Page 21 - BPW-UK - E-news - Edition 120 - March-April 2024

https://www.bpw-europe.org/gallery-
bpw-europe-brussels-rome-2024/

European Presidents’ Meeting, Rome 2024
I had the privilege to represent BPW UK at the European Presidents’ meeting and
Young Symposium held in Rome. As it was held the weekend after our own BPW UK Confer-
ence in Bristol, it was a very quick turnaround for those members of the newly elected FEC
joining me. Christine Nendick VP Advocacy, Margo Davidson-Wood Media and Marketing VP
and Lynne Robinson the International VP joined me at these meetings. Lynne has graciously
agreed to be my number two on the FEC, and in the year we have our IFBPW Congress we
are very fortunate to have someone as experienced as her joining our FEC. Lynne repre-
sented the second voting member, with Margo and Chris being the alternate voters. This is
necessary in case for any reason that Lynne or I cannot vote, we still have the capacity to
be represented, and these names go onto the credentials form for BPW Europe. Thank you
to all the FEC members who took the time to read the necessary paperwork, to allow us to
vote accordingly. But I would also like to thank Lynne for being such a great first-time room
-mate, and Chris and Margo too as they were wonderful travel companions.

Anu Vicks asked if I would be one of the
voting scrutineers for this meeting, which was a
first for me in this capacity. The representatives
had been asked to vote on accepting the new BPW
Europe statutes recently registered in Belgium;
these are in the process of being fully translated
into English. Once I have the ratified translation, I
will share them with the BPW UK membership. Each
Federation or Club is asked to present a “Best Prac-
tice” slide to the room, and those present then vote
accordingly. I chose to speak about the need to
register the work that we do onto the IFBPW pro-
ject Task Force webpage, to acknowledge the good
work we all do.
President Jo & BPW Europe Members at Senate

Anu Vicks spoke after I had and confirmed the importance of doing this, to ensure people
will understand fully what we do, and to recommend this action to us all.

During the reports section on the agenda, I was asked to present an update on what
we had achieved this year in the “Van for Chernihiv” project. This was a chance to explain
that the vehicle is now in Chernihiv, Ukraine and delivers humanitarian aid locally. This was
difficult within a three-minute time limit, but Anu allowed me to have a time extension. This
gave those present an opportunity to hear the video which Yuliia Zhdanova had recorded for
our Conference in Bristol. This was a very realistic way of showing those present the way
that life has changed for all Ukrainians. Thank you to Yuliia, our BPW UK member, living
temporarily near Oxford.
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