Upper Cape Cod BPW Bulletin
January 2010

President's Letter

I hope that every one of you enjoyed your Holidays and I wish to extend my warmest wishes to all for a very healthy, happy and prosperous New Year.

A Big Thank You to Helene DeFoe for following through with the Dress A Live Doll Program in conjunction with the Salvation Army. Due to the very generous donations from our members Helene was able to provide all furnishings and extras for a child and also provide many gift certificates to be given to teenagers. Our Holiday Social was enjoyed by all who attended and our Yankee Swap, as always, provides fun and laughter.

As we have now entered a new decade as BPW members please take a moment to look back at all that we have accomplished and also look forward to a year ahead as we show unity and patience and continue to build on a basis which was established many years ago and will continue to grow with our support.

Our January Dinner program is to be presented by Mindy Todd of the Cape and Islands NPR radio station, please show your support and make an earnest effort to attend this very informative meeting. I look forward to seeing you on the 20th.

                                    

Betty

Remember..
Bring items for our food pantry donation.
Now that the holidays are over the food pantries are especially in need of donations. Please bring canned and packaged foods to our next meeting. We are still donating to all the Upper Cape food pantries on a rotating basis.

To BPW or Not to BPW?
That is the question.

Something during the course of this year, BPW/MA will make a decision to continue to be a part of BPW Foundation—which is continuing the legacy and fine work of BPW/USA—or to disassociate and be a separate entity. If that happens BPW/MA will no longer be a part of BPW and all that it has stood for since 1921. We as a local then have a choice—to be a member of the new state organization, or to continue to be a part of the great legacy of BPW by being a direct member of BPW Foundation. To me this is a no-brainer. The great strength of BPW is in being connected to other like-minded women all over the country. Our issues are national issues, not just state issues. And who know what the state organization will morph into once it disassociates with the national organization?

It would be too bad if this happened, but at this point it looks likely. Unfortunately State has mis-handled the BPW Foundation 'licensing fee' issue which seems to be the driving force behind the movement to susceede. It is mind boggling to me that so many women around our state could let a $40 per member fee—which is less than the dues that BPW/USA charged—make them want to part company with our national organization and all the good work it does. But that is what is happening. In my opinion, if State had simply made the $40 fee part of the dues structure, we would not be in the mess we are in now. Our dues would have been less that they were with BPW/USA, and everyone would have been happy.

However... it's water under the bridge now, and the question is where do we go from here? I personally would like to see our local work to get the State to stick with Foundation. Shall we put our heads together in the next couple of months and see what we can do? I have one idea, and I am sure we can come up with others.

For me, being a part of BPW is critical. It is being part of something that is far greater than its individual locals. It is sharing in the proud legacy and continued work of advocating for women in the work place all over our country. How do each of you feel about it?

Jen Kano

 

November Upper Cape Cod Meeting
Speaker: Mindy Todd

Mindy Todd who hosts "The Point," an NPR WCAI/FM radio program of lively and informative discussions with guest authors, scientists, business people, artists, statesmen, and politicians, will be our speaker. Mindy will speak about a timely issue in the news.

Wednesday, January 20, 210
5:30 pm Networking - Dinner and Program 6:30 pm

Coonamesset Inn
Falmouth, MA

Cost: $23

RSVP by Monday, January 18
Reservations paid in advance. Mail reservations with check to:
Jeanne Alves, 43 Antlers Shore Dr., East Falmouth, MA 02536 or call 508-540-3370.

 

 

Please note: The cost of our dinners for the monthly meetings has risen to $23.00
This will be in effect as of our November dinner meeting.

2009-2010 Meeting Dates

Board Meetings Dinner Meetings Program
June 3, 2009   
August 3, 2009   
September 2, 2009 September 16, 2009Kelley Perry, "The Pink Collar Worker"
October 7, 2008 October 21, 2009 Women of Achievement, Alberto's Ristorante, Hyannis, MA. In conjunction with Cranberry District.
November 4, 2009 November 18, 2009Arlene Kirsch of "We Can," Yarmouth Port, on Strategic Volunteering to mentor women in the Cape communities
December 2, 2009 December 16, 2009 Holiday Social
January 6, 2010 January 20, 2010Mindy Todd of the Cape and The Islands NPR Radio station at Woods Hole on her career and current news coverage.
February 3, 2010 February 17, 2010Health Topic TBA
March 3, 2010 March 17, 2010Michael Talbot, Talbot Ecological Land Care, Mashpee on how to have a "green" approach to your landscaping to benefit the Cape's environment.
April 7, 2010April 21, 2010Annual Meeting/Silent Auction
May 5, 2010 May 19, 2010 Installation/Scholarship
Dinner Reservation Policy
If you make a reservation, you must pay the dinner fee even if you fail to attend the meeting.