April 2019

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

BPW Connection | April 2019

The April Evening Event is going to be sweet!  Join us for One 'Sweet' Night Out at Key Largo Chocolates! RESERVE IN ADVANCE TO GUARANTY YOUR SPOT - CLICK HERE! Special Thanks to Key Largo Chocolates for Hosting & Sponsoring the Evening! 100470 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL The Featured Charity this month will be the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center. Jordan Budnik will be at the event with information on how you can help "keep them flying." Ilja Chapman, President This month’s message I am writing from the Netherlands, and during the long trip getting here, I let my thoughts free-flow. Here is one thought I want to share with you. “Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.” That’s a quote from Winston Churchill and one which I’ve always admired. Let that be food for thought when you encounter a problematic situation, a tough client or an obstacle. In May, we will be celebrating the Upper Keys BPW’s successes of the past year. Our May 15 luncheon will be the official annual membership meeting and we want all our members to be there to help us celebrate. It will be BIG with a fun-filled agenda and some official components, too. The Nominations Committee will present the slate for board of directors. Your vote is important so we can install the 2019/20 Board of Directors that same day. If you are interested and curious about serving on the board, please reach out to any of the current board members for more details. The Upper Keys BPW scholarship recipients will be awarded during the luncheon and we have many members to be officially installed. Board members have spent many hours working to amend our bylaws. The proposed changes were approved earlier this month and will be sent to you via email to study and ask questions. At our May annual meeting, you will be asked to vote on the proposed changes. Last month’s speed networking and mentoring program introduction were a massive success. We got great feedback and it looks like we will be celebrating our first mentor/mentee match. You can find the mentoring packet at our website or click here to learn more about this program. A huge thank you to all our sponsors of the past events and congratulations to all atta-girls and members’ spotlights of last year. Mark your calendar for the biggest Upper Keys BPW luncheon yet, the annual membership meeting on May 15. I wish you a fun networking event this Wednesday sponsored by the Key Largo Chocolate Factory. Happy Easter! Ilja Chapman UKBPW President 2018-19 Tel: 305-998-8348 NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN! 2019-2020 Board Of Director Nominees will be slated and voted in at the May Luncheon on May 15th.  If you would like to get more involved with the Upper Keys BPW and have an interest in joining the Board, please talk to any of the current board members or contact us at BPWUpperKeys@gmail.com.

bpw|CALENDAR April 17: Evening Networking Event. One 'Sweet' Night Out at Key Largo Chocolates. 100470 O/S Hwy, Key Largo. 5:30-8:00 PM. Hosted & Sponsored by Key Largo Chocolates.  Reserve your spot now. 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  Upper Keys BPW launches its first ever mentoring program   Our March meeting had a two pronged focus -- the first, a speed networking event enjoyed by more than 30 members and women from the community, was designed to mix up the usual "sitting together with my friends" groups that happens so frequently. We wanted to make sure our members got to know each other on a deeper level, and based on the feedback, it was a tremendous success -- one we plan to repeat again in the future, so don't despair if you couldn't make it to the first one. The second focus of the program was to encourage participants to look at who they might like to mentor, or be mentored by. Our Mentoring Committee -- Lesly Lopez, Jill Kuehnert, Sandi Bisceglia, BPW President Ilja Chapman and Jackie Harder, VP of Development -- spent many hours researching best practices, creating the mentoring program structure, devising the mentoring application form and agreement and more.  We have added the mentorship packet we created for anyone who is interested in mentoring (either as a mentor or mentee) to give you an idea of the possibilities when you connect with someone you can help, and be helped by in return. Click here for the packet, and let us know how BPW can help make your mentoring a success!

NEW & RENEWING MEMBERS Please help us welcome new and renewing members! NEW MEMBERS: Vivian Alfred - iTrip Vacations South Florida Robin Guieb - Infinitely Natural Diana Harris - CPA Anne Harris - CPA RENEWING MEMBERS: Mardella Wheaton - Wheaton Tire Center Ask us about the benefits of being a member!   Mark your calendars now for the Annual Membership Lunch Meeting on May 15th at the Holiday Inn. We will be voting on the new Board of Directors for 2019-2020, approving new by-laws, inducting new members, and awarding the Adult Scholarship recipients.  It will be a fun filled luncheon, and we hope every member will be in attendance! 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. 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