She’s used to spending a whole working day with her audience, but Gina Sebastian, author, corporate mentor and coach, still made an impression on about 300 people, mostly women, attending the 18th annual Quota Club Women of Today Awards luncheon on April 20. Quota is currently partnered with the Estevan Oil Wives Club, in co-ordinating the annual event which was held in the Wylie-Mitchell Air Cadet Hall this year.
“It’s a little more difficult imparting a strong message in just 15 minutes, but this was a good crowd. I hope they got something out of it,” said Sebastian following the luncheon as she signed copies of her book.
Sebastian’s appearance was just one of the highlights of the afternoon which included the awarding of four Women of Today titles to Amanda Minchin, contribution to the workplace; Daphne Lavina, Ida Petterson Memorial Award, outstanding entrepreneur; Wendy Godfrey, SaskTel outstanding contribution to community; and Cassidy Clow, Shirley Orsted Memorial Award, young women of today, as reported in the April 22 edition of Southeast Lifestyles.
Using the theme of setting souls on fire, Sebastian said it was important for women to not only celebrate each other, but to also celebrate self.
The mentor and coach, who has been involved in the motivational world for 17 years now, said “belief in self is vital.” She also noted that women needed to continually push their comfort zones to search for new ideas, “because your family only grow as you do.”
Thinking about abundance, in the current economic state of affairs in Saskatchewan, might be difficult she suggested, but abundance, in terms of relationships, isn’t difficult to achieve.
Collecting the right evidence to get more of what you want is an important piece of the puzzle, she said. “What works for us depends on our belief and it’s not always about collecting more money.”
Sebastian added that picking up a mentor, a personal cheerleader if you will, someone you can turn to when problems start surfacing, is also a strong suggestion she always makes. “When I have a problem getting myself up, I turn to mine. You also want to be a mentor … spread the joy. If you do, then you get more.”
Sebastian then said that self awareness was an important key to putting some fire into the soul. “Know in your being you are resourceful, you’re not going to end up being a bag lady. Let’s face it. In Saskatchewan, there is only one degree of separation. Everyone knows everyone else, so make your connections and surround yourself with amazing people and I promise you sunshine at the other end,” said the Regina-based coach.
Thinking about fresh ideas and proper exercise were important, she said, along with the vital need to stay connected, “no matter what’s going on in your lives. You are worth it, believe in yourselves and live life with enthusiasm,” she advised them in conclusion.
After the luncheon, Sebastian told the Mercury, a divorce several years ago, set her on the self-awareness exploration that, in turn, led her into the career of motivating people as she learned to not only help herself, but also develop the skills to help others.
“Usually I work with corporations, generally on contract with once-a-month sessions. We have found that attempting them more frequently is just too much. People want to take the suggestions and lessons they pick up and try them out, pick out the ones that work for them and work with them for awhile. Then they come back to the next session, prepared to report and pick up more,” she said, in explaining her career path and role in the corporate structures. She said she delivers well over 200 workshops or seminars a year.
“Self-affirmation, it’s fun and it’s amazing doing this type of work and seeing the light bulbs go off and seeing people in the corporate world getting specific with their lives.”
She said she was impressed with the spirit of her Estevan audience and to be within a circle of women of accomplishment.
Isabelle Butters, a former mayor of Weyburn and long time Quota International member, said she recalled how Estevan worked hard to establish the Quota Club 40 years ago, and she remembers working with Ida Petterson, not only in Quota but also from a city council perspective, since Petterson was also Saskatchewan’s first female mayor and Butters was the second.
Butters also paid tribute to another deceased former Quota Club member, Shirley Orsted, who also has one of the local awards named in her memory. “She was integral to the process with her leadership skills,” Butters said. Because of women like Petterson and Orsted, she said, “Quota does not go unnoticed in the city today because your members today know it takes community involvement to make it (Estevan) a happy place to live.”
Emcee Lorlei Lachambre explained how the judging for the awards was carried out, noting that the adjudicators were all from outside the Energy City.
Coun. Dennis Moore brought greetings from the City of Estevan, noting how the women who were nominated as well as those who were presented with the actual awards, were all making a positive difference in the city as “agents of positive change.” Moore went on to note that “we still have gender parity issues to deal with, but let’s celebrate the successes too.”
During the course of the luncheon, the support staff at Creighton Lodge were singled out for special recognition as an additional highlight to the event.
At the conclusion, co-ordinator Valerie Hall said she was very pleased with the manner in which the function was carried out. “The people got into the spirit of the event. We changed it up a bit this year, to keep it fresh and I think it was successful. The response was just excellent.”
Luncheon grace was offered by Judy Sovdi and attendees were given an opportunity to make silent bids on several items for the fundraising efforts, urged along by Lachambre who guided the program through to conclusion with an air of humour and enthusiasm and within a tight timeline.
