Marg Newsome and Lynn Mann, Co-ordinators, began the 1st Rural Women's Business Network in Eastern Ontario after a Conference held in Kemptville in February 1994 expressed the need for such a network. Survey results from the conference indicated that there was a requirement for regular meetings for business women in rural areas.

RWBN holds quarterly dinner meetings in various locations throughout their coverage areas of Russell, Metcalfe, Greely, Edwards, North Gower, Kemptville, Merrickville, Oxford Mills and Burritts Rapids. The network dinners typically attract about 50-60 women - some of whom are wives of farmers involved in running the farm operation or women who run small businesses in the rural areas. RWBN's mandate is to help women promote their businesses through networking, the sharing of ideas and resources and to support new and potential women entrepreneurs.

Doorprizes are a very positive element of the business dinners. The business person who donates a doorprize for the evening must tell the group about their business. This tends to be quite a delightful experience for most. They get lots of help from the audience if they are feeling a bit nervous as they are asked questions about their business and this tends to make people feel quite relaxed.

RWBN is a self-supporting non-profit organization and dinner meetings are held on the last Tuesday evening of each quarter. Advance reservations are necessary to attend at a cost of $25.00 and can be obtained by calling Lynn Mann at 258-3112, Marg Newsome at (613) 394-1745 or Cindy Jackson at 445-5439.