April 2022

 











BPW Connection | NEWSLETTER
April 2022


Suzi Youngberg
 



Greetings Upper Keys Business & Professional Women
Have I mentioned lately how proud I am to be part of this organization?  Upper Keys BPW continues to grow by adding new members nearly every month, and our member retention stays strong. Our monthly events, as well as special in-person and virtual Professional Development workshops, are well attended. Quality programs and venues remain a top priority for your Board and we appreciate our members and guests for your attendance and support.
Have you registered for the Evening Social Event this month? This Wednesday, April 20, we will meet at the College of the FL Keys Upper Keys Center for an evening of mingling, friendship and networking. It's also an opportunity to meet up to 20 local business owners/operators during the Member Business Expo. As I write this, there are two spaces still available if you would like an expo table space for your business or nonprofit. Details are here. Contact me if you're interested. 
Nominations remain open for the Upper Keys BPW Board of Directors until April 30. If you have thought about serving on the Board, please let me know. Consider getting more from your membership.  Get involved in leadership and help make your BPW the best resource for women in our community. Committee positions are also available. Give me a call or email bpwupperkeys@gmail.com if you want more information or want to discuss positions available.
BPW/FL State Conference is May 19-22 at Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel FL.  We would love to have as many Upper Keys members in attendance as possible.  It's our chance to vote on changes to bylaws, the public policy platform, vote in new officers, and other decisions where our voices need to be heard. More information can be found here. Let me know if you are considering attending.
I hope to see you all at the Evening Expo on Wednesday! Let's support our sponsors and gather with our tribe.
With love and gratitude,

Suzi Youngberg
UKBPW President 2021-22
305-393-6830



Join us for the 

BPW Member EXPO

Wednesday, April 20 ~ 6-8 PM

at the Upper Keys Center
of the College of the Florida Keys
(MM 106.4 Bayside)

Here's your opportunity to explore businesses, nonprofit organizations and causes run by your fellow BPW members.

Interested in showcasing your organization or work?
Click here for more information

*** SAVE $$ BY REGISTERING IN ADVANCE!! ***

$25/member and $30/guest
(Walk-ins: $30/member and $35/guest)

Includes appetizers!

All proceeds go to our Adult Women's Scholarship Fund

We can't wait to see you there!

Thank you to our EXPO sponsors (more to come!):






"Tell Me Something Good!" 

Let's start our day by sharing something good that is happening, has happened or will happen. Can be personal and/or professional related as long it is positive.  Zoom link provided after RSVP.

May 4th

8:00 AM - 9:15 AM

Coffee Talk with the Upper Keys BPW, first Wednesday of every month.

RSVP NOW



MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

May 18th - Annual Membership Meeting: New Board Installation & Scholarship Awards
May 19-22 BPW/FL State Conference



Professional Development Series | Upcoming Sessions


Stay tuned for more Professional Development workshops coming soon. 

In the meantime, you can watch the recording of 
Realities & Rewards of Serving on a Nonprofit Board"



Thanks to everyone who chose the TOP TIER volunteer registration for this month's Professional Development Workshop panel. Your donations go to fund our Adult Scholarship Program! 
We appreciate your support!

Sue Banks, Sue A Banks & Associates & BPW/Goldcoast
Vivian Dodge, Chapters Health Hospice
K Shylon Martin, Engel & Völkers Islamorada





Did you attend the March Luncheon?  "Not Your Mother's Networking Event" is always one of our most popular events! Speed Networking while practicing your Elevator Speech.  Thanks to Patricia Milian for leading us through the practice of writing our person elevator pitch or branding statement. 





























Thanks again to the March sponsor, Comply Right!






NEW AND RENEWING MEMBERS


New Members -  

Kelly Borich, FLCBank 
Erin Hamilton, ONEHOPE wine 
Claire Montang, Element Funding Fl Keys/ Miss Mortgage Loans 
Stephanie Schneider, Client Executive at Gartner and Scuba Diving Instructor 

Renewing Members -

Lesly Quin (Quintanilla Lopez), Center for Independent Living FL Keys

Laura Rivera, Old Tavernier Restaurant 

Ruth Schrader-Grace, Keys Core Fitness 

Tina Wyatt, FBMC Benefits Management 

Annamarie (Amy) Young 




Ask about the benefits of being a member!  bpwupperkeys@gmail.com






Member Spotlight | Meet Sue Woltanski



For the last four years, I have been honored to serve on the Monroe County School Board, representing District 5 in the fabulous Florida Keys. I am a retired pediatrician, mother of two public school children and one of South Florida’s leading advocates for public education.

I grew up in Fremont, California, earned a BA in Pharmacology at University of California, Santa Barbara, an MA in Exercise Physiology at University of California, Davis, and an MD at the University of Michigan. I practiced General Pediatrics in suburban Detroit, got married and started a family.

I retired from Pediatrics in 2008, when we moved our family to the Keys as our oldest began kindergarten so our kids could grow up next door to their grandmother. I almost immediately began volunteering in the classroom and the community. Soon I was serving on school and district wide committees. My advocacy really took off when I became aware of the excessive amount of standardized testing my daughter was being subjected to in 4th grade. I formed a local grass roots organization and spoke before the school board, calling for a review of what I thought was duplicative testing. A few days later, I met with my local school board member and he encouraged me to continue my advocacy and to run for school board when he retired. Eventually, that is exactly what I did.

My advocacy took me to Tallahassee, where I worked with coalitions of public education advocates defending public schools. I began writing a blog, Accountabaloney, which follows Florida education policy and questions its current test-based accountability system. I was elected to the Monroe County School Board in 2018. I am running for re-election this summer.

I believe our public schools are our community’s greatest public asset and they are most successful when we all work together to improve them. As a public education advocate, I felt it was essential to be involved in the local community. BPW was one of the first community groups I joined (in 2015) and it has been a life changer. Our BPW/Upper Keys is full of interesting, supportive women and their friendships have been essential to my personal growth and success.

When I’m not focused on education, I enjoy traveling the world with my husband and two children. Over Christmas 2021, we took our kids to Antarctica for the adventure of a lifetime and can now claim to have visited all seven continents together.

Sue Woltanski M.D., BPW/Upper Keys
Monroe County School Board District 5
Email: sue.woltanski@keysschools.com
Facebook: Woltanski4Schools
accountabaloney.com
Woltanski4schools.com



  Emily Haydocy           
Public Policy Chair        



Florida Legislature Action Alert


Call your legislators to express your opinion.  All 160 Florida legislators are up for reelection this year; they need to hear from their voters now!

Representative Jimmie Mooney 850-717-5120

Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez 850-487-5039


 UPPER KEYS BPW PUBLIC POLICY PLATFORM PLANKS:

1. Economic Equity, Opportunity, and Self-Sufficiency

2. Environment

3. Healthcare

4.Safe Workplace

5. Equality for All

*UKBPW Platform Planks mirror BPW/FL's Public Policy Platform, but are in order of importance to Upper Keys Members, based on a recent survey of membership.


Questions or Comments, Contact:

Emma Haydocy
Public Policy Chair 
Upper Keys BPW







The Nominating Committee for the 2022-23 Board of Directors will consist of:
Suzi Youngberg, Chair
Cathy Brewer
Cynthia Gneiser
Please contact one of the committee members is you wish to know more about serving on the Upper Keys BPW Board of Directors 2022-23 term. Several positions open.



Committee Chairs and Members also needed for 2022-23.
Consider one of the following:
Membership Committee
Marketing Committee
Public Policy Committee
Scholarship Committee







Atta Girl to Ginette Hughes!
BPW Board Member Ginette Hughes is CEO of MarineLab, which was recently nominated for the FMSEA Outstanding Community Partner Award! 
Ginette also recently won the Cris Sandifer Women's Regatta! Pictured here with club sailing legend Bob Sandifer.
Congratulations on your achievements Ginette!



Atta Boy to Michael Rojewski! 
BPW Member Michael Rojewski, realtor known as the Keys Rock Agent, is being celebrated for a 1.3 Million Dollar Quarter!
Nice job Michael!

Atta Girl to Emma Haydocy!
BPW Member and Public Policy Committee Chair Emma Haydocy was featured in an article in Florida Keys News for her efforts as the Steward of the Florida Bay.  Emma currently serves as Executive Director of Florida Bay Forever.  
Keep up the good work, Emma!

Atta Girl Betsy Baste!
BPW Member Betsy Baste won the Admiral Trophy at the Island Fest "Whatever Floats Your Boat" contest (with hubby Scott.)
Carmen Miranda and her big banana!
Congratulations Betsy!

Atta Girl Sue Woltanski!
BPW Member Sue Woltanski threw out the first pitch at the Conchs Vs. Canes Baseball game last week, honoring Coach Ralph Henriquez on his 350 career wins. Sue says “To both teams, great game! And to the Catcher #23, thanks for making me look good!”
Way to go, Sue!

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
                                                                                


 



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