By: Nermin K. Ahmad
NFBPWC Women on the Move Committee Chair 

Dear Members of NFBPWC, 

Thank you to those who attended my breakout session in King of Prussia.  I appreciated your input and was very glad to hear your thoughts on this initiative.  A major takeaway from the mind-mapping effort we initiated was that there is a fundamental misunderstanding regarding the Women on the Move Committee Program.  So let me be very clear: 

This is for all women who move, voluntarily or involuntarily, for a short time or permanently.   

It could be your move to study out of state, or to be somewhere new with your partner, or for work.  Fire, natural disasters, political unrest – events out of control could push you to move.  Inter-human violence, abuse, trafficking could cause you to move.  It is about your moves, as well as those that propel others to new places.  Our focus, hope and aim are to ensure that women thrive, wherever they arrive.  This is about connecting with arriving women, uniting in support of their integration and success locally, and igniting the sisterhood to be available to answer simple questions, show a path to success, and develop a program that encourages our global sisterhood to create a living network for one another. 

My dream: is that through a networked sisterhood we create powerful partnerships with services organizations (banks, insurance agencies, rental companies, travel resources, service companies) locally, nationally and globally, so that women, as long as we are paid less than men, also pay less than men when they belong to NFBPWC.  Let us negotiate preferential deals together, locally, nationally and yes, globally.  Let us entice new Business and Professional Women members through our negotiation power.  One day, I would like to see us regain the power we had on the Hill and elsewhere, but in the US I would like to see us as a force to be reckoned with – as AARP is today.  Yep, as a woman, I think big.   

None of this can happen without you.  I cannot do this alone, and our rules are clear.  I may not do this alone.  So, I seek out inventive, fearless, knowledgeable women to join me.  To network with other organizations, find out what we need to do to create special relationships, but also to ensure that our own members who provide services for pay are celebrated, advertised, brought to the fore.  It will become part of our marketing – to be able to advertise your skills or business on our site, you must be a member.  To be able to promote your product as a corporation, you must be a member.  To network with our clubs in different locations, and be welcomed as you move, you must be a member.  Or – maybe we agree on another, more staggered approach.  I am ready to hear, to learn, take action to meet our collective needs.  There are many right ways to serve one another. 

The PowerPoint used in King of Prussia will be available to you on our national website.  Our basis for the initial draft Mindmap is here (and I hope you will help me perfect it):