January 2018

BPW Connection | January 2018

Join the Upper Keys BPW for our first meeting of the new year! It's a luncheon, Wednesday, January 17, at the Holiday Inn, Key Largo (African Queen Room,) from 11:30 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.  Our speaker this month is Brenda Carr, speaking about the Upper Keys solar initiative vote coming up in February.  Maria DiPasqua Jones of the Florida Keys Electric Cooperative will also be in attendance to answer questions. Register in advance: JANUARY LUNCHEON REGISTRATION

bpw|CALENDAR Jan 17: Luncheon, 11:30 a.m., Holiday Inn, African Queen Room with guest speaker Brenda Carr from the League of Women Voters sharing information on Solar Initiative.  Feb 21: Luncheon, 11:30 a.m., Holiday Inn, African Queen Room Mar 21: Evening Networking Event. Location TBA. Apr 18: Luncheon, 11:30 a.m., Holiday Inn, African Queen Room (New 2018 Board Member Elections) May 17: Evening Networking Event and Induction of New Board of Directors. Location TBA. Board of Directors2017-18  PresidentLaura Maupin 305/360-5645 keystoyouth@gmail.com President ElectIlja Chapman305/998-8348 Ilja.chapman@gmail.com Vice Presidents Miriam Lazcos, Membership                                305-926-3125                                                     mlazcos@gmail.com Suzi Youngberg, Hospitality 305/393-6830 suziyoungberg@gmail.com Treasurers Theresa Sutter786/361-5404 theresasutter@gmail.com Jennifer Cappadona                                            727/967-4178                                                  jrs1129@hotmail.com  SecretaryKate Banick 305-619-0154 kate@thegoodhealthclinic.org Director Pam Martin305/853-0907 pmflkeys@aol.com NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN FOR THE 2018-2019 BOARD OF DIRECTORS! Would you like to get more out of your BPW experience? Consider a position on the 2018-19 Board of Directors. Nominations are open now, and voting will be held at the April 18th luncheon.  Submit your nomination(s) to: info@upperkeysbpw.org. Questions?  Email info@upperkeysbpw.org Mail: P. O.  Box 231, Tavernier, Fl  33070

President's Message  Happy New Year BPW members and friends! We made it! 2017 is now a memory and we thought an annual recap might be fun.  This time last year we were gearing up to hear from Retz Reeves, our longtime member and financial guru. Her talk was super informative on how women can take on more financial responsibility and understanding. Then in February we welcomed Debbie Goldberg, spiritual mentor and therapist and she shared valuable insights of how to care for yourself through a practice of acceptance and love. In March, president elect, Ilja Chapman sponsored Bayside & Bubbles at Amoray Resort. We had a great turnout, in spite of the weather and boat not cooperating, and raised over $500 for our women’s scholarship fund. In April, Marlo DeMoss gave us lots of helpful tips and materials on financial planning. Then in May we met up at Corks & Curds to install our 2017/2018 Board of Directors. What a great evening! In June Cheryl Meads joined us for a sellout event and shared her story of leadership and ethics We also presented Paula Wheaton with a scholarship. July was a spectacular Trivia Night sponsored by The Catch Restaurant, where I learned so much and just how popular trivia is in this community. In August Scott and Suzi Youngberg created a terrific Sing Along sponsored by Just The Thing Bistro in Islamorada and we had a ball. September brought us Hurricane Irma, and you all know that story. In October we gathered at Skippers Dockside to award Ilja Chapman Woman of the Year and Sun 103.1 with Business of the Year. Hillary Janzen and Holly Raschein were our scholarship recipients. November was an informative luncheon with county commissioner Sylvia Murphy and last month Theresa Sutter graciously opened her beautiful home on the Bay for our annual Holiday Party. It was a lovely evening and the weather was perfect. It was so much fun spending time with you all. As we look forward in 2018, we are planning to share more healthy women’s topics and continue to grow personally and professionally together. Upper Keys BPW has recently partnered with Lucy Given, mother of beloved Holly, who tragically lost her life less than a month ago. Lucy shared with us her daughters vision of inspiring and empowering women in her hometown community and we feel honored to help her facilitate this. Please help us share throughout the community. We are planning to give the first scholarship in April. Application and details are on our website at upperkeysbpw.org under the scholarship tab. This month Brenda Carr of League of Women Voters is sharing information on the Solar Initiative and Maria DiPasqua Jones of the Florida Keys Electric Cooperative will also be in attendance to answer questions. This is a great learning opportunity for anyone in our community. Bring a friend!  Register for the January luncheon today. Love, Laura Maupin

Thanks to everyone who attended our annual Holiday Party in December! A good time was had by all, and the ornament exchange was a lot of fun, as always. Thanks again to Theresa Sutter for opening her home to us for the party; she did an amazing job and it was a beautiful location.  The Upper Keys BPW meets once a month, on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. We alternate between luncheons and evening networking events, and would love for you to join us! Click the button to see our event schedule and register for an upcoming event.  If you or your business would be interested in sponsoring one or more of our events, let us know and we'll provide you with details and prices. bpwupperkeys@gmail.com.  Stay tuned for more information on sponsorship opportunities.

bpw|member SPOTLIGHT Meet Betsy Baste Betsy Baste joined BPW last summer when she realized there was a group of women making a difference for their community and acting as a voice for powerful women in the world. She and her husband, Scott, and her parents, Jim and Betty Kelly, moved to the Keys in September, 2011, after leaving successful careers in the mountains of Western North Carolina; she as a program director for youth, and he as a high-end home-builder. After settling her parents into their new home in Silver Shores, Betsy and Scott opened the SUP and skate store, Paddle the Florida Keys, together, while she worked as a Master Scuba Diver Trainer at Pennekamp Park. Since her parents passing, Betsy embarked on a path to create senior programs that would honor her parents’ commitment as lifelong learners. She started volunteering by teaching computer classes at the Monroe County/AARP Senior Center on Plantation Key, but after doing that and listening to the seniors, realized there was a need for more. She and a group of like-minded citizens formed the Upper Keys Life Enrichment Coalition (UKLEC), whose goal is to create a community center dedicated to be a welcoming place that is a vibrant center for the entire community throughout all stages of life. This January, UKLEC and Betsy are excited to present a pilot program to the community that welcomes all adult lifelong learners to the JOY Center. Since Betsy used to direct youth centers, she realized that we are ALL Just Older Youth (JOY) and that while our bodies change and age, in so many ways, we feel the same as when we were young. The JOY Center is open every Wednesday, from 9am to 3 pm from now until April 11th (except January 31st). The program is free and is located at 161 Pearl Ave in Tavernier, and she hopes all BPW members will stop by to see what the program is all about! Click the link for schedule, registration information and more: JOYCenterflyerWed01.17.2018-5.pdf "Upper Keys Life Enrichment Coalition (UKLEC)." Our mission is to create a welcoming place that is a vibrant center for the entire community throughout all stages of life. This winter, we will offer a FREE pop-up center for adult lifelong learners. We have named this fourteen (14) week pilot project the "J.O.Y. CENTER." Betsy Baste, M.Ed. is doing an awesome job as our Program Director. Please contact Betsy (uklecinc@gmail.com) if you would like to be a guest speaker or offer your skills in some other way. We need artists, musicians, chefs, greeters, etc. ATTA GIRL Jeanne Harstad!   Congratulations to BPW member Jeanne Harstad, owner of Island Time Trolley, on her recent engagement! Cheers, Jeanne, we wish you much happiness! ATTA GIRL Theresa Sutter! Thanks and congratulations to BPW Board Member (Treasurer) Theresa Sutter for hosting such an amazing holiday party!   Everyone had a great time and the location was perfect.   ATTA GIRL Betsy Baste! Congratulations to BPW member Betsy Baste on the success of the JOY Center's first weekly program.  It was very well attended, and definitely shows the need for a true senior center in the Upper Keys. Great job Betsy! Read the article: "New Senior Center Has Large Turnout" Do you know someone who deserves an "Atta Girl!"? Send your suggestions to:  bpwupperkeys@gmail.com.  NEW JANUARY MEMBERS Please help us welcome new and renewing members! NEW MEMBERS: Sally Stribling- Broker-Associate Caldwell Banker Schmidt Ginette Hughes- Marine Resources Development Foundation RENEWING MEMBERS: Kate Banick – Good Health Clinic Ilja Chapman – Cruise Planners Voyage Blue Stephanie Foy – Military Antique Dealer Become a member of the Upper Keys Business & Professional Women (BPW) Click the button, or go to upperkeysbpw.org for registration and information. You can also join us at one of our luncheons or evening events, held on the third Wednesday of every month. bpw|INTRODUCES    The Holly Given Memorial Scholarship Holly Given grew up in the Florida Keys, graduated from Coral Shores High School, and her family are long time residents. Holly tragically lost her life recently, and the entire community has mourned her loss. Family and friends set up a donation fund in her name, and an annual fishing tournament is donating part of its proceeds to the fund. Holly was an avid fisher-woman as well as an accomplished athlete, and her friends partnered with the Poor Girls Fishing Tournament to make this year the "Fish For Holly" Poor Girls Sailfish Tournament.  Click for more information and registration forms. Holly's mother, Lucy Given, reached out to the Upper Keys BPW Board for assistance and advice about the best use for the money that is being raised in her daughter's name. Holly was an advocate for leadership and community service, and wanted to help empower women in the community. It seems a natural fit that part of her legacy will be to help the Upper Keys BPW award adult scholarships to women in the Florida Keys wishing to continue or complete their education. We are proud to introduce the new BPW-Holly Given Memorial Scholarship, the first of which will be awarded in March. APPLY FOR AN UPPER KEYS BPW ADULT SCHOLARSHIP The Upper Keys's BPW Adult Scholarship program is about women helping women!  Applications are accepted year round and reviewed March 15 and Aug 15 annually.  Scholarships may be used for certifications, training classes, or classes and required materials for higher educational degrees.  For more information see our website, or click the link 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 Proceeds from E-Blasts go toward our Adult Scholarship Fund. Simply send us your message, along with your name, business name and billing information to:        BPWupperkeys@gmail.com    COUNTY COMMISSIONER POSITION INFORMATION Remember when Sylvia Murphy spoke at our November luncheon? She told us that day she does not intend to seek re-election, and asked our members to consider running. If you have thought about running for County Commissioner for Monroe County, here are some facts to consider: It is a 4 year term You must live in the District for which you are applying to run for office Qualifications: County Resident (of the District for which you are applying) Deep interest in politics Must like working with people Salary and Benefits: $43,000 Present Base Salary - In Monroe County salary is based on population.  County Health Plan - County pays a portion 401K Retirement Plan All travel reimbursed for in and out of District travel including 3 meals/day Notes submitted by Sandi Bisceglia in conversation with Commissioner Sylvia Murphy. Phone number for Sylvia Murphy if you would like additional info: 305-453-8787. Phone number for Sandi Bisceglia if you would like her to accompany you to go and chat with Sylvia as per her invitation: 305-393-0236. Connecting our Upper Keys Chapter to BPW Florida BPW/FL Florida Federation of Business & Professional Women's Club Inc. Contact your Upper Keys BPW Chapter: bpwupperkeys@gmail.com   or   info@upperkeysbpw.org P. O. Box 231, Tavernier, FL  33070 Facebook • Twitter • LinkedIn Unsubscribe