President’s Message
Dear BPW Sisters and Brothers:
When I became President of BPW a few short months ago, my theme and goal was “A Commitment to Connection” – with each other, our family, colleagues, the community, those less fortunate and even with ourselves at a deeper, more meaningful level than ever. And I’ve promised you each a personal outreach to hear your thoughts, preferences and suggestions.
What’s Been Happening
Several terrific monthly meetings later (with a political candidate, a representative from the Tallahassee Democrat, a student, a small business owner, and coming up in September, our former President), a health-related and FUN! quarterly networking social and several one-on-one coffees, we are just getting started for the year! You need to know that our new Program Chair has planned an OUTSTANDING event roster going forward, with relevant monthly speakers, an increased number of socials (to every other month) and a renewed emphasis on providing the essentials of what BPW has been built on – connection, learning, support, growth…and FUN!
Input from Members
In fact, you might have been at the meeting a month or so back where we conducted a written poll and subsequently held conversations with members on why they come, why they joined, what they like and dislike, and what they ultimately want to get out of their association with us. The good news is that we are on the right track, and with some adjusting, will ensure a supportive, learning environment that meets the needs of members who work for the state, large and small business, in addition to those who own their own businesses.
Our very productive, bonding and training Board and Committee retreat occurred this past weekend at our Secretary’s beach house, and I think you will feel as GREAT about the new tweaks and EXTREMELY cool events planned and the goodies we have in store as we do!
Who’s stepping up?
Speaking of the retreat – please offer your congratulations to our new Vice President for the remainder of this term, Laura Reeves, and send love and thanks to our previous VP Liza Mena who has stepped down from the post. Kudos also to some great young women, Co-Chairs Kara O’Ferrell and Emma Washington, who are taking a very active leadership role in producing our 2010 Divas & Desserts celebration (and their committee Julie Guyot and Lisa Smallwood) – more, very exciting details coming on this! Melanie Murdock, our Public Service Chair has ramped up with some original and needed projects to embrace our community – a DVD drive (we need your children’s DVD’s, bring to the next meeting or call me!) for ill children with a long hospital stay ahead of them, and a professional women’s dress closet – collecting suits, shoes, accessories for professionals endeavoring to enter or re-enter the job market.
We are off to a great year thanks to some new insight, energy and recommitment of our members to make this their very favorite organization, to do good things, to interface and learn with great people. We get out of this life what we put into it – join us in becoming better, and better, and our contribution and content more and more meaningful.
Thank you for being a part of my world!
Deanna A. Mims, President
Message from the BPW Florida President