Digital Empowerment: Securing Innovation in Honor of Women’s Equality

I appreciate the profound power that digital innovation holds. Not only to transform industries but to amplify voices once marginalized or lost in the chorus.

This August, as we commemorate Women’s Equality Day and the landmark ratification of the 19th Amendment, it is fitting to consider how the digital world presents both extraordinary opportunity and new challenges for women everywhere.

The 19th Amendment secured women’s right to vote, an essential step toward inclusion and equity. Today, innovation and infrastructure (hallmarks of Sustainable Development Goal 9), enable our voices to rise globally

through digital platforms. However, with this reach comes the responsibility to safeguard our digital presence against ever evolving threats.

Digital security is foundational to building resilient industries and inclusive innovation ecosystems. Without it, our ability to connect, collaborate, and lead is at risk. Women entrepreneurs and professionals must champion strong cybersecurity practices – not only to protect their information (personal and professional) but to preserve the integrity of movements advancing gender equality and social progress.

Honoring the legacy of the 19th Amendment means embracing the digital age with vigilance and confidence. By securing our digital identities, we make our infrastructure(s) that support innovation and inclusion stronger.

What can you do?

- Implement strong passwords and multi-factor authentication to

protect key accounts

- Regularly update privacy settings and

perform security audits on digital tools and platforms.

- Promote awareness of cybersecurity’s role in fostering sustainable, innovative industries that empower women.

AUGUST CALL TO ACTION:

In tribute to Women’s Equality Day, commit this month to strengthening your digital security.

- Choose one critical account – email, business platform or cloud storage – and enhance its protections.

- Then share a message highlighting the vital role of innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9) in empowering women’s voices worldwide.

Together, we can safeguard the digital foundation of progress – ensuring that the legacy of women’s equality is carried forward into a future defined by innovation, security and inclusion.

Submitted by

Barbara Bozem

an President

NFBPWC 2024-2026

Connecting, Uniting, Igniting: The Role of Bylaws in Equality’s Evolution

Fellow BPW Members,

As Chair of Bylaws and Resolutions, I see firsthand how structure fuels progress. Our bylaws aren’t simply pages in a binder—they’re the pulse of our purpose, connecting local voices, aligning national commitments, and empowering global change.

Historically, women were bound by procedures they never wrote. Exclusion wasn’t accidental, it was codified. But when trailblazers like Susan B. Anthony and Mary Church Terrell learned the rules, they reshaped the game. They turned bylaws into blueprints for justice and procedure into pathways for participation.

Today, BPW continues that legacy. At the local level, we craft policies that welcome every member. Nationally, we uphold standards that ensure fairness and transparency. Globally, the structured approach sets a precedent for inclusion and leadership that crosses borders.

Every motion passed, every amendment proposed, is part of a greater momentum. We are not just refining language—we are redefining leadership. Our bylaws are the scaffolding beneath our slogan. They make it possible to connect deeply, unite purposefully, and ignite change far beyond our immediate reach.

As we move forward in this biennium, let’s remember structure amplifies spirit. And with each revision, we don’t just govern, we grow.

In sisterhood and strategy,

Angie Jackson-Wilson

NFBPWC Bylaws and Resolution Chair

2024-2026

Engage with NFBPWC on Social Media

Organization Page:   https://www.facebook.com/NatlFedBPWC/

Group Page: https://www.facebook.com/NatlFedBPWC/

Organization Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nfbpwc

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2l_ciIxLyvbu1dbBOsV9Tg

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nfbpwc_usa/

Dear Friends and Members,

We’ve come a long way in NFBPWC in how we educate and get the word out to our members on the goings on politically locally, globally and internationally.

The PAST: Before coming on board as the Newsletter Chair for NFBPWC, I was the Communications Chair for BPW Colorado from June 2014 to July 2017. One of my responsibilities was to create newsletters for Colorado. I officially started as an NFBPWC Newsletter Chair in August of 2017 with the first edition being sent to our members in September of 2017. Elizabeth Benham was NFBPWC President at the time. Before that time, we did not have a national newsletter.

The PRESENT: Now, we have a jam-packed Magazine (not a newsletter) that is distributed to over 440 active members monthly.  We have collaborated with the local State Affiliate President to update us on what is going on locally. And, we have news coming in from all of the world in our International Relations section.

The FUTURE: As I step down from my role as Magazine Editor (my last edition will be September), I hope that someone will be able to take up the mantle in sharing the valuable information to our membership. Is that someone you?

I thought I would share some images with you as to the progression of the NFBPWC Newsletter starting out as an 8-page newsletter (September 2017), to becoming a full-blown 50+ page Magazine. There have been many additional format changes and additions to the Magazine, including adding national, regional and international event links. And, offering advertising.

September 2017 – NFBPWC’s First Newsletter

November 2020 – Started adding a Cover Image

September 2021 – No Longer a Newsletter; Officially titled a Magazine

Michele Guarino
Magazine  Editor 
(2017-2025)

L3 Program – Reimagining Leadership

In a world marked by constant change and growing complexity, leadership can no longer be viewed as a fixed destination—it must be nurtured as a lifelong journey. It is with this vision in mind that we proudly announce the relaunch of our L3 Program: Lifelong Leadership & Learning.
The L3 was initially designed to equip women with the leadership tools, mindset, and community support necessary to thrive in every phase of life—personally, professionally, and civically. Now, as we relaunch and reimagine this transformative program, we are answering a new call: to build an intergenerational pipeline of resilient, purpose-driven, women leaders prepared to lead with clarity, courage, and authenticity.
What’s New in the Reimagined L3?

• Updated Curriculum: We've refreshed the content with modern leadership themes such as emotional intelligence, digital transformation, inclusive leadership, Project Management Framework, Social Styles.

• Modular Learning Format: Participants can engage with individual modules based on their interests and availability—building a personalized path toward leadership mastery.

• Mentorship Across Generations: The new L3 fosters intentional intergenerational dialogue, connecting emerging leaders with seasoned professionals to foster growth.

Our Vision: Connect. Cultivate. Catalyze.

As Chair of the L3 Committee, I am both honored and excited to steward this program’s next chapter. Our goal is to connect women across backgrounds and borders, cultivate their leadership potential, and catalyze collective action for a more equitable And empowered future. 

Whether you're a student finding your voice, a mid-career woman seeking renewal, or a seasoned changemaker ready to give back, L3 is for you.

Together, let us reignite the spark of leadership in every woman and ensure that lifelong leadership becomes not just an idea, but a lived reality.

For more information about the program, or how to get involved as a participant or facilitator, email l3chair@nfbpwc.org

Nicole Mpouli
Lifelong Leadership & Learning Committee Chair
(2025-2026)

An AI Overview

A century-old organization looking to remain relevant and successful in the modern world needs to make crucial changes to adapt to the evolving landscape. In essence, surviving for 100 years and beyond requires a delicate balance between preserving core values and strengths while continuously adapting to new challenges and opportunities. Organizations need to remain agile, customer-focused, and invest in their people and the technology that drives their business.

This is our challenge. So, with that in mind ~
Is your committee or affiliate in need of funding for a special   event?   Email     me          at legacyfundchair@nfbpwc.org and tell me what your needs are. The committee looks forward to supporting BPW activities.

The Legacy Fund Committee is a standing committee available to handle all incoming funds from heritage clubs. Members are Deb Fischer (chair), Barbara Bozeman, Ashley Maria, Jo Naylor, and Sandy Thompson.

Current Value of Investment Portfolio is $295,119.96 as of June 23, 2025.
The most recent meeting was held June 19th and there were two votes taken and unanimously approved.

• 1)     $2,000 will be transferred to checking to cover expenses for the BPW European Regional Conference in May 2025

• 2)     $10,000 will be transferred to checking to cover deposit requirements for the Biennial Convention scheduled for July 2026

Interested members who would like to serve on the committee, please send an email to Deb Fischer, legacyfundchair@nfbpwc.org     indicating contributions you can make to this committee.

May love and friendship keep your days bright!

Deb Fischer
NFBPWC Legacy Fund Chair 2024-2026
(720) 280-3513

Our health committee meetings are held on the 4th Mondays of the month unless there is a conflict or a holiday. Our next meeting with be July 28, 2025 at 8pm ET.

If you are a former member of the health committee or would like to find an area where you could be involved, please contact me at health@nfbpwc.org and I will put you on my list. The more you can contribute, the easier it makes it for me. I’d love to have you.

Notes from the Chair:
With the summer season upon us, it is best to remember to pace ourselves, especially in the oppressive weather. Please also make sure that your loved ones are ok, especially if they are your elders and even your pets this season. Please also be mindful of the sun and wear your sunscreen.

Health Awareness Dates:
July is –
Alopecia Month for Women; Bereaved Parents Awareness Month; Dry Eye Awareness Month; Fireworks Safety Month; Herbal/Prescription
Interaction Awareness Month; International Women with Alopecia Month; National Anti-Boredom Month; National HIV Awareness Month (Note: October is
AIDS Awareness Month also; National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month; National Parks & Recreation Month; National Roadside Traffic Safety Awareness Month; National Wheelchair
Beautification Month; Sandwich Generation Month; Sarcoma Awareness Month; Social Wellness Month; Worldwide Bereaved Parents Month

Eye Injury Prevention Month -
https://www.ishn.com/articles/93586-july-is-eye- injury-prevention-month

Fragile X Awareness Month - https://fragilex.org/get- involved/national-fragilex-awareness-month/

Hemochromatosis Screening Awareness Month - https://hemochromatosis.org/

International Group B Strep Awareness Month - https://www.thejessecause.org/pages/home.html

Juvenille Arthritis Awareness Month - https://www.personalizedcause.com/blog/juvenile- arthritis-awareness-month/

National Cleft & Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month - http://www.nccapm.org/
National Cord Blood Awareness Month - https://www.cordbloodbank.com/july-cord-blood- awareness-month/

Self Care Month -
https://fraserworks.ca/2016/07/self-care-july-is-self- care-month-and-july-24-2016-is-international-self- care-day/ (Note: It's also Sept. Different Sponsor)

Healthy Thinking of the Month:
This is stormy season, so to keep the stress down (which also relates to our health), the following information should be of help, and maybe give you ideas you have not thought about:

How the Health Committee uses the SDGs:
SDG stands for Sustainable Development Goals.
Here is a little history from the official SDG UN webpage:
“The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.

The SDGs build on decades of work by countries and the UN, including the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs” Many organizations use these goals to help them focus on the goals of their respective organizations. In NFBPWC, each committee also has a focus as well. The SDG goals that the Health Committee follow are #3, #4, and #17.

In this section, we are going to focus on SDG #3 – Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

See the information graphic to the right. If you would like to know more about the SDGs.

Please see this link for more information: https://sdgs.un.org/goals
Other articles related to the theme of past, present, and future:
Alzheimer’s blood test can spot people with early symptoms,  study  suggests  - https://tinyurl.com/2kddtyep
Mental Health at College: What to Know - https://tinyurl.com/55neaf7r
Younger generations less likely to have dementia, study suggests - https://tinyurl.com/rypuvrks
Important Women's Health Screenings: A Guide by Age Group - https://tinyurl.com/6fd9x6ae
Senior Mental Health Survey: Anxiety and Depression in Americans Over 65 - https://tinyurl.com/yffc3tvt

If you are a former member of the health committee or would like to find an area where you could be involved, please contact me at health@nfbpwc.org and I will put you on my list. The more you can contribute, the easier it makes it for me. I’d love to have you. We will meet on the 3rd or 4th Monday of the month unless there are any conflicts or holiday forthcoming. Next meeting is July 28, 2025.

BPW was founded 106 years ago in St. Louis, Missouri. But did you know that the government was instrumental in helping to establish our organization? The War Department contributed $65,000 toward its founding. That is equivalent to about $1,207,816.47 today. Wouldn’t it be nice if we had that money today.

As you know we have the Legacy Fund. This is a fund to help support our organization beyond the dues that we collect. The fund is invested so that our money grows to be there for another 106 years. Have you ever wondered how you could honor or remember a member? One way would be to give a gift to the Legacy fund. When a member passes away or a member has an accomplishment that you would like to recognize, you could make a tax-deductible donation to the Legacy Fund.

This will help ensure that our organization continues to grow and lives on for another 100 plus years. We will then recognize that contribution to the person or family as well as in the magazine.

To donate go to our website and click on Who We Are. Then click on Donate to Empower Our Work. Then click on the Donation Form. Complete the form and you can pay by check or with credit card.

Sandy Thompson
NFBPWC Finance Chair

Honoring Our Foundation, Shaping Our Future

As we reflect on the past, present, and future of BPW, we are reminded that progress is not an accident—it is drafted, debated, voted on, and built into the framework of action. From the bold words of the Declaration of Sentiments in 1848, to the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, to the establishment of National Business Women’s Week in 1938, women have long known that voice and vote are only powerful when supported by vision and structure. And that is exactly what Bylaws and Resolutions provide—a mechanism to transform ideas into action.

Our Past: Grounded in Courage and Clarity - The Declaration of Sentiments, drafted at the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848, was the first formal demand for women’s equality in the United States. Modeled after the Declaration of Independence, it boldly declared that “all men and women are created equal.” That document—radical at the time—outlined resolutions calling for women’s right to vote, to receive education, and to participate fully in society.

It would take 72 years of organizing before one of those resolutions—the 19th Amendment—was ratified, finally granting American women the right to vote in 1920. The years between were filled with conventions, declarations, and statements of purpose. We know from this that well-crafted words, backed by action, can change the world.

BPW itself was founded in the wake of that amendment, recognizing that political equality must be matched by economic opportunity. In 1938, thanks to the efforts of BPW’s early leaders, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued the first Presidential Proclamation recognizing National Business Women’s Week. That milestone didn’t just celebrate women’s contributions to the workforce—it recognized the growing influence of organized, professional women.

Our Present: Keeping the Flame Alive - Today, our Bylaws and Resolutions Committee carries forward that legacy. Our current governing documents are more than internal tools they are the map that keeps us mission-focused, member-centered,  and movement-driven. Each amendment,  each  clause, each resolution we consider is an opportunity to align our work with the evolving needs of our members and our world.

This year, we’ve focused on making our bylaws more accessible and responsive, while encouraging members to re-engage with the resolutions process. Whether you’re proposing a policy statement, updating language, or helping your local club stay compliant, you are part of a tradition of women who refused to stay silent.

Our Future: Built with Intention - As BPW evolves to meet the future, so must our  framework.  Our structure must support digital collaboration, intergenerational leadership, and international advocacy. Resolutions can be tools of both inspiration and influence—within our own communities and in global spaces like the United Nations and the Organization of American States.

We must ask: What issues define our time? What statements do we need to make? What systems will support our continued rise?

An Invitation to Engage - You don’t need to be a parliamentarian or policy expert to get involved—just bring your voice. If you’ve ever been inspired by a historical declaration or energized by a call to action, then you already understand the power of resolutions.
Let’s honor our foremothers—not just with ceremony, but with structure. Let’s ensure our bylaws reflect our bold future, and our resolutions capture the challenges and possibilities of today.

From Seneca Falls to your local club meeting, every motion matters.
Let’s write the future together.

Angie Jackson-Wilson
NFBPWC Bylaws and Resolution Chair
2024-2026