By: Manjul Batra
NFBPWC Nominations Chair, nominations@nfbpwc.org

Forms for National elective office & Chairmanships will be sent out early for Clubs to prepare their members for leadership positions for the term 2024-2026.

Recommendation:

1. Club President’s identify their members for club leadership or National positions and support their

development during the club year.

1. As recommended earlier a scheduled independent National training program be organized for club leaders who intend to run for National Office or Chairmanships.

By:Sandra Thompson, NFBPWC’s International Chair,

international@nfbpwc.org

The South American Region held their Regional Conference was held September 6 to 10 in Santigo, Chilie.

Some of our members were in attendance and have reported that they had a great time. One of the featured speakers was our own Past National President, Bessie Hironimus. Also, attending was Dave Hironimus, Manjul Batra, Sujata Easton and Ellora Easton.

(Pictured Left) Manjul Batra and Sujata Easton placing their fingers on the top of the tallest building in Chilie.

(Pictured Top Right) Ellora Easton, Sujata Easton and Manjul Batra. Three generations of BPW members. Manjul’s mother was also a long time BPW member, including being President of India. What a wonderful BPW heritage.

Manjul in the meeting room

Dave and Bessie Hironimus (Pictured Left)

Bessie, Anu Viks, RC Europe And Dawn Wells RC No. America (Pictured Right)

ElloraandBessie

(Pictured Left)

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

IFBPW Summits CSW68 Statement to UN Women

NGOs in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council

(ECOSOC) may submit written statements on the thematic issues considered by CSW68, in accordance with Council resolution 1996/31. IFBPW President Catherine Bosshart submitted our Statement on October 13. It is attached below.

• The Priority Theme for CSW68 is “Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective.”

• The Review Theme is “Social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure for

gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls (agreed conclusionsof the sixty-third session.”)

The active participation of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) is a critical element in the work of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). NGOs have been influential in shaping the current global policy framework on women’s empowerment and gender equality: the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. They continue to play an important role in holding international and national leaders accountable for the commitments they made in the Platform for Action.

To prepare the CSW68 Statement, Chularat Israngkool, 1^st VP for UN with her UN Committee, gathered material from BPW members and prepared a first draft. Helena Finn, Chair of the UN IFBPW Representatives, helped with this process. Then it was sent to me to edit. I recognized excellent material from Lesha Witmer, Tess Mateo, and Marie-Claude. (There were other excellent contributors too. The material did not include names of the contributors as no names are allowed in the CSW68 Statement.) President Bosshart reviewed the final document, and we both gathered names of ECOSOC-accredited NGOs to sign on to our CSW68 Statement.

CSW 68 Parallel Events Information

Applications for CSW 68 Parallel Events are now open. The deadline is 4 December. IFBPW may submit only one in person parallel event but multiple virtual parallel events. Consult the NGO CSW 68 information on the NGO CSW/NY Website.

If you have questions, you may email me at susanomalley4@gmail.com. I will go over your parallel event submission if you have questions.

Click on the image below to open the PDF Statement, or click HERE.

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/

October Highlights in US Women’s History

November Highlights in US Women’s History

• November 1, 1848 – First medical school for women, the New England Female Medical School, opens, in 1874 it merges with Boston University to become one of the world’s first co-ed medical schools.

• November 8, 1910 – The state of Washington passes a constitutional amendment to guarantee woman suffrage.

• November 8, 1984 – Dr. Anna L. Fisher, a physician on the shuttle Discovery, becomes the first American mother and third American woman to fly into space.

• November 11, 1979 – Bethune Museum and Archives opens in Washington D.C. as a center for African-American

women’s history, honoring Mary McLeod Bethune.

• November 11, 1993 – The Vietnam Women’s Memorial is dedicated in Washington, D.C. after being conceived by former army combat nurse Diane Carlson Evans and sculpted by Glenna Goodacre to honor the 265,000 women who voluntarily served during the Vietnam era.

• November 13, 1938 – Mother Francis Xavier Cabrini is beatified, the first American woman citizen to become a saint.

• November 14, 1889 – Journalist Elizabeth Cochran, aka Nellie Bly, sails around the world in 72 days, 6 hours, 11 minutes, and 14 seconds, beating the fictional record set by Phineas Fogg in Jules Verne’s Around the World in Eighty Days

• November  14,  1903 –  The  U.S.

Women’s  Trade  Union  League  is

established.

• November 14, 1946 – Emily Greene

Vietnam Women's Memorial (Source: National Park service

(NPS.GOV)

Balch, co-founder of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

• November 28, 1881 – The first organizational meeting is held for the predecessor group to the American Association of University Women (AAUW).

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

By: Susan E. Oser

NFBPWC Rapid Response Committee Chair

What is your rapid response issue?

My job as the Rapid Response Chair is to seek out issues that the organization can take a voice on that connect to our mission and legislative platform.

And while there is an organizational mode behind the issues, what about you the individual?

Are there any issues that are valuable and speak close to your heart and in a heartbeat, you would post a social media link, video, or share an article about? What is that issue that speaks to you that you are willing to fight for and make it your personal issue.

If you have such an issue that speaks close to your heart, then perhaps that is your personal rapid response issue. You don’t need organizational backing or its voice to do it because it is your path. But if you need ideas or support, connecting to an organization like NFBPWC can be a great starting point for you.

Please connect with Sue Oser at rapidresponse@nfbpwc.orgif 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.orgThe 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.orgto inquire about serving as co-chair or to get on the Health Committee listserv.

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

Handling the Holidays

Feeling overwhelmed by advertisements and pressure to buy for the holidays? You’re not the only one. The holidays are known for joyful moments and stress. With kids and grandkids home over the holiday break, it’s a great time to rethink how much screen time they should spend on the TV, phone, gaming and other electronic devices. 

It has been well researched that too much screen time can cause adverse health effects. I remember reading The Berenstains Bears and Too Much TV as a child. The cubs wanted to watch TV instead of playing outside or reading. I have a feeling Mama Bear wouldn’t be happy if she saw how technology has changed. The point is to have measured time for entertainment, family time, and being in tune with nature.

Reducing Screen Time for Youth 

In a 2021 report from Common Sense Media, they “estimated tweens spend an average of 5 hours and 33 minutes using screen-based entertainment each day, while teenagers devote a whopping 8 hours and 39 minutes. A surge in screen use has led to some individuals, including children, adolescents and adults, developing screen-related addictions.” 

These disordered addictions have been linked to lower cognitive function. The research found that individuals with disordered screen use have “significantly poorer cognitive performance compared to others” without the disorder and found they also had lower attention spans. This hinders executive functioning and learning capabilities.

Better Health Outcomes

Staring at a screen for an extended period of time can lead to eye strain, fatigue, headaches, blurred vision, dry and itchy eyes. Taking consistent breaks from the screen can help minimize these effects because it allows the eyes to rest and focus on something else. 

People who use digital devices daily such as office workers and gamers should be taking consistent screen breaks to ensure they get enough rest mentally and physically.

When spending long periods of time in front of a screen, it’s important to take short breaks often. You can take 5-10 minutes every hour, rather than 20 minutes every 2 hours. If needed, you can follow the 20-20-20 Rule.  After spending 20 minutes on a screen, take a break and look at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This will help with eye strain and fatigue.

Now, stop reading this blog and go for a nice walk outside.

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

Additional resources:

• Excessive Screen Time 

• Screen Breaks

• Taking Breaks 

• Reduce Screen Time

Art provided by Vecteezy
Screen Time by JM Grafix 
Holiday by Teeradej Srikijvilaikul 
Health by Muhammad Khaleeq

By:  Nancy Werner
NFBPWC Advocacy Team ERA Lead

EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT-E.R.A. IS BIG TIME in the News

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.

By:  Susan Oser
NFBPWC Advocacy Team LGBTQIA+ Lead

Organization of the Month: One Pulse Foundation

Why highlight?

The organization was created in honor of the victims of a terrible tragedy that occurred on June 12, 2016 at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida. 49 people were killed and at least 53 were wounded. It is a community of people whose purpose is to open hearts and minds to the violence that happens towards the LGBTQ+ community.

Source(s): https://onepulsefoundation.org/

FYI Positive LGBTQ+ for November:

• 11th Circuit Court Upholds Ruling Blocking Drag Ban In a major ruling released Wednesday, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in the United States ruled that Florida's ban on drag will continue to be blocked from enforcement statewide.

Source(s): https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/11th-circuit-court-upholds-ruling?r=k9h1j&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) releases proposed enforcement guidance to protect LGBTQ+ workers from harassment. The new guidance, released on September 29th, was adopted by a 3-2 vote of the EEOC commissioners. It includes protections against harassment for LGBTQ+ workers and protections against harassment in virtual work environments.

Source(s): https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/eeoc-renews-bid-update-workplace-harassment-guidance-2023-09-29/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=d8c14ad0-d0c8-4902-97b1-00815b0a23f5

• The ‘first English-language trans novel’ adapted for stage. The International Theatre Program at the University of Rochester is launching its production of Sarah Ruhl’s “Orlando” this October. This production offers an exploration of identity and gender fluidity. It joins a trend of an increasing and intensifying interest in the eponymous novel by Virginia Woolf. Ruhl has described her play, which she wrote in 1998, as true to the story Woolf told in the 1928 book.

Source(s): https://www.rochester.edu/newscenter/international-theatre-fall-production-orlando-568802/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=d8c14ad0-d0c8-4902-97b1-00815b0a23f5

The following is an overview of or anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in the news:

• Ohio Republican Says Bathroom Ban Has Nothing to Do with Trans People. Only ten states ban transgender people from bathrooms. While most bans focus on K-12 schools, three states go beyond that and target adults in other places. Ohio may become the fourth if HB183 passes.

Source(s): https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/ohio-republican-says-bathroom-ban?r=k9h1j&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

• Federal Appeals Court allows Kentucky and Tennessee to enforce bans on medically necessary care for trans and non-binary youth. The Sixth Circuit Court upheld Kentucky’s and Tennessee’s bans on

medically necessary gender-affirming care on September 28th by a 2-1 vote. Lawyers for the families who brought the Tennessee challenge called the ruling a “devastating result for transgender youth and their families” and said they were “assessing [their] next steps” in defense of transgender rights.

Source(s): https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-politics-and-policy/appeals-court-upholds-tennessee-kentucky-bans-trans-care-minors-rcna118056

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

By: Sandra Thompson
NFBPWC’s Immediate Past President

In August the East LA Montebello Club in California celebrated Women’s Equality Day at the home of Marjory Hopper.  Marjory asked me to explain why we wear yellow.  At the time I really had no idea, but thanks to some information from Barbara Bozeman and further research I came up with some of the reasons yellow is an important color in BPW.   It was suggested that I share with all of you what I came up with, so here is my presentation.

The Meaning of Yellow 

Yellow represents joy, happiness, positivity, and honor.  It makes one happier and suppresses anger and frustration.

It is the most energetic color and increases confidence.

It also represents a new dawn.

Yellow is a luminous color that attracts light, exuberance, and freshness.  We can’t help but be drawn in by its perky cheeriness.  As world history and Western symbology expert Michael Pastoureau noted in his book Yellow: The History of a Color, yellow shares a similar likeness to gold and honey, which epitomize pleasure and abundance in ancient cultures and religions.  It also signified opulence since royals would wear it in their clothing.

According to Nina Ashby, psychic and author of Simply Color Therapy, the color yellow is symbolized by the sun and represents joy, light and mental positivity.  Spiritually, the color yellow is also embodied by the solar plexus chakra-the seat of power and will.  Ashby points out our yellow is associated with the mind and the logical, left side of the brain that organizes information.

The suffragettes were inspired by their English sisters who wore white, purple and green.  When they brought it to the United States, they changed the green to gold.

Kansas was the first state to hold a referendum on women’s suffrage in 1867.  A referendum is when citizens directly vote on an issue.  While the referendum was defeated (leaving Kansas women without the vote), it inspired other western states to hold similar referendums.  Kansas eventually recognized a woman’s right to vote in local elections in 1887.  In 1867 when women were campaigning for the referendum in Kansas, they began carrying sunflowers since that is the state flower of Kansas.  This then changed the gold to yellow.

If you wore yellow roses you were for the vote for women and if you wore red roses you were against.