Kim Storie - Speaker on February 18, 2025

The opportunity to earn your trust as you begin to share information about yourself, your family, your partner, your needs, your goals and your worries and so much more is one of the most rewarding aspects of being a financial advisor. Once I understand where you are today and where you want to be, we will build a personal and easy to understand strategy together. Having a strategy will help you become more goal-focused in order to fulfill your dreams. After our initial meeting, should you grant me the opportunity to work with you, I'll consistently keep the lines of communication open, and together we will adjust your strategy accordingly based on your life changes.

I joined Edward Jones shortly after unexpectedly losing my mother; our family struggled with the unknown because of lack of planning. I want to help other families not have to struggle, to gain an enjoyable retirement and to be a shoulder to lean on when things aren't going your way. I will work tirelessly as an Edward Jones financial advisor – I believe it’s important to invest my time to understand what you’re working toward before you invest your money. The financial world can sometimes seem like foreign territory; I can work one-on-one with you to help determine an appropriate financial strategy for you and your family.

Prior to joining Edward Jones, I worked as a finance director in the recreational industry for 30 years. I came to Edward Jones in 2023 because I want to help individual investors work toward achieving their financial goals.

Originally from Asheville, NC, I have lived in North Port, Florida, since 2016. To be part of this community, in my free time, I volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. However, my most gratifying, and sometimes challenging, role is that of mother and wife. My spouse, John, and I have four children and have been married for over 35 years.

At Edward Jones, we focus on you. The firm has thousands of people and advanced technology supporting our office so that we can help you and your family reach your long-term financial goals. Please feel free to reach out to me and I will do my best to
serve you and your family.

Make a Dinner Meeting Reservation

February 2025 - President's Message

Another Wine Tasting Fundraiser is in the books for 2025. Thank you for all our sponsors listed below. We were able to make some money after expenses, but not as much as in previous years.

The biggest challenge that we are facing is that we can no longer afford to have our meetings at the Plantation. They requested we have a minimum of $500.00 spent on food costs. This means a minimum of 14 to 15 attendees. As a result, the Board has decided to have the February BPWEV meeting at Arturo’s in Englewood. We will allow everyone to order off the menu and pay for your own dinner separately. For the March meeting we are going to have an informal gathering of appetizers and drinks at Artur’s for those that want to participate. We will advertise the event as an orientation for BPWEV and what we have to offer to members who join. Depending on how the feedback for this event is received, we may use this as a platform for future events. The Board feels that it is necessary to go in a different direction if we want our local organization to continue.

If you plan on attending the February 18th meeting, please register on the website so that we can provide an accurate count to Artur’s Restaurant, 70 N. Indiana Ave, Englewood, 34223 at 5:30 PM.

I am pleased to inform you that Kim Storie, one of the newest members and a financial advisor from Edward Jones, will be our speaker at the meeting.

I hope to see you at the February Meeting.

Happy Valentine’s Day,
Sue Hogrefe, BPWEV President.

Thank You to Our 14th Annual Wine Tasting Sponsors

Diamond Sponsor

Platinum Sponsor

Gold Sponsors

Sue Hogrefe

Silver Sponsor

BPW Member Esther Bird
Robinson Education Consulting, Dr. Joyce Robinson

Silent Auction Donors

Stephanie Marcusky

2024 BPW Adult Learner Scholarships

Christine Davis Memorial Scholarship

For those of us who never knew her, I’d like to take a moment to introduce the lady our scholarship awards are named after.

Christine Davis was a BPW member for over 50 years, first in New York State and later in Florida.  Her energy to promote BPW was astounding. She served in every office the organization had to offer, short of State or National President. She served on many committees and especially enjoyed being chair of the scholarship committee until ill health required her to resign from too many obligations. Her beautiful smile, her eagerness to be always willing to help and her efficient handling of any task she elected to do or help with, will not be forgotten by the BPWEV members, but will be missed.

The Christine Davis Memorial Scholarships will preserve the love and devotion she championed to achieve equality for all women.

Public Policy Platform 2023-2024

At the BPW Florida State Conference in June, 2023, the Proposed Public Policy was presented and approved. The new Public Policy for 2023 – 2024 is below:

Introduction:

Since the inception of BPW/FL in 1919, BPW/FL has always supported women’s rights. BPW/FL continues to support the ERA as a basic foundation of our Public Policy Platform, even as we understand that passing the ERA grows more difficult with the passage of time. BPW/FL firmly believes that equality of rights under the law should not be abridged or denied by the United States or by any state on account of sex, and the rights of women require constant vigilance.

Item 1: Economic Equity, Opportunity and Self-Sufficiency

BPW/FL supports public policies that:

• ensure pay equity and equal employment opportunities for all women
• promote opportunities for women-owned businesses
• promote affordable, quality dependent care
• promote Social Security and retirement reform options benefiting women
• guarantee a workplace free from harassment and discrimination

Item 2: Health Care

BPW/Fl supports public policies that:

• support the expansion of affordable care, including Medicaid, in Florida
• support funding and initiatives the cover women’s health care needs
• ensure women’s access to all health care and family planning needs, including full access to all forms of reproductive health services, education, and prescriptions

Item 3: Voting Right and Access

BPW/FL supports public policies that:

• promote free and fair elections
• are aimed at expanding voters’ access to the polls
• are designed to protect the right of all American citizens to vote in fairly drawn legislative districts