A new chapter of the Little Black Book organization has opened in Festus.
LBB is a professional women’s organization dedicated to educating women in business, holding events to bring women together and raising funds for charitable causes.
The organization currently has more than 500 members in 15 chapters across Missouri and Illinois.
Kelley VonArx, 49, of Barnhart is the president of the Festus LBB chapter. She said the group’s launch party was held on Sept. 5 at Main and Mill Brewing Co. in Festus.
About 30 people attended the event, approximately half of them members from the Festus chapter. The other half were from the Arnold chapter, which is formerly known as the Jefferson County chapter.
“We launched (the Festus chapter) with 21 members, and we currently have 26. Our first official meeting was Sept. 17,” she said.
VonArx said she joined LBB about two years ago.
“I was looking for an organization of like-minded women to keep me motivated and inspired, as well as looking for educational opportunities.”
VonArx said during that time, the group has connected her to other women in business who can support and empower each other and push each other to succeed.
She said surrounding yourself with the right people can have a positive impact on personal growth.
“I think an area where a lot of women struggle sometimes is self-doubt, insecurities and competition, and Little Black Book is very much the opposite of that. It’s very much about collaboration and wanting to help each other empower each other,” VonArx said.
Nicole Ghirardi, 36, of Hillsboro is the member engagement liaison for the Festus chapter.
Like VonArx, she joined LBB about two years ago.
“The main thing about LBB that stood out the most was that it was all women who were trying to better themselves, both professionally and personally.”
Ghirardi said something she likes about LBB is the option to visit any of the other LBB chapters.
“There’s 15 different chapters of women for you to be able to go and network throughout. It’s not like just joining a chamber where you’re only part of that chamber and you can only go to that chamber’s events.”
Ghirardi said she hopes for membership to increase to 40 by the end of the year.
“We opened our launch party right smack dab at school start. So I think that that 40 is really where we would like to end at the end of the year,” she said.
Angela Ruiz, 37, of Bonne Terre is the programming liaison for Festus LBB.
She said she joined the group about two years ago for the camaraderie with other women in business and to experience both personal and professional growth.
Ruiz said during her time with LBB, she has had the opportunity to be part of a published book, grow her personal business and step away from her 9-5 job.
She said she enjoys the opportunity to take part in LBB’s affinity groups, or subcommunities within the organization that meet monthly.
Ruiz said the Festus chapter offers a book club, a run-walk club, a group for moms, a group for women working in the wellness industry and a group for those who want help with public speaking.
She said the chapter’s members hope to start a group for self-development in the future.
VonArx said LBB offers its members lots of benefits, like a business mentoring program, mindset workshops, and help for members with personal and professional struggles.
“The goal is to connect, empower, inspire, support and educate each other, to help each other personally and professionally reach our goals,” VonArx said.
She said group members support each other on their business social media pages and help spread the word about each other’s business events. They also attend each other’s events.
VonArx said the group has a private Facebook group for members to interact with each other.
She said the club has two monthly meetings, a “Coffee and Connection” empowerment and networking event, which is open to guests, and a members-only meeting.
VonArx said the club also offers networking and empowerment luncheons for the whole LBB organization that rotates locations every month between different chapters.
She said anyone interested in LBB may attend “Coffee and Connection” from 9-10 a.m. on the first Tuesday of the month at The Common Ground, 107 N. Mill St., in Festus, or they may apply online to join at womenoflbb.com.
The next “Coffee and Connection” meeting will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
VonArx said the club’s dues are $299 per year.