We meet on the third Thursday of the month, at Benedict’s Plantation, Causeway Blvd, Mandeville.  The gathering starts at 10:30 am as members and guests arrive and catch up with each other.  At 11:00, the meeting starts with some business followed by the main event – our guest speaker.  After the meeting, we head to a local restaurant for good food and conversation.

Each month our organization invites members and non-member business owners to sponsor our meetings.  A $50 meeting sponsorhsip provides the following:

• Sponsor’s information will be included in WIP emails along with a link to the sponsor’s website prior to the meeting to be sponsored
• Sponsor will have 3 – 4 minutes at the sponsored Monthly WIP meeting to talk about her business 
•  Sponsor may place informational brochures, cards, etc., about her business on chairs at the sponsored meeting.

WIP’s activities are designed to bring our members and prospective new members together outside of the monthly meetings.   These include activities like walking in the park, going to a museum, participating in a Mardi Gras parade, meeting at a restaurant to enjoy an evening with the other members and guests, learning something new (like how to make a St. Joseph’s altar, etc.) or skills building (like learning to use new technology or paint or draw or meditate, etc.).  Activities may be free or a fee may be charged to cover just the cost or they may be self-pay.  Activities may be day time or evening or weekend depending upon what our members are interested in.

This annual event has grown through the years and is always a lot of fun.  Themes have ranged from It’s a Northshore Thing to Mardi Gras to the Arts to Successful Women.  It is the primary fundraiser that we put on for our Community Partners, with inspirational speakers, entertainment, a seated luncheon and raffle.

2021’s Smart Women’s Day Out will have an optional luncheon from 11:45 – 12:45 with the main program from 12:45 (registration) to 4:00 PM.

Throughout the year, we support our four Community Partners with volunteers and participation at their own events.  We help spread the word about the good things that they are doing for our community and our fundraising is divided between them.