The annual BPW International Leader's Summit in New York, March 8-9, 2024, is a meeting for BPW members from all over the world who are interested in developing our association and who take their findings back to their countries and disseminate them there. 

The Clare Fulcher Dinner, March 8, initiated as a meeting to acknowledge the UN Representatives, is open to all and brings the Leader's Summit to close in a festive setting.

Leaders' Summit - Friday and Saturday, March 8-9, 2024, Harmonie Club, 4 East 60th Street, New York, https://www.harmonieclub.org/: 90 places available, Ticket: 300 Euros for the catering (breakfast upon arrival - coffee break - buffet lunch - coffee break) on both days (tickets for both days only). This price is lower than the cost price; BPW International is paying for the Leaders' Summit venue in full and for part of the catering costs; all speakers, moderators and contributors are working voluntarily and free of charge.

Clare Fulcher Dinner - Friday, March 8, 2024, Reception with Aperitif Riche 17:00-19:00pm local time, Harmonie Club, 4 East 60th Street, New York, https://www.harmonieclub.org/: 90 places available. Ticket: 75 Euros. The program allows us to network and includes an Aperitif Riche and a Candle Lighting Ceremony. 

Registration is mandatory; participation in the Leaders' Summit does not include registration for the Clare Fulcher Dinner.

Tickets will be allocated, with BPW members holding an office having first priority. In addition, participants from as many countries as possible will be considered. Registrations from Young BPW will also be accepted. 

The following forms must be filled out in order to be considered:

Pre-Registration: https://form.jotform.com/bpwinternational/pre-registration-2024-NewYork

Questionnaire: https://form.jotform.com/bpwinternational/questionnaire-LS-2024

Full information can be found here: https://www.bpw-international.org/un/csw68-2024/

Hotel in New York - Westgate New York Grand Central

As in previous years, hotel rooms have been reserved for BPW members at the Westgate Hotel in 2024. All details can be found in the adjacent flyer from the Westgate Hotel. 

> Flyer as pdf

> Booking Link

> Website Hotel

Booking Code on the website: 65-245

By: Sandra Thompson
NFBPWC’s International Chair, international@nfbpwc.org 

Great news NFBPWC and the Canadian Federation will be hosting a Parallel event at CSW68 in New York.  Our time will be March 13, 2024, at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time.   You can join either in person or on Zoom.   For your information I am repeating how to register from my January article.   

This is a once-a-year event and I encourage you to take time and register and attend several events.   There are 100s of events to choose from and of course register for our event.  You can register for as many as you want for free.

Registration is now open.   It takes about 2 minutes to register.   It is a very simple form.  When you register, you will receive a confirmation email with pertinent information and a link to login to the virtual portal to start exploring?  

To register just go to https://ngocsw68forum.vfairs.com/.

NGO CSW68 Forum registration will not get access to the UN CSW and the UN building.  The UN CSW and NGO CSW68 Forum are two totally separate events. Registration for the NGO CSW68 Forum will not get you a UN grounds pass or access to the UN building.

For more information about official registration for the UN CSW, visit UN Women’s website

I hope to see you all on line or in person for this exciting event that brings women from around the world together.

NEWS –Due to unrest and increasing costs the International Executive Committee has elected to move the International Congress to St. Kitts.  That means it will be in our Regional.  The Congress will be held November 17 – 20.    If you have never been to an International Congress, this is a great time to plan to attend.    St. Kitts is a beautiful island and they are very hospitable.  We will be staying at the same hotel that we were at for the Regional meeting last January.   It will be a long time before the International Congress comes back to our Region.   So save  the date.   Here are a couple of pictures of St. Kitts.

THANK YOU!!

A big thank you to all of you who contributed to raising funds to send to our BPW Sisters in the Ukraine.  Last October we asked you to make donations so that we could help send money to aid our BPW sisters in the Ukraine.   

BPW UK President Jo Kinsey has worked with Amelie LeClerc from BPW France and together they have secured funding totaling €25,000 or $27,815 to purchase a van to send to the Ukraine.  But they did not want to send it empty, so additional funding was needed to fill it up with medical supplies, solar panels, and everyday needs.  

Thanks to your generous donations we raised $1,000.  This money was sent to BPW International and is being spent to fill up the van with these needed supplies.    

UK President Jo Kinsey is most grateful for our support.  You have made a difference in these ladies’ lives.  Thank you for your generous support.

By: Susan O’Malley
IFBPWC UN Representative
NGO CSW/NY, Chair ex officio
Professor Emerita, City University of New York
UNChair@nfbpwc.orgsusanomalley4@gmail.com

Do register for the NGO CSW68 Forum! 

It is free and all events are online. (Some events are both in person and online.) The Forum runs from March 10 (Consultation Day), the day after the IFBPW Summit (March 8-9), to March 20. It runs 24 hours each day to accommodate all time zones.  [Our NGO’s official name at the UN is the International Federation of Business and Professional Women, not BPW-International.] Go to the NGO CSW/NY’s webpage and register for the CSW68 Forum so that you will have access online to all events, including parallel events, conversation circles, booths, morning briefings, and the webpage for each event. This year there will be an Artisan Fair held at the Armenian Center.

You can browse the website now - it is much easier than last year. The calendar of events should be posted soon.  If you have a question, go to NGO CSW/NY CSW68 to find the answer. There are many tutorials to answer your questions and to explain how to get involved with advocating for the 6 recommendations that NGO CSW is suggesting for the negotiated Outcome Document.

The event I am organizing with Marilou McPhedran, Senator Canada, is “Addressing Poverty: Basic Livable Income Bills” sponsored by Feminist Parliamentarians and co-sponsored by the International Federation of Business and Professional Women. It is on Tuesday, 12 March, at 12:30.

Hope to see you there on Zoom.

By: Suzette Cotto 

NFBPWC Public Relations Chair

Engage with NFBPWC on Social Media

Organization Page:   https://www.facebook.com/NatlFedBPWC/

Group Page: https://www.facebook.com/NatlFedBPWC/

Organization Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nfbpwc

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2l_ciIxLyvbu1dbBOsV9Tg

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nfbpwc_usa/

FEBRUARY Highlights in US Women’s History

February is Black History Month

Black History Month recognizes and honors important people and events in the history of African-American history.  In 1926 noted historian, Carter G. Woodson, originated the idea of “Negro History Week”. Woodson chose the second week of February because it marked the birthdays of two Americans who greatly influenced the lives and social condition of African Americans – former President Abraham Lincoln and abolitionist Frederick Douglass.
The tradition of what became Black History Month greatly influenced the expansion of academic scholarship and the corresponding recognition of the rich history of African Americans

Take the Black Women’s History Challenge

Celebrate Black History Month

February Highlights in US Women’s History

• February 1, 1978 – First postage stamp to honor a black woman, Harriet Tubman, is issued in Washington, DC

• February 4, 1987 – First “National Women in Sports Day” is celebrated by Presidential Proclamation

• February 11, 1989 – Rev. Barbara Harris became the first woman bishop in the American Episcopal Church and in the Anglican Communion worldwide.

• February 12, 1869 – The Utah Territorial Legislature passes a bill allowing women to vote

• February 15, 1921 – The Suffrage Monument, depicting Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Lucretia Mott, sculpted by Adelaide Johnson, is dedicated at the U.S. Capitol

• February 15, 1953 – Tenley Albright became the first American woman to win the World Figure Skating championship

• February 17, 1870 – Esther Hobart Morris in Wyoming became the first American woman Justice of the Peace

• February 24, 1912 – Henrietta Szold founds Hadassah, the largest Jewish organization in American history, focusing on healthcare and education in the Israel and the U.S.

• February 24, 1967 – Jocelyn Bell Burnell makes the first discovery of a pulsar, a rapidly rotating neutron star

• February 27, 1922 – U.S. Supreme Court upholds the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which guarantees women the right to vote

(Source:  https://nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org/february/)

By: Manjul Batra
NFBPWC Nominations Chair

Webinar:  Leadership Gap / Way to Go

This webinar is led by Nominations Chair, Manjul Batra.

Members & Non-members invited to attend.

February 17, 2024 from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time (10AM Pacific, 11AM Mountain, 12PM Central)

This program is to support growth, understanding & comfort zone for members of organizations, to take positions of leadership, setting a clear vision, and making informed decisions for different levels of leadership.

The information is provided today by our National & International leaders of Business & Professional Women to provide a clear vision of the BPW organization, its foundation, and tools provided for leadership growth & participation.

Speakers are in order of presentation and are to speak on the subjects mentioned below:  Each speaker has 30 minutes.

• Bessie Hironimus, Secretary BPW International:  International BPW Constitution, procedures and its applications.

• Elizabeth Benham, President, BPW International:  International operations, UN Advisory agencies, opportunities in International Trade & more.

• Daneene Monroe Rusnak: Vice President, Advocacy NFBPWC (2020-2024):  Public Policy (Advocacy) platform, commission on status of women, application & use.

Break 5 minutes.

• Kathy Kelly: Vice President Membership, NFBPWC, (2021-2024):  Training programs, availability of benefits, website information & use.

• Megan Shellman-Rickard: National President, NFBPWC, (2020-2024):  The Nitty Gritty of leadership at all levels

The Zoom Host will be Michelle Husby from Berkeley BPW.

Zoom details will be sent after registration.  You can register now at:  https://nfbpwc.wildapricot.org/event-5523806 

(The above speakers will be available later for questions or extra information via phone calls, day & time period to be specified. Details provided on the day of the program.)

By: Teressa Gehrke
NFBPWC Digital Training Chair, digitaltraining@nfbpwc.org 

Sextortion

Online sextortion is a form of blackmail where someone is threatening to share a nude, sexual image, or video of you to the public, like friends or family, unless you do what they demand. Typically, it is a financial demand or extortion to avoid sharing the images or videos publicly. 

Why is Online Sextortion important to know about? 

Sextortion is a crime because of the illegal act of threatening and blackmailing a person by threatening to release sexually explicit photos of that person. If the situation is ignored, your personal content may be published online or the blackmailer harasses and threatens you until their demands are met. These criminals are known to even reach out to loved ones to harass them as well.

Where are sextortion schemes common? 

Sextortion schemes occur online where young people feel most comfortable, such as social media platforms, most commonly on Instagram, Snapchat, and Wizz. It also occurs on gaming and dating sites, through sexting, video chat applications and forums, like Discord. 

Who is targeted by online sextortion? 

Predators and blackmailers create fake profiles and accounts to target minors. Unfortunately, more teens and minors are becoming victims to online sextortion. Adults, posing as peers online, target minors on messaging platforms befriending their target and gaining their trust. Then, the trust is manipulated and the victim is taken advantage of by them. High pressure and fear cause social, mental, psychological, and physical distress.

How can online sextortion be prevented? 

The best way to avoid online sextortion is to always be cautious and aware of who you are contacting, especially if it is with strangers. Sexually explicit content can be gathered by impersonation or by using malware to control a victim’s webcam, so it is important to also be aware of any links and attachments from sources you do not know and NEVER share sexually explicit images with others. If you are already threatened, it is important to:

• Resist the urge to engage with the blackmailer. 

• Never pay the ransom. There’s no guarantee that if you pay they won’t still release the sexually explicit content.

• Save all communications, including texts, emails or voice communications. This is evidence. Take screenshots. 

• Do not be afraid to get an adult, the police, or FBI involved. Ask for HELP!

• Remember, it’s not your fault. Somebody maliciously and intentionally attacked you online. It’s their fault!

Helpful Links:

• What is Sextortion? How to Prevent Online Blackmailing 

• FBI - Sextortion 

• What Can Happen If You Ignore Your Blackmailer 

• National Center for Missing & Exploited Children - Sextortion

• Sextortion case linked to 12-year-old's death 

For additional assistance or questions, please email: digitaltraining@nfbpwc.org.

Nermin K Ahmad, NFBPWC Women on the Move Committee Chair

Members:  Sher Singh, Emily VanVleck, Veronica Sexton, Cathleen Jeanty

By:Nermin K. Ahmad

Afghan Women Project: 

If you are interested in welcoming these new Americans, and answering their questions of offering the hand of friendship please contact us at Afghanwomen@nfbpwc.org, visit our home page at https://www.nfbpwc.org/Afghan-Women-Project.

By: Marsha Riibner-Cady
Chair, and Barbara Bozeman – Vice Chair

Join us in February

for a Neuropraphic Art Session!

Time Zones: 7pm ET | 6pm CT | 5pm MT | 4pm PT
Meetings are held monthly on the second Wednesday of the month. *Except for February 2023

Registration will be open on the website as of January 28th. 

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

Be sure to check out the NFBPWC Entrepreneur & Small Business (ESB) Committee page on the website, and the Blog Page for NFBPWC, as well as the NFBPWC Facebook page(s), and the NFBPWC Marketplace page.  

     ESB Page - https://nfbpwc.org/entrepreneur-business-program

     Blog Post -  https://nfbpwc.org/NFBPWC-Blog

     NFBPWC FB - https://www.facebook.com/NatlFedBPWC

     NFBPWC Marketplace -  https://www.facebook.com/groups/nfbpwcmarketplace/

By: Susan E. Oser
NFBPWC Rapid Response Committee Chair

Rapid Response in 2024

With the new year there will be new issues and old to respond to.

This current presidential year will have a lot of issues to response to from immigration to the economy, and of course women’s issues that affect all of us here in the NFBPWC organization.  While it can be overwhelming, it’s important to note that we all cannot just speak on one issue alone.  We need to be cognizant of all issues but put a voice to those issues that affect us or those we care about personally or the ones that most speak to us.

So what issues are you going to speak about this year?  What issues are most important to you in 2024?  What issues do you think should be important for NFBPWC in 2024?

Please connect with Sue Oser at rapidresponse@nfbpwc.org if you have any ideas on topics that should be focused on and discussed as we get into the big election cycle.

Keri Hess Laursen, NFBPWC Health Committee Chair, Downtown Sacramento Member Health@NFBPWC.org 

The Health Committee is seeking a co-chair, no experience required!

The Health Committee currently meets the 2nd Monday of each month at 5pm PST.  

Please email Keri at:  health@nfbpwc.org to inquire about serving as co-chair or to get on the Health Committee listserv.