Just a quick note about how much I have gotten from my Digital Women membership. I joined back in 2002, when I first started my own business. There are TONS of great resources and  over 17,000 members worldwide.

One of my favorite parts: the mailing list where members can ask questions and get answers, suggestions or assistance; we can brag on our newest business venture; or we can pass along information that will help someone else.

Just as an example, I sent out a request for assistance with a website I’m working on. Within just a few hours, I’d heard from someone who could help me.  Sometimes it just takes getting a fresh pair of eyes to look over something, and that’s exactly what  Katie over at KatiedidDesign did. Thanks to her sharp eyes, I was back on track in just a few minutes.

And that’s exactly how the list works- someone needs help, so they send out an email, and someone else (most times more than one person) reaches out a helping hand. Or a member finds out she’s being featured in the latest edition of a magazine- so she shares her good news with all of us. Or a member finds a great resource that would help someone else, so she shares the link to that resource on the list.

If you’re a woman in business, this site is worth a long look. The very small membership fee I paid back in ’02 has been one of the best investments I’ve ever made. I’ve met new clients and made some great friends.  I’ve also learned a lot about a lot of things, sometimes because I was trying to help someone else figure out the solution to their problem.

By being a member of Digital Women, I have the best of both worlds – I run my own business as I see fit, but I have the benefit of a wide variety of ‘partners’ and mentors who can give me the benefit of their wisdom. And by giving back to this great group of women, I’m able to mentor other women as well.

Thanks, Rebecca, for starting a great site for women!

Yesterday we had Rutledge’s first 4th of July parade. While we only had a few people to come, everyone there had a great time, and we hope to make this an annual event.

We started out with the pledge of allegiance, then everyone lined up behind Mayor Joe Dexter. Randy took his bike to the end of the parade route, and kept traffic from coming into the group, and Jennifer blocked the entrance to the other end of the street.

After we got back to the community center, we spread out blankets under a tree, and while Jennifer poured pink lemonade for everyone, I cut this beautiful cake made for us by the ladies at the Piggly Wiggly.

As I said, we hope to make this an annual event- a very small town in a neighboring county has turned their small-town parade into a large event, usually having at least 200 participants; we may not ever get that big, but I would like to eventually get other towns in the county to participate in some way, and I’d also like to see more of our citizens to come out for it too.

Next year’s route will be a lot longer, Mr. Joe’s dad has said he’d bring his 1947 tractor and wagon along to haul kids, and we’d love to get at least one fire truck in as well.  We may also change the time to later in the afternoon, and cook out hot dogs for everyone too.

Happy Independence Day!

Our county has had Christmas parades for as long as I’ve lived here (over sixteen years). All the different fire departments, police departments, high school bands, peewee cheerleaders and football players, homecoming queens, and civic groups participate. The kids love it; they stand on the sidelines, gathering up grocery bags full of candy that are thrown from the different floats.

Well, we decided that the kids need their own chance to be in a parade, so  we’re starting a new tradition in Rutledge. Our inaugural parade will be Saturday morning at 10 AM. Kids of all ages will be decorating their bikes, trikes and wagons and taking them down the street, then back to town hall for cake and pink lemonade.

I’ll be taking pictures of course, and I hope to post some here next week. Ya’ll have a great Fourth! And happy birthday to our great country- she may be down, but she’s not out. Those of us who truly love her will stand up for her…