Welcome to April! If you look up the month of April on the National Month calendar, you find a long list of topics, ranging from Alcohol Awareness Month to Fresh Florida Tomato Month. One topic that stood out to me was Celebrate Diversity Month. It got me thinking of our local organization and how diverse we truly are. Most of us came to Florida from other states or countries. We have all been welcomed into BPW Englewood/Venice with open arms. Our members support and encourage us all in a positive and thoughtful manner. At times, we check on one another, laugh and even shed tears together. That is what “sisters” do. Our organization has a history of including all members and welcoming them long before it became a current topic. We have always known to treat people with kindness and respect. At the beginning of each of our meetings we begin with the Collect, by Mary Steward, which sets the tone and purpose of our organization. “May we put away all pretenses and meet each other face-to-face without self-pity and without prejudice”. “Grant that we may realize it is the little things that create differences, that in the big things in life we are at one”. “And may we strive to touch and to know the great common human heart of us all, and O Lord God, let us not forget to be kind”. An organization that begins their meeting with such a significant and meaningful message, is certainly worthy of your support and membership.

Morina Chmielak