We are off to a positive start for 2021! We held our PA Affiliate Chapter of NFBPWC Meeting on Sunday, January 10 via Zoom. Dr. Trish McKnight shared information about the NFBPWC Mentoring Program. We were thrilled to have her with us and explain how this mentoring program would work. We held a question and discussion period with her. She encouraged us to take part for this first trial session. Deadline is February 15.

We also reported our success on Facebook. Ginny Bailey is doing a great job posting some outstanding women's historical information and some current news especially about the ERA coming to both floors of Congress on January 21, 2021. Crossing one set of fingers. Join us in our NFBPWC-Pennsylvania Facebook Group!

Love is in the air and Emily Holgash came up with a creative idea of posting an adult Valentine coloring page on Facebook. Our followers would download and color. Then find someone to give to and take a selfie with your Valentine and, once you join us on our FB page, share your picture! Something to do while making someone smile and feel loved. We cannot ask more than that, can we? Last day to post is February 15.

Lilly Gioia, our legislation writer, had the opportunity to attend the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women on December 10, 2020. She wrote an outstanding piece sharing all that she heard while viewing on Zoom. (This article is in the E News.) It is a must read. We have received the news of the latest work on the Convention to Eliminate Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County from member Mary Shaw. Even with the pandemic, they are moving forward. They have a YouTube video that is only 2 minutes long, but it is informative. Please take a moment to view: www.pgh4cedaw.org/allegheny.

Emily Holgash and Nancy Werner attended the Digital Training Class on January 6. Nancy placed Instagram and Twitter on her new cell phone. Emily has a little more tech knowledge than Nancy but joined in the conversation with our Digital Team Marsha Riibner-Cady and Judy Bell.

We have placed on our monthly calendars the first Wednesday's of every month at 5 p.m.

On Saturday, January 23, President Nancy and Emily Holgash attended the webinar “Know Your Worth: A Workbook for Empowering Women in the Workplace.” Ruth Ulmoh, Editor in Chief of the Filament gave a complete view of how the pandemic has affected women in the workplace. She shared how “she-cession” has occurred as women left the workplace to provide for the home schooling of the children.

Another item to share is STEM in Pennsylvania. Emily Holgash has shared that she is part of an Industry Partnership group and a subgroup has been formed to encourage STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) activities. The Free Innovation Professional Development and Support is offering monthly virtual professional development workshops for K-12 educators interested in integrating intellectual property, invention, and innovation content into STEM/STEAM classrooms. They will explore different types of IP protection including patents, trademarks, copyright, and trade secrets. Sessions will be held the last Tuesday of each month from 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. ET Email education@uspto.gov Upcoming date will be February 23, 2021.

Also, the USPTO will also host virtual “Office Hours” for K-12 educators and learners to provide an informal opportunity to ask intellectual property related questions and allow deeper exploration of ideas to integrate intellectual property and invention education concepts into various subjects. Last Wednesday of the month. Upcoming date is February 24 from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. ET.

Stories of Women in STEM in the Smithsonian has a free e-book that features biographies of trailblazing women who made history through their scientific discoveries and innovation. From aerospace engineer and mathematician Mary Golda to hair care entrepreneur Madam C.J. Walker, we can learn how women have defied gender stereotypes and overcame structural barriers to advance the science, technology, engineering, and math industry.

We also learned that there are Five Federal Institutions with Free Materials that many organizations across the federal government and their partners have www.freeeducationresources available to use, including the Smithsonian’s Zoo. Make sure to visit this source.

We have a meeting planned for Sunday, March 7, 2021 via Zoom. We are all being patient as to the status of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Pennsylvania is working within our 67 counties, so every county has a different break down on who is in the lineup. We decided that Zoom is our best alternative to meeting until we are ALL vaccinated and feel safe.

We are Zooming right along. Happy Valentine’s Day!!