BPW Connection | NEWSLETTER

January 2020

IN THIS ISSUE:  

PRESIDENT MESSAGE     EVENT SCHEDULE     UPCOMING EVENTS     COMMITTEE CHAIRS            BPW FL         ADVOCACY & PUBLIC POLICY       SPONSOR AN EVENT        ADULT SCHOLARSHIP       SEND AN EBLAST     NEW AND RENEWING MEMBERS     MONTH IN REVIEW       FEED THE PIGGIES    MEMBER SPOTLIGHT    ATTA GIRL    BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Happy New Year, Upper Keys BPW Sisters!

 Over the holiday, a good friend shared a beautiful New Year’s wish with me and I’d like to share it with you, too. 

“My wish for the New Year — that you have someone to love, have meaningful work to do, and have things greater than yourself to believe in. That you have a reason to smile every day and a shoulder to cry on when you need it. That you keep your integrity even when the choices are hard. That you love deeply, give joyfully, forgive willingly, laugh easily and live well enough to be grateful for every day.”  

Looking forward to 2020! 

Did you receive a copy of the “Florida Business Woman” in the mail earlier this month? This magazine comes to you as part of your membership with us and the Florida Federation of Business & Professional Women (BPW/FL). It is a communication tool to let all members know what BPW sisters throughout the state have accomplished. Please contact me if you didn’t receive your copy in the mail.

2020 is a U.S. presidential election year and our mission is to help you understand the local politics to prepare you to make an educated decision. The Political Forum in October will be the highlight but throughout the year, we will organize political, non-partisan events. 

We will continue to meet every 3^rd third Wednesday of the month for our regular luncheons or evening events. We are pleased with our event line up so far and you can see the events on our website. 

The Professional Development series will continue to grow and the next session will be held Saturday, Jan. 25 in partnership with the Marine Resources Development Foundation/MarineLab. This is in line with Environment, the fifth item of the BPW/FL Public Policy Platform. We are looking to offer one program per month so keep an eye out for more details coming soon.  

Ladies, I think you all agree, it is up to us to make 2020 count! 

Looking forward to seeing you for the next luncheon, Jan. 15 at the Key Largo Bay Marriott Beach Resort. We will be at their Conference Center at the north end of the property. Doors open at 11am.  

Cheers!

Ilja Chapman

UKBPW President 2018-19

Tel: 305-998-8348

Interested in being a mentor? Looking for a mentor?  The Upper Keys BPW Mentoring Program can help!  Click here for the packet. If you would like to sign up, fill out this mentoring sign-up form, indicating your areas of interest, and we'll help connect you with others who may match.

Contact us for more information. bpwupperkeys@gmail.com

January 15: Luncheon. 11:00A-1:00P. Key Largo Bay Marriott Conference Center. Speaker Retz Reeves from Islamorada Investment Management, who are also sponsoring the luncheon. RESERVE NOW.

January 25: "Discover the Secret World of Mangroves," part of Professional Develop. Series. Marine Lab. 1:00P-5:00P. Learn more and reserve your space.

February 19:Evening Event. 5:30P-7:30P. Sip 'n Shop at Zero Dress Code, 82205 O/S Hwy, Islamorada.

February 25:"Time Management for Busy Professional Women," part of Prof Dev Series. Church of Nazarene. 5:30P-7:30P. 

March 18: Luncheon. 11:00A-1:00P. Holiday Inn, Key Largo. Speaker will be Chelsea Wilkerson, CEO of Girl Scouts Tropical Florida. Sponsorship available.

March 26: "Team Building & Group Development,"  part of Prof Dev Series. Church of Nazarene. 5:30P-7:30P. 

April 15: Evening Event 5:30-7:30 PM. "Not Your Mother's Networking!" Speed Networking back by popular demand, as an evening event this time. More details TBA.

NEW & RENEWING MEMBERS

New - 

Dennis Ward, State Attorney

Sam Steele, Monroe County Tax Collector's Office

Renewing -

Ellie Donofrio, Keys Country RE

Sue Woltanki, Minimize Testing Maximize Learning

Wednesday, Jan. 15th Key Largo Bay Beach

Marriott Confer. Center

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Join us before this month's luncheon for a meet and greet with new members, old members and anyone who would like to learn more about BPW. Learn or get a refresher on how to log-in and navigate the website. Find out more about committee positions available. Give us your feedback on programs we can offer and what you want as part of your Upper Keys BPW membership. 

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT UPPER KEYS BPW?

Please join us in thanking our Sponsor for the January Luncheon:

Islamorada Investment Management

81888 Overseas Highway, Suite E

Islamorada, FL 33036

www.islainvest.com

“Discover the Secret World of Mangroves”

Part of our Professional Development Series

Saturday, January 25, 2020, 1 PM - 5 PM

RSVP required; no walk-ins, please, due to the space limitations on our US Coast Guard inspected vessels.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND RESERVE YOUR SPACE.

MONTH IN REVIEW

Did you make the Upper Keys BPW Holiday Party?  A good time was had by all!  Thank you Beverly Newman for opening your home to us. Thank you Scott Youngberg for providing the music.  Thanks to everyone who came, brought a dish, participated in the ornament exchange and helped us celebrate the holiday season together! Below are just a few pictures from the night. Check out our Facebook page for more and give us a "LIKE" while you're there.

2019-2020

COMMITTEES AND CHAIRS

Marketing & PR committee: Chair Jill Keuhnert.

Political Affairs: Chair Gina Boilini.

Scholarship committee: Chair Gina Boilini

Nominating committee: Chair Sue Woltanski

Membership committee: Chair Suzi Youngberg (*Recruiting Members)

Professional Development committee: Chair Jordan Budnik (*Recruiting Members)

Hospitality committee: Chair Victoria Leonard (*Recruiting Members)

Financial audit committee: (*Recruiting Chair & Members)

Interested members should call Ilja Chapman at 305-998-8348.

SPONSOR AN UPPER KEYS BPW EVENT!

The cost to sponsor an event is $250.

With the sponsorship you receive the following benefits and opportunities:

• Logo/branding:
• Event E-vite emailed three times to a database of 500 people
• Monthly BPW member Newsletter emailed a few days prior to event
• Mention at Upper Keys BPW social media
• One Free dedicated business E-Blast to our membership with a message your business likes to share
• Display table and/or hand outs to all attendees
• Banner display at the luncheon
• Two FREE entries to the luncheon
• 5 minute speaking time at the luncheon directed to all attendees

Interested sponsors should call Ilja Chapman at 305-998-8348.

Annual State Conference 2020

100th Conference

June 11-14, 2020

Saddlebrook Resort, Tampa

Registration Begins February 2020

Advocacy & Public Policy

America was founded on the principal of equality for all and derives its strength from individuals working together for a common good. This Public Policy Platform is BPW/FL’s blueprint for our work in respect, justice, and equality for working women. 

Do you know what BPW's Public Policy Platform is for 2019-2020? You can learn all about it by visiting the BPW Florida website Public Policy Platform. There you can read about the 5 Core Issues that BPW focuses on: 

1. Equality For All/Ratify Equal Rights Amendment.
2. Equal Pay 
3. Safe Workplace
4. Health Care
5. Environment

Women have made some strides in these issues, but there is more that can and should be done in these major areas of equality for women.

CLICK to read the official BPW/FL 2018-2019 Public Policy Platform.

BPW Insider

Congratulations BPW/FL on their E-Newsletter, BPWInsider. There is a lot of good information and the first issue gave a shout out to the Upper Keys BPW as their Highlighted Local Organization!  We thank them for their recognition and their leadership! 

To read the article CLICK HERE.

Breast Cancer Scholarship Fund 

OUR JANUARY CHARITY!

BPW/FL proudly administers a Breast Cancer Scholarship Fund, which provides $250 scholarships for men and women fighting breast cancer. Through a legislative advocacy program as well as monetary support to breast cancer patients, BPW not only makes a positive impact on the present, but on the future as well.

Any BPW/FL member in good standing may request a disbursement for any person, regardless of BPW membership, who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, in accordance with the approved guidelines.

Feed the Piggies!

Have you met Wilbur & Charlotte?

Look for Charlotte & Wilbur at every single Upper Keys BPW Event! Please "feed" their trough with your spare change and help us contribute to the BPW Florida Education Federation. Your contribution will help us continue the legacy of helping women achieve their goals and dreams.

The Education Foundation of the Florida Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. (Education Foundation of BPW/FL) was organized in 1965 as a 501(c)(3). Its purpose is to make available to young women an opportunity to pursue higher learning.

The concept was originally realized by building scholarship houses for women on Florida state university campuses.

Scholarship houses provide “a home away from home” for female students who have a demonstrated financial need and outstanding academic records.

CLICK TO LEARN MORE.

Where are Wilbur & Charlotte Piggie spending the month?

Each month, the Piggies go home with a different board member. Charlotte & Wilbur have been spending the holidays with our President Elect Suzi Youngberg.

"Our Piggies rang in the New Year with us!" Suzi says. "Their New Year's Resolution is to spread more awareness for the BPW Florida Education Foundation and inspire people's generosity to help more young women pursue higher education."

Suzi is also working on making them a safer and more secure "home" to live in.  "They are so precious to the Upper Keys BPW, we need to keep them protected during their travels with the Board Members. Lots of foam packing is needed!"

Stay tuned for more stories of their continuing adventures!

Don't forget to be saving your spare change and bring it to the January luncheon. Charlotte & Wilbur will be attending and waiting for you to feed their trough!

(Pictured below: Charlotte & Wilbur ringing in the New Year.)

bpw|member SPOTLIGHTRev. Soraya Lloren 

Certified Life Coach (CLC) SurThrive Virtual Assistant, Mobile Notary and Skin Care Consultant Extraordinaire! Independant Skin Care Consultant - Mary Kay

I moved to the Florida Keys in 2014 with my then 15 year old son and 10 year old daughter. The journey started with what was supposed to be an academic opportunity for my high schooler to study marine biology. The Lord had a different plan however and even though my children have been afforded wonderful academic journeys, He blessed me also with volunteer opportunities that include being appointed Worship Leader for the Florida Keys House of Prayer and I’m part of a the worship team at Spirit and Truth Ministries, and disaster relief efforts in Marathon after Hurricane Irma. And as if that were not a huge blessing in itself, I met a wonderful man that through the redemptive power of Christ, is a walking, living testimony that we are not defined by yesterday, and that wonderful man became my husband in July, 2019.

I started attending BPW meetings in 2017 because I thrive by being connected with like-minded women who know and believe in the positive outcome that is the result of standing together, encouraging one another, and building each other up so we may continually become the best versions of ourselves. Currently a BPW member, I’m being intentional about getting connected in this wonderful community. My heart’s desire is to pour into the lives of women (men and young adults) that are challenged by circumstance, have peaked and need new vision, and/or would benefit by having help creating their visions and reaching their goals.

In the coming weeks, in my capacity as Life Coach (2019), I will be joining/volunteering in a prison ministry network that has a focus on sharing hope with women (and men) who have been lost and perhaps forgotten. Prison ministries deliver good news (in the midst of their mess), guidance, life-skills training, and even prayer so they too can have a chance at becoming better versions of themselves. The vision (for me) is that when they re-enter this (or any other) wonderfully beautiful community, they can be better equipped to flourish alongside the rest of us! I exist to light the way, and I do this by stirring bravery, inspiring hope and awakening worth! Thank you BPW for the opportunity to be a part of this power movement that changes lives in the present and for the future!

Atta Girl to Trinity VanSteenburg! She is on the cover of Keys Life Magazine January edition! It's a great article on an amazing woman and the importance of planning. Trinity is owner of Caribbean Catering. Congrats Trinity!

Atta Girl to Cynthia Gneiser!  Cynthia and her husband Jeff recently became the owners of Amoray Dive Center at Amoray Resort in Key Largo.  Several months ago Cynthia announced she was going to own a dive operation and she made it happen! Way to go Cynthia!

IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW DESERVES AN ATTA GIRL, PLEASE SEND US THE INFORMATION AND WE'LL MAKE SURE YOU/THEY ARE RECOGNIZED!   bpwupperkeys@gmail.com

APPLY FOR AN UPPER KEYS BPW ADULT SCHOLARSHIP

The Upper Keys's BPW Adult Scholarship program is about women helping women!  Apply for the Upper Keys BPW Adult Scholarship and the UKBPW-Holly Given Memorial Scholarship.

The specifications and applications can be found on our website. Applications are accepted all year round, and are reviewed on March 15th and August 15th annually.  Scholarships may be used for certifications, training classes, or classes and required materials for higher educational degrees.  

For more information, or to download the application, click the button below. 

Sending an E-Blast to Upper Keys BPW email recipients is a great way to get your message out. Members and non-members alike are invited to use this forum for events, specials, sales and general advertising.   Let the Upper Keys BPW help you spread the word about your business! Our E-Blast prices are as follows: $15.00  -  Members $30.00  -  Non-Members $50.00  -  Political Ad Proceeds from E-Blasts go toward our Adult Scholarship Fund. Simply send us your print ready graphics and message, along with your name, business name and billing information to:        BPWupperkeys@gmail.com

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