By:  Sandra Thompson
NFBPWC’s Immediate Past President

Some of you may have noticed that we have a phone number on our website. That phone number is my home number. As a result, from time to time I receive phone calls from various people. Many of them have to do with them finding some BPW memorabilia that belonged to their mother, aunt, or grandmother. Fortunately, they do not want to just throw it out and contact me looking for some place to send it.A few months ago, I received a call from one such person. She had a collection of the old National BPW magazines. She told me she would go through everything and send me what they did not want. It had been a while since we talked, and I was surprised when my doorbell rang and there was a large box on my doorstep.

I have not had time to really go through it, but I decided to pick one out at random and share some of it with you.

The issue I selected is from July-August 1972. The magazine was called National Business Woman and was 18 pages long. It was the annual review of the last year.

One of the items highlighted in the magazine was that the Equal Rights Amendment was passed by the Congress in 1972. Michigan became the 18 state to ratify it. They were encouraging members to work toward that ratification. It is unfortunate that 51 years later we are still trying to get the ERA as an amendment to the constitution. There was so much hope in their article.

Here is part of the outgoing President’s message.

“And a marvelous addition you have written on the Scroll of Achievement this past year!

Not only did the Equal Rights Amendment pass overwhelmingly in the United State Congress, but exactly half of the states required to ratify have already done so. At the time of this writing, only two have actually rejected ratification.

Programming has been in the areas “where it’s at!” Over and over the reports of programs show that clubs and states are grappling with the real problems of our communities which affect all peoples, and the problems that concern women.

Of course, we have made mistakes, and of course we have not accomplished everything we hoped to do. The only person making no mistakes are dead and the only ones who accomplish everything they hoped to set their goals too low!

This past year was built on the efforts of every prior year, the work of every prior member, the plans and goals of every past administration. We have added one more to the foundation. But we must keep the same attitude of the lad who was asked one day, “Son, who made your?” And the lad replies, “I ain’t finished yet!”

With the “Objectives in Action” as our program, the ratification of ERA to be completed, with true equality under the law and true equal economic opportunity for all citizens yet to be attained, and with our Collect to be lived, we can know for a truth, as “The Golden Key” so aptly puts it, “Our God is Love, and Love brings work; there’s love and work for all.”

On the evening of July 27^th I will be privileged to call Jeanne C. Squire “Madam President”. I join you in my rededication to the things this Federation stands for, and I join you in saying to her, and to the others who serve with her in leadership this year, “As a member, I will do my best. Count on me.”

Osta Underwood, President”