History
History Of Business and Professional Women/USA
The Foundation of a Legacy
Founded in 1919, BPW/USA has a long track record of promoting equity for women in the workplace. Whether you are a business owner or an employee, BPW provides leadership through advocacy, education and information within our communities, states and the nation on issues important to all working women. Through BPW, you can connect with mentors, colleagues and friends who can assist you in advancing your career and making the right connections. You can also thrive professionally through exclusive membership development programs.
While mobilizing for World War I, the U.S. Government recognized the need for a cohesive group to coordinate identification of women's available skills and experience. A Women's War Council, financed through a federal grant, was established by the War Department to organize the resources of professional women. The National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs was founded on July 15, 1919.
Throughout the years, three major issues shaped BPW's legislative agenda: elimination of sex discrimination in employment, the principle of equal pay, and the need for a comprehensive equal rights amendment.
For additional BPW/USA history, click here.
History Of Business and Professional Women/Tallahassee
March 2006: Yolanda Miranda-Hill, Christy Crump, and Christy Read met with BPW/FL leaders to discuss formation of a Tallahassee local organization (LO).
June 2006: Tallahassee LO was chartered with 13 members.
June 2007: One year anniversary celebrated with 25 members. BPW/Tallahassee won four awards at BPW/Florida state conference in Orlando.
August 2007: First edition of Widening Horizons, BPW/Tallahassee newsletter, published.
December 2007: We are up to 31 members, including four FSU BPW Scholarship House student members.
June 2008: We won seven state awards including Local Organization of the Year!
October 2008: First annual Building Powerful Women; Building a Powerful You conference held at the Leon County Civic Center. There were 75 in attendance and we broke even.
December 2008: We are up to 40 members, including five FSU BPW Scholarship House student members. We hosted our first Divas and Desserts event at the University Center Club.
February/March 2009: We begin our third annual membership drive with a starting membership count of 42 and ended it with 51.
June 2009: Six members represented BPW/Tallahassee at the 2009 BPW/Florida state conference in Key West.
We won seven statewide awards:
1. Highest percentage gain in new members
2. Highest number of new members under age 35
3. Plus 5 recruitment to Christy Crump (for recruiting more than five new members in one year)
4. Plus 5 recruitment to Deanna Mims (for recruiting more than five new members in one year)
5. Best overall public relations campaign for the year
6. Best public relations campaign for individual event (Women’s Conference)
7. Best website
Also, we are the home local organization to the BPW/FL Glass Ceiling Award Honoree, Cindy Dick, Chief, Tallahassee Fire Department. The Glass Ceiling Award honors a woman in Florida who has excelled in a traditionally male-dominated profession.
BPW/Tallahassee was awarded the bid for hosting the 2011 BPW/Florida State Conference in Tallahassee.
July 2009: BPW/USA merged with BPW Foundation. The national organization no longer exists as originally formed in 1919. The mission, goals, and objectives of BPW remain strong and in force in BPW/Florida and BPW/Tallahassee. Many changes will take place over the next few months as we change from a national form of governing to state governing. BPW/Tallahassee will continue to grow and prosper.