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So exciting! We think mom business owners are amazing. So we offered up a contest where the winner will get sponsored by Mamalode to take the Fact Trac (TM) class put on by the Montana Community Development Corporation (MCDC.) This ten-week course will give the business owner a chance to really look at and work on their business. It is an amazing class. The winner also will receive a ¼ page ad in the summer issue of Mamalode Magazine and $150 in online advertising on www.mamalode.com. TOTAL PRIZE VALUE is $1100.
But enough about that…
We had a really amazing response to this contest. Our scoring system left us with a couple of ties to we are posting our seven finalists and a wide variety of businesses to choose from — like, REALLY varied — from farmer to sex therapist to training to knitting to nursing to coaching to diapering. Congrats to our finalists:
Gini Aten Erving
Loopy Knit/Crochet
Lindsey Doe
Birds and Bees LLC
Nicole Jarvis
Ploughshares Farm
MC Jenni
Training for Life
Jennifer Slayden
Big Sky Life Coach
Jennifer Stires
Nursing Nook
Julie Tompkins
Nature Boy
Take a moment to read their entries and be prepared to be amazed by them. We sure are.
You (or more accurately your computer) can vote once a day, you can share this via email, facebook or a million other little ways under our “SHARE” link if you want to rally for your favorite.
Online voting will take place from Dec 15- 31. And a winner will be announced announced by Jan 1.
Good luck!
We don’t live in missoula anymore but Nature Boy diapered our two children with their great service!
Dr. Lindsey Doe has taught one of our most imprtant clasess at The Montana School of Massage – HIV/AIDS prevention. She has been beyond enlightening, professional, and respected by our student body and staff. Lindsey is certain deserved of your award and she has been and will continue to be an entreprenurial pioneer in her much need field of expertise. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or further inquiry.
Joseph L. Beatty
Owner/Director
Thanks for opportunity to vote.
Thanks for opportunity to vote. Billie Kennedy
Yay for Julie!!!! Julie, Mani and Bryan are such an integral part of the Missoula community… vote for her!
Lindsey Doe is a dynamic young woman and educator.She
devotes all her energy in helping people search for a quality
of life.
Dr. Doe has my vote! She nurtures not only her children but the entire community.
Lindsey Doe is an incredible asset to our community. She reaches out to the youth and provides them with learning opportunities, a safe haven for expression, and a platform for self worth. Her motivation and dedication to our community is unparalleled. Vote For Lindsey Doe!
Good Luck Julie from back home!
It is a pleasure to vote for Lindsey. She works hard at everything she does. Billie
vote for Jennifer Slayden! She is so talented and this would be such a great opportunity!
Dear Gini, Nicole, MC, Jennifer Slayden, Jennifer Stires and Julie,
I want to let you know how impressed I am by each of your stories. I admire your work and feel incredibly proud to be among you. Mamalode is amazing to have figured this all out. I’ve been smiling since it started. It feels great to know there are other women working just as hard to become better business people. It is especially great that we all share the common value of community. I can tell that each one of you means a lot to Missoula. Thank you. I hope to meet you in the future with a big high-five.
Warmly,
Lindsey
Jennifer Slayden is one of the most talented, charismatic, compassionate, sweet and positively uplifting ladies I’ve ever spoke to! This opportunity and the ultimate vote, most deservingly belongs in her favor!
Lindsey Doe is a brave and passionate woman who is constantly working hard to empower her community with the gift of knowledge. She stands out among the body of educators with her energy, never ending fresh style and creativity. She is making a difference. She made a difference in me and I will never forget it. Go Lindsey!!
My vote is for Julie at Nature Boy — they are a wonderful, unique business that provides one-of-a-kind resources for nursing and cloth diapering moms. Thank you!!!
We are proud of Lindsey,
Jen Slayden is a true nurturer!!! Genuine in every sense of the word. Sincere, caring and optimistic. She touches people in a way that inspires them to strive for and gain what they desire. Jen deserves this opportunity.
Dear Lindsey, Gini, Nicole, MC, Jennifer, and Julie,
I couldn’t agree more with you Lindsey!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I was very humbled when I read all the essays and I raise a virtual toast to you all! Congratulations to each of you for adding such diverse, dynamic, creative energy to our wonderful town of Missoula.
Thanks to all of you readers for voting and thank you to Mamalode for letting us share a little piece of ourselves with the community!
Warm Regards!
Jen Slayden
My vote is for Jennifer Stires. My daughter was in the NICU for 2 months, unable to nurse, and Jennifer gave me the encouragement and support I needed to keep pumping. My daughter is now 6 months old ( and still unable to nurse) and I am still exclusively pumping. I don’t think I could’ve made it this far without Jennifer’s pumping knowledge. I thank her and so does my daughter! What a wonderful asset to any nursing/pumping new or ‘experienced’ mom.
Hey mamalode! Thanks for the opportunity to enter the contest! To Gina, MC, Lindsey, Jennifer, Jennifer, and Julie…I love all of your stories! Cheers!
Dear Gini, Nicole, Lindsey, Jennifer Slayden, Jennifer Stires and Julie, I’m in awe of how it is to step out into our community like we are, taking a stand for our various contributions and visions of business. I have a growing sense of partnership and connection through this process of speaking out and sending people to learn about what each of us is going for. Thank you, Mamalode, for your creativity in bringing us out as women, mothers and businesses. I wish you each continuing connection with as many people as possible. I’m happy to be on this ride with all of you. I’m looking forward to to whatever comes next for us all.
In Gratitude, MC
Fellow mamas and friends – Thanks for the kind words and positive atmosphere of this “competition.” I admit I was a little dismayed at the need to ask people to vote, but now I’m just floored by the support. Happy holidays to you all — Julie
Jennifer is doing a great service to Missoula by providing not only excellent lactation services, but the Nursing Nook is a great resource for nursing mothers. Jennifer is so friendly and kind. The Nursing Nook also provides quality nursing products that are worth every penny. She is doing a great job!
MC Jenni has the ability to gently, confidently encourage one who knows life needs to be different but may not be sure what to do to make it so. Once MC is on your side, you can’t help but succeed and have an incredible time doing so. MC has a natural ability to combine nurturing with empowering, not an easy thing to do I imagine. She is able to see the real person, underneath the layers physical and emotional limitations. She finds that kernel of life deep within a person, shines a light on it, then holds up the shiniest mirror until you see your own beauty, claim it and become desirous of brightening it for the shear purpose of your own delight. Without hesitation, I boldly state that I am a different person because of MC’s coaching ability.
After you read Lindseys bio you will agree that she is a beautiful
woman.
Jen Slayden is an incredibly dedicated, hard working, warm and passionate woman. I am a former coworker of Jen’s and know first hand the energy and commitment she brings to everything that she does. I believe that she is a great candidate for the MCDC/Mamalode contest — she will soak up the training that is offered and take everything to a higher level, encouraging and supporting others along the way. Jen brightens up our community with her positive, nurturing and supportive presence.
MC has a remarkable ability to balance the motherhood and business asct. I have seen her doing her cyber coaching and then be able to turn around and be an outstanding Mom. I’m sure all thecandidates are wonderful and thank you for honoring them. My vote goes for MC!!!
MC is the real deal – passionate and compassionate, full of knowledge and enthusiasm, and with the life lessons that add richness to her client’s experience. All these women are incredible, but MC has that extra something.
We give our love and best wishes to Lindsey. Best wishes in all your endeavors.
You go Sis! So glad you are taping those deep creative reserves.
I’m putting out the word within the sizable greater Missoula-Charlottesville community that Loopy is the place to shop for some fine yarn!
Enjoying reading all the comments.
It’s been a pleasure for the last sixteen years to watch Lindsey’s star shine as bright. Some say ‘Vote for Pedro”–I say, “Vote for Lindsey.”
One of the greatest gifts in my life is the connection I have with MC. I have lived in Missoula; Boulder, CO; San Francisco; Washington DC; New York City; and now Athens, Greece. I have met an extraordinary myriad of people in my lifetime. MC stands out amongst the crowd. Her support and inspiration have been pivotal in my life and in many others whom I know. Every time she gets an educational opportunity she soaks it up like a sponge, incorporates it into all that she has already become, and then passes it on to all of us who are lucky enough to be in her sphere!
Our best wishes for Lindsey and everyone involved in the contest. Merry Christmas
Gini and her wonderful crew created an inviting and inspirational space that reminds many of us of the simple past time of making something beautiful – ourselves- from “scratch”. In a time when everything is fast paced, pre-made and purchased, these women offer an atmosphere that is nearly other worldly – full of color, texture and happiness. The world needs a jolt of color and a reminder that each of us is indeed a creative being. It brings out the best of our artistic sides – whether you knit or not – their world is heavenly.
All of the contestants are clearly talented, make a meaningful contribution to our community, and are loved by family and friends. And each would no doubt benefit from the Mamalode scholarship and business training. Rather than trying to elevate Gini and Loopy above the others, I will tell you why I hope she wins this contest.
I want Gini to have the confidence to set aside her fear and enjoy her new life as a creative, competent and community-oriented business owner.
To quote Gini from her essay: “The opportunity to create something of our own is both wonderful and frightening – the fear and the satisfaction of being the boss run side-by-side.”
Gini is a perfectionist, and I believe her fear will decrease as her knowledge and training increase. She has created a beautiful store, extended herself to the community, and taken a giant leap of faith both financially and personally. I hope Gini will continue on the steep learning curve, while at the same time allowing herself to enjoy the success of Missoula’s newest yarn shop.
And if you need to shop for the holidays……
I am voting for Jennifer Slayden, whom I have known since 2000 November. She is an excellent musician and an accomplished music instructor. We founded together the monthly program of music by and for children called Spontaneous Music by Children, which will celebrate its 100th gathering on January 5, 2010. Through this program we have been fortunate to touch the lives of countless number of children positively and promote their creativity.
Jennifer also has been helping me as a music instructor and as an adviser in two other programs that I iniitiated in the Misoula valley: 1. Center for Music by People with Disabilities and 2. Magic of Music with Seniors. These nonfprofit programs approved by the IRS aim at inclusion of all people regardless of their abilities and age in the cultural life of our community in a regular manner.
Jennifer is caring and conscientious and selfless when it comes to serving underserved groups of people. She is creative and shows a maturity that is born of reflection about and a thoughtful understanding of the complexities and ambiguities of life. She is non-judgemental, but subscribes with deep convicion to all the high values of American democracy and abides by the universal values of ethics. She volunteers a large number of hours for the good of the community and is always involved in self-improvement efforts while remaining committed to our advancement as a community. I am sure all the other candidates are highly qualified, but as I have known Jennifer and her work at close quarters for the last ten years, I feel very confident in voting for her in this contest.
I also want to congratulate Mamalode for initiating this program that rewards genuinely committed women who are making first-rate contributions to the wellbeing of women and children in our community. All the very best!!!
I would like to see all these extraordinary women receive some kind of support. What an amazing group of self-starters they are. Their enthusiasm and passions are generating a world of health, beauty, and community enrichment. I want them all to succeed.
Vote for Jennifer Slayden!
I have been blessed to know Jen for about 12 years now. I met her while working at Community Medical Center in the Activities department. Jen played music for the patients and inspired me to start playing piano for them. I remember her wearing a clown outfit at 8-9 months pregnant and playing an accordian. The patients and staff really appreciated all of her hard work to keep spirits up in a stressful environment. She also played many other instruments including guitar, harmonica and cello. Jen’s music helped patients in so many different ways. She helped them relax and get their mind off their pain and diagnosis, have fun, laugh and sing along to old time tunes, and helped them find their own love for music, when it seemed to be lost by their illness. Some patients did not want to leave their rooms but would come out to listen to Jen or she would bring the music to them. We have had patients return after being discharged just to hear her play again.
I have also had the honor of assisting Jen and Mohan with Spontaneous Music for Children for the last 10 years. While raising three children of her own, she has shared her time and talents with many other children in the community by inspiring them to play music in a variety of creative ways. My son has known Jen all his life and is now a second grader who is taking cello lessons from her. She has truly inspired him to play. He was very little when he told me that he wanted to play the cello and be like Jen and now she is helping to make that dream come true.
I appreciate all that Jennifer Slayden has done and continues to do for our community. She deserves to win this contest. Thank you for providing this opportunity. I believe all of the contestants should win.
Here here to all the great women of Missoula! Thanks for the time and care you put into making this a better community for everyone!
What a pleasure to know that Missoula has such a resource as the Nursing Nook and a compassionate educated IBCLC and PHN as Jennifer!
All of these are such good places but I’ll vote for Jennifer because of the recent birth of my 2nd grandbabie in which it would hhave been great if my daughter would have been able to nurse or be shown how
Lindsey is the “bees knees”
MC~I am so inspired by all that you are and all that you do. Knowing you as a sister from afar has been a blessing. I wish you all the success and joy possible. The funny thing is that you are creating your world as you always have. You will have that joy regardless of the contest outcome. Congratulations for participating in an outstanding contest and for creating a life that is admirable and deserves my vote.
Best to you, my friend…Kerri Painter
Happy New Year to all. Billie
Jennifer Stires/Nursing Nook is a fantastic resource and source of support for nursing moms (and so understanding and patient with our husbands.) Jennifer is a relentless cheerleader and her business has fulfilled a niche in our community. Thank you Jennifer!
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