The Business and Professional Women’s Club (BPW) of Mission has launched a series of successful woman speakers for the winter season.
Speakers in subsequent months will include Tara Forman (Mission Literacy in Motion), Chilliwack Mayor Sharon Gaetz (Women in Politics), Fiona Douglas-Crompton (Women as Mentors), and Teresa Yu (Alternate Therapies). A speaker in May on human trafficking is yet to be determined.
Mission’s Bob O’Neal introduced the series in December with his topic, “The Entrepreneurial Spirit,” using as examples his own board game, Syncrohearts, and potential projects in the district’s newly-designated interpretive forest.
O’Neal has encouraged women to explore their own potential for entrepreneurism, focusing on the importance of local business activities.
Mission BPW will continue its partnership with Abbotsford’s BPW club to present the Woman of the Year (WOTY) event in May. Mission's Ann Senae and Abbotsford's Paulette Baker were last year’s winners. Funds from this event enable the clubs to provide bursaries for deserving female high school students. Bursary winners for 2011 were Samantha Raniak of Hatzic secondary, and Phoenix Pham of W.J. Mouat, Abbotsford.
Mission club’s executive is now inviting nominations for this year’s WOTY event. More information can be obtained from Heather Stewart at president@bpwmission.ca or at www.bpwmission.ca.
BPW Mission meets on fourth Wednesday of each month, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Cedarbrooke Chateau. For membership information and luncheon reservations contact Mady Pechler at secretary@bpwmission.