I know, summer has arrived and you want to be out enjoying the weather – but you’ve got just a little bit more time to get two very important things accomplished – that is, if you haven’t already done them.  (I know we have procrastinators out there, and I’m talking to you.)

Item One – Voting in BPW/USA elections

We have until July 2^nd to vote in our BPW/USA elections.  Did you get your ballot in the mail?  Did you send it back yet?  Get it done this week.  It has to be received (not postmarked) by July 2. 

Or, did you get your e-mail with log in information?  You should have gotten a reminder e-mail from BPWUSA about 2 weeks ago. 

If you have received your e-mail log in, remember that you need to use the Member ID number and assigned voting PIN to enter the online voting process.  You can view all candidate bios and the bylaw amendments right there on the web.  However, when you clink on the link that says “click here to vote” you will get a ballot with only our Area Representatives listed – keep in mind that our very own Shirley Zeller if running for Area Representative! 

If you haven’t received your e-mail ballot yet, you must notify BPWUSA by e-mailing voting@bpwusa.org.  (You are eligible to vote if you were a paid member as of April 2, 2008.)

All ballots (online and mailed) must be received by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 2, 2008.   What are you waiting for?  Get it done right now, and then go enjoy the nice weather. 

Item Two – National Convention 

Atlanta – yes, yes, yes, it’ll be hot in Atlanta.  But Convention will be packed with great information all inside a nice cozy air-conditioned hotel.  Come join us as Barb Henton passes the torch to Diane Polangin.  There are some great workshop tracks which include these:

Title:  The Fight for Equal Pay Continues: Ledbetter v. Goodyear                         
Speaker:  Lilly Ledbetter

BPW members lobbied on the Equal Pay Act in February 2007 at Policy in Action.  But at this convention, you can meet the woman behind this United States Supreme Court case.  Lilly Ledbetter will speak to us – she knows about pay discrimination first hand. As one of the few female supervisors at the Goodyear plant in Gadsden, Alabama for 19 years, Lilly discovered she was earning 20 % less than the lowest paid man in the same position. She sued and won but in an enormous setback for working women, the Supreme Court ruled against her. Her case and the subsequent fight in Congress have become the new front in the fight for equal pay.  

Legacies of Women Panel

Moderator:  Irene Natividad                                                                                           
 

The Legacies of Women panel discussion will feature successful working women discussing challenges, strategies, and lessons learned from their professional journeys.

Ms. Natividad is a recognized leader for women in the United States.  As the President of the Global Summit of Women, an annual international gathering of women leaders from around the world, she works to promote the increased participation of women on corporate boards globally.  Ms. Natividad runs her own public affairs firm, GlobeWomen, based in Washington, D.C.  A sought-after commentator, her views are aired nationally on PBS To The Contrary, an all-women news analysis series in which she serves as a regular panelist. 

AND

It's Not Just Your Grandmother's - or your Mother's - ERA!
Speaker: Kathie Kelly and guests

Ever speak with someone who thought the ERA was passed years ago, or was “retro” or is not needed today?  Or that women have the same opportunities as men and shouldn't waste their time on the ERA?  If so, then this workshop is for you! Learn why the ERA is more relevant than ever and how its passage would impact women’s lives for the better. You will leave armed with “talking points” to sell the ERA to your legislators and to educate the public.

Come join us!  There’s still time – early bird registration continues to July 1 AND the hotel room reservation block for BPW ends on June 27. You’re not still waiting are you?  Some of us even managed to get some reasonably priced air fare…but you can’t wait much longer.

If you need any help doing either of the above – contact me at smurphy@cityofjackson.org or call me at work at 517-990-6282.

I look forward to seeing you in Atlanta!!!!

Susan G. Murphy

Vice President Legislation