September 13, 2020
Dear Berkshire BPW members and friends,
Happy Fall! Where did the summer go? It seems like yesterday that is was 82 degrees and sunny! Now the leaves are changing and the mornings are crisp. I hope this letter finds you starting to settle into a new fall routine, with family, professional and home life. I also hope you are planning to join us on September 21st for our Woman of Achievement Gala and Scholarship Fundraiser. This year, we are honoring our first female District Attorney, Andrea Harrington. The event is noted prominently on the website www.berkshirebpw.org. You can still RSVP for the virtual portion of the event.
Here is this month’s Berkshire BPW scoop:
Woman of Achievement: We are super-happy with how the fundraising effort is going. You may even say we are thrilled! And, it is super-terrific that we have 100% Board participation! With the hard work of the WOA Committee, headed up by Lynn Wallace, we are doing great raising funds to support our Scholarship Program. We have had more involvement and as my dad used to say, “many hands make light work”. We have been able to increase our goals, as the need this year is high. There is still time to donate to support our Scholarship Program right on the website.
You can also support our efforts by bidding on our Auction items, here… There are exciting items and great values, all showing support for our terrific local businesses.
The Scholarship Committee, headed up by June Roy-Martin, is working hard to vet applications for our scholarships. We have had double the applicants versus last year! Scholarships will be finalized for awards by the end of September.
October meeting: Please go ahead and RSVP for our FREE virtual meeting on Monday, October 5th at 5:30. We have an exciting evening planned. First, we will Congratulate our Scholarship Recipients with their awards, led by June and her team. Second, we will be joined by Pittsfield Mayor Linda Tyer and Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier, who will be speaking about the upcoming election season and other hot topics. As always, we will have a networking portion, welcome new members and say hello to guests.
Note: we are always looking for members who would like to submit an article for publication in the e-newsletter. We also offer any member’s business or organization to be featured in our Monthly Spotlight. And please check out our Member Portal and add your profile today! Our email list is growing and this is a good way to get the word out about your business and to do business with women-owned businesses.
As we head into fall and winter and will continue to operate virtually, I invite you to browse the website to stay current: www.berkshirebpw.org.
Mission/Vision/Values
A short while ago, the Board of the Berkshire BPW re-worked our Mission, our Vision and our Values to ensure they were current with all we are doing and supporting. They are prominently stated on our website and are stated below. Please become familiar with them as we want to live them!
Mission
We empower women to rise, eliminate barriers, and achieve our greatest individual and collective ambitions.
Vision
To foster and celebrate an inclusive community of women supporting women of all professions and career paths, life stages and experiences.
Values
To provide safe and positive space for women to collaborate and thrive:
- Personal and Professional Development
- Networking, connection and relationship building
- Pairing mentors with mentees
- Community support of women owned and operated businesses and services
- Career advancement scholarships for working women
- Leadership development and resume building through volunteer committee opportunities
Lastly, I will be handing over the reins as President to Kalee Carmel, our President Elect. I will be staying on the Board after my upcoming move as an Advisor. It has been fun and an honor leading this organization and I am proud of all we as a team, working together, have accomplished. I would like to thank each and every member for their support and engagement these past 15 months. It has been a time of exciting growth and renewed energy in the organization. I so appreciate your efforts throughout our work, supporting each other and our mission.
Stay together in spirit. Stay well.
All my best,
Celia
