Every day is Women’s Equality Day! 

Women are more than 50% of the population of the world.

Women have the ability and motivation to make this world a better place for everyone.

Equality is a positive thing for everyone

It is not a scary thing. Women having equality is not taking anything away from anyone else. It is not pizza.

Women have been part of every process since the beginning of time!

Women have given birth to ALL of the boys, girls, men, and women on the planet! If it wasn’t for women, there wouldn’t be people.

Equal pay is a great way to help everyone!

There is no reason for women to make less than men for equal work. If you sense an inequality, look into the issue, and provide a solution

Please find a way every day to positively promote accessibility to everyone, especially women. Look at the issues in your area and decide how you can positively provide the benefits of your women-based ideas!

Dr. Joanne Carfioli Naylor
National Treasurer
2026-2028
treasurer@nfbpwc.org

Preserving the Record, Supporting the Future

Serving as National Secretary has reinforced for me the understanding that leadership is not only exercised from the podium. It is also found in the quiet work that ensures organizations remain accountable, connected, and prepared for the future.

I am deeply grateful to the members of NFBPWC for the confidence you have shown in re-electing me as your National Secretary. Thank you for your trust, your encouragement, and the opportunity to continue serving this remarkable organization.

Every meeting, every motion, every decision, and every action becomes part of the institutional memory that guides those who follow. Accurate records are not simply a historical archive; they are an essential tool for good governance, transparency, and continuity.

One of the secretary's most important responsibilities is reducing unnecessary confusion. Well-prepared agendas, timely distribution of materials, clear records of decisions, and accurate follow-up help meetings focus on discussion rather than uncertainty. Members should spend their time solving problems, sharing ideas, and building our organization—not trying to remember what was decided at the last meeting.

Clear minutes are equally important. Good minutes do not attempt to capture every conversation. Instead, they provide an objective and reliable record of decisions, actions, responsibilities, and timelines.

Months or even years later, those records allow future leaders to understand not only what was decided, but why certain directions were taken. They become part of the organization's collective wisdom. Your help in keeping me clear and on track has been much appreciated!

History matters.

Organizations that preserve their institutional memory are better equipped to learn from experience, build on successful initiatives, and avoid repeating unnecessary mistakes.

Every secretary serves as a temporary custodian of that history, ensuring that today's work becomes tomorrow's foundation. In volunteer organizations, where leadership changes regularly, this continuity becomes even more valuable.

Accuracy is therefore more than a technical requirement—it is an act of service.

Members deserve confidence that meeting records faithfully reflect the decisions that were made. Accurate reporting strengthens trust among members, supports accountability, and protects the integrity of the organization. It also demonstrates respect for every volunteer who gives their time, ideas, and commitment to our shared mission.

As I begin this new term, I would also like to strengthen the connection among the secretaries serving throughout our organization.

Each club secretary faces many of the same questions:

• How can records be organized more effectively?
• What approaches encourage stronger communication with members?
• How can meeting information be shared more consistently?

Rather than solving these challenges independently, I believe we can benefit from learning from one another. 

Over the coming term, I hope to establish a coalition of NFBPWC club secretaries—a collaborative network where we can exchange practical ideas, share successful practices, support new secretaries, and develop resources that make this important role easier and more rewarding. Such a network would not only strengthen individual clubs but also reinforce the connections that make NFBPWC a truly national organization.

This collaboration can also help us improve communication with our members and present a more unified picture of who we are. Every club has its own personality, strengths, and local priorities. Together, however, we represent something larger: a national network of women committed to leadership, professional development, advocacy, and service. By sharing information more effectively and learning from one another, we can elevate how we tell our collective story while celebrating the unique contributions of every club.

The secretary's work often happens quietly, behind the scenes, but its impact reaches every aspect of an organization's success.

• Good records support good decisions.
• Clear communication builds trust.
• Strong collaboration strengthens leadership.

Together, these elements reduce unnecessary confusion and create the conditions in which volunteers can focus on what matters most—serving our members and advancing our mission.

Thank you again for the privilege of serving as your National Secretary. I look forward to working with each of you during the coming term as we continue building an organization that values accuracy, collaboration, transparency, and service.

Together, we can preserve our history, strengthen our present, and create an even stronger foundation for the leaders who will follow us.

Nermin K. Ahmad
National Secretary
2026-2028
Secretary@nfbpwc.org

Some holidays are easy to remember, and Women’s Equality Day, August 26th, is easy for me. It is the day before my birthday.

Since I joined BPW 40+ years ago and learned more about women’s history, I always start my birthday with a prayer of gratitude to the suffragists and the women who founded BPW.

The theme of the National Women’s History Alliance 2026 is Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future. Using this theme and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as inspiration for programs and projects, our clubs could have measurable impact on their communities.

With BPW’s consultancy status with the United Nations, we can further develop our involvement with the SDGs.

While we have made progress in Women’s equality, there are still limitations and restrictions that we need to conquer. Here are just a few numbers that show the continuing disparity and lack of equal treatment for women:

18 the number of countries where husbands can legally prevent their wives from working.

39 the number of countries where sons and daughters do not share equal inheritance rights.

23.7 the percentage of women represented in national parliaments.

6 the number of countries that give women equal work rights as men.

47 the percentage of the increased likelihood for women to suffer severe injuries in car crashes because safety features are designed for men.

13 the percentage of women globally who are agricultural landholders.

Be proactive: sponsor a Women’s Equality Day event, or partner with another organization with a similar mission.

It is an honor to serve as your Vice President of Advocacy for 2026-28.

With the Biennial Conference ending just a week ago as I write this, there is plenty of action happening to set committee meeting schedules, invite members to participate, and fill our calendars with events that will draw both members and non-members.

In addition to continuing work on the new, dedicated Advocacy Hub on our website (going live soon), the Advocacy Committee is working on position papers, conducting bill reviews, issuing alerts via NewMode (the platform we use to get our messages in front of legislators), and providing support to club and state advocacy committees.

If you are interested in serving on the committee, please email me at vpadvocacy@nfbpwc.org.

Barbara J. Davis
National VP Advocacy
2026-2028
vpadvocacy@nfbpwc.org

More than Membership: The NFBPWC Experience

Membership is the heart of every thriving organization.

It is more than a number, it represents the women we welcome, the relationships we build, the leaders we develop, and the communities we strengthen. As First Vice President of Membership, I am honored to kick off the 2026-2028 Membership Committee and invite members across the country to help shape the next biennial of NFBPWC.

Over the next two years, our vision is to build a stronger, more connected, and more inclusive organization by focusing on three essential priorities:

• Recruiting new members
• Engaging our current members
• Supporting clubs in strengthening retention.

We will work collaboratively with clubs and federations to better communicate the value of NFBPWC membership. Our organization offers women opportunities for leadership development, advocacy, professional growth, mentoring, networking, and service. We must ensure that prospective and current members not only understand these benefits but also experience them consistently.

Recruitment is piece of the puzzle. Members remain where they feel welcomed, valued, involved, and connected to a meaningful purpose. The Membership Committee will promote effective onboarding, encourage mentoring and intergenerational engagement, and help clubs create clear pathways for members to participate and lead.

We will also seek to understand the needs of women at different stages of their personal and professional journeys. By listening to our members, using data to guide our decisions, and sharing successful practices across the organization, we can develop strategies that respond to today’s membership’s challenges and opportunities.

The committee’s work will focus on:

• Developing practical recruitment, onboarding, engagement, and retention resources.
• Supporting clubs in identifying their membership strengths, gaps, and opportunities.
• Expanding outreach to women from diverse generations, professions, cultures, and communities.
• Strengthening collaboration and communication across clubs and federations.
• Recognizing membership growth, innovation, and engagement successes.
• Creating measurable goals and tracking our progress.

Membership growth is not the responsibility of one person or one committee.

Every member is an ambassador for NFBPWC. Each of us can invite a woman to attend a meeting, share our personal membership story, welcome a new member, or help someone discover her place within the organization.

I invite all Membership Chairs at local and state levels, as well as members who are passionate about connection, engagement, innovation, and organizational growth to join the Membership Committee. Together, we will honor NFBPWC’s legacy while building a vibrant and sustainable future.

Let us move forward with intention, welcoming more women, strengthening their sense of belonging, and creating opportunities for every member to connect, contribute, grow, and lead.

Nicole Mpouli
National VP Membership
2026-2028
vpmembership@nfbpwc.org

Dear Members:

I’m not sure which is harder, writing when you aren’t sure what to say or, like I feel now, with an overflowing heart and soooo very much to say.

It was just a week ago we gathered for IGNITE 2026. We learned from remarkable speakers, tackled the important business of our organization, welcomed new leaders, renewed friendships, and celebrated the passion that continues to define NFBPWC and fuel our torches. I’m deeply honored by the confidence you have placed in me and my team as you re-elected us, and brought on two fantastic members to the Executive Committee.

Thank you for your trust. I promise to continue leading with purpose, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to our members.

August also brings us to Women’s Equality Day; a day that commemorates the 19th Amendment and the generations of women whose determination forever changed our nation’s history. 

While Harry T. Burn’s vote is often the only one remembered, history reminds us that no milestone is achieved by one person alone. Every vote mattered. Every voice mattered. Every individual who chose courage over comfort became a part of something much larger than themselves.

That lesson is just as meaningful today.

We did not cross a finish line in 1920. Instead, we chose to pick up a responsibility we carry forward – one that has been passed on from woman to woman ever since then.

This is one time when history repeating itself is a good thing. Each of us enjoys opportunities secured by the women who came before us. Women who believed the next generation deserved more than they had. While we are living in challenging times, we continue to embrace our task. We honor that legacy and create opportunities for those who follow us.

As business and professional women, we know that leadership today looks a whole lot different from what it did 107 years ago. Success is no longer measured by how many doors we open for ourselves, but by how many doors we hold open for others.

It is built through collaboration, innovation, mentorship, and the willingness to adapt to a changing world.

It is also built through partnership.

The future we seek is not one where women succeed apart from men. It is one where women and men work together, each bringing their talents, perspectives, and leadership to create stronger businesses, stronger communities, and a stronger world. 

Progress has never been about replacing one voice with another. It’s always been about ensuring every voice has the opportunity to be heard.

I hope each of us will carry the spirit of INGITE 2026 beyond our conference halls. Let us continue to IGNITE ideas, leadership, and meaningful partnerships. Let us IGNITE the confidence of the next generation of women leaders. Let history inspire us. Let us be the leaders of today and the inspiration that IGNITE the women of tomorrow.

Best Personal Wishes,

Barbara J. Bozeman
National President
2026-2028
president@nfbpwc.org

The Meaning Behind the Elements in Our Logo

Throughout history, the progress of events and people has been marked by symbols. The NFBPWC emblem was adopted at the 1921 National Convention and incorporates five complementary symbols to represent light, peace, communication, achievement, and progress — concepts to which our Federation is dedicated.

Nike (Greek Goddess of Victory) depicts strength, progress, freedom and triumph, facing squarely the winds and waves of prejudice and all other limitations.

The Torch is the symbol of light, wisdom, principle, and leadership.

The Wand signifies a new day for women and represents opportunity, equality, harmony, cooperation, healing, and power.

The Ship of Commerce illustrates the entrance of women into business and the expansion of work and financial opportunities for women.

The Scroll denotes achievement and leadership, a record of accomplishments in solving economic problems and establishing equality for working women.

These five symbols are found within the Golden Circle, signifying unbroken harmony and endless friendship.

Shirley Zeller
NFBPWC Parliamentarian
Parliamentarian@nfbpwc.org

OUR PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE

My NFBPWC Journey: From Local Waters to Global Stages

Reflecting on my 18-year BPW journey—from serving as Boulder, Colorado, Chapter President to leading as the NFBPWC National President (2020–2024)—my heart overflows with gratitude.

While our legacy is anchored by visionary founders, its true heartbeat remains our remarkable members.

My most cherished memories seamlessly bridge Colorado joy with global impact. Locally, white-water rafting down the Taylor River in Gunnison, CO, with fellow members closed a BPW Colorado convention in a burst of pure laughter and camaraderie. Globally, sharing breakfast in Grand Cayman with then-IFBPW President Yasmin Darwich in 2015 ignited my international passion. That spark led me to the base of the pyramids for my first International Congress in Cairo in 2017, and ultimately to the United Nations in New York City, proudly representing IFBPW as a delegate to the Commission on the Status of Women and incredible opportunity perfectly exemplify our present strength.

Some of those who traveled to Egypt.

Looking ahead, our mission demands that same bold vision. For over a century, BPW has marched for systemic change. My ultimate hope for our future is a world where the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is finally certified and published as the 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution. Enshrining the ERA will secure a permanent legal bedrock for gender equity that cannot be dismantled, ensuring equal participation in power and decision-making becomes an unshakeable reality. Together, we honor our past, champion our present, and build a more equitable future.

The crew who went white-water rafting down the Taylor River in Gunnison, CO.

MEGAN SHELLMAN-RICKARD
Immediate Past President
2024-2026
immpastpresident@nfbpwc.org

A Journey From New Member to the Executive Committee

I have been a BPW member for 21 years. If you told me then that someday I would be writing this as the Treasurer of the NATIONAL Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, I would have laughed in your face that first day.

Ironically, today I received a message from my friend ClaraFaye, who was the Corpus Christi BPW treasurer when I joined.

She asked how I was and congratulated me for being on the Executive Committee. She wasn’t surprised I worked my way up to this position.

I was invited to my first Corpus Christi BPW meeting at a Chamber of Commerce event in 2005. It is because of the support and guidance I received from ClaraFaye, Maureen, and my other Corpus Christi sisters, my BPW-NC sisters, and all of you, that I am in my current position.

Yesterday, I was at a Nonprofit Expo and shared the NFBPWC information with men and women in Philadelphia. They were surprised to know we exist. Three of them may actually join us for the 2026 Biennial Conference either in person or online. You never know where you will meet potential new member!

Looking into the future, I see 20 more years of service in BPW Nationally and Internationally, will be exciting. I hope everyone reading this is excited too.

Dr. Joanne Carfioli Naylor
National Treasurer
2024-2026
treasurer@nfbpwc.org

Institutions Grow Through Connection

It has been my honor to serve as Secretary of NFBPWC over the past two years. This has been a period of transition and movement, during which our Executive Committee worked together to meet both expected and unexpected challenges with commitment and continuity. In the same period, NFBPWC has strengthened its presence within BPW International, becoming a more active participant in the wider conversations that shape our Federation.

What has become increasingly clear to me is that institutions do not evolve through structure alone. They evolve through connection—between people, among levels, and between opportunity and experience.

Within NFBPWC, these connections span local clubs, the national Federation, and our engagement with BPW International. Each level has its own focus and energy, but the strength of the whole depends on how effectively these levels communicate, support one another, and recognize the value each brings to the wider community.

Moving among these spaces has shown me how often opportunity lies not only in formal structures, but in the connections we are able to make across them. As a global federation, we are defined not only by governance and meetings, but by the relationships that give our purpose meaning.

This became especially visible in several moments over the past two years. The 75th anniversary celebration of the Munich Club reflected both pride in its long history and the respect it continues to hold within its community.

Meetings in Montreal, Cyprus, Malta, and St. Kitts and Nevis demonstrated what becomes possible when members engage across borders and bring their experience into shared dialogue.

Engagement at the United Nations, both in committee work and international conferences, further reinforced how well-recognized and respected NFBPWC is within global conversations on women’s leadership and development.

These are not separate events. They reflect a single reality: connection is what transforms a federation from a collection of clubs into a living network of opportunity.

It is also clear that these opportunities are not always immediately visible. A global organization can appear distant when attention is focused locally, yet its value becomes most apparent when members step beyond their immediate context. In those moments, the same federation reveals itself as broader, more accessible, and more interconnected than it first appears.

This is one of the greatest strengths of NFBPWC. It lies not only in what we achieve individually or locally, but in what becomes possible when those efforts are linked across our sisterhood and extended into the wider BPW International community.

As I conclude this term, I am deeply grateful for the trust placed in me as Secretary and for the opportunity to serve alongside committed colleagues. It has been a privilege to observe the work of our Federation from this vantage point and to witness the strength that comes from collaboration across levels and across borders.

Looking ahead, I remain optimistic about what lies before us. As we continue to strengthen the connections among members, clubs, and international partners, we will continue to unlock opportunities that are not yet fully visible. It is through these connections that institutions evolve, and through them that NFBPWC will continue to grow in relevance, reach, and impact.

Thank you for the privilege of serving as your Secretary, and for allowing me to be part of this chapter of our Federation’s ongoing story.

Nermin K. Ahmad
National Secretary
2024-2026
Secretary@nfbpwc.org

It’s hard to believe that my time as your Vice President of Advocacy is coming to an end—where did the last two years go? I won’t lie; it was a challenge at times. I came into this role with big goals and a plan to achieve them, and, like many plans, it was promptly derailed. However, our team adapted, and I leave this role filled with immense gratitude and pride.

One of my biggest goals during this term was to strengthen our national legislative outreach and return BPW to its legacy of advocating for meaningful change.

The 2024–2026 term began with a campaign to push for the Equal Rights Amendment before Biden left office, and we got results! The day before leaving office, Biden declared the ERA the law of the land—a major victory for ERA advocates. While the current status of the ERA remains uncertain, I like to think our efforts helped contribute to that moment. Unfortunately, the political climate following the 2024 election made legislative advocacy increasingly difficult, particularly for social justice and women’s rights organizations.

As someone passionate about public policy, that reality has been frustrating. One of the most inspiring moments in BPW history for me is BPW/USA’s National President Dr. Minnie Miles standing beside JFK as he signed the Equal Pay Act. In recognition of our organization’s leading role in securing passage of the act, President Kennedy gave the first pen he signed with to her. What a legacy!

As your Vice President of Advocacy, I wanted to help revive that spirit. To support that goal, we launched a national bill screening team and developed resources for chapters interested in creating their own on a local level. Special thanks to the California and Colorado bill screening teams for sharing their expertise.

I am also proud to have saved the organization more than $3,000 annually by transitioning our digital advocacy platform from One Click Politics to New/ Mode, a comparable service offered at no cost. While concerns about legislative advocacy and our 501(c)(3) status limited its use this term, I hope future leaders will take advantage of this resource.

Our largest undertaking, and the legacy I hope to be remembered for most, is the Advocacy Hub.

I wanted our advocacy platform to be more than a list of positions adopted every biennium. Together, the Advocacy Committee built a new section of the website filled with information, resources, and tools tied directly to our platform priorities. It was truly a labor of love, and I look forward to continuing to build and expand it in the months ahead.

While this term did not unfold as I expected, I am deeply proud of what we accomplished and grateful for the dedicated advocates who served on the Advocacy Committee.

Looking ahead, I have full faith in whoever becomes the next leader of this team and look forward to seeing where she takes us. I hope she continues building on the foundation we laid during the 2024–2026 term.

As for me, I will continue contributing to the future of BPW through support on the Advocacy Committee and serving BPW International as a UN Representative. In that role, I also represent BPW on the board of the NGO Commission on the Status of Women/NY and help keep our members informed about developments regarding the UN, CSW, and UN Women.

Thank you for placing your trust in me and electing me to this role. It has been an honor to serve, and I hope I have served you well.

Wishing you all the best in the upcoming biennium.

Emily VanVleck
National VP Advocacy
2024-2026
vpadvocacy@nfbpwc.org