Page 1 - BPW-UK - E-news - Edition 115 - September 2023 - BINDED_Neat

E-news

Edition 115– September 2023

Dear Fellow Members,

It has been wonderful to have these last few weeks of summer in Septem-
ber, to warm us up ready for the autumn.

It continues to be a busy time for all members of the BPW UK FEC, with
events planned, and website submissions ready for our updated BPW UK
webpage. As we know, this will be our window to the world, but I was introduced
to BPW through a friend. How about you? Someone asked if I was interested,
explained the opportunities, and the rest is history as they say. When was the
last time you mentioned to someone about being a member of BPW? Did they
want to know more? Just think, if we all asked one person to join, we can double
our membership by Christmas, be known more in our local area, and be able to
have a stronger voice in all we do. So, how about it?

I have been busy looking at Conference 2024 hotels, and was joined by
SEW Area Co-Ordinator Sue Holtom, who as you know is also our National
Treasurer, and VP MM Jackie Franklin. We had been given a shortlist by PNP Ann
Wiseall and armed with her trusty checklist visited three in person. Unfortunate-
ly, I am not able to let you know the final choice of hotel in this edition, as we
are waiting to sign the contracts, but it will be in Bristol. I do see in the shops
th
th
shiny new 2024 diaries, and this can be the first entry, 15 -16 March 2024.
th
Our BPW UK AGM will be on the morning of 15 March, and we will host the final
of the BPW UK inter-regional public speaking championship on the afternoon of
th
Friday 15 March 2024. We have had a greater engagement and interest in this
competition this year, which should make for a thrilling final. However, we must
also remember how this helps in the social development of these young people,
and how it will give them confidence in the next stage of life in either education
or employment.

Our September Wednesday webinar was very well attended, and I must
thank the three ladies from Chernihiv who were able to give us a fuller picture of
day-to-day life in Ukraine. The bravery of all three must be acknowledged, two
decided to stay, but our newest member of BPW UK, Yulia Zhdanova took the
decision to temporarily move to Witney in Oxfordshire with her two teenage
sons and Mum. Leaving at home her husband cannot have been easy, but we
are pleased to have her with us in the UK for now. Yulia is working for the NGO
International Rescue ( https://www.rescue.org/uk ) assisting other Ukrainian
refugees.
…/...