By: Nancy Werner
NFBPWC Advocacy Team ERA Lead  

Partner Organization Meeting  

Advocacy –Equal Rights Amendment.  “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State on account of sex” needs to be placed into our Constitution. While most states have laws prohibiting discrimination of any kind based on sex, proponents of the E.R.A. say laws can be reversed or eliminated. Having a Constitutional Amendment would cement those rights.  

On May 2, the ERA Coalition Partner Organizations Meeting was held. This is a summary of their first meeting. 

• Electoral Working Group is one of four ERA Working Groups that’s part of the ERA Coalition revamped structure. The other working groups are: Communication, Public Education and Civic Engagement. 

• The Working Group identifies the several areas ERA messaging during the 2024 election cycle: Linking sex equality with democracy and voting. Not voting is not a statement, it is silence, our opposition will be voting; Abortion is an issue that ERA supporters care about and so do many other potential ERA allies; the ERA is already ratified and still unpublished. 

• The Working Group is an integral component of the 2024 Elect Equality campaign to make sex equality and the Equal Rights Amendment defining issues in the upcoming elections. 

• We are looking to identify partners to expand the Elect Equality campaign and broaden our collective reach. 

• Working Group members along with other ERA Coalition partners, are encouraged to work in coordination to develop materials and tools for candidates that express sex equality and broaden public awareness and increase voter education and participation. 

Elect Equality 2024 

• Elect Equality 2024, with a launch date of July 4, links sex equality with democracy and voting. 

• Elect Equality seeks to make sex equality and the Equal Rights Amendment defining issues in the upcoming elections. 

• Elect Equality is an online tool that allows voters to look up their candidates for federal office and ensure they are voting for the ERA-supporting candidates in the November election. 

• In 2022, state ERA advocates conducted Elect Equality activities in Arizona, Minnesota and North Carolina.  

• Reach out to Bettina Hager at bhager@eracoalition.org 

Now there are a few more items to share but I will hold them for the July edition. 

SIGN4ERA – May I encourage you AGAIN to take the time RIGHT NOW to sign onto this link. http://www.sign4ERA.org When you visit this site, there is much information given to you from the history, to the current work and why it is so important. We now have 96,500 supporters who have signed the petition. The most signers are in California, New York and Florida.  

Please keep in touch with your Senators using the NFBPWC “One Click.”  

May I introduce you again to the Alice Paul Institute, Mt. Laurel, New Jersey? They put out a publication that I find to be very important as I cover the ERA. They track so many happenings across the US. 

They also keep tabs on who is sponsoring what bill that pertains to the ERA in the House and Senate and who has signed on to support it. It will give you a quick glance of your Congressperson or Senators stand on our ERA. 

They have a section that you can click on that is called – “What Does the ERA Mean to YOU?” Here you have the opportunity to share your thoughts and provide a photo. Just wanted you to know about it.  https://www.alicepaul.org>programs 

Yes, this is a repeat of last month but if you would love to get in the news, here is an opportunity of a lifetime….and attending the Biennial Conference in King of Prussia, PA will offer to you another opportunity to visit the Alice Paul Institute at Paulsdale. Check it out on the www.nfbpwc.org under Events. PA Affiliate Chapter would love to have you! 

By: Susan Oser, NFBPWC Advocacy Team LGBTQIA+ Lead 

June starts the summer of Pride and Pride Month is big in the United States.  Try to visit at least one Pride event in or near your area to connect to the community and learn the LGBTQIA+ is all about.  Have fun and stay safe! 

LGBTQ+ Icon of the Month: 

Eleanor Roosevelt

Why highlight?  

Not only is she known to be the wife of former U.S. President Franklin D. 

Roosevelt, but she was also an activist in her own right.  In addition, there has been research that states that she had a tight knit circle of friends, including a few lesbians (who had to still be closeted at the time).  Sure, this might be controversial, and some of you may not believe this fact to be true. However, in Eleanor’s case, she is a good example of the time when one had to hide in the closet.  We must remember though that her lifestyle, like anyone’s lifestyle should not be a determinant as to the kind of person she was and how she was such a powerful figure in the United States at the time of her husband’s presidency. 

Source(s) for more information: 

• 24 Very Gay Excerpts from Eleanor Roosevelt’s Love Letters with Lorena Hickok - https://www.autostraddle.com/24-very-gay-excerpts-from-eleanor-roosevelts-love-letters-withlorena-hickok-346115/ 

• Eleanor Roosevelt’s Controversial Love Letters to Lorena Hickok - https://www.themarginalian.org/2012/10/11/eleanor-roosevelt-lorena-hickok-lo ve-letters/ 

• Eleanor Roosevelt on the Power of Personal Conviction and Our Individual Responsibility in Social Change -https://www.themarginalian.org/2016/05/02/eleanor-roosevelt-tomorrow-is-now/ 

Good LGBTQ+ News for June –  

• Mental Health and Access to Care for LGBTQ+ Girls and Young Women - https://tinyurl.com/5aa9urd9 

• 20 LGBTQ+ Organizations You Can Support Right Now - https://www.realsimple.com/worklife/lgbtq-organizations-to-donate 

• A journey through love: 25 noteworthy LGBTQ+ romance movies -https://tinyurl.com/bdej6ewb And now for the BAD news: 

• State Department, FBI, and DHS warn of potential attacks on Pride events worldwide. - https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-69013313?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=2b94829841ab-46d8-ae0c-aeef05688f0b 

• Girl turned away from Florida public school prom because she wore a suit - https://tinyurl.com/473jj3e3 

If you have any news or leads on anything related to LGBTQ+ news, issues, and organizations, please contact Sue Oser at soser@nfbpwc.org  

Sylvana H. Abbas was born in Beirut, Lebanon.  She has an MBA from Holy University of Kaslik-Lebanon.  She was a professional volleyball player; was a Girl Scout; then became a leader of Cub Scouts.  Sylvana was also a member of Lions Club.  She moved to the States in 1988.  It wasn’t easy to find a decent job with no experience, nor references.  With determination and perseverance, she started working at a major American company (Yazaki Corporation) and was in charge of customer service and logistics.  

I had the opportunity to travel to Japan, Thailand and Mexico.  Then landed a job at a Fortune-100 company (Cardinal Health Care), and became the Operations-Materials Manager. 

Sylvana has 25+ years of experience in Supply Chain Management, Lean Systems, and Global Operations.  Her leadership is influenced and founded on solid business management experience, 360-communication style, and teamwork approach.  Her expertise is based on actionable knowledge of production & service planning, procurement management, and cost management. 

She is a Lean Six Sigma Sponsor with above average negotiation skills, in-depth and global trade deployment.  She has a very personable and approachable personality.  She speaks, reads, and writes in Arabic and English and moderate language skills in Spanish.   

Sylvana is currently self-employed as an Operations Business Consultant and as a Certified Life Coach.  

The Highlight of my BPW experience when I was honored and privileged to represent BPW-Lebanon, President Ms. Carmen Zogheib, at the CSW68 - United Nations in New York.  The project that I presented: “Micro Sewing Livelihood Empowerment Project,” was born out of a massive blast in the port of Beirut on August 4^th, 2020.  This project wouldn’t have seen the light if it wasn’t for Ms. Carol Hanlon.   

• What year did you join BPW? 2020 

• WHY did you join BPW?  I liked the main goal of this organization: Empowering Women to foster collaborative thinking to further drive workplace innovation.  Help them grow organically and foster a consumer-first mindset. 

• HOW has BPW helped your career and personal lifestyle?  It has expanded my horizon, and allowed me to assist the organization, especially during the Pandemic and Economy crash in Lebanon. 

• What wisdom can you pass on to other members?  Be respectful, Be kind, Be compassionate with every person you encounter regardless of their ethnicity, religion, and business status.  

• How does BPW benefit by having you as a member?  I bring to the organization my professional business management experience.  I am a multi-cultural person, speak, write and read fluently Arabic and French.  I am in the process of starting a Non-Profit Organization that will support Middle Eastern students abroad.  

By: Manjul Batra
NFBPWC’s Nominations Chair 

Call for NFBPWC Nominations 

Is NFBPWC Leadership in Your Future? 

The 2024 NFBPWC Biennial Conference, July 18-21, 2024, King of Prussia, PA is fast approaching. One of the most exciting things to happen at the Biennial General Assembly, is the election of National Officers for the 20242026!  Nomination documents for elected offices are due in 30 days on June 15, 2024!An Election Committee will be created and any interested parties not running for an elected office, please contact Nominations Chair, Manul Batra, at nominations@nfbpwc.org. We look forward to welcoming all nominees at our Biennial Conference in July!  

Please click on the link below to fill out the Nominations Document and email it to nominations@nfbpwc.org to be eligible to run for an elected office:  

Nomination Documents GA 2024.docx 

Additional information about Nominations and Elections for National Officers, 2024-2026 

(From NFBPWC Bylaws Aug 2022) 

The election of President, First Vice-President Membership, Second Vice-President Advocacy, Treasurer, Secretary, Young BPW Representative and Nominations Chairperson shall take place at the General Assembly and Biennial Conference.  (Article XI, Section 1) 

Officers shall be elected for a term of two years and will assume office at the close of the General Assembly and Biennial Conference.  (Article XI, Section 2) President shall: 

1. Be the Chief Executive Officer and spokesperson of The National Federation.  

2. Serve on the BPW International Board of Directors. 

3. Preside at the meetings of the Executive Committee, Board of Directors, General Membership, and Biennial General Assembly Conference. 

4. Appoint a Parliamentarian, the Standing Committee Chairpersons, Special Committee Chairpersons and Task Forces subject to ratification by the Executive Committee. 

5. Be an ex-officio member of all committees, except the Nominations Committee.  

First Vice-president Membership shall: 

1. Perform the duties of the President in her absence.  

2. Chairs the Membership Standing Committee and liaises with the Nominations Chair, Small Business Chair, and the Mentoring Taskforce.  

3. Perform other duties as assigned by the President or the Executive Committee.  

Second Vice-president Advocacy shall: 

1. Chair the Advocacy Standing Committee and liaises with the United Nations Chair, and the Elimination of Sexual Harassment Chair Chairperson(s).  

2. Perform other duties as assigned by the President or the Executive Committee.  

Treasurer shall: 

1. Be the Chief Financial Officer of The National Federation.  

2. Collect membership dues from the State Federations and Affiliate Chapter/clubs as indicated in their December 31st report and forward the Regional dues and International dues as required. Similarly, collect and process dues from the Individual Affiliate Members.  

3. Be the custodian of the National Federation funds, maintain bank accounts and disburse payment for approved expenses within 15 days of receipt. 

4. Provide financial reports at the National Federation Board of Directors’ meetings and year-end financial reports to the membership.  

5. Maintain The Federation membership database. 

6. Prepare and file state, federal and other fiduciary reports.  

7. Perform other duties as assigned by the President or the Executive Committee.  

Secretary shall: 

1. Maintain the archives of The National Federation including records, contracts, and original documents of The National Federation.  

2. Record the minutes of the Executive Committee, Board of Directors, General Assembly and Biennial Conference and distribute them for approval.  

3. Serve as liaison to the Webmaster and the Bylaws/Resolutions Chair.  

4. Perform other duties as assigned by the President or the Executive Committee (Article XII, Sections 1-5) 

Young BPW: 

A. Engage and work with other Young BPW members and represent their interests while working with the Executive Committee.  (Bylaws not updated to reflect duties of this office.) 

In order to be eligible to run for office a candidate (with the exception of Young BPW) must have served The National Federation in an elected or appointed capacity on a national, state, or affiliate chapter/club level for one year prior to the election. (Article X, Section 7). 

Please send questions to Nominations Chair, Manjul Batra, at nominations@nfbpwc.org.  

Feel free to email any current officer, listed below, to get more information on what they think about their years in service as an NFBPWC Executive Committee member. 

Megan Shellman-Rickard, President   president@nfbpwc.org 

Kathy Kelly, VP Membership  vpmembership@nfbpwc.org 

Daneene Monroe-Rusnak vpadvocacy@nfbpwc.org 

Sondra Nunez, Secretary  secretary@nfbpwc.org 

Emily VanVleck, Young BPW  youngbpw@nfbpwc.org 

Sandra Thompson, Immediate Past President immpastpresident@nfbpwc.org 

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

International Congress is coming in November.   See the following message from International President Dr. Catherine Bosshart 

It gives me immense pleasure to invite you, delegates, leaders and members, to attend the XXXI BPW International Congress to be held from 17 to 21 November 2024 at St. Kitts Marriott Resort and The Royal Beach Casino. We hope to bring together all delegates and members of Affiliate Federations and Clubs, and all 

Individual Members from across the world to this global assembly to align with the 

theme of this triennium – New Actions Through Cooperation. This exceptional gathering promises to strengthen bonds between leaders in business, government and civil society to accelerate progress for all women and their families worldwide. 

Today we kicked things off with the Call to Congress. Read the invitation to the Congress carefully, it contains very important information that you will need for your active participation. In 8 months, we will meet in St. Kitts. Surf our congress website, visit the hotels virtually, read the notes on travel preparations and let your enthusiasm carry you away. 

Our International Congress is our Triennial Assembly of Delegates. We will have to deal

 with the business of our international federation and discuss and decide on important issues for the future in order to send our federation on its journey into the next triennium. But we will also have time to get to know each other and make friends across all borders. And we will get to know a small island paradise in the Caribbean that welcomes us with great hospitality. 

Be our guest and congress participant and discover our association up close and in all its

 diversity. We wish you a warm welcome! 

Dr. Catherine Bosshart 

BPW President 2021-2024 

To get more information please visit the website at https://stkittscongress.bpw-international.org/ 

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/

By: Susan E. Oser, NFBPWC Rapid Response Committee Chair 

Issues that will need your attention and need to be addressed. – Focus on Voting Rights  

As Rapid Response chair, it is my job to keep my ear to the ground and eyes to the screen or otherwise on issues that I feel should not only be an issue for us personally but also for your locals to discuss or have a special educational presentation on.   

Last month I mentioned three big issues that will be big political footballs this year to keep your eye out for.  This month, I’d like to focus on voting rights and why they matter for ALL of us. 

Voting as we all know is our fundamental civil right.  However, there are some states and some communities that don’t really think so.  Because of this, organizations like the ACLU have helped with lawsuits that have taken governments to court. 

Here is a Michigan situation related to redistricting and drawing maps: 

A three-judge federal court panel agreed on new boundaries to be drawn by the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) for some state House seats.  In December, a federal court determined that the redrawn map affected the black voting power that is strong within the city of Detroit (which is 77% African American).  Thus MICRC was ordered to literally go back to the “drawing board.” 

Source: https://tinyurl.com/yr55fafc  

Nationally, at the capital, the Freedom to Vote Act (S.1) and the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (S.4) are in a holding pattern. If passed, these bills would protect voting rights, stop voter suppression and gerrymandering, reform our campaign finance system, and safeguard our election security from a federal level. The Senate has voted a few times to move these bills forward but have been blocked by the minority party. 

The League of Women Voters has more information on Voting Rights at the National Level here: 

Support the Expansion of Voting Rights -https://tinyurl.com/56azjcfd 

Tell Democrats and Republicans to Work Together on Voting Rights -https://tinyurl.com/ye2xe8fv 

Urge Your Members of Congress to Support the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act - https://tinyurl.com/mshh2sbr 

So, what can you do to make sure you have voting rights in your state while supporting others? 

1. Get involved and sit in on meetings or webinars as time allows. 

2. Volunteer for organizations that fight for voting rights. 

3. Write to your representative and senator (state and nationally) 

4. Write a letter to the editor. 

5. Post and share any information you come across on your social media platforms. 

6. Host presentations and webinars in your local/affiliate BPW clubs. 

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 or you feel have not been addressed in this article.  In future articles, I’ll be focusing on each of these (and any others suggested by you) for a better understanding and education of the issues. 

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

Congratulations to the Health Committee and Virtual member, Dr. Karla Kurrelmeyer, for another successful Heart of a Woman conference in partnership with Houston Methodist Hospital. Additional gratitude to PR Chair, Suzette Cotto, for supporting NFBPWC and attending in person. We are grateful our BPW community and connections that help to make us stronger together. 

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

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

By: Nancy Werner, NFBPWC Advocacy Team ERA Lead 

EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT 

100^th ANNIVERSARY MARCH  

Advocacy –Equal Rights Amendment.  “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State on account of sex” needs to be placed into our Constitution. While most states have laws prohibiting discrimination of any kind based on sex, proponents of the E.R.A. say laws can be reversed or eliminated. Having a Constitutional Amendment would cement those rights.  

When I last wrote, I shared the latest news on the Equal Rights Amendment would be with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand-D New York. She has placed into the Senate bills – S J Res 39 calling for the Archivist to publish the ERA. On March 3, she spoke at a luncheon for the need for the ERA because of its ability to protect reproduction rights.  

So now in April, we read the Equal Means Equal group held a gathering in the city of West Hollywood. They invited the Mayor John Erikson and their Women’s Advisory Board to launch a new initiative- “Make the Call, Joe!” Call the US Archivist and tell her to publish the ERA. Everybody benefits when we put equality first. Let’s make the Equal Rights Amendment a reality and no longer send it to voicemail. 

The Archivist is Collen Joy Shogan and she took office on May 17, 2023. She succeeds Mr. Ferrerio upon his retirement in 2022. Now we know that Article V of the Constitution states an amendment becomes valid upon ratification of the 38^th state. But here is where things become unclear. The archivist merely confirms the completion of the constitutionally mandated ratification process but does not necessarily render the amendment valid.  

Congress is the key to having the ERA submitted as a Constitutional amendment. As I have been researching the process, it is not straightforward or clear. Research has shown different paths to find ratification for each Constitutional Amendment. Not that I like what I am reading, but I will continue my findings and be back. 

SIGN4ERA– May I encourage you AGAIN to take the time RIGHT NOW to sign onto this link. http://www.sign4ERA.org When you visit this site, there is much information given to you from the history to the current work and why it is so important to all of us. 

I just received my correspondence from this group as they share the urgency of telling all our families, neighbors, coworkers to sign on. The signature numbers are still rising to over 91,000 but we need more! Lots more. 

Please keep in touch with your Senators using the NFBPWC “One Click.”  

Lastly, may I introduce you to the Alice Paul Institute, Mt. Laurel, New Jersey. A favorite place of mine and yes, we are taking a field trip there during our Biennial Conference. You don’t want to miss this opportunity of a lifetime.  

But they put out a publication that I find to be very important as I cover the ERA. They track so many happenings across the US and share just like I do for you. In fact, I used some of their findings by sharing with you. 

They also keep tabs on who is sponsoring what bill that pertains to the ERA in the House and Senate and who has signed on to support it. It will give you a quick glance of your Congressperson or Senators stand on our ERA. 

But right now they have a section that you can click on that is called - ”What Does the ERA Mean to YOU?” Here you have the opportunity to share your thoughts and provide a photo. Just wanted you to know about it.  https://www.alicepaul.org>programs Take an early visit to the Alice Paul Institute. I know you will enjoy it! 

 

By: Trudy Waldroop, Bylaws & Resolutions Chair, NFBPWC 2022-2024 (Email: ILoveBPW@yahoo.com) Bylaws@NFBPWC.org  

Reminder: