It’s funny, with two daughters, my daughter never thought she would have season tickets to high school football games. But when her eldest joined the high school drill team, Friday night football became part of the family schedule.

I muse at how different things are now and yet, how they are the same in many ways. Parents still love, support and help their offspring develop from infants to teens to become productive members of society and even parents themselves.

Nonetheless, things are so different as well. When my kids were growing up, they rode bikes and climbed trees outside, rather than on a computer. They used the family phone to call friends to get together. Now they text, talk on miniature phones of their own and utilize a multitude of technology gadgets as if they have always been here.

My son’s daughter has an athletic scholarship in swimming in college. Something not likely before Title IX. College life has changed with the times, nevertheless it still opens a whole new world to many young adults as they taste their true freedom for the first time and realize that going to classes and doing their work is their responsibility, with no parents nagging them.

I love watching the changes and growth in the various generations, and look forward to watching them blossom even more as they continue to grow and thrive.

With Labor Day just behind us, I think about how hard everyone is working to stay afloat in this economy. Don’t miss out on these experiences with your children. You can’t get them back. Make memories for yourself and for them.

September holidays include Labor Day (6) and the day that changed our lives forever (9/11). I love happy occasions like celebrating Grandparents Day (12). After all, where would families be without them? I’m very lucky to be geographically close to most of my family, but with technology today, you can stay connected to love ones across the globe. The first day of autumn (23) signals that the Texas State Fairs (Sept 24-Oct 17) is here. I’m sure lots of states have fairs in the fall, but this one is big and has been a round a long time.

In October, America celebrates Columbus Day (11) and Halloween (31). Because of the milder weather, many charity races and walks take place in the fall, as well a numerous art fests and outdoor events from concerts to little league sports games.

In America, we have the midterm elections November 2. On November 11, Veterans Day, we remember the men and women who have served our country and preserved our freedoms. One of my favorite fall holidays is Thanksgiving (25). We have so much to be thankful for, plus we always celebrate with family and friends. Delicious food, endless football, fun conversations, and happy kids—what could be better?

As we enter December, we begin to look to 2011. We celebrate Pearl Harbor Day (7), the first day of winter (22) and the last day of the year (31). Additionally, they are many religious holidays celebrated throughout the year by the diverse population of our country.

I, like many enjoy our holidays. Some are fun, others significant of events in history, some memorial in spirit and others religious. Being able to celebrate with those who are meaningful to each of us makes them very special and enrich our lives.

Every president has published a proclamation for Women’s Equality Day since 1971 when legislation was first introduced in Congress by Bella Abzug. This resolution was passed designating August 26 of each year as Women’s Equality Day.

As we celebrate the 90th anniversary of voting on August 26, it is apparent women still have a long way to go in our country. Women account for less than 20% of Congress, yet 51% of the population. They are CEO of a fraction of Fortune 500 companies, yet more than 50% of the workforce is female. Almost 50 years after the Equal Pay Act was enacted, American women still only earn 77 cents for every dollar men earn.

However, today is a day women should celebrate. And the upcoming elections are days when women should not only be seen, but heard!

For fun, take the Women Equality Day Quiz.

http://www.nwhp.org/resourcecenter/equalityday_quiz.html

There are 96 minor league games being played today in a variety of different sports. Check out the family-friendly promotional packages your home team offers, and enjoy the smaller, more intimate atmosphere. Those are some of the reason minor league games attract women and their families.

Have you been to one? What did you enjoy most?

As a woman, I’m always delighted when sports heroes are great role models. Today, unfortunately, they are too rare. Scandals plaque players who often put instant gratification or let poor judgment cloud their playing and potentially shiny legacy.

Of course Emmitt isn’t the only responsible football player, but he is the latest to receive this honor as a Cowboy. As I watch this season unfold, I’ll be looking for the next role model and hope the NFL continues to provide solid male figures with good lessons to teach, rather than the opposite.

Congratulations Emmitt and all the worthwhile honorees in the Football Hall of Fame, and to the many others who don’t have this distinction, but are excellent mentors and examples to our future leaders.

“The drivers themselves are a key factor in our success with our female fan base,” said Steve Phelps, marketing chief for NASCAR, National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. “Our drivers are seen as courageous, heroic, down-to-Earth; they’re regular guys and our female fan base certainly identifies with that.”

Often NASCAR enthusiasts choose a favorite driver, wear their colors and wait in line to meet them in person prior to the race. This personal relationship is important to all fans, but especially to women.

“Per capita, they’re among the highest earning sports fans across the board in America,” Jeff MacGregor said. “They earn well. They spend well. They buy a lot a stuff. The average NASCAR fan spends over $800 a year on NASCAR items.” NASCAR has become a promotional Mecca for a large number of Fortune 500 companies and customers of both sexes. In the past, cars and teams sported automotive products, including motor oil. Today, race cars feature logos for breakfast cereal, dog food and cake mix. NASCAR estimates that 40 percent of its fan base, which spent $1 billion last year on official merchandise, is women.

Its licensing deal with Harlequin Enterprises Ltd., the world’s top publisher of romance and other fiction targeted to women, is meant to market to the female demographic and draw in new fans, says spokesman Andrew Giangola. Marleah Stout, spokeswoman for the Canada-based Harlequin, says sales of the series of NASCAR-themed books are brisk, selling millions of copies.
It will be interesting to see how NASCAR continues to grow their female fan base. A couple of new promotions might be something for them to consider.

NFL is reaching out with some ads specifically targeting female viewers. Additionally, teams are offering a variety of events from Football 101 to instructional seminars that explain everything from strategies to football history, helping to convert casual viewers to loyal fans. Eighteen teams participate in the Football 101 program, and more than 10,000 women attend annually.

Football also has other things that make it attractive to women, sports experts say. The season is short, the number of games few, so it doesn’t involve the same time commitment as baseball. It’s also possible to understand the play without becoming a master of statistics.
Several teams have developed successful programs to boost their female support. Teams that want to grow their fan base, get more people to games or sell more merchandise, understand that reaching out to women makes good business sense.

According to several sources, including NBC Sports, the Pittsburgh Steelers have the largest female fan base in professional football. A third of Pittsburgh-area women consider themselves fans. The Steelers sold out a Ladies Night Out event they held that included a prime rib dinner and a tour of Heinz Field.

Many teams realize the need to connect with women more than a decade ago. In 2003, in an attempt to attract women, the Ravens formed Purple, a club which is free to women interested in joining, along with a higher-level club, the Lavender Ladies, which costs $250. In 2005, the Ravens added a ladies festival where women could come to the stadium, meet players, go on the field and talk to coaches. In the women’s merchandise section of the NFL’s website, the Ravens have more than 9o different items. Female fans buy about $150 million in merchandise each year.

As more teams realize the economic clout and interest of women in the sport of football, more and more programs will be designed to appeal to this growing, untapped and very lucrative market.

The Minnesota Twins began a tradition to attract women a few years back. The Herberger’s Wine, Women and Baseball Night co-sponsored by local radio and TV stations, was held at the Metrodome prior to a regularly scheduled game. Exclusively for women, a ticket to the event cost $35 and included entrance to pregame female festivities in the Tailgate Tent. Events integrated wine-tasting, appetizers and desserts, “Pamper Yourself” stations featuring makeovers, manicures, massages, a complimentary gift and visits by special on-air guests.

The LA Dodgers have invited women to unroll their yoga mats on the outfield, knit in Stitch n’ Pitch nights and has special Wednesday broadcast with online play-by-play especially for women. This is part of the Dodgers Women’s Initiative Network(WIN), created by former CEO Jamie McCourt.

For several seasons, the Atlanta Braves and Publix (a local grocer) have teamed up to host Baseball 101 clinics. At the FUNdamentals of Baseball experience, the Brave players teach hitting, fielding and pitching skills, as well as a panel discussion on various topics of interest to baseball fans, new and old. The event includes a tour, luncheon, two tickets to the game, a t-shirt and a gift bag with autographed items.

In 2009, the Philadelphia Phillies scheduled their first of their two annually held Baseball 101 clinics for women. The cost for the full-day clinic and game is $175 and is limited to the first 120 women who register. It usually sells out quickly and has a long waiting list. It features everything from interactive on-field clinics taught by Phillies coaches to a Q&A session with a player and a team executive to a patio game watching party.

In one way this is a great thing. It allows women to do tasks at their own pace when it is convenient for them. Definitely a plus. On the other hand, it keeps us connected to work issues, constant text and emails messages and many other diversions that aren’t conducive to rest, relaxation and recreation. In other words, women have little much needed “me” time.

We could weigh the benefits of both worlds…the new 24/7 environment where kids are only a clickaway and our former environment of less information. The many aps available bring us helpful business information, as well as directions to a friend’s new house. You can check the weather for tomorrow or across the globe. Carrying a camera is becoming obsolete as many phones/devices take pictures clearly and easily. And more aps and new features are being developed as I write this blog.

However, there is little reason to compare the two worlds in order to pick the best because technology and rapid communication is here to stay. We don’t have the choice of returning to simpler, quieter times. But I’m not sure I would if I could. The speed of change and technology can be exhilarating, as well as exhausting.

As the travel industry continues to struggle with high fuel cost, nature’s intervention and security issues, businesses are spending less on travel and more on other means of connecting and doing business.

Both domestic (down 5.2 percent) and international (down 6.3 percent) flights are suffering as only 769.6 million people flew last year, down 5.3 percent from 2008’s 812.3 million and more than 8 percent below 2007’s total of 838.2 million.

Like many corporations, the airline industry would be wise to focus a little more on how they can better serve their flyers rather than what new fees they can impose.

Adding services that will appeal to women makes good business sense. Providing a safer airport environment and more assistance when needed, especially for women traveling alone, would be a good place to start. Not that women are helpless, we aren’t. It is just nice to have friendly, helpful personnel available. However, the best way to make your airline “the airline of choice for women” is to ask them what they want. By creating a Woman’s Advisory Board that includes a diverse mix of women, an airline can literally pull ahead of its competition.