Empowerment Circle FAQ's

How do I join an e-circle?
We suggest posting a message on the list serve stating your desire to find a circle. You can also contact the ecircle coordinator to request help in finding or connecting with an existing circle. Although we as a community do not “place” women in circles, we can make email introductions.

What is required to join an e-circle?
Participation in the Woman Within initiation weekend is the only community requirement for sitting in an Ecircle. Most circles will require all women to participate in the Guided Ecircle training that is offered approximately 3-4 times a year. Please check the website for scheduled dates. Please note that each circle determines their own requirements.

Does my geographic location impacts my ability to join an e-circle?
Yes. We suggest you contact the Empowerment Coordinator in your local community and find out what is available in your area. Sometimes a small group of women already meets in your area and may have a space for an additional woman. Perhaps, several other women in your general area have recently completed the weekend and it is possible to start a new ecircle together upon completion of the ecircle training. If you are unavailable for a weekly meeting, we also offer Open Ecircles approximately 4-5 times a year. These are helped in various locations and open to any women who has done her WW initiation weekend. If you live in the Women In Circle area please contact Melissa Mondschain at melissacatalystbenefits.com

I cannot participate in the required e-circle training for quite some time, are there any alternatives for the time being?
Staying connected after your initiation weekend is very important and there are many ways to do that: Register on the listserve. By doing so, you will receive individual emails from women making requests and offering programs. You will receive notices of community sponsored events and happenings. Participate in community events. Celebrations and trainings are a great way to connect with women.

How do I find out about e-circles that are open to new members in my area?
You can post a message on the list serve or you can contact the Ecircle coordinator for assistance in making an email introduction. This is not a guarantee that you will be placed in a circle.

How do I obtain an e-circle training manual? Who do I contact?
To purchase an ecircle manual, you will want to contact Lynn Waxler at: lwaxler@insightbb.com

What type of ongoing training is provided for active e-circles?
Most circles will hit bumpy patches where it can be very helpful to have some additional guidance. Our community can provide a list of trained guides who can be contacted and contracted to assist guiding your circle. It is also the intention of the ecircle coordinator to check in on the 6 month and 1 year anniversary of an ecircle that has gone through the guided ecircle training to offer guidance.

I can’t find a circle to join. How do I start my own circle?
Starting your own circle can be a very empowering experience. We suggest you start by having a clear idea of what your intention is and what you would like your circle to look like. Once you have some clarity, posting a message on the list serve will be the best way to reach the majority of the community. You can also contact the ecircle coordinator to find out if is she is aware of other women who are searching for a circle in your area.

What does it mean to register my ecircle? And how do I do register?
Once you have established your ecircle, we request that you register it with the ecircle coordinator. Please send an email with the day, time, location of your meetings, the number of women sitting in the circle, a contact person name and email and if your circle is open to new members.

Why do I need to register my circle?
Our community strives to be open and accessible to all women. In order to assist women find and establish their own circles, we feel it is important to keep a master database of all circles. The information each circle provides is not shared with anyone is used for 2 primary reasons:
1. To understand and measure the impact Ecircles have on our community
2. To assist women in their search for an ecircle.
After your initial weekend, Woman Within offers several other opportunities for personal growth. Some of these opportunities are as follows:

Empowerment Circles:
An empowerment circle is a group of women that meets regularly to support one another in continuing their personal growth.

E-Circle Trainings:
This is a guided training done in one of two formats: a two-day intensive or an 8-week ongoing. This training will provide many of the skills needed to sit in an empowerment circle with other women. Most existing circles require their members to participate in the training prior to joining.

Women Empowering Women, and Woman Within Level 2 are weekend experiences open to women who have completed their Woman Within Weekend. You can find more information about both of these workshops at the Woman Within International Website.

Several Weekend Leaders and Facilitators offer additional trainings. To find information about these opportunities, we suggest checking your local, regional, and international WW Websites.

The Midwest Information Line also receives notices of a variety of workshops that members of the Woman Within community have found valuable. These are not sponsored by Woman Within, but are available for you to consider.

© Women In Circle 2005 - 2008
A member of the Woman Within International network and the Women to Women Midwest network