The
focus of the task force for the next year
is to encourage all clubs to become involved
in mentoring programs. To this end, I would
like to hear from you about the programs
you already have in place. I would also
like to hear from you regarding what you
would like to achieve as a result of my
membership on this task force…. Help
me be your voice! I can be reached at Maureen@nbnet.nb.ca
One
of the key themes for this triennium is
“New Dimensions of Leadership”.
The aim is to develop the professional standard
and leadership potential for women at all
levels. BPW wishes to be recognized as an
organisation that provides its members with
lifelong learning opportunities. The vision
is for BPW to increase its membership through
mentoring and be recognised as an influential
organisation that develops future leaders.
Mentoring
is recognized as a key development tool
for business and professional women. By
promoting professional development through
mentoring, BPW believes it will be a key
to BPW’ s future growth. An international
taskforce has been set up to put mentoring
on the BPW International agenda. The team
has the following global objectives:
- Promote the value
and benefits of belonging to BPW as a
leadership progression path to lifelong
learning
- Create an awareness
that mentoring is an empowering vehicle
for professional development and leadership
development
The BPW International
Team’s Focus
The BPW International
Mentoring Taskforce has the following objectives:
- to deliver a ‘product’
that will appeal to the international
audience of junior, middle and senior
women executives, entrepreneurs, women
business owners, etc.
- to increase membership
in BPWs around the world
- to utilize materials
and resources already available within
BPW as starting points for BPW Clubs to
initiate a mentoring program but not to
"reinvent the wheel"
- Encourage BPW Clubs
to think about mentoring
- Encourage BPW Clubs
to start their own mentoring program
- Give BPW Clubs
around the world suggested guidelines
as a starting point for their own mentoring
programs promote the sharing of information
from BPW Clubs around the world through
the Taskforce and the website.
- Enable members
to be informed and gain a greater understanding
of the global picture of BPW and opportunities
and how they can contribute, locally,
nationally and internationally.
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(L-R)_
Fran Donaldson, Sue Calhoun, Mayor
of the City of Quinte, Melanie McDonald
and Karin Gorgerat. |
The provincial conference
this year was hosted by BPW Trenton and
District and was held in the Holiday Inn
in Trenton. The facilities were excellent
and the hosting club did a fantastic job
of putting on a first class conference.
I brought greetings from BPW International.
The opening evening guest
speaker was Caroline Granger,
CEO of Grange of Prince Edward Vineyards
& Estate Winery. This remarkable woman
undertook to start growing grapes knowing
only that the soil and climate would be
conducive to grape growing. She quickly
learned about agriculture, doing most of
the hard physical work herself. Her wines
have won international acclaim. She taught
us wine tasting with three of her prize
wines.
Ontario President, Karin
Gorgerat, presided over the conference
with grace and style. Carol Kollar, 1 st
Vice President and Resolutions Chair, chaired
the resolutions segment like an expert.
All six resolutions presented were accepted
along with proposed by-law changes. The
resolutions were as follows: Reinstatement
of original mandate for Status of Women;
Human Rights Bill 107, structure, accessibility
and support; recycling large plastic water
containers; access to cervical cancer vaccine;
specialized domestic violence courts. A
commendation was also accepted commending
the Women’s Court Watch Project.
Susan Dill, Programs and
Projects Chair, gave an interesting workshop
on Intersectional Thinking. This presentation
suggested is that we need to re-examine
our definition and understanding of feminism
and the importance of identifying ourselves
as feminists or women. It was a thought-provoking
presentation which will need further discussion.
Artist, Peta Hall,
who traveled to the Maasai in Africa and
helped women in this area with their beading
and bringing crafts to the west for sale
enabling the Maasai women to generate funds
to help support their families. A teacher,
she spent much of her time there walking
great distances to a couple of different
villages each day to teach the women and
children.
Another amazing artist
and educator, Cheryl-Ann Webster,
presented a humorous, passionate talk on
her Beautiful Women Project. She has sculpted
in clay real women’s bodies from the
neck to the groin which she calls “boobs
and bellies”. The women ranged in
age from 19 to 90. She told stories about
the women who came forward to have their
bodies encased in plaster casts which she
decorated the casts to illustrate their
personal stories. She uses these sculptured
torsos to “raise awareness about the
link between self-worth, self-identify and
physical appearance” and to recognize
the beauty within us. She uses the display
in schools to teach young boys and girls
to appreciate their bodies and to recognize
that the images portrayed in the media are
unrealistic.
Submitted by Doris E. Hall,
Sub-Coordinator for the Region of NANSSC
With excerpts from an article by Judy Hagerman,
BPW Bowmanville
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