Congratulations to Barbara Henton, the new BPW/USA Vice-President!   Michigan BPW is very proud of your service and commitment!

The beginning of a new BPW year provides a time to reflect on past accomplishments and to look forward to the challenges awaiting us.  Our BPW/MI leaders look at where the organization and its members are headed.  Goals and objectives consistent with our mission are established and through the budget process, activities are planned that meet those goals and objectives.   

Agenda items for your summer planning meeting would include reviewing the objectives for the year 2005-06 and the means to achieve those results, selection of a finance committee to prepare an annual budget, and selection of a financial review committee to audit the fiscal year-end books.  If there were a change in local club leadership, this would be an appropriate time to obtain the signatures of new officers on checking/savings account documentation.   

Income derived from membership dues would play a major role in creating a budget.  Have you gained any new members over the past year?  If the answer is yes, did you make that member’s first visit a memorable one?  Was another member assigned to that person as a mentor?  Does your club survey the needs/interests of its current and prospective members?  Is your club planning an open house to recruit members?  If so, consider using it in conjunction with one of the Signature Events or partnering with another organization in your locale.

Some additional items to consider in preparing your budget and planning your programs:

Monetary assistance to local president or other designated officer to attend District and State meetings,           

Sponsor a vintage fashion show during National Business Women’s Week or Women’s History Month - combining BPW history with the progression of women’s fashion, 

Offer the Individual Development, Reality Store, and University of Life programs through local colleges and/or adult education courses.  Charging for the programs would be a source of revenue,  

Mentoring of local treasurer to ensure a smoother transition of duties,  

Fund raisers for scholarships, 

Plan an event for Equal Pay Day, 

Tithe back to the State a percentage of the income from local raffles.   

Let’s make 2005-06 the year we take advantage of all that BPW offers.   

Dorothy Crimmins, Finance Chair