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Michigan BPW is a part of the
oldest and largest organization for working women in the world, BPW/USA, our
National Federation. The national organization is made up of federations from
each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin
Islands. It is difficult to speak of Michigan BPW's history without including
the National Federation as well. It started in 1912 as an opportunity for 3
women, architect Emily Butterfield, publisher Emma Spoor, and manufacturer's
agent Grace Wright to meet for lunch. Their focus was what we would term
networking. In these fast-paced times of the 21st century it is hard to imagine
any business woman being lonely at lunch time. But that is why these three women
founded the Detroit Business Woman's Club. This organization is credited with
being the oldest one of its kind in the United States. "I think it never
occurred to us that we were doing something absolutely unique," Emily
Butterfield later reflected. "I know I never would have had the idea if it had
not been that all of my business acquaintances were men, and I was actually
lonesome for speaking acquaintances with business women as I pattered up and
down the avenue at the noon hour looking for a place where a lone woman might
eat." Soon two women joined this group who were destined to leave their mark on
the future activities of business and professional women. They were Miss Georgia
Emery and Mrs. Lena Lake Forrest. The group lost no time in establishing a
working scholarship fund with a $2.00 donation by Georgia Emery, to assist women
and girls in securing more education. In 1917, a young woman arrived from
Massachusetts to work with Mrs. Forrest in the insurance business. She was Miss
Marion McClench. During this time clubs were forming in Bay City, Grand Rapids,
Saginaw and Flint. They came together for their first annual convention in June
of 1918 in Detroit. The delegates decided to join the National Women's
Association of Commerce. They endorsed "equal pay for equal service." About this
time the neighboring states had begun to develop similar groups. Georgia Emery
was contacted by Lena Madesin Phillips of Kentucky, regarding developing a
National Business Women's Committee in hopes of joining these various groups
into one organization. This contact brought the historical meeting in St. Louis
in July 1919. The result was the formation of the National Federation of
Business & Professional Women's Clubs. The Club Woman's Collect, written by Mary
Stewart in 1904, was adopted at that time.
1920 At the State Convention in Grand Rapids the name
"Michigan Federation" was adopted. During that year, Mrs. Forrest and Miss Emery
prepared a publication for the members called The Michigan Business Woman's
Bulletin. At the National Convention, Lena Lake Forrest (Detroit Business
Woman's Club) was elected as the National President. She appointed Georgia Emery
to chair the committee charged with designing an emblem for the organization.
Our present emblem was the one chosen by the committee. The Nike is its most
enduring symbol. While serving as National President, Mrs. Forrest offered a
silver cup to be given to the State Federation which first achieved 100% in club
scholarship funds. This was won by Michigan BPW in 1927 and today is awarded to
the Local Organization (LO) excelling in its annual program, the prestigious
Anna Howard Shaw Award.
1926 The Georgia Emery Scholarship fund was
established to be used by Michigan BPW members to secure additional education.
At the National Convention, "National Business Women's Week" was established.
This week is meant to publicize the objectives and achievements of business and
professional women everywhere. We continue to celebrate this every October.
1928-29 Lena Madesin Phillips conducted goodwill tours
to Europe. This brought about the formation of the International Federation of
BPW. 1929 The 10th anniversary of the National Federation was celebrated at the
National Convention held on Mackinac Island. Marion McClench (Detroit Business
Woman's Club) was elected National President. The convention body also
established the Lena Madesin Phillips Building Fund.
1939 Work began on the Equal Rights Amendment and
continues into the present.
1940
First celebration of International Night in Windsor, Ontario initiates
International Week - the third full week in February. This celebration, bringing
together members from Ontario, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio continued until 1993.
During the second World War, as during World War I, Michigan BPW members
performed various types of war work: purchasing bonds, conducting bond drives,
providing wheelchairs for Percy Jones Hospital. Mobil kitchens were sent to
England for use in the bombed out rural areas.
1949
The Cancer Fund was established to provide funds to members either as a loan or
grant. State President Hazel Meyers (1941-1942) served on that committee. This
fund has now expanded to other catastrophic illnesses, fellowships, and
scholarships for training in the field of cancer and head and throat specialties
at the University of Michigan.
1950's
A campaign called "Bucks for Bricks" was conducted to establish our National
Headquarters in Washington, DC, rather than in New York. The building was
dedicated September 1957 and is located at 2012 Massachusetts Ave., N.E.,
Washington, DC.
1956
The BPW Foundation, headquartered at the National office was founded. This "arm"
of BPW is dedicated to improving career opportunities and the quality of working
life for women, through research and education.
1963
Virginia Allen (Wyandotte BPW) was elected National President. During her term
the Young Careerist Program was instituted. This program continues today to
honor young women, introduce them to a network of established working women, and
provide an opportunity for personal and career growth.
1981
Phyllis Harrison (Royal Oak BPW) was elected National President. During her term
the National Federation implemented the Strategic Long Range Planning process.
This same process was also adopted by Michigan BPW.
1992-93
State President Carolyn Kane led the federation in Michigan BPW's 75th
anniversary celebration year. It featured special events beginning with a
kick-off celebration in the fall of 1992 and concluding with the 75th Annual
convention on Mackinac Island. The event was attended by Michigan BPW notables
such as Virginia Allen and Phyllis Harrison, both past national presidents.
Honored guests included Michigan State Senators Debbie Stabenow and Lana
Pollack. Also Colorado Representative Pat Schroeder.
1993-94
State President Cheri Virag led the federation in the initial efforts to update
the organization to make it more responsive to contemporary member needs. The
beginning of this process was the C.E.R.T.A.I.N. Conference (Conference about
Education, Responsibility, Training, Achievement, and Initiative Nationally)
which was a grassroots project held in Grand Rapids in October 1993. The final
report on this visioning process was presented as a gift to BPW/USA at the
National Federation's Diamond Jubilee Celebration in St. Louis. "Women Helping
Girls with Choices" projects that had been developed by several Local
Organizations across the state culminated in the first "Kids Kollege" at the
1994 Spring State Board meeting. The brain child of Kathie Onieal, a Past
President of Indiana BPW who is currently a member of Lansing BPW, Kids Kollege
offers a Krash Kourse in life. The age range of participants is from 9 - 17. The
weekend is devoted to helping the girls understand how the decisions they make
very early in life, even in middle school, can impact their lives as adults.
1994-95
Out of the visioning process of the C.E.R.T.A.I.N. conference in 1993, a
three-year theme was established, "Women in Concert: Sharing Vision, Leadership,
& Power." State President Barb Henton began the first phase, "Sharing Vision,"
by continuing the vision process with the Dream Team, an updated version of the
Strategic Long Range Planning Committee. This group gathered input from
grassroots members across the state in order to develop the first concrete steps
toward shaping the future of Michigan BPW. The first step was proposed bylaws
changes to alter the structure of the executive committee in order to implement
a team approach to managing the federation. This change assigned related groups
of committees to each state officer and spread the reporting responsibilities
across the officers serving as MI BPW's executive committee.
1995-1996
The next phase, "Sharing Leadership," was successfully tested when State
President Peg Bradford was sidelined by serious illness for the first quarter of
her term. Her character as a leader, and faith in the executive committee to
carry out their new roles gave dramatic testimony to the effectiveness of the
restructuring of the duties of the executive committee. During this year we
chartered 3 new Local Organizations, Gr.O.W.W./bpw in the Pontiac area, Harrison
BPW, and Gaylord BPW at the convention in May. We also participated in the first
Women's International Show in Novi. Our presence there attracted over 1000
women, half of whom filled out an interest survey and were connected to the
Local closest to their work or home.
1996-1997
"Sharing Power," the final phase of the three-year Women in Concert theme was
lead by State President Sharon Johnson. The year began with a brainstorming
session that took a hard look at how we see ourselves now and in the future. The
Board reaffirmed the mission and vision statements of BPW/usa as we implemented
a much more lateral leadership structure. Special achievements this year
included the Michigan BPW website on the Internet at
http://tln.lib.mi.us/~jrogers/michbpw.html. The Future is Mine project,
sponsored by the Michigan BPW Foundation and the Kellogg Foundation, offered
"at-risk" girls from 11-16 years of age a weekend Choices experience. These were
held at 3 different locations throughout the state. Under the direction of past
state president Cheri Virag, several BPW members were trained as facilitators
and mentors to make this project a success. Choices chair Peg Bradford and Amy
Courter ran a successful Mother/Daughter Choices program at the fall State Board
meeting. Guest Facilitator Betty Shepperd, past national Choices chair, was a
major benefit to the program. Kathie Onieal, past Indiana president, led the
fourth Kids Kollege program at the Spring State Board meeting. A record 48 girls
attended and the first 4th year class was graduated.
1997-1998
State President Sharon Heivilin extended the musical theme with "And the Melody
Lingers On...To Believe...To Achieve...To Succeed." The focus of this year was
nurturing current members beginning with state board members at Camp BPW. At
this summer camp/BPW retreat District Directors and state committee chairs
charted a course to educate and reinvigorate current members who would, in turn,
attract new members. Bringing BPW home was carried to the local members at five
Leadership Training sessions held throughout the state. Promoting fundamentals
such as the BPW mission and vision statements, identifying concrete member
benefits, and reviewing the legislative platform gave a solid grounding to
members throughout the state. The presence of President Heivilin, everywhere in
Michigan, was an invigorating force in these endeavors.
1998-99
"Challenging the Future: Professionally, Personally, and Politically" was the
theme for President Cheryl McKay as BPW/Michigan prepared to enter the 21st
century. The re-organization of the state federation continued with a
realignment of the Districts. Their evolution reflected changing needs of our
Local Organizations. Other projects for the year included participation of those
in attendance at the spring State Board meeting in a forum on Social Security
reform. Feedback from members on questions pertinent to this process was
forwarded to the project coordinators gathering this input throughout the
country. The Women's Awareness team, through member Mary McQueen, arranged for
several billboards in west Michigan to promote domestic violence awareness.
Reality Store Events
through the state gave kids a taste of managing finances. Kids Kollege, Women
Helping Women Projects focusing on addressing domestic violence.Women of
Achievement Programs recognizing the accomplishments of our own members.
From the
outset Michigan BPW has provided leadership and member participation on the
National level. Many other members have served as officers and committee chairs.
They include Viola Wolfe, National Treasurer; Tess Staal (Grand Rapids BPW),
Olive Merlin (Jackson BPW), Ila Smith (Jackson BPW), Shirley Zeller (Jackson
BPW), Clair Daniels (Muskegon BPW), Debbie Weiss (St. Ignace BPW), Kathie Onieal
(Lansing BPW), Barb Henton (Midland BPW), and Sharon Heivilin (Three Rivers BPW)
as National Committee Chairs. Michigan BPW is committed to promoting the
personal growth and leadership of its members. The federation is continually
striving to have qualified women attain policy making posts in government and in
business and professional arenas.
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