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Business and Professional Women’s Club folds after 60 years in Abbotsford

President cites low attendance and ‘minimal’ community support
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Pamela Chatry, president of the Business and Professional Women’s Club of Abbotsford, has announced that the club is folding after more than 60 years in the community.

A 60-year-old Abbotsford organization is disbanding due to declining membership and minimal support from the community, according to its president.

Pamela Chatry said Monday in an emailed message that the decision to fold the

Business and Professional Women’s (BPW) Club of Abbotsford was made following a meeting last week.

“Over the past few months, I have reached out to our community and gave an honest account of current club conditions and asked for support. I heard back from few people,” Chatry said.

She said the current executive has worked hard over the last two years to bring in speakers, host events and build fundraising dollars. But it has been discouraging to see that attendance has been low and “support minimal,” she added.

“The club needs fresh energy and we aren’t attracting it. The message is clear. We are not getting new members nor have we the support from our community,” Chatry said.

She said members have voted to liquidate the club’s financial donations, with the majority of the money going to the Abbotsford Community Foundation to continue bursary donations to the New Beginning program.

There will also be an amount donated to “resources that support the women who really need help,” Chatry said.

A meeting was being held last night to determine specifically where to distribute that money.

Chatry said Abbotsford women are welcome to attend meetings of the BPW Langley club.

She said the decision to fold the Abbotsford club was made with “great sadness.”

“My membership in BPW introduced me to the dynamic community of Abbotsford women, made me wonderful friends and left me feeling so good about the fundraising and charitable efforts to support women,” she said.

Past events held by the Abbotsford club have included the annual Myrtle Evertt Woman of the Year Awards, the provincial AGM, monthly luncheons and the It’s All About Heart event focusing on heart health.

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vhopes@abbynews.com

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Vikki Hopes

About the Author: Vikki Hopes

I have been a journalist for almost 40 years, and have been at the Abbotsford News since 1991.
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