March 2018

BPW Connection | March 2018

Upper Keys BPW is pleased to announce a very special March luncheon! Our speaker this month is Congresswoman Gwen Graham! She will be joined late by her father, former Florida Governor & Senator Bob Graham. We are excited to welcome the Graham family and hope you will join us for this special event.  Wednesday, March 21st, at Holiday Inn, Key Largo (African Queen & Casa 1 rooms) from 11:00* A.M. - 1:00 P.M.**  *Please note earlier start time.* **Bob Graham will be arriving late due to a schedule conflict, so plan extra time for this lunch, if possible. We will have the room open until 3:00 pm.**  Although we are disappointed that Mr. Graham has had a schedule change, as a professional women’s business group, we are more than happy to have an extended experience with a high-level female politician and potentially the next Governor of Florida. This is going to be an exciting and informative meeting! Seating is limited! Register now: MARCH LUNCHEON REGISTRATION BOARD NOMINATIONS OPEN  DON'T FORGET THAT NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN FOR THE 2018-2019 UPPER KEYS BPW BOARD OF DIRECTORS!Want to get more from your membership? Become more involved! Submit your nomination(s) to info@upperkeysbpw.org. Voting at the April 18th Meeting! March Greetings BPW members and friends! We’ve just about made it to springtime! Did you celebrate the International Day of Women on March 8th? It sure seemed to be a big event this year, and a great reminder of how much we can accomplish together. That’s what I love about this organization, our continued connection and friendships through the years. The possibilities are limitless when we put our minds together. And this month we are proud and excited to be able to bring you former Governor Bob Graham and his daughter Gwen as our luncheon speakers on Wednesday the 21st. Thank you to our longtime member and director, Pam Martin for her tireless efforts in making this event happen. This will be an incredible opportunity for our community and members to hear about our state and federal governments happenings in real time.  I hope you’ve registered and will be joining us! Next month will be an evening event celebrating Adult Women Scholarship recipients of both the BPW and The Holly Given Memorial Scholarships. Our location is yet to be determined, but rest assured, it will be an evening of great celebration and fun. We are honored to work with Holly’s mom Lucy on creating a giving legacy in her daughters name. Mark your calendar’s for April 18 from 5 to 7 PM. We will also be announcing and voting on the 2018/2019 BPW Board of Directors. There’s still time if you’re interested in serving, please reach out to one of the current board members and we will include you. Then in May we will celebrate and install the new board at another evening event on May 16th from 5:30-7pm. These past two years serving our organization as president has flown by and been one of the most rewarding and fulfilling opportunities I could’ve ever dreamt of. Thank you so much for the friendships and support and most of all, Connection! Love, Laura Maupin

bpw|CALENDAR Mar 21: Luncheon, 11:00 a.m., Holiday Inn, Key Largo (African Queen & Casa 1 Rooms) with special speaker Bob Graham. Apr 18: Evening Networking Event: New 2018 Board Member Elections & Adult Scholarship Presentations. Location TBA.  May 17: Evening Networking Event:  Induction of New Board of Directors for 2018-2019.      Location TBA.

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 full event schedule and register for an upcoming event.  SPONSOR AN EVENT! If you or your business would be interested in sponsoring one or more of our lunches or evening 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 Jill Kuehnert Jill Kuehnert moved to Key Largo last May, and joined the Upper Keys BPW almost as soon as she heard about it. “I lived in Singapore for over ten years, but it took me five years there before I joined PrimeTime, the local professional women’s association,” Jill says. But once she found the courage to attend her first event, she immediately made new contacts and even met a few best friends. She vowed to find similar organizations much more quickly the next time she moved. “As soon as I read about the Upper Keys BPW, I joined immediately, before attending my first event or even talking to a member. And it was a great decision!” says Jill. Jill’s professional work as a science communications adviser takes her all over the world. In fact, she’s off to Nigeria in March for training with scientists who are developing disease-resistant and more nutritious varieties of cassava, an important root crop. Jill decided to focus primarily on agriculture science communications in developing countries when she left the corporate world ten years ago and named her consulting business Seed Stories. “Agriculture supports food security and nutrition, the environment, and livelihoods, especially for farm families in Africa and Asia. The science behind it is increasingly complex so good communications is vital in earning public understanding and support.” Saying she can be based anywhere there’s “good internet and a decent international airport nearby”, Jill was game to settle in the Keys when husband Glenn wanted to launch his own post-corporate career as a boat captain and SCUBA instructor. Now that she’s here, Jill is learning all she can about her new hometown community and the unique natural environment that supports it. “Events hosted by the Upper Keys BPW on topics such as the solar co-op (which we’ve already joined) and the health of Florida Bay are a great way to connect with women who are leading important changes,” she says. “I’m happy to be in the club!”

ATTA GIRL Suzi Youngberg! Congrats to BPW Board Member (VP-Hospitality) Suzi Youngberg for accepting a position with the American Cancer Society. She will be the Community Development Manager for the Florida Keys.  ATTA GIRL Debra Walker! Congrats to BPW Member Debra Walker on being named State Committee Woman - Upper Keys Co-Chair for the Florida Keys Democrats.   ATTA GIRL Pam Martin! Thanks to BPW Board Member (Director) Pam Martin for bringing the Graham family to Key Largo for our March luncheon!  Pam worked hard to make this happen and we appreciate her dedication!  Way to go Pam! ATTA GIRL Theresa Sutter! BPW Board Member (Treasure) Theresa Sutter is a proud mom! Her daughter Kelly Sutter is Directing the new Key Players production of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee."  Check showtimes below; starting April 6th. This is sure to be a great show.   Congrats Kelly (and mom!) Do you know someone who deserves an "Atta Girl!"? Send your suggestions to:  bpwupperkeys@gmail.com.  NEW MARCH MEMBERS Please help us welcome new and renewing members! RENEWING MEMBER: Jackie Harder, Keys Dynamics Coaching & Consulting Inc. 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. FOUR NEW MEMBERS WERE INDUCTED AT OUR FEBRUARY 2018 LUNCHEON Pictured left to right: Laura Maupin (UKBPW President), Brenda Carr, Debra Walker, Shawna Simcic, Jill Kuehnert, Ilja Chapman (UKBPW President-Elect) WE HAVE EXTENDED THE DEADLINE FOR OUR ADULT SCHOLARSHIP! The next Upper Keys BPW Adult Scholarship(s) will be awarded at the April evening event on April 18th.  The deadline to enter is now March 31st. 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 early this year, 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'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 on April 18, 2018. APPLY FOR AN UPPER KEYS BPW ADULT SCHOLARSHIP The Upper Keys's BPW Adult Scholarship program is about women helping women!   Applications can be found on our website. They 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 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 Connecting our Upper Keys Chapter to BPW Florida BPW/FL Florida Federation of Business & Professional Women's Club Inc. Congratulations BPW/FL on their new E-Newsletter, BPWInsider.There is a lot of good information and it also gives a shout out to the Upper Keys BPW as their Highlighted Local Organization!     We thank them for their recognition and leadership!  To read this month's issue, CLICK HERE. MARCH IS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH! In 1987, after decades of hard work by educators and historians, the US Congress designated March as National Women's History Month. It all began in Sonoma County, California, back in the 1970s. Frustrated with the lack of women's history curriculum for teachers, and a general lack of public awareness of the role women have played in our society, the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women initiated a "Women's History Week" celebration for 1978. The local 1978 Women's History Week activities met with enthusiastic response, and dozens of schools planned special programs for Women's History Week. Over one-hundred community women participated by giving special presentations in classrooms across the country. Support to secure a national celebration began to grow and in 1980, President Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the Week of March 8th 1980 as National Women's History Week. And by 1986, 14 states had already declared March as Women's History Month. Finally, in 1987, Congress declared March as National Women's History Month in perpetuity. This creates a special opportunity in our schools, our workplaces, and our communities to recognize and celebrate the often-overlooked achievements of American women.   The 2018 Theme for National Women's History Month is "Nevertheless, She Persisted: Honoring Women Who Fight All Forms of Discrimination Against Women." This year's theme embodies women working together with strength, tenacity and courage to overcome obstacles and achieve joyful accomplishments. We hope you will join the Upper Keys BPW in celebrating all women this month and throughout the year.  “There are still many causes worth sacrificing for, so much history yet to be made.” ―Michelle Obama “Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.” ―Marilyn Monroe "In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man; if you want anything done, ask a woman." — Margaret Thatcher "The question isn’t who’s going to let me; it’s who’s going to stop me." — Ayn Rand “When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.” - Malala Yousafzai “I didn’t get there by wishing for it or hoping for it, but by working for it.” - Estée Lauder “Power’s not given to you. You have to take it.” - Beyoncé Knowles Carter "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." –Margaret Mead                     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. Board of Directors 2017-2018  President Laura 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 Treasurer Theresa Sutter786/361-5404 theresasutter@gmail.com Secretary Kate Banick 305-619-0154 kate@thegoodhealthclinic.org Director Pam Martin305/853-0907 pmflkeys@aol.com Contact your Upper Keys BPW Chapter: bpwupperkeys@gmail.com   or   info@upperkeysbpw.org P. O. Box 231, Tavernier, FL  33070 Facebook • Twitter • LinkedIn Unsubscribe