2nd Vice President Advocacy Report

By: Daneene Monroe Rusnak, 2^nd Vice President of Advocacy, NFBPWC 2020-2024

BPW members are invited to join the A-Team for the next NFBPWC Advocacy Committee Meeting

We will discuss current and future issues, initiatives and goals.

When: September 14, 2023

Time: 7pm ET | 6pm CT | 5pm MT | 4pm PT

Meetings are held monthly on the second Thursday of the month. 

How:Online via Zoom.  Details will be provided upon registration.

Who:All interested members are welcome.

Register: https://www.nfbpwc.org/event-4973894 

Helpful Links:

• Committee webpage

• Projects we are currently focused on 

• View the 2022-2024 Advocacy Platform Flyer

All the best, 

Daneene

By: Kathy Kelly, 1^st Vice President of Membership, NFBPWC (2021-2024)

Do you want to increase your membership?

Please save the dates!

Join our membership drive!  We are ON TARGET to double our membership by the end of the next term.

How can we do that?  Simple!  Each member pledges to bring in one new member.  In fact, we challenge you to bring in one new member and one new member under the age of 35. 

Be sure to keep track!  We are working on some fabulous incentives and prizes, and every member brought in is another chance to win.

Need some help?  We have outreach resources available, including updated Benefits of Membership pamphlets, How to Start or Grow a Club in 8 Weeks Guidebook, PowerPoint presentations and more.

Please consider joining a national membership committee meeting as a visitor – no commitment required.  We promise a lively discussion with new ideas, strategies, tools, and resources.  Also, please consider inviting your current membership chairs to check us out.  

We (usually) meet on Zoom the First and Third Mondays (one hour), 5 PM Pacific | 8 PM Eastern. 

Double or More by ’24! 

Whenever we talk about membership, we often want to target certain demographics to keep the organization fresh and current.  We also think of new and interesting allies for membership in BPW (see the 8 Weeks Guidebook for ideas).  We understand that social media is pretty much the only way to reach them… and… there we stop.

Are you ready to learn this important skill?  NFBPWC is thankful to Suzette Cotto and her team for this exclusive offer to our members:

“Affiliate NFBPWC Clubs will learn the importance of digital marketing to attract new members, retain current members and successfully sustain the organization into the future. By using the tenants of digital marketing, you will learn what a great, intentional online presence and targeted marketing can do to amplify your organization, career, and professional persona.”

The cost is $49 (see details below), and we have confirmed that there are scholarships available from the local to national levels upon request and completion of the course.

We want to challenge every Club and Affiliate to sponsor at least

one member for this course.

Don’t let your club miss out!  If we can all learn these skills together, we can collectively amplify the BPW message and our invitation to join the cause.

Registration information will be posted soon.

Contact Kathy Kelly, VPMembership@NFBPWC.org for more information.

International Women's Friendship Month and NFBPWC

By President Megan Shellman-Rickard

Heading into our second year of the NFBPWC 2022-2024 term, our Board of Directors, leaders at all levels, and members have a myriad of accomplishments from our first 12 months! Each member has their own path in this organization and a space to share their experiences and enthusiasm for empowering women with people from around the nation and the world. In the spirit of International Women’s Friendship Month in September, take a moment to reach out to current friends and create new connections.

As a member of NFBPWC you are connected to nearly 30,000 members worldwide in over 100 countries. Reach out on social media. Register for the BPW International directory and find members who share your passion for women’s issues from around the world: https://www.bpw-international.org/directory/. Update your profile on our NFBPWC directory, https://www.nfbpwc.org/Directory, and find other members. Take advantage of your membership in this wonderful organization and create the phenomenal opportunities that are waiting for you.

As a member of NFBPWC for over 10 years, I have made countless friendships with members from around the world. It is inspiring to work with people from across the globe as we continue an uphill battle for women’s equity. As we engage with one another and connect, we do create a unique community in which we can make a difference as we create friendships. I personally invite each of you to reach out to me and other leaders in our organization. Let’s take the time to get to know one another and build friendships that will support the ideals that we hold dear for women’s rights globally. We are stronger together as we craft these bonds of friendship.

Please remember, you have an opportunity to provide constructive input and to find your own unique path in this organization. Here is a link to our online Advocacy Platform, https://www.nfbpwc.org/Policy-Advocacy, review it and find an issue resonates with you. This is a chance to develop your potential, and that of NFBPWC, in a safe and welcoming space. Please continue to bring your ideas, projects, and your own light forward. Let us celebrate our successes as individuals and as an organization!

NFBPWC is truly living our theme for this biennium: Cultivate Connections, Create Community. Sending personal wishes of celebration, health, and progress around the globe!

The Continued Fight for Equality: Women’s Equality Day and the Equal Rights Amendment

August 26th is an important day in the history of women’s rights and for members of BPW - it is Women’s Equality Day and the day in 1930 that the International Federation of Business and Professional Women was officially founded (BPW Day, #BPWDay)! In the USA, this coincides with the commemoration of the passage of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote in 1920. The day is significant as it serves as a reminder of the progress made in the fight for gender equality over the years and highlights the work that continues. It serves an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women who have contributed immensely to the advancement of women’s rights. On this day, we at NFBPWC honor the women who had the courage and conviction to be the founders of BPW. For over a century in the USA, and 93 years internationally, we at BPW continue to be a beacon of light for women around the world.

At the NFBPWC the Equal Rights Amendment stands “first and foremost above all other items of the advocacy platform until Equal Rights have been guaranteed in the United States Constitution” (https://www.nfbpwc.org/Policy-Advocacy). The ERA was first proposed in 1923, and it was a trailblazing move that sought to ensure that gender equality would be protected and recognized under the law. The passage of the ERA will have immense implications on women’s rights protections, particularly in areas such as equal pay, workplace discrimination, reproductive rights, and domestic violence. It will be a powerful tool in promoting equitable policies and practices that ensure everyone, regardless of gender identity, is treated with fairness and dignity.

As we reflect on the significance of Women's Equality Day, BPW Day, and the importance of the ERA, we are reminded of how far we have come in the fight for gender equality. However, we must also acknowledge the work still to be done and commit ourselves to the fight for equal rights for all. It is imperative to honor the legacy of the powerful women who have paved the way for us and do our part to ensure that no one is left behind. As NFBPWC and individual members, we have a responsibility to uphold the principles of equality and non-discrimination. Whether through volunteering, advocacy, or simply speaking up against injustice, we all have a role to play in the fight for equality. The ERA, BPW Day, and Women's Equality Day are symbols of hope, progress, and determination in the face of adversity, and together, we can create a world where all women are empowered, valued, and respected.

At NFBPWC we continue to grow and thrive because we are working towards a more equitable world. We would like to take this moment to welcome our newest NFBPWC Affiliate, NFBPWC Washington State! The work that Washington State Business and Professional Women has done for over 100 years to empower women personally, professionally, and politically is phenomenal. The leadership at NFBPWC is thrilled to welcome the first 15 members from Washington State into the fold of national and international membership and look forward to your participation!

Please remember, you have an opportunity to provide constructive input and to find your own unique path in this organization. Here is a link to our online Advocacy Platform, https://www.nfbpwc.org/Policy-Advocacy, review it and find an issue resonates with you. This is a chance to develop your potential, and that of NFBPWC, in a safe and welcoming space. Please continue to bring your ideas, projects, and your own light forward. Let us celebrate our successes as individuals and as an organization!

NFBPWC is truly living our theme for this biennium: Cultivate Connections, Create Community. Sending personal wishes of celebration, health, and progress around the globe!

Celebrating the Spirit of Women and Freedom this July 4th

It's the time of the year again when America celebrates its Independence Day and freedom.  Let us take this moment to celebrate the women and their undeniable role in the continued fight for freedom and equality. As we celebrate this July 4th, it is imperative to reflect on the challenges women continue to face in America today. The past year has brought some big blows to the equitable treatment of women. As an organization, we know that the only way to enshrine equality is by passing the Equal Rights Amendment. We have made progress throughout our country’s history, however, there is still much work to be done in areas such as equal pay, reproductive rights, access to quality healthcare, and combating gender-based violence. We need to continue fighting for equality, not just for ourselves but for our daughters and the generations to come.

As we at NFBPWC celebrate the spirit of women and freedom this July 4th, let us remember and honor the remarkable women in our own organization who have brought about change and helped shape our nation's history. Let us also continue the fight for equality and liberty for all American women. Together, we can work to create a future America that truly is the land of the free and the home of the brave, where every person's rights and freedoms are respected and protected.

Please remember, you have an opportunity to provide constructive input and to find your own unique path in this organization. Here is a link to our online Advocacy Platform, https://www.nfbpwc.org/Policy-Advocacy, review it and find an issue resonates with you. This is a chance to develop your potential, and that of NFBPWC, in a safe and welcoming space. Please continue to bring your ideas, projects, and your own light forward. Let us celebrate our successes as individuals and as an organization!

NFBPWC is truly living our theme for this biennium: Cultivate Connections, Create Community. Sending personal wishes of celebration, health, and progress around the globe!

Equal Rights Amendment

The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) remains at the top of our advocacy platform with the following statement:

The Alice Paul Equal Rights Amendment shall stand first and foremost above all other items of the advocacy platform until Equal Rights have been guaranteed in the United States Constitution - i.e. "Equality of Rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex."

Many of us held out hope that April 27, 2023, would be the day that the S.J. Res. 4 would declare the ERA ratified and valid. Despite polls showing that 83% of Americans believe that it should be incorporated into the U.S. Constitution (https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/public_education/2020-survey-civ-lit-full-report.pdf), S.J. Res. 4 did not pass, and the ERA was not brought to the floor for debate and a vote. As a non-partisan organization, NFBPWC does not endorse any one party over another, and yet, women’s rights are not equally supported by all politicians. Please take a moment to participate in our campaign to contact our representatives, Equality Has No Deadline! The fight continues, despite the failure of S.J. Res. 4. Women, especially those represented by senators who voted against the ERA, can have the most impact.  Please take a moment to tell your representatives that you support the ERA.

Our organization continues to develop the professional, business, and leadership potential of women at all levels. In order to fulfill our mission at its highest level, it is imperative that Equal Rights are guaranteed in the United States Constitution. The Executive Committee and Board of Directors continue our work to elevate this goal. We are open to collaboration and partnerships as we strive for the success of the ERA. Thank you to all the members who continue to participate in conversations about the ERA at all levels. We have been working towards the goal of Equal Rights as an organization for over 100 years and we will continue the fight together. Please share your thoughts and ideas on how we can better represent ourselves and our efforts in regard to the ERA with the Executive Committee and thank you for your continued support.

Please remember, you have an opportunity to provide constructive input and to find your own unique path in this organization. This is a chance to develop your potential, and that of NFBPWC, in a safe and welcoming space. Please continue to bring your ideas, projects, and your own light forward. Let us celebrate our successes as individuals and as an organization!

NFBPWC is truly living our theme for this biennium: Cultivate Connections, Create Community. Sending personal wishes of celebration, health, and progress around the globe.

Kind Regards,

Megan Shellman-Rickard
NBPWC President
2020-2024