING WOMEN
One of the primary community services that our Network established is an annual scholarship program, which helps to provide money for educational programs for women who would not ordinarily be able to afford them.
Network scholarship awards embody our motto of "Women Helping Women." Each year, they enable women in need to fulfill their dream of education and qualify for meaningful employment.
For more than 3 decades, Network has thrived and grown from a nucleus of the 6 business women brought together by Phyllis Holt to a current membership of almost 100.
Members continue to share their knowledge and experience with each other, making Network of Executive Women the vital organization envisioned by its founders in 1979.
If you believe you meet Network's membership criteria as outlined in our membership page, we hope you will consider joining us!
A FOUNDING MEMBER RECALLS
Carol Pryke, one of our founding members, summed up the importance and impact of Network of Executive Women when recalling her personal experience:
"I can honestly say I think Network of Executive Women saved my life. By 1979, I found myself in a situation that I could not have imagined only a few years earlier. My father had died leaving me to manage a business, real estate and my mother's finances. It was as they say today a 24/7 responsibility. I truly felt I was over my head and very much alone.
Then a wonderful thing happened. I met Phyllis Holt and she invited me to join her and five other business women for lunch on Tuesday, April 3, 1979. It was amazing! There I was sitting at a table with five other women facing similar situations. On that day Network was born.
It was an intense exhiliarating spring and summer, creating by-laws, becoming an affiliate of the Milford Chamber (despite a male member of the Chamber telling Phyllis, 'executive women in Milford, you and what other ONE - this certainly is not going to amount to anything'), and putting together our first big event: a business seminar opened to the public. It was a great success. Now we had 25 members and growing, and my life was changed forever.
I was busy and loving it. I was the first telephone committee, a committee of one. In three years we actually had a committee that I continued to be part of for most of the 22 years I was an active member of Network. I served on the Network Board for many years and I was Secretary and then President of Network. During my Presidency, we created the first directory with pictures taken of each member!
I have seen Network grow and become an established part of this community, and I am proud to have been a part of that. It is not easy, even today, to be a woman in business - but the many things we now take for granted are the very things we had to fight to make happen. Congratulations on all the good things you have and will continue to accomplish."
Carol Pryke, one of our founding members, summed up the importance and impact of Network of Executive Women when recalling her personal experience:
"I can honestly say I think Network of Executive Women saved my life. By 1979, I found myself in a situation that I could not have imagined only a few years earlier. My father had died leaving me to manage a business, real estate and my mother's finances. It was as they say today a 24/7 responsibility. I truly felt I was over my head and very much alone.
Then a wonderful thing happened. I met Phyllis Holt and she invited me to join her and five other business women for lunch on Tuesday, April 3, 1979. It was amazing! There I was sitting at a table with five other women facing similar situations. On that day Network was born.
It was an intense exhiliarating spring and summer, creating by-laws, becoming an affiliate of the Milford Chamber (despite a male member of the Chamber telling Phyllis, 'executive women in Milford, you and what other ONE - this certainly is not going to amount to anything'), and putting together our first big event: a business seminar opened to the public. It was a great success. Now we had 25 members and growing, and my life was changed forever.
I was busy and loving it. I was the first telephone committee, a committee of one. In three years we actually had a committee that I continued to be part of for most of the 22 years I was an active member of Network. I served on the Network Board for many years and I was Secretary and then President of Network. During my Presidency, we created the first directory with pictures taken of each member!
I have seen Network grow and become an established part of this community, and I am proud to have been a part of that. It is not easy, even today, to be a woman in business - but the many things we now take for granted are the very things we had to fight to make happen. Congratulations on all the good things you have and will continue to accomplish."
