Upper Keys BPW Connection October 2025 |
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Our mission is to achieve equity for all working women through advocacy, education and connections.
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BPW members and friends,
When I first met Casey Watkins at a BPW event, I wasn't sure what to think. Who was this exuberant jokester, and what had drawn him to our women's organization?
It didn’t take long to figure out that with Casey, there was no 'angle.' What you saw is what you got. And what you saw - and got - was a whole lotta love.
If you knew Casey, you know that he loved to talk. He loved to laugh and to make others laugh. He loved to poke fun, mostly at himself. And more than anything, he loved this community and the people that make it so special.
As carefree as Casey might have appeared on the surface, it didn't take much to recognize his depth and passion. Passion for what’s fair. Passion for what’s right. Passion for doing good things for others. And passion, as it turns out, for BPW’s mission of supporting and empowering women.
Inspired by his mom, whose loss he felt deeply, Casey joined Upper Keys BPW to honor her legacy of supporting women. Casey was an unabashed advocate for BPW. He attended our gatherings regularly, always adding an extra spark to the room. He offered to help in any way he could. You only had to meet Casey once to consider him a friend.
And so Casey, my friend, may you rest in peace as you find yourself reunited with your beloved mom. I will miss seeing you light up the room and charm the crowd. I will miss sharing a joke, admiring your colorful outfits and hearing your laugh. Above all, I will miss seeing the good you would have continued to do for this community.
To all of you missing Casey's presence on this earth, I pass along a request from Megan, his life partner, whom he championed and adored: Let’s keep his legacy going by “loving like Casey.”
For those who wish to honor Casey's memory and support Megan during this heartbreaking time, please visit the GoFundMe page set up by their colleagues and friends.
The community is also invited to celebrate Casey’s life at a public service to be held at the Coral Shores High School stadium on October 21 at 6:30 p.m.
With gratitude for having known him, |
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6:30pm
Pilot House ~ Key Largo
**ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED**
Save your seat today!
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Thank you to our awards and event sponsor:
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Thinking about joining Upper Keys BPW?
Join us for this informational meeting where you'll meet BPW members and leaders, learn about our mission and programs, get answers to your questions and more. Plus, take advantage of our October membership special:
Get two free months added to your first-year membership when you join this month.
Saturday, October 25
Key Largo Library
9:30-11:30 a.m.
FREE TO ATTEND / REGISTRATION REQUESTED
Light refreshments will be served. Current members are welcome to attend! REGISTER HERE
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Even if you missed our group walk last week, you can still participate by completing a 5K walk on your own any time in October. Do it all in one day, or a little at a time - it's up to you! All registered walkers receive a specially created pink bracelet from Lionfish Jewelry, a local member-owned business.
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Net proceeds benefit the BPW Breast Cancer Fund, which offers hope and help to Floridians facing this insidious disease. Any BPW Florida member in good standing may request a $250 grant on behalf of a Florida resident (member or non-member) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, determined to be at high risk, or received mammogram results requiring further testing.
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8 a.m. via Zoom
Start your day by sharing something good - and catch up on the latest news from BPW members and friends - while sipping your morning coffee. (Come as you are, even if that means pajamas and wet hair... this is a no-judgment zone!)
SIGN UP HERE
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In case you missed it...
September’s Speed Networking Luncheon brought together members and guests for one of our favorite annual events! From new connections to meaningful conversations, it was a fantastic afternoon of networking and community at the Holiday Inn Key Largo. Click here to see more photos. |
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Follow us on your favorite social media platform for the latest
news and event updates from Upper Keys BPW: |
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Join Upper Keys BPW this month and get two extra months added to your first-year membership! (Your renewal won't be due until January 1, 2027.) Click here for more information. Not an Upper Keys resident? Visit BPWFL.org to see the list of other local organizations around the state or join as a Florida member-at-large. |
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Florida Business Woman Magazine Seeks Article Submissions Florida Business Woman, a statewide magazing published by BPW Florida, welcomes article submissions from members and non-members on topics of interest to working women. Appropriate topics include educational content and inspiring stories related to personal growth, professional development or political advocacy. (No self-promotion or partisan topics.) The deadline for the next issue (December) is Friday, November 7. To propose a topic or submit an article for consideration, send it via email to: info@bpwfl.org Interested in advertising in Florida Business Woman? Click here for more information.
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SHOWCASE YOUR BUSINESS:
Sponsor a BPW Event |
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Are you looking to reach Upper Keys "movers & shakers"? Our monthly luncheons and networking events attract a diverse group of local business owners, solopreneurs, bankers, financial advisors, real estate agents, healthcare professionals, nonprofit leaders, educators, public servants and more.
Sponsoring a BPW event will get your organization noticed!
As a Gold Sponsor, you'll get:
- Prominent logo placement in all event announcements
- Exclusive mention in the BPW monthly newsletter and in our social media event pages and posts
- One promotional e-mail to our list of 450+
- One event admission (valued at $28-$36)
- Opportunity to share promotional materials at the event
- Opportunity to speak to attendees (up to 3 minutes)
Platinum Sponsors get even more - an additional e-mail, an ad in our monthly newsletter and an extra event entry.
We currently have open sponsorship slots for November 19 (luncheon), January 21 (luncheon), February 18 (networking night) and April 15 (networking night).
Gold Sponsorship is $275 for members and $325 for non-members. Upgrade to Platinum for an extra $50.
To reserve a date, send an email to bpwupperkeys@gmail.com.
Sponsorship fees support our Adult Women's Scholarship Fund and other BPW programs designed to empower local working women. |
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Send an email blast
to 450+ local residents |
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Got a business or product to promote? An event you want to get the word out about? Reach our active mailing list of over 450 BPW members and supporters in the Upper Keys.
E-blast prices:
$25 - Members
$40 - Non-members
Purchase your ad in our online store to get the process started.
Questions? Send us an email at bpwupperkeys@gmail.com. |
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A request from the Public Policy Committee
Since its inception in 1919, BPW has advocated for policies that support equity for working women. Our 2025-26 Public Policy Platform, adopted at the BPW/FL State Conference in June (and voted upon by members annually), covers economic equity, opportunity and self-sufficiency; access to health care; and voting rights and access.
Our Public Policy Committee would like to hear from our members:
- Which areas of our policy platform matter most to you?
- What topics would you like to learn more about?
- What questions can they help to answer?
Your input is important! Please send your suggested topics and burning questions to bpwupperkeys@gmail.com. |
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Atta Girls!
- Victoria Leonard has been promoted to Accounting Manager at the Florida Keys Electric Co-Op. Way to go, Victoria!
- Erin Muir, Community Engagement Manager at Mote Marine, recently celebrated the opening of a new site at Crane Point, the sixth Mote site in the Florida Keys focused on restoration of our natural environment. Congratulations, Erin! (And thank you to BPW members Jill Miranda Baker, Holly Raschein and Margie Smith for serving on the Mote Keys Advisory Board.)
Do you know of a BPW member who recently achieved a personal or professional goal or milestone? (Maybe it was you!) We'd love to know about it so we can highlight it here. Send an email to bpwupperkeys@gmail.com. |
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Renewing Members in September 2025
Glad you're still with us!
- Valerie Barth, member since 2023
- Danielle Jones, member since 2024
- Henry Menendez, member since 2022
- Lourdes Montagne, member since 2019
- Holly Redding, member since 2021
- Carolyn Salvador, member since 2024
- Brittany Snyder, member since 2021
- Alissa Whittle, member since 2022
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Members: Do you need a BPW name badge? If your BPW name badge is MIA or has seen better days -- or you chose not to order one when you first joined -- we have good news! You can easily order a name badge for $18 via the link below (or from the "Contact" page on the website). Orders are placed once a month, at the beginning of each month. |
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