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History

Pamela Varkony, along with a dedicated group of friends, many of whom still serve on the Power Advisory Committee, began “Power of Women” in 1999 as a way to bring women together to share common experiences, raise awareness of our importance to each other, and provide ongoing support for our goals and dreams.

The launch of our first Spring Seminar…“Live, Learn, Lead”, in April of 2005, was just such an experience; over 100 women came together for breakfast, networking, and an exchange of ideas about leadership and empowerment. Our Spring Networking Events offer an informational/educational experience, in a more informal style, as a compliment to our signature event the Power Of Women Annual Fall Luncheon.

That first Power Luncheon, held in the Barrister’s Club in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in October of 1999, had 67 women in attendance. By 2006, the “Power Of Women” Annual Luncheon and Networking Event hosted 350 attendees from six counties and featured 40 women owned and women-managed businesses and non-profit organizations in the Networking Room.

Along the way, we initiated the “Power Of Women Spotlight” featuring an “Honored Guest” whose life and work reflect the very best in all of us. Each “Honored Guest” receives a donation, made in their name, to the charity of their choice. Some of our past “Honored Guests” include Kathryn Stephanoff, Director of the Allentown Library and Senior Member of the Pennsylvania Governor's Advisory Council for Library Development, and Major General Jessica Wright, the first female Adjutant General of the Pennsylvania National Guard.

In Spring of 2007 we set another milestone by hosting our most extensive event to date, the Power Spring Retreat, complete with multiple professional development seminars and a wellness break featuring such relaxing experiences as music therapy and foot massage.

As exciting as all this has been, the best is yet to come…2008 marks Power Of Women’s 10th Anniversary. We continue to create new and exciting events including our first “Golf Clinic”. The Power Of Women 10th Annual Fall Luncheon and Networking Event is sure to be a day to remember.

The dedicated women of the Advisory Committee believe the growth of "Power Of Women" can be attributed to the fact that, “it’s not about "us"...it's about "you". That belief was confirmed through the results of our 2004 Focus Group which clearly indicated women need and want an opportunity to network and support each other, both personally and professionally: Power Of Women has met that need and will continue to do so.