We all wear so many hats on a daily basis. We are business professionals, parents, community leaders, caregivers, sports enthusiasts and yes members of the EWGA. There are over 1400 members who volunteer their time to EWGA activities across the association annually.

As the leader of the Association Headquarters team, I tip my hat and extend a heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you. Your passion for the organization is commendable. You see, the EWGA has been in existence for over 22 years because of volunteers who work tirelessly at the community level to make your experience in this organization great.

So as we salute our volunteers this week, ask yourself, how can I help. Can I donate an hour or two of my time to help my chapter? Could I offer to assist with registration at an upcoming event? Think about what type of help your chapter might need in the next few weeks in recruiting new members.

Members love sharing their stories about what belonging to EWGA has done for them and their lives. What impact has the EWGA had on yours?

Please tell  us!

In just a few short weeks, we will be recognizing a long time volunteer of our organization with EWGAs highest award, The Nancy Oliver Founders Award, at the Empower ’13 Conference in Hilton Head.

In fact, this years’ honoree was one of the original 28 women who attended the very first golf clinic in West Palm Beach.  Her name is Penny Hulbert Larsen.

Since 1991, Penny has held numerous volunteer leadership roles with the association starting at the chapter level, the regional level and then on the Association Board of Directors including Treasurer, and President of the Board. She has represented EWGA at national golf industry events and continues to be a great ambassador for EWGA.

Congratulations Penny!

There are so many women doing extraordinary things for this wonderful organization. Lisa Lifer, Janet Mallon, Janis Luce, Dori Smith, Maggi Braun and Diana Gats are all award finalists this year for their long term volunteer service. Congratulations Ladies!

So this week, think about what your interests are and how you might be able to give back by volunteering. You can make a difference in someone elses’ life or you just may meet someone who will make a difference in yours!

Let’s celebrate National Volunteer Week by thanking those that are giving back on so many levels!

Yesterday’s tragedy; a senseless act of violence, on a day celebrating freedom and independence, struck me to the core.

We mourn for the lost lives and pray for the hundreds injured. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy. When tragedies occur, everyday heroes emerge. It was encouraging to hear and see on the news those who offered their phones, homes and blood donations. While this cowardly attack on innocent people marred the celebratory events of Patriots Day,  the city of Boston is strong. We are strong. And I am so proud to call Boston my home.

Stacy Lewis poses for photographers as she poses next to the championship trophy after winning the LPGA Founders Cup golf tournament on Sunday, March 17, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Stacy Lewis won the LPGA’s Founders Cup and took over the #1 position in Women’s Golf.  Her journey, dedication, work ethic and challenges she overcame are well documented. Congratulations Stacy! You handled yourself with poise, grace and an uncanny ability to maintain your professionalism for your work, even under the most trying of circumstances. You are a great role model for both young and old. Your recognition and respect for the Founders of the LPGA was heartwarming, your performance was extraordinary and your philanthropic contribution to LPGA-USGA Girls Golf was symbolic for the future of women’s golf.

Tiger Woods reclaimed the top spot in golf with his victory at Bay Hill this week. As he repeatedly shares with the golf media, he’s worked really hard to get his game back to where he is confident to win. And win he has. Dedication. Perseverance. His strong work ethic and commitment deliver yet again.

These achievements are significant in golf and certainly make headlines. And so do many other stories about individuals who have success stories to share.

Last week I had the honor of attending The Commonwealth Institute’s annual event recognizing the Top Women-Led Businesses in Florida. A diverse range of business leaders were recognized for their contributions. The common themes for achieving success from honorees that day, including myself, were being dedicated to the job you love, work hard at what you do, you are the “CEO” of your career and certainly never give up.

Golf is the Ultimate Business Connector

In my comments to the 200+ businesswomen present, I stressed the importance of golf being a connector.  It offers players a relationship building skill that opens doors. Opens doors to business opportunities, to spectacular venues, opens doors to what you are really made of – and by this I mean personal qualities that define who you are and how you translate your image, actions and abilities in real life. It defines your character.

Relationships are born on the golf course. So regardless of who is teeing it up, there is always a degree of success that can be achieved in a round of golf. So, kudos to the newly crowned world’s  #1 female and male golfers!  And to those of us who revel in what the sport of golf provides to us both personally and professionally, it’s gratifying to be recognized for connecting women to learn play and enjoy golf for business and for fun.

EWGA has touched the lives of over 100,000 women in its short 22 year history. What inspired you to join this organization? Was it to learn how to play golf? Meet new people? Build a solid network of connections? Compete in golf events?

Whatever your specific reason, EWGA enriches women’s lives. We have a presence in all major cities across this country, in Canada, Bermuda, Italy and now South Africa.

While our association is based around the sport of golf, it is so much more far reaching and impactful. What is your story? Have you helped another EWGA member? Have you been supported by your Chapter or another EWGA member? Who have you touched because of your ties to this organization?

On this celebratory day, introduce a friend or colleague to the association. Share your passion!

As leaders we are looked upon as confident role models; the “face” of the EWGA in all that we do within our communities and among our members. We possess the ability to positively impact change; either directly or indirectly. Even the seemingly smallest things can make a tremendous difference to another individual.

When I reflect on the 21 year history of the EWGA, the role volunteers play carries a great deal of responsibility and requires positive energy and enthusiasm and above all an unequivocal belief in EWGA’s core values and vision to enrich women’s lives through the game of golf. And what better time is there in golf than now to showcase and share all the great things the EWGA offers women. With EWGA, you can aim for your goals and then swing past them!

So, when the calendar turns to January and 2013 is upon us, there’s 12 new months for us to share our passion and welcome even more women into EWGA!

This is a tremendous gift we all possess.

May we all be blessed abundantly with friendships, success and good health! Happy Holidays!

Just last month, 24 U.S. EWGA members traveled to the island of Bermuda for an EWGA On Course event at the PGA Grand Slam of Golf. The action packed agenda included a welcome reception hosted by the Bermuda Department of Tourism under the direction of the Honorable Wayne Furbert, Minister of Business Development and Tourism for the island at an oceanfront location that left one breathless by the captivating scenery. That was just the beginning of our five day visit which also included golf at Port Royal Golf Club where the PGA Grand Slam was played, meeting many of the EWGA-Bermuda members who are so excited and energized to be a part of the EWGA (Kudos to their leadership team who have set the record for being the fastest growing EWGA Chapter with over 100 members in just six short weeks!); watching the four champions up close for two days on the course demonstrate why they are the best of the best and having the opportunity to attend the Champions Dinner where each Champion shared insights into their lives which was very special. And did I mention that I played in the Pro Am and was paired with Keegan Bradley for 6 holes! A memory that will last a lifetime.

And of course, congrats to Paddy for winning the PGA Grand Slam! While he may have been quoted as saying, “the wins don’t come around as often as you think” as a last minute replacement for the injured Ernie Els, the trip for Paddy from Dublin to this idyllic island was well worth it!  And we were able to enjoy it all!

To view pictures of this wonderful occassion, follow this link.

To join EWGA, follow this link.

As Veteran’s Day celebrations start occurring, please take a moment to think about the significance of what our veterans have sacrificed for us and how our lives might be different without them.

We all learned in history class that WWI ended with an armistice called The Treaty of Versailles which was signed on June 28, 1919. Later that year, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Nov. 11^th to be Armistice Day, a day to celebrate peace while honoring our soldier’s bravery and heroism. Regrettably, the hope that this would be the “war to end all wars” didn’t hold true and we continue to still send our loved ones off to foreign countries to fight for justice and freedom. To honor veterans of all wars, Armistice Day was later renamed Veterans Day.

So, this November 11^th, I encourage you to recognize this day for more than just perhaps a day off. On behalf of EWGA, I personally want to thank our EWGA members who are veterans and active duty members as well within our association’s community for your service. Each of you has enabled us to have our cherished freedom of speech, our right to vote and all the other freedoms we too often take for granted while around the world others still fight for basic human rights.

So, how about taking a moment to reflect on our good fortune to live in the United States? We are all indebted to the men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country – a sacrifice that extends beyond those who put on the uniform. We should not forget that every soldier is a son, daughter, husband, wife, mother, father, sister or brother.

So this Nov 11^th – do something special to honor the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve our country.

Female voter involvement in these elections is key. It is our voice that can make a powerful impact on the outcome. Do not let this opportunity – this right to exert influence slip by. Regardless of your political persuasion, we have earned the right to vote. If we do not exercise this right, then truly, we do not have a right to complain. Why should you care? Issues of importance to women, such as healthcare, reproductive rights and the economy are paramount and candidates have used these issues to build their platform.

So, head to the polls on Nov. 6^th.  Cast your ballot. Marion Wright Edelman got it right when she said, “Democracy is not a spectator sport!”

FOX New, ESPN and several other media outlets were on sight capturing the emotion, excitement and player stories from our competitive field. A standout  was Brenda Daugherty from Houston; a woman with an unbreakable positive attitude. Just 19 months after brain surgery, she won her local Chapter flight and advanced to the EWGA Texas Regional Championship in San Antonio and won there. Now she had the opportunity to play for the national title in her flight. Consider this, most of us have a hard enough time hitting just one ball, but Brenda’s brain tumor left her seeing double. Her spirit, grit, courage and determination and of course, love of the game, propelled her forward. What an inspiration she is to all of us!

In her own words, “I wasn’t going to let cancer destroy my faith or hopes. I wasn’t going to let it steal my passions or my joys, one of which is golf. I wasn’t going to let it take away my courage or my spirit. I don’t think I’m any different than any other cancer survivor or patient. The will to live is a powerful thing, And my faith plays a large part in my healing as well.”

To all of the competitors who traveled to South Florida this past weekend Congratulations! You spent the last several days being laser focused on a task. You are mentally stronger because of this experience. You seized the moment. You represented your Chapter admirably. You represented the EWGA. You have had an experience that will last a lifetime. And – you now have won new friends that you will now know forever. Championships elevate ones skills.

Congratulations to each and every one of you for being the best you can be!

As an organization built on volunteers, I also want to acknowledge and express my heartfelt thanks to the Championship Committee, EWGA volunteers from around the country who lent a hand as well as the EWGA Staff who all stepped up and contributed to the overall success in a significant way.

The Babe once said – “Winning has always meant so much to me – but winning friends has meant the most.”  Winning friends is at the heart of the EWGA and last week, we not only crowned a national champion, we delivered on that promise.

To view the full results, go to www.ewgachampionship.com

To view photos of the Champions, follow this link

To become a member of EWGA, go to www.ewga.com/join