Welcome to June! Our local organization had a busy and successful month of May. We held our 1st “tea and pearls” fundraising event on May 1, which also begins our new fiscal year. The event was well attended and a lot of fun. On May 18, we welcomed 58 members and guests to the annual BFF event. Irene Slattery and her committee did a wonderful job with the entertainment and raffle items. There was lots of laughter in the room and many guests showed interest in joining our organization. I continue to be inspired by our members, as they enthusiastically raise their hands to help grow and promote BPWEV.

We have the opportunity to learn more about BPW by attending the State Conference June 17-20 at the Saddlewood Resort in Wesley Chapel. You may want to consider arriving Friday morning, staying one night and leaving on Saturday afternoon. You can register on the BPWFL.ORG site. I hope to see many of you there.

June is also the month we celebrate our Dad’s, living or departed. I remember fondly the many lessons my Dad taught me. One of the most important lessons was “knowing yourself and always knowing who you are”. My Dad was a prominent attorney in Cuba. When we arrive in the United States, he went to work in a factory. I remember how proud and grateful he was of his job, as a nuclear valve tester. He didn’t need letters after his name, he knew who and what he was. He did his job well because it mattered to him. Always give 100%, never less, he would say. Thanks Dad, I listened and I remember well!

Morina Chmielak