September 2019

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

BPW Connection | September 2019

Back by popular demand! Join us for Work the Network Wednesday! RESERVE YOUR SEAT - CLICK HERE! Special thanks to our September Luncheon Sponsor, Dorothy Harden of Go Get 'Em Girls! Ilja Chapman, President Dear Upper Keys BPW Members: It is all about GROWING Being a sole proprietor, owning a growing travel planning business, it is important to find the balance between my volunteer job and my paying job. This is my fourth year being actively involved with Upper Keys BPW and it is amazing to see how we grow from taking an active part in a volunteer organization like ours. We learn so much and most of it we can apply back into our business and GROW. I would encourage all of you to become involved in our organization in a way where you can grow professionally and personally. There are many ideas how to make Upper Keys BPW more valuable to the members but first we want to GROW our membership. We want to grow the network with a diverse membership, so we all benefit and learn from each other and grow. The National and the Florida Federations of Business & Professional Women’s Clubs were founded in 1919. Your local membership includes a membership in BPW/Florida and BPW/FL Education Foundation as every local BPW organization pays $65 annual membership dues on your behalf to BPW/Florida. In October, we are celebrating BPW 100 Years Strong and BPW/Florida has a gift for all NEW members who enroll any day in October. They will get TWO months of membership for FREE. This is huge. It means that the annual membership of new members enrolled in October 2019 does not expire until Jan. 1, 2021! Today I am calling upon you. I challenge you to look closely to your business and personal network to identify who you can introduce to Upper Keys BPW in October. They can take advantage of 14 months membership for the $130 annual price. Bring them to our next meeting to learn about us. We now have business cards and brochures for you available at every meeting to help you spread the word. Bring potential members to any of the October events when we are celebrating women in small business. Have a look at all the events already booked below and if you know of a woman in business who would like to highlight her business, ask her to create an event, create a flyer and Upper Keys BPW will help her promote at no cost. Finally – have you nominated a fellow Upper Keys BPW member yet for the annual Woman of the Year and Business of the Year award? I encourage you to look at the membership list and nominate a woman and business you feel deserves to be in the spotlight. It is truly rewarding to be able to work with so many powerful women and I look forward to growing our membership to at least 100 members in honor of 100 Years BPW. Ilja Chapman UKBPW President 2018-19 Tel: 305-998-8348 Have you made your nominations for Business of the Year & Woman of the Year? Each year, Upper Keys BPW celebrates National Women in Business Month by recognizing one business and one individual member with the honor of Upper Keys BPW Business of the Year and Upper Keys BPW Woman of the Year. Please take a moment to nominate a business and/or an individual who has been inspiring and had a positive impact on our organization and the broader community. Check the Membership Directory at www.upperkeysbpw.org to see all UKBPW members and their businesses. CLICK HERE FOR THE 2019 NOMINATION FORM Final date to submit nomination is Friday September 20th! Awards are Proudly Presented by Introducing our brand new award category, Woman of Distinction! Nomination are now open for the first-ever Woman of Distinction Award. Who is a Woman of Distinction? Read all about it -- as well as the powerhouse women who have agreed to be the judges for this honor -- on our website. Click here to review both articles. This award will be presented at our Anniversary Celebration -- 100 Years Strong banquet at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 at the Key Largo Bay Marriott Resort. Reserve your seat. Submissions for the Woman of Distinction due by September 20th. Send your nomination, as well as any questions, to Jackie Harder, jackie@key-dynamics.com.

bpw|CALENDAR September 18: Luncheon. 11:00A-1:00 P. Holiday Inn-African Queen Room, Key Largo. This is a special "Work the Network" luncheon, part of our Mentor/Mentee Program, back by popular demand! Please be punctual. We will start eating at 11:30, and start the program promptly at 11:45.  CLICK HERE TO REGISTER October 4: Sunset Cruise with Ilja!  Hosted by your local travel adviser, Ilja Chapman, on board the Key Largo Princess. Free appetizers and cash bar. $25 per person ($5 of each ticket goes to BPW Adult Scholarship Fund.) CLICK HERE TO REGISTER. October 16: Sip & Shop at Anthony's Ladies Apparel Key Largo! Proceeds benefit our Adult Scholarship Program.  Shopping, raffles, food, wine and fun!  98200 O/S Hwy, Key Largo. October 18: First Anniversary Party at Cirque Salon Studios of Key Largo!  Join us as we celebrate one year in business with Cirque Salon, learn more about our Membership Drive, sign up for the Bra Walk and more! Light apps, wine, and "Pink Cocktails!" 101401 O/S Hwy, Key Largo (Publix Plaza, upstairs.)  October 20: Key Largo Bridge Bra Walk!  American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in Key Largo, starting at Gilbert's Resort. 107900 O/S Hwy, Key Largo. 8:00 AM. Join the UKBPW Team and walk with us! CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR TEAM. October 26*: 100 Year's Strong Celebration! Evening Event. 6:30 PM-8:30 PM. Woman & Business of the Year Awards, Woman of Distinction Award! Scholarship presentation!  Key Largo Bay Marriott Beach Resort, 103800 O/S Hwy, Key largo. (*NOTE this is a Saturday, not a 3rd Wednesday event.) CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.

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! See our full event schedule and register for an upcoming event. MAKE PLANS NOW TO CELEBRATE WITH THE UPPER KEYS BPW! The Month of October will be full of events!  Our "official" monthly event will be on Saturday, October 26th and will be a Grand Celebration! More to come! However, some members and other women owned businesses in the community will be hosting events all through the month in honor of Women's Small Business Month.   Our contribution to your event would be free promotional opportunities through our FB page (nearly 900 followers), monthly newsletter and free e-blasts (close to 500 contacts.) We would add your event to our calendar of events. Some of our Board Members will also attend and assist you with running the event.  We do ask that you make it a fundraiser for our Adult Scholarship Fund: charge admission, hold raffles, auctions, sell your products, get creative! Confirmed events are already on the calendar, but keep an eye out as more will be added every day! Contact us if you are interested in hosting an October Event!  bpwupperkeys@gmail.com

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

Constitution Day with the Upper Keys League of Women Voters was a great event! Thanks to everyone who attended! Thanks to all the presenters and everyone who pitched in to make this a successful night! Remember our Membership Drive is happening during the entire month of October! Businesswomen’s group makes first mentoring match Two local educators who are passionate about creating new generations of environmental stewards have signed up to be part of a first-ever business mentoring program in the Upper Keys. Ginette Hughes, CEO of Marine Resources Foundation/Marine Lab, and Ocean Studies Charter School Principal Trisha Woods are the first matches for the Upper Keys Business and Professional Women’s (BPW) mentorship program. Woods reached out to Hughes to partner in the program. Both women are relatively new members of BPW, which this year is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its founding as a national organization supporting working women. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE NEW & RENEWING MEMBERS Please help us welcome new and renewing members! NEW MEMBERS: Heidi Barnes - Owner of See & Sea Watersports Patricia Mull- Recently Retired CPA and Wealth Manager RENEWING MEMBERS: Beverly Newman - Life Coach at Inspire One LL Whitney MacEachern - Owner of Cirque Salon Studios Audra Hill - Partner/CPA at Tolley and Hill CPAs Lauren Dunn - VP, Bookkeeper at Dunn Electric Jordan Budnik - Executive Director at the Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center Ask us about the benefits of being a member! CELEBRATE WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS THIS OCTOBER! October is National Women’s Small Business Month. “National Women’s Small Business Month is a time to recognize and applaud the talented, dedicated and driven women whose entrepreneurial spirit helps drive our nation’s economy forward,” said Carla Harris, Chair of the National Women’s Business Council. Join the Upper Keys BPW in celebrating Women in Business throughout the month of October!  If you're a woman business owner, send us your story!  Let us know what you and your business are dong to support women during October and we'll share your story on our Facebook page to over 900 followers. Email your story and pictures/logos to Suzi at suziyoungberg@gmail.com.  Here are a few interesting links and resources you might enjoy! https://www.kabbage.com/blog/why-october-is-the-perfect-month-for-women-in-small-business https://www.sba.gov/blog/sba-celebrates-october-national-womens-small-business-month https://www.assuredhealthcare.com/speaking-of-healthcare/national-womens-small-business-month   Join the Upper Keys BPW Team and walk with us in the Key Largo Bridge Bra Walk, supporting the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer in the Florida Keys! To Join our Team or Make a Donation, go to: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/upperkeysbpw             WATCH A SHORT VIDEO AND LEARN MORE FROM OUR VP/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT JACKIE HARDER We will be announcing and awarding the recipients of the Fall 2019 Adult Scholarship Awards at the 100th Anniversary Celebration on October 26th! (click here for more information) 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 $50.00 - Political 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. 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 at https://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. Breast Cancer Scholarship Fund BPW/FL proudly administers a Breast Cancer Scholarship Fund, which provides $250 scholarships for men and women fighting breast cancer. Through a legislative advocacy program as well as monetary support to breast cancer patients, BPW not only makes a positive impact on the present, but on the future as well. Any BPW/FL member in good standing may request a disbursement for any person, regardless of BPW membership, who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, in accordance with the approved guidelines. Members should visit the Members-Only Login  section of the Florida BPW website.           Upper Keys BPW Board of Directors 2019-2020 President Ilja Chapman 305-998-8348 Ilja.chapman@gmail.com President Elect Suzi Youngberg 305-393-6830 suziyoungberg@gmail.com Vice Presidents Jackie Harder, Development 305-451-9295 jackie@key-dynamics.com Victoria Leonard, Hospitality 305-304-2458 victoria.leonard@fkec.com Treasurer Theresa Sutter 786-361-5404 theresasutter@gmail.com Secretary Wendy Coffman 305-896-4451 wcoffman@centerstatebank.com Directors Jordan Budnik (Development) 404-434-1997 jordan@keepthemflying.org Cynthia Gneiser (Hospitality) 305-323-6968 cynthiag@fsclaimsadj.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