March 2019

Join the Upper Keys BPW at our monthly meetings, the 3rd Wednesday of every month.

BPW Connection | March 2019

The March Luncheon will be at the Holiday Inn, Key Largo on March 20. We are doing something a little different this month. It's a limited, working lunch. Please note that the check in and start times are also different this month.  RESERVE IN ADVANCE TO GUARANTY YOUR SEAT - CLICK HERE! Thank you to this month's Sponsor: Ilja Chapman, President Spring greetings, Upper Keys BPW members and friends. Spring is my favorite time of the year; it just feels like a fresh start. I am looking forward to new challenges and opportunities. Do you like the satisfying feeling after a big spring clean? Must be a Dutch thing! This month’s luncheon will be a novelty as it will be “not your mother’s kind of networking.” For this luncheon we have created a great opportunity for you to meet your fellow community members in more depth and maybe learn about them in a way you never knew. You might even find a possible mentor or mentee who can benefit from your professional or personal development in life. I hope you’ve registered and will be joining us! Remember -- we start at 11:30 a.m. sharp. Check in opens at 11 a.m. Did you hear the great feedback from those attending the Professional Development Series by Douglas Brewer last Saturday? We like to hear from you - what topic would you like to see covered for the next series? Spring is also the time of year we are accepting scholarship applications for adult women who want to continue their education. The deadline to submit the application has been extended to April 15, 2019, and we will be celebrating scholarship recipients of both the Upper Keys BPW and The Holly Given Memorial Scholarships during the May luncheon. Next month, we meet again in the evening for a networking event, Wednesday April 17. We invite you to sponsor this event for $250; or, if you are interested but want to share the cost of the sponsorship with another Upper Keys BPW member, please reach out to me. Thank you all so much for being part of this wonderful organization. I look forward to getting to know you even better this spring. Ilja Chapman UKBPW President 2018-19 Tel: 305-998-8348 Some moments from the Professional Development Series with Douglas Brewer.  Stay tuned for more opportunities like this to network and grow together.

bpw|CALENDAR March 20: Luncheon. 11:15 A-1:00 P. Holiday Inn-African Queen Room, Key Largo. Sponsor First State Bank. This is a special "Speed Networking" luncheon, part of our Mentor/Mentee Program. Please be punctual. We will start eating at 11:30, and start the program at 11:45. April 17: Evening Networking Event. Sponsorship Opportunities Available. May 15: Luncheon. 11:30A-1:00 P. Holiday Inn-African Queen Room, Key Largo. Annual Membership Meeting and Celebrate Scholarship Recipients. Sponsorship Opportunities Available. June 19: Evening Networking Event and Board Induction Ceremony. Sponsorship Opportunities Available.

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.  2019 State Conference Mark your calendars! BPW/FL State Conference June 27-30, 2019.  All Members Are Invited! Call Ilja Chapman at 305-998-8348 ASAP!

SPONSOR AN UPPER KEYS BPW EVENT! The cost to sponsor an event is $250. With the sponsorship you receive the following benefits and opportunities: Logo/branding: Event E-vite emailed three times to a database of 500 people Monthly BPW member Newsletter emailed a few days prior to event Mention at Upper Keys BPW social media One Free dedicated business E-Blast to our membership with a message your business likes to share Display table and/or hand outs to all attendees Banner display at the luncheon Two FREE entrees to the luncheon 5 minute speaking time at the luncheon directed to all attendees      bpw|member SPOTLIGHT Meet Trisha Woods  After years of dreading snow and cold weather while growing up in Connecticut, Tampa, Florida became my home.  I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education at the University of Tampa and began working in the Hillsborough County Public School system.   For three years, I served on the School Leadership Network team learning ways to improve the culture of the school, to grow our teachers into leaders, and to increase student achievement.  Through this process, I was encouraged to earn my Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership. As a single mom, I was nervous about the time and commitment involved. Little did I know how this choice would change our lives for the better! My boys and I have been vacationing in the Keys for nine years.  Last winter, on the long car ride home, I began to think about how we could stop driving away and live in our favorite place!  I started looking through the Monroe County School District website for open positions. Ocean Studies Charter School had openings so I decided to take a risk and interview.  I fell in love with the staff, the school, and the students. Who wouldn’t love a school that empowers students to become stewards of our Florida Keys environment through weekly field labs with our very own marine biologist, Martha Loizeaux?!  After the interview, the phone call came asking me to consider returning to interview for the position of principal due to the qualifications on my resume. My time and effort earning my Master’s had paid off! We have become residents and I am able to live and work in a place I love! A few months into the school year, I learned of the BPW through a parent at the school and she invited me to attend my first luncheon.  The spirit of friendship, support, and fun drew me in and I have enjoyed every event I have attended. I am looking forward to doing more with this amazing group of women!

Atta Girl to BPW Member Gina Boilini For several years now, Gina Boilini has generously donated space at Doc's Diner for our Board Meetings. She and her staff have always been welcoming, and served us coffee and breakfast with friendly smiles!  Thank you so much Gina and Doc's Diner! IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW DESERVES AN ATTA GIRL, PLEASE SEND US THE INFORMATION AND WE'LL MAKE SURE YOU/THEY ARE RECOGNIZED!   bpwupperkeys@gmail.com NEW & RENEWING MEMBERS Please help us welcome new and renewing members! NEW MEMBERS: Keisey Pfieiderer Playa Largo Resort & Spa Sharon Smith Center State Bank RENEWING MEMBERS: Jackie Harder Key Dynamics Coaching and Consulting Ask us about the benefits of being a member! 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. Learn more at  https://womenshistorymonth.gov/ andhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_History_Month. 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 MARKETING COMMITTEE MEMBERS WANTED Upper Keys BPW is looking for members with experience in marketing & public relations to join a committee that will help create a strategic marketing plan for the Upper Keys BPW, working towards a goal of increased membership and community awareness.  Interested members should call Ilja Chapman at 305-998-8348. SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE EXTENDED UNTIL APRIL 15TH!  APPLY FOR AN UPPER KEYS BPW ADULT SCHOLARSHIP The Upper Keys's BPW Adult Scholarship program is about women helping women!  Apply for the Upper Keys BPW Adult Scholarship and the UKBPW-Holly Given Memorial Scholarship. The specifications and applications can be found on our website. Applications 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. 2019 State Conference Mark your calendars! BPW/FL State Conference June 27-30, 2019.  If you would like to attend with the Board and other Members, call Ilja Chapman at 305-998-8348 ASAP!  Opportunities If you are interested in the position of Business Manager for BPW/FL, or know someone who might be, please download the REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL by CLICKING HERE. Advocacy America was founded on the principal of equality for all and derives its strength from individuals working together for a common good. This Public Policy Platform is BPW/FL’s blueprint for our work in respect, justice, and equality for working women.  CLICK to read the official BPW/FL 2018-2019 Public Policy Platform. Member Resources On the BPW Florida website you can find wealth of information about our organization and we now encourage all members to take advantage of the resources. Log in athttps://bpwfl.org/members-only-documents/ BPWInsider Congratulations BPW/FL on their E-Newsletter, BPWInsider. There is a lot of good information and the first issue gave a shout out to the Upper Keys BPW as their Highlighted Local Organization!  We thank them for their recognition and their leadership!  To read the article CLICK HERE.         Upper Keys BPW Board of Directors 2018-2019 President Ilja 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 Jackie Harder, Development 305-451-9295 jackie@key-dynamics.com Treasurer Theresa Sutter786-361-5404 theresasutter@gmail.com Secretary Wendy Coffman 305-896-4451 wcoffman@centerstatebank.com Directors Pam Martin305-393-4643  pmflkeys@aol.com Laura Maupin 305-360-5645 keystoyouth@gmail.com Shawna Simcic 724-664-4120 shawna.simcic@gmail.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