Women Blog

I took a few days off last week to visit my family and it was also a good break for me to feel rejuvenated and recharged. Short breaks like these can do wonders for the mind and body especially when I have been working from home most times. It was good to take a break from sitting in front of my laptop and meeting up with good friends. Life should not be focused on routine and work. Everyone needs a break and breather.

It can be hard striking a balance for women working from home especially if you have a few children in your care. Driving them around to school and activities can take lots of time so you need to plan, plan, plan. I only understand why full time mommies are so busy until I become a mom myself. Working from home and having a home office is a blessing cos I don’t need to be stuck in the traffic throughout the day. Even then, the chores and list of duties at home can be demanding. During these economic challenges, some people are resorting to rv finance assistance to tie through the difficult times. With more losing jobs, many are also searching of work at home opportunities as a supplement for the family.

Whatever challenges you may face with working from home, be open and seek out different business opportunities as long as they look legit and do not incur high start up costs. Having a home office will also help to eliminate office rental costs but do make sure you have a dedicated area in the house where you can focus and work. With some adjustments, you will soon find that a home office is truly a blessing to you as well as the children at home.

It’s great to know that more and more work at home moms have entered the blogging world. But it’s just in the last few years that it has been considered as one of the addicting fads among teenagers. Many people use blogging as an outlet for their emotions, whereas savvy marketers have discovered that blogging is one of the best Internet marketing methods that is FREE.

For a long time, a blog has been regarded as an online journal and could be set up to no cost at all, can be used for just for the fun of it or for business reasons. Many internet marketers and those who work from home have agreed that blogging is one surefire way to boost the visibility of their products and services. Infact, blogging has also become popular in the business world and those who jump on the bandwagon include doctors, Mesothelioma lawyers, health professionals and lifestyle businesses.

Using a blog has become one of the most popular methods of promoting an affiliate program today for work at home moms as well as online business owners. What is great about a blog is that in many cases you can post it without costs. After all, why should you spend hundreds or thousands of dollars in promotion and advertisement of your affiliate program when you can start a free blog and provide some good information to offer your visitors. With these two simple items, you could dramatically increase the amount of traffic you get for your affiliate program.

On September 1, the founders of Insight Psychological Centers will open Millennium Place, a cozy urban living facility for women coping with eating disorders. Millennium Place, LLC is the first transitional housing program in Chicago developed specifically for women with anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorders.

Conquering an eating disorder is not easy. Anorexia, for example, is insidious, with mortality pegged at less than 1% when the illness is first discovered, but increasing to 20% for long-time sufferers.(1) One of the reasons eating disorders persist is lack of care. The vast majority of sufferers do not receive enough care to fully heal. According to Millennium Place co-founder Dr. Jenny Conviser, “Most patients recover from eating disorders when they receive good care, but it takes time and an array of treatment methods. We created Millennium Place because Chicago needs a full arsenal. We don’t want a single person to flounder.”

Millennium Place fills the gap when outpatient therapy alone is inadequate and when 24-hour residential treatment has been completed or is not required. Similar to a sober living home, residents will recover with peers in a safe, supported environment while enjoying many of the freedoms of independent living.

Millennium Place has capacity for eight residents including overnight staff. A licensed dietician and daytime staff members help with grocery shopping, meal planning and preparation. Says co-founder Dr. Susan McClanahan, “There is no substitute for the natural kind of recovery that occurs with peers. In our 20 years of work in this field, we know groups are effective for treating behavioral disorders. And, they lower costs for participants.”

Millennium Place is located directly across the street from Insight’s flagship eating disorders treatment center in downtown Chicago. Residents will enjoy a suite of newly renovated rooms and all the amenities of living in a contemporary Michigan Avenue high-rise, including a pool, sundeck, 24-hour security, excellent views and proximity to Lake Michigan and Millennium Park.

For more information visit www.insightforeating.com or call 312-540-9955.

Millennium Place, LLC was formed in 2009 and is a sister of Insight Psychological Centers, formed in 2006. Managed by adjunct faculty of Northwestern University, both Insight Psychological Centers and Millennium Place are supported by a team of credentialed psychologists, psychiatrists and other clinicians providing individual, group, couples and family therapy.

1) http://www.anad.org/22385/22406.html, accessed 8/18/09.

Source: Millennium Place, LLC

September 21st Day to Honor Women Who Travel on Business

Kathy Ameche, 25 year Road Warrior, author and Traveler in Chief of the website WomanRoadWarrior.com, announced the 4th annual celebration of Woman Road Warrior Day on September 21st 2009. The event, initiated by Ameche after the success of her book The Woman Road Warrior: A Woman’s Guide to Business Travel (Agate 2005, 2007), has gained momentum and followers over the past four years.

New this year is a sweepstakes and survey to collect preference, opinions and advice from Woman Road Warriors. Prizes include a Kindle, an iPod touch and a Spa Day. Entry forms are available on the website (http://womanroadwarrior.com/) and will be sent via email to women who have already signed up for information via LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter.

“Anybody who has traveled regularly in the past few years knows the feeling of having to battle the obstacles of security rules, extra charges and delayed flights,” explains Ameche. “Nearly 50% of today’s business travelers are female and they wage the fight with incredible style,” she continued.

“They cover millions of miles each year, and influence strongly the travel decisions of their employees, associates and relatives. It is an economically powerful group.”

“This is a day to salute the persistence, flexibility, and stamina of the Woman Road Warrior,” says Ameche.

“To excel as a Woman Road Warrior is to be an expert on many levels: an expert at your business, an expert at traveling, a wizard of scheduling and enough of a technical expert to stay in communication with colleagues and family through text messaging, laptopping, PDAing and cell phoning.”

Source: Ameche Group LLC

Tennis Icon Debuts Signature Fashion Collection by Cole Haan in New York City on Eve of The US Open

Maria Sharapova’s latest volley is in the world of fashion!

Just days before taking the court for the US Open Championships, twenty-two year old tennis star Maria Sharapova unveiled her Maria Sharapova by Cole Haan collection of handbags and footwear – at Rockefeller Center in New York City.

Fans, tourists, and onlookers burst into cheers as Sharapova was introduced by celebrity MC Quddus on a specially constructed stage where Maria unveiled her new advertising campaign for Cole Haan.

“Everyone loves Maria. It’s great to be working with her and adding a new dimension to Cole Haan’s history,” states Jim Seuss, Chief Executive Officer.

Children from the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center’s Junior Tennis Development Program, New York Junior Tennis League, and the City Parks Foundation were thrilled to meet their tennis icon.

Sharapova’s collaboration with Cole Haan began with sketches, mood boards, and inspirations from the tennis star. Maria’s on-the-go, international lifestyle inspired this chic collection. Maria infused aspects of her playful personality into every detail of the line from the polished buckles of the shoes, to the leather wrapped chain straps of the handbags.

“It’s my hope that other young women will embrace the spirit of the collection; it’s fun, chic, fashionable and most importantly, able to take you from day to night,” says Sharapova.

The Maria Sharapova by Cole Haan footwear collection, featuring Nike Air technology, includes a ballet flat, an ankle-wrapped stiletto, a flat over-the-knee boot, an ankle bootie and a strappy platform sandal. With prices ranging from $138 – $328, the collection offers luxe options at an attainable level.

Highlights of the handbag offering include a small frame clutch, a lambskin hobo, and Maria’s signature chain-link satchel in a range of eye-catching colors. Each silhouette is characterized by an oversized pleating detail, creating a luxe, yet casual feel. Prices range from $248 for a convertible clutch to $428 for a lambskin hobo.

Source: Cole Haan

Sylvan Learning Offers Free, Effective Solutions to Begin a Successful School Year

As students enjoy the summer months, most parents are already looking for resources to prepare their kids for the upcoming school year. To succeed in school and life, students need ongoing opportunities to learn and practice essential skills.

Getting ready for a new school year isn’t just a job for kids — it also requires parents to be prepared. To help parents and students kick start the new school year successfully, Sylvan Learning, the leading provider of in-center and live, online tutoring at home to students of all ages and skill levels, is offering a variety of tools to improve core skills like math, reading and writing.

Master Your Math: Sylvan’s “Forward to School” Algebra Challenge

To encourage math learning and discovery outside of the classroom, Sylvan Learning is offering Sylvan’s “Forward to School” Algebra Challenge for parents and teens. Beginning August 17, 2009, parents and teens can participate in this sweepstakes at www.SylvanChallenge.com for the chance to win great back-to-school prizes, including Target gifts cards, subscriptions to SylvanMathPrep.com, laptops and college scholarships of $5,000 and $10,000. The challenge will run throughout summer and will end on September 30, 2009.

“Forgotten Math for Parents” and “Algebra Spoken Here” Seminars

Parents wishing to restore their math skills in order to help their children learn can participate in “Forgotten Math for Parents” and “Algebra Spoken Here” seminars offered free-of-charge at participating Sylvan Learning centers throughout the year. “Forgotten Math for Parents” is an interactive, 90-minute seminar designed to help parents and family members gain confidence in assisting their children with their homework by reviewing many of the key math concepts that are introduced in 6th, 7th and 8th grade.

Do you ever use the phrase, “I’m not a math person”? The “Algebra Spoken Here” parent workshop will provide fun ways to overcome your math “phobia.” Hear the latest trends and news about math — and why it’s more important than ever!

SchoolMathPrep.com and SylvanMathPrep.com

SchoolMathPrep.com is offered by Sylvan’s local franchisees as a free math resource for teachers and students in grades 7-12 to use during school hours — for remediation, enrichment and test preparation, and SylvanMathPrep.com is available for on-the-spot math guidance during homework time at home. The educator-created sites deliver more than 2,000 instructor-led videos, covering 750 lessons in pre-algebra, algebra, geometry and specific lessons designed to address the math concepts assessed on the SAT/ACT. Each lesson includes sample problems demonstrating the work and answers, summary notes, a quiz, a worksheet, and a deep thought question. The resources also feature a powerful search function — by concept or keyword or textbook (for a majority of U.S. middle and high school textbooks).

Educators interested in securing the free math resource from their neighborhood Sylvan Learning center are encouraged to visit www.SchoolMathPrep.com. To obtain extra help with math homework — when and where you want it, visit www.SylvanMathPrep.com for a two-day, free trial.

Prepare For College: “Reduce the Stress: Ace the Test” School Fundraisers

Participating Sylvan centers are teaming up with area high school guidance counselors and principals to implement “Reduce the Stress: Ace the Test” SAT/ACT practice test events that are fundraisers for local schools. Schools provide SAT/ACT practice exams (for a nominal fee), with proceeds going to the schools’ designated improvement funds to help pay for extracurricular programs and other school or classroom activities. Sylvan Learning with our College Prep professionals will then review and score the results and provide in-person improvement sessions to pinpoint areas of success in order to guide students as they prepare for the actual SAT or ACT.

“Test Stress: A Parent’s Real Guide to College Test Prep” Parent Seminar

To help navigate the college prep process, participating Sylvan centers are offering free workshops for parents, “Test Stress: A Parent’s Real Guide to College Test Prep,” dedicated to helping families navigate through the SAT/ACT and the complex college admissions process. The interactive seminar features advice from Sylvan educators and leading college admission experts, college coaches and guidance counselors to help parents understand how to create a successful plan for the test-taking season. Families can then use Sylvan’s free, customized College Planner, Parent Resource Guide and High School Tracking Program to ensure their children are college admission ready.

Read for Fun: Book Adventure

Sylvan Learning has created a free, interactive reading motivation program, Book Adventure, where parents and teachers can help children choose books from more than 7,000 titles, take short comprehension quizzes and redeem accumulated points for small prizes. Book Adventure also offers teacher and parent resources and tips to help children develop a lifelong love of reading. For more information, visit www.BookAdventure.com.

Family Resources: DrRickBlog.com

DrRickBlog.com is a one stop resource that provides tips and tools for educators and families of students in grades pre-K to high school. “Dr. Rick,” Richard E. Bavaria, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Education Outreach for Sylvan Learning, has more than forty years of education experience. Visit www.DrRickBlog.com to read weekly topics concerning the latest trends in education, advice and creative ways to make learning fun.

“Transitions – Middle and High School” Parent Seminars

Learn about the changes and challenges children face as they reach middle and high school — academically, socially and psychologically. In these free seminars at participating Sylvan centers, families will hear from real-life parents, teens and experts in a short video as they share how they address transitions.

Newsletters, Tip Sheets and More

Sylvan’s monthly newsletters and family tip sheets feature the latest trends in education and other issues important to educators, parents and students in grades pre-K through 12. Visit the “Parent Resources” area of www.SylvanLearning.com for additional free tools.

Give your kids a strong start in the upcoming school year and keep them on track all year long with these free or low cost, educational tools. For more information on Sylvan’s back-to-school resources, SAT/ACT school fundraisers and free parent seminars, visit www.SylvanLearning.com to find a participating Sylvan Learning center.

Survey offers some insight into parents’ attitudes about vision correction

Parents and children don’t always see eye to eye when it comes to vision correction, according to a survey of parents of vision-corrected children 8-17 years old conducted by Fairfield Research among members of the Good Housekeeping Reader Advisory Panel on behalf of ACUVUE Brand Contact Lenses.

While more than half (56 percent) of parents of vision corrected children who do not wear contact lenses say that their child is interested in wearing contacts, nearly one-third of these parents (31%) say they have never considered contact lenses for their child, and another 27 percent say they have not given the matter serious consideration.

Parents of a child who currently wears glasses say that their child dislikes wearing glasses (42%), does not always wear them when he/she should (41%), and sometimes feels self-conscious when wearing them (40%). Half (50 percent) say that their child would rather be wearing contact lenses.

So, why are some parents reluctant to let their children wear contacts?

Four-in-ten (40 percent) parents responding to the survey say that they are not comfortable with contact lenses for children. Two contributing factors to parents’ unwillingness to consider contacts – 77 percent think that glasses are easier to keep clean and take care of than contacts and half (54 percent) are concerned about their child’s ability to take care of their contact lenses. Forty-two percent of respondents, however, say they have no real worries about their child wearing contacts.

“The growing body of research in children’s vision correction continues to demonstrate that contact lenses provide collateral benefits to children beyond simply correcting their vision, and that concerns about contact lens problems in these age groups are largely unfounded,” explains Mary Lou French, O.D., F.A.A.O., M.Ed. “Studies demonstrate that children who need refractive error correction are capable of wearing and caring for soft contact lenses and should be presented with the option of contact lens wear when vision correction is required,” says Dr. French, who has been taking care of children’s eyes for 32 years in her Illinois-based practice.

Two-thirds (66 percent) of survey respondents report that whatever their eye doctor recommends is the right choice for their child’s vision correction. However, a large majority of these parents (62 percent) believe that the choice for vision correction should correspond with what the child wants. “Doctors will typically evaluate a child’s maturity and level of parental support in deciding whether the child is ready for contact lenses,” adds Dr. French.

Among parents surveyed, the average starting age for contact lens wear is 13 years old. However, parents believe that girls are ready to start wearing contact lenses at an earlier age than boys. About one-in-five (18 percent) of survey respondents with female children who currently wear glasses say that their child is extremely interested in contacts, compared to only eight percent of respondents with male children. “Research shows that for girls, in particular, a switch from glasses to contact lenses, may result in improvement in self-perception,” says Dr. French.

More than half of parents surveyed (54 percent) agree that glasses and contact lenses complement each other for part time wear. Overall, 41 percent of parents believe that contact lenses are a good occasional alternative to glasses for certain activities, with 75 percent of respondents stating that contacts are a better choice than glasses for playing sports. One-fourth of respondents (24 percent) say that their child currently wears both glasses and contacts.

Other findings from the survey, which assessed attitudes and perceptions of parents as they relate to their children’s vision care options, included the following:

• Top areas in which survey respondents believe that vision correction provides improvement for their child include academic performance (78 percent), confidence (58 percent) and self-esteem (51 percent).

• The majority of parents surveyed (85%) say they are at least “somewhat satisfied’ with their child’s vision correction at school. However, only 63 percent are satisfied with their child’s current vision correction for sports.

• About nine in ten (88%) parents whose children wear contact lenses say that their child wears soft lenses. About half (48%) say that their child wears lenses that are worn daily and are replaced every one to two weeks. Another 40% say that their child wears lenses that are worn daily and replaced monthly. Additionally, 10% say their child wears single-use contact lenses that are worn once and then thrown away at the end of the day. Only 2% say their child wears hard/gas permeable contact lenses.

The survey was conducted by Fairfield Research among members of the Good Housekeeping Reader Advisory Panel on behalf of ACUVUE Brand Contact Lenses. The purpose of the survey was to gauge the attitudes and perceptions of parents as they relate to their children’s vision care options among a nationally representative population of parents with vision-corrected kids ages 8-17. Survey responses are based on a pool of 564 responses from parents who have at least one child age 8-17 who requires vision correction.

Source: VISTAKON, Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.

Understanding capabilities … and know what to ask

Selecting a firm to help your job search is an important decision, say the experts at ITS. The field includes career counselors, outplacement firms, career management firms, resume writers, and career coaches. Most are just advisory services. A new type of service has emerged where the emphasis is on using technology to enable people to get all the job market information they need online – in one place.

Whatever you decide to choose, you need to fully understand what these firms can do and their guarantees… and what they don’t do. No one can guarantee you a job. The good services will spend time educating you about they do and provide clear written service agreements.

ITS provides clients with a money back guarantee covering the first 30-40 hours of their work. You get to become acquainted with their staff, review all job hunting recommendations, approve all the resumes and letters they professionally write, and see the website they create and host for you… prior to making a decision to go forward with the rest of their service.

Here are some questions you can ask to select a firm that’s right for you:

1 – What do they do to help you… before you start a search?

Your career / industry options should be identified, the goals you should pursue need to be clarified, solutions for minimizing any liabilities must be provided, the transferable skills you should market need to be pinpointed, and a campaign action plan should be provided to guide your search.

2 – Will they professionally write your resumes & letters… or just guide you?

A word of caution. There are hundreds of firms who say they will equip you with a better resume. Then, after you become a client, you discover that they are just advising you on how to develop a resume or offering to edit your existing resume.

3 – Will their technology connect you to all the published jobs?

Having access to a maximum number of openings is what job hunting is all about, especially if you don’t have good connections. So, be specific in assessing just what openings a company will supply. Ask for a visual presentation. At ITS, through their Job Market Access Center (JMAC), 97% of all published openings, including openings on all job boards, all newspapers and magazines, over 100,000 employer websites and 3500 recruiters, are brought together in one place. This makes searching for published openings much easier.

4 – How will they help you connect with unpublished jobs?

As you go up in income, the unpublished job market becomes more important. From $100,000 to $150,000, 75% of all jobs are unpublished. Above that… unpublished openings can account for as much as 95% of all situations. So, be specific in questioning any firm about precisely what they will do in this area. Too often people get disappointed because they only received “advice” about how to uncover these situations. And there is no such thing as the “hidden” job market.

Robert J. Gerberg Jr., the president of ITS, has the clearest explanation as to what the unpublished job market really is:

“There are only six ways to uncover and compete for unpublished openings. They include placing your resume with (1) officers of key employers, (2) with non-web recruiters, (3) with venture capitalists, (4) with board members, (5) uncovering leads through events which may signal emerging jobs, and (6) from expanded networking, especially by using emails which connect people to your personal marketing website. We help people with a large world class research staff that is part of our Job Market Access Center (JMAC).

Here are the services we provide to help people connect with unpublished jobs. We write their resumes and create and host their website, place client credentials with key employers, key recruiters and VCs, supply continuous daily leads to emerging opportunities, supply influential alumni they should contact, supply influential executives to contact by industry, and supply continuous research.”

5 – Will you get help with interviews and negotiations… and will research be supplied?

Most firms will make a single counselor available to advise you during interviews. How much they can help will depend on their experience. For example, there is no individual counselor who can possibly stay abreast on all negotiations. Many packages are very complex and there is a lot at stake here. Ask about the true depth of expertise they have available. Find out if they are active in negotiating deals throughout in all major industries. Research can be also critical to your job search. Can you draw upon a full-time research staff as needed?

6 – How do they bring you current on the latest strategies?

Do they give you a book or manual to bring you up to date? You need the following to be addressed before you begin your search. (1) What to do if you’re unemployed; (2) the best ways to answer ads; (3) how to get the most from recruiters; (4) advanced networking… how to make this process easier; (5) how to create your own job; (6) advanced interviewing; (7) personal image and dress; (8) best ways for handling references, both good and bad; and (9) advanced negotiating. You may not have looked for a job in years. Or perhaps never at your current income level. And the job market has changed more in the last 5 years than in several previous decades. So make sure the firm you select will supply these things in writing.

7 – What happens if you don’t get a new job within 90-120 days?

This is an important issue. If a company says you are marketable, they should stand behind their service with a performance guarantee. What will they do if things don’t go right? The ITS approach is to provide all clients with a clear performance guarantee. Here’s what it is.

If you don’t succeed within 90 days of our agreement: (1) they assign a new marketing team; (2) they create a revised plan; (3) they rewrite several resumes and 12 marketing letters; and (4) they will re-implement all distributions that are part of your service.

Source: ITS

Four years after the hurricanes of 2005, four March of Dimes Mom & Baby Mobile Health Centers(R) serve as the primary health care providers for thousands of pregnant women, teenagers and children living along the Gulf Coast.

Launched as an emergency response to the devastation inflicted upon New Orleans and the region’s hospitals and health care facilities, these mobile prenatal health centers have taken the place of regular health care provider for these areas. Although all of the hospitals in Jefferson Parish have reopened, four out of nine still remain closed in Orleans Parish and none have reopened in St. Bernard Parish.

The four March of Dimes Mom & Baby Mobile Health Centers(R) have provided more than 7,800 patient visits since they began operating in 2007. The centers travel throughout New Orleans, its surrounding suburbs of St. Bernard Parish and the Lower 9th Ward, Lake Charles, Louisiana and Biloxi, Mississippi, and make regular stops at community centers, churches, schools and even Kmarts in Biloxi, MS.

“These four March of Dimes mobile health centers are now part of the fabric of these communities,” said Dr. Scott Berns, senior vice president of chapter programs for the March of Dimes. “They provide essential primary preventive care for mothers and babies, giving them quality preconception, prenatal and well-baby medical care.”

Some of the services provided by the mobile health centers include ultrasounds, prenatal visits, pregnancy testing, preconception counseling, CenteringPregnancy (a group prenatal care program), referrals to remaining hospitals in the area for high risk women who require specialized care, and postpartum checkups.

Providing access to high-quality medical care is vital to improving birth outcomes in the region, Dr. Berns says. For example, in 2004, before the hurricanes, Louisiana’s preterm birth rate was 15.6 percent, nearly 25 percent above the national average. In 2006, the state’s preterm birth rate increased to 16.4 percent. Mississippi’s preterm birth rate increased to 18.8 percent in 2006, from 17.9 percent in 2004.

Added to the lack of health care providers in the region, the Gulf Coast has also seen an influx of Spanish-speaking families, who’ve come to help rebuild the area and who have limited access to health care.

“Many of our patients are Spanish-speaking, and because we are bi-lingual we can offer these women access to quality health care,” says Rosa Bustamante-Forest, RN, MPH, MN, program director for the Mom & Baby Mobile Health Center(R) in New Orleans. “We’re seeing repeat patients from last year who are pregnant again, which speaks volumes to the quality of care we offer.”

The Mom & Baby Mobile Health Centers were funded through the March of Dimes Hurricane Assistance Fund, including a $3 million gift from the People of Qatar. The centers are staffed by the Daughters of Charity Services of New Orleans, Southwest Louisiana Area Health Education Center and Coastal Family Health Center.

Inside, the Mom & Baby Mobile Health Centers(R) look like a regular healthcare provider’s office, with private exam areas, waiting areas and nurses’ station. They are equipped with fetal monitors, ultrasounds and other equipment, and a backup generator. The handicap accessible centers have bilingual staff, including an obstetrician, nurse practitioner or midwife, a nurse, lab technician and an outreach worker. The vehicles have a fixed schedule at consistent locations so services will be dependable and expected.

Source: March of Dimes

New Survey Proves Men and Women Have Similar Motivations to Ride Motorcycles -

Everyone knows the old adage – men are from Mars, women are from Venus. But according a recent survey(1) commissioned by Harley-Davidson to find out what motivates men and women to get behind the handlebars–and stay there–when it comes to the sport of motorcycling, they share similar reasons for riding.

The survey found four out of five female and male riders agree that learning to ride a motorcycle changed their lives. Jennifer Thorne, 39, from Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania has been riding for nearly six years. “I can’t even begin to quantify how much my life has changed for the better since I started riding a motorcycle,” said Thorne. “I love the sense of freedom and adventure I feel when I get in the saddle of my motorcycle. I’m also more confident and appreciative of everything around me — I only wish I could have started riding earlier in life.”

Like Thorne, 77 percent of male and 67 percent female riders surveyed said learning to ride was life changing because it increased the freedom and adventure in their lives. More than three quarters of male and female riders also responded that freedom and adventure continues to be their motivation to continue riding.

“This survey confirms what we’ve been hearing for years, that women and men both are seeking the freedom and adventure the sport of motorcycling can offer,” said Leslie Prevish, Women’s Outreach Manager for Harley-Davidson Motor Company. “That said, while men and women ride for many of the same reasons, the survey did confirm that a large percentage of women riders feel the sense of empowerment, strength and increased confidence.”

Some women riders still enjoy the surprised faces of their male counterparts when they hit the highway. The survey found that nearly half of female riders said they love seeing the surprised looks on men’s faces when they realize they’re a women rider. “That moment has definitely become one of life’s little joys,” added Thorne.

Other women pointed out that “[riding] makes me feel I have control over my life” and “[I love] riding with my husband, who is very proud that his wife has learned how to ride.” No matter the personal reason, the fact is more and more women are starting to realize their dreams of being in the saddle of their very own motorcycles. In fact, the Motorcycle Industry Council reports that women now represent 12 percent of all new motorcycle sales. Also, women account for 23 percent of all riders, up from 18 percent five years ago. The Motor Company currently sells more than 11 percent of its new motorcycles to women, which is an eight percent increase in just the past 10 years.

THE IMPACT OF MENTORING

Friends and family usually influence your direction in life, and motorcycling is no different. In fact, nearly half of the female respondents of the survey indicated that they had a mentor who helped them break into the sport, either a male or female rider. More than a third of male riders also reported having a mentor. And nearly a quarter of the remaining female and male riders who didn’t have a mentor said they did have a family member who was a rider, so they wanted to ride too.

More importantly, nearly three quarters of male and female riders said they’d be willing to mentor other riders, either to share their love for riding, offer advice from their own experiences, answer questions and support or even to expand their network of people to ride with. To help guide current and future mentors, Harley-Davidson created Share Your Spark(TM): A Guide to Mentoring, a tool kit that features information on how to be a resource and support system to others during their motorcycling journey.

The Motor Company is committed to providing potential riders a variety of other support programs as well, including the Rider’s Edge New Rider Course training program. This training helps new riders learn how to ride with confidence.

For more information about Share Your Spark(TM), Rider’s Edge or women and motorcycling, visit www.harley-davidson.com/womenriders.

Harley-Davidson Motor Company, the only major U.S.-based motorcycle manufacturer, produces heavyweight motorcycles and a complete line of motorcycle parts, accessories and general merchandise. For more information, visit Harley-Davidson’s web site at www.harley-davidson.com.

(1) The nationally representative survey was conducted in July 2009 among 257 male riders and 252 female licensed motorcycle riders by Impulse Research Corporation on behalf of Harley-Davidson Motor Company. The overall sampling error for this survey is +/- 3% at the 95% rate of confidence.

Source: Harley-Davidson