When the Central Iowa chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners was formed in 1986, the climate for female enterprisers was very different than it is now.

“It was more about women’s issues, politics and how to start a business,” said Jennifer Sayers, a graphic designer at Bijou Grafix and former president of the chapter. “Men brought each other along, but we didn’t have the resources. Now there’s not such a big difference.”

The organization found itself floundering. Membership and meeting attendance were down. The chapter’s president-elect, Shelly Meighan, vice president of Immel and Associates, said part of the problem was advances in technology.

“Information we used to provide could be found on the Internet,’ Meighan said. “People didn’t need to come as often. Also, our organization has some of the busiest women around.”

The remaining members of the local chapter decided that changes had to be made for it to survive.

“We conducted a survey to determine focus,” Meighan said. “We made the meetings quarterly, not monthly. It’s increased our attendance numbers, and now the meetings are better prepared and more focused.”

In fact, according to Sayers, the organization has had more membership inquiries in the last quarter than in all of last year. The group has approximately 30 members, but the events it sponsors regularly attract about 50 people.

“Many of them are what we call ‘Friends of NAWBO,'” Sayers said. “They’re corporate sponsors, people from organizations that support women’s issues, the [U.S.] Small Business Administration or women who want to network but aren’t eligible for membership because they aren’t business owners.”

The response to the changes the organization has made has been positive from its members and friends alike. The group’s leaders pride themselves on creating an organization that fits the lifestyle its members lead.

“It’s not about water-cooler gossip,” said Sayers. “We deal with business issues, such as leadership, hiring, firing, finding an attorney, things like that. It’s an opportunity for women to mentor each other.”

“What’s meant the most to me is being able to relate to other women business owners,” said Dana Annear, club president and owner of Images Design and Printing Inc. “I didn’t know much about my business when I started, but with the help of members like Jennifer Sayers, I learned a lot. The relationships I’ve gained through NAWBO have helped me in my business. There’s a lot of camaraderie.”

In remaking the group, its leaders wanted to ensure that it didn’t duplicate trade organizations and give information specific to one industry. Instead they wanted to be more universal, dealing mainly with the needs of small businesses.

“We focus on networking to grow our businesses,” Meighan said.

In fact, the group has instituted networking events to fall between its meetings. The informal gatherings allow members to get to know one another in a more intimate setting, and according to Sayers, many members say they prefer them to the larger meetings. Nonetheless, the meetings are growing in popularity. In April, the featured speaker was Sarah Grant-Hutchison, owner of Sticks Inc. In September it was Diana Deibler of Deibler and Co., and the speaker for the Jan. 21 meeting will be Deborah Scott of P.I. Midwest, who will give a lecture on the differences between leadership and management.

If anyone could say that the organization changed her business, it’s Sayers.

“It’s been huge,” she said. “I found my banker, my CPA and my attorney through the organization.” Sayers has attended national conventions, learned how to get her business featured in publications and received awards, such as the Governor’s Volunteerism Award. She has also obtained some clients through the group, but both Sayers and Meighan warn against joining for the sole purpose of gaining customers.

“[Members] may not be my best prospects, but they may know who would be my best prospects,” Meighan said.

“Some people think they can come to one meeting and leave with new clients, but that’s not what it’s about,” Sayers said. “It’s about building relationships.”