Laura Fogarty - Speaker on November 18, 2025

DAMSEL IN DEFENSE DIRECTOR, SAFETY EDUCATOR

Laura retired after working for 25 years at the Armed Forces Retirement Home, a CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Home ) for military Veterans located in Washington DC.

She held two positions; Recreation Director and Safety and Occupational Health Manager. Upon retirement, Laura wanted to find something that would be meaningful and provide a purpose.

In Jan, 2019, Laura joined Damsel in Defense with its mission; to protect, prepare and prevent people from being victims of crime. This was a win win opportunity for her next chapter.

Laura is here today to share her experience as a survivor of a crime, to talk about how important it is for us to pay attention to our surroundings and to carry protection.

Laura was a victim of a random assault in her mid 20’s. Her mindset was that “nothing was going to happen to me” She was unaware and unprepared for what COULD happen.

She is like many of us, commuted, worked, raised a family and unfortunately was assaulted during the day!

Having a plan A and B is necessary so you can be PREPARED NOT SCARED!

Laura resides in Venice, Florida with her husband Jim. Together they have two children and 5 grandchildren, all residing in Northern Virginia.

Please help me welcome Laura to speak with us about Situational Awareness and her personal safety experience.

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November 2025 - President's Message

This month is very special because we celebrate Veterans’ Day and Thanksgiving Day. We honor our veterans, those that are serving now and those that made the ultimate sacrifice with their lives.

We are having our November meeting at Artur’s Restaurant. Our speaker this month is Laura Fogarty, DAMSEL IN DEFENSE DIRECTOR, SAFETY EDUCATOR. Laura retired after working for 25 years at the Armed Forces Retirement Home, a CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Home ) for military Veterans located in Washington DC. She held two positions: Recreation Director and Safety and Occupational Health Manager. Upon retirement, Laura wanted to find something that would be meaningful and provide a purpose. In January 2019, Laura joined Damsel in Defense with its mission; to protect, prepare and prevent people from being victims of crime. This was a winning opportunity for her next chapter.

We decided at the Board Meeting that we would have our members bring a non-perishable item, cases of water, or anything else that a person in need may appreciate to be given to a local food.

We are also making plans for our 15th Annual Passport Wine Tasting fundraiser to be held on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at the Venice Wine & Coffee Bar at 201 Venice Ave. West, Venice, FL 34285 from 5:30 PM to 8 PM. We have sponsor opportunities available. Ticket prices will be $40 prior to the event and $45 at the door. There is a luncheon on November 11th at the Oak and Stone Restaurant in Wellen Park at 12:30 PM to work out committee responsibilities.

Please let me know if you are interested in attending by calling or texting me at (941) 350-2804.

Happy Thanksgiving,
Sue Hogrefe, BPWEV President

Crystal Ellsworth (CKE World Travel) - Speaker on October 21, 2025

Crystal (the owner) is a retired teacher who started her career wanting to travel. She started working for the Department of Defense Dependent Schools stationed in Germany in the 80’s. She would travel every chance she could. By the end of her time in Germany, she returned to Florida to raise a family and work in her hometown school district.

After thirty-one years of teaching in Florida, she retired to do what she loved to do full-time: travel. Since she has helped so many people to travel over the years, it seemed natural to become a travel agent. She can help you pick the best adventure for you, your spouse, and/or your family.

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2025 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