December 2024 - President's Report

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. For our November meeting we went around the table and asked everyone, “what they were thankful for.” Most of the responses were family, friends, health or surviving three hurricanes this year. Thanks to Heather Dempsey for providing information about her Self-Care Center in Venice. Many of us could identify with her journey.

For our December meeting we are having our Holiday party. We will not have a speaker. I have attached a list of items for the Jubilee Center in Englewood that Cyndy provided for many people still in need after the hurricanes. We will have an ornament exchange for those that want to take part. Members can invite a guest or a significant other. Please register the guest on the website and pre-pay so we have an accurate count for the Plantation.

Our LO is in need of a secretary since Teresa Karaffa moved to Arizona. If you are interested in serving, please let me know or a member of the Board so that we can place your name in for nomination at our January meeting. If you are a new member, that is not a problem, we will help you in this role.

There is a meeting to be held at the Rumours Wine Bar at 4:30 PM on December 4th for all members to finalize details for the major fundraising event, the Wine Tasting. The date is January 17th from 5:30 PM to 8 PM at Rumours Wine Bar. We need our members that are attending to purchase tickets. If you have any donations for this event, please bring them to the meeting. For the Wine Tasting fundraiser, we will need all members participation to make this event a success.

Need List for the Jubilee Center:

Cases of water, any kind of meat or poultry, instant potatoes, (4 oz packet or boxes), canned fruit, fruit cup, canned chicken – 10oz, spaghetti sauce, cereal (12 or 16 oz boxes), spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, bug spray, sunscreen, toilet paper.

I wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah and a Prosperous, Safe New Year.

Sincerely,

Sue Hogrefe
Your President of BPWEV

Wine Tasting Event - 14th Annual Passport to Your Future

Purchase Tickets

Become a Sponsor

Open Flyer

BPWEV is a non profit organization committed to enriching the lives of women through opportunities for individual development and growth. Sponsorships by local businesses/organizations of the event is encouraged. It will bring visibility and recognition to the business supporting this event.

For more information, please contact Cyndi (941-228-6883) or Debbie (941-661-6848).

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