Winter Board Report

On February 28, 2009, your President along with Jeanne Alves, Amy Kates, Becky Colas, Mary Mendoza, Pam Mulveyhill, Priscilla Young and Sylvia Connor attended the BPW/MA Winter Board.

Upper Cape Cod President, Betty Moffitt welcomed all to this meeting on Cape Cod. The Collect and Pledge of Allegiance was lead by BPW/MA President Elect, V.J. Hartnett.

Policy and Procedure changes were discussed and accepted.

Carolyn Frazier, BPW/USA area one representative spoke in regards to the BPW/USA Board decision of February 17, 2009 to merge with BPW Foundation. Carolyn stated that due to decreasing membership and the current economic status, that many options had been reviewed with this merger as being the best option in order to become financially sound. Currently many businesses are reluctant to mergers, however many non profits are finding a merger to be a positive move. All BPW members are to receive a ballot in order that they are able to vote for or against this merger.

State and Locals would continue on, however no National dues would be in effect thus changes would be made on the State and Local levels as to their dues structure. This merger would eliminate the National legislation platform, mandated National By-laws and allow payment of State and Local dues only, thus reducing membership dues and hopefully encourage new members to join. State and Local Organizations will continue to be able to use the BPW YC and ID signature programs. Further updates are available on the BPW/USA website at merger. The merger would take effect on July 1, 2009.

Proposed State By-law changes were discussed and will be brought to the May 15, 2009 Convention to be voted on. As we are all aware, both State and Local By-law changes will be necessary following a BPW/USA merger with BPW Foundation.

Amy Kates and Evelyn Young, who are both BPW members and financial planners presented a very interesting and informative program in regards to Women & Money—Making Good Financial Decisions.

The call to May 15, 2009 State Convention will be placed in the April Bay State News.

Betty A. Moffitt

UCBPW Fundraiser - Spring '09

Pink Travel Mugs with white ribbon motif around the band, known as Horizon of Hope Travel Mugs, from the Longaberger Company of Ohio are available as a fundraiser thru June.

There are two ways that we can work the fundraising:

The way it is set up to work is just like Girl Scout Cookies... we (and the other locals in the district/state??) take orders and collect $ (cash or checks made out to UCBPW) until the cutoff date we decide upon, I compile the orders, send 'em in, UCBPW KEEPS 20% of the product cost ($3.60 per mug). The order arrives, we schedule a pick up date or two... and that's it!

The other way it can work is that UCBPW can target an amount of $$ we wish to make; order the mugs in one or more groupings; sell them and recover the money.

Two extra bonuses: One is that the Longaberger Company is donating $1 for each mug sold to the American Cancer Society - an ongoing fund for Breast Cancer Research. The second is that all of my commission (an additional $2. 88 per mug) will be donated as well.

We purchased 30 mugs, sold a good number of them at the Winter Board Meeting; will bring them to our monthly meetings to sell them; will bring them to the District Meeting and Expo to sell. At Winter Board a few of the ladies took the order forms - they have all the info to sell, and I can have their mugs (10 or more) sent directly to them to distribute.

Pam Mulveyhill