Dear Berkshire BPW members and friends,
This summer has just been flying by, and I hope you all have had the opportunity to make the most of it. We are so fortunate to live in an area that has so much natural beauty to offer, and it is breathtaking to see it all on full display this time of year. I feel so much gratitude that we are able to call the Berkshires home, and I hope you are as well.
As always, there are lots of updates this month:
We are so excited to welcome Allison Loring as our new Treasurer. Allison is a Berkshire native who brings many years of financial experience to our organization. I’d also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Gaye Weinberger for serving as our interim Treasurer for the last few months and easing this transition.
Our Scholarship Committee, Co-Chaired by Ivy Rodriguez Campos and myself, has selected and informed our 2021 Career Advancement Scholarship recipients, who will be recognized in a BBPW meeting later this Fall. The committee awarded a total of $20,000 in scholarships, ranging from $500 to $2500 to 20 very deserving women in our community. Our scholarship fund is built directly from donations and proceeds from our annual Woman of Achievement event.
Speaking of Women of Achievement, Co-Chairs Stephanie Bosely and Abby Powers have been tirelessly working behind the scenes to lead planning of our upcoming Women of Achievement event on Monday, September 20th. We look forward to seeing you there as we honor those involved with the Berkshire COVID-19 Vaccine Collaborative. You can purchase your tickets for this event here.
We are also moving forward with soliciting donations and sponsorships for the Women of Achievement event. All proceeds from this event directly fund our Career Advancement Scholarship Program, and help us assist hardworking local women in their career growth and further education. If you do choose to donate to BBPW as a part of this event, be sure to check if your employer has a program to match your donation. Many workplaces match donations as a benefit to employees, which can help us to maximize our impact through our Scholarship program. If you have any questions about how to take advantage of your employer’s donation match, please do not hesitate to reach out to me and I will be happy to assist.
Another way you can help with WoA is by sharing, liking, and commenting on BBPW’s posts on social media to assist in getting the word out. You can find posts sharing details about the event on our Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
Lastly, as many of you know, our President, Celia Clancy, relocated outside of the Berkshires last Fall. Celia has been essential in growing BBPW over the past few years, and her leadership has helped us truly reach the next level as an organization. She has generously extended her service as President over the past several months, providing excellent leadership to our Board and organization from afar. After the Women of Achievement event in September, Celia will be transitioning off the board, and I will be stepping into the role of President. I know I speak for the entire board and membership in expressing our sincere thanks to Celia for her leadership, and best wishes for her next chapter.
Thank you to all for your support and membership. We are a strong group, with lots of great work ahead of us!
Take care,
Hannah
