Life is always very busy in BPW as a past president of IFBPW and NFBPWC.Mostly our activity is in the background but here are some important insights into the months of April and May 2025

April BPW Arizona
My dear BPW international friend Barbara Hunter Sadowski (Australia) who has a home in Phoenix with her husband, had been instrumental in facilitating a speaking invitation for me as NFBPWC president at the BPW state conference in 2018, and did so again for this conference on April 19th, 2025. In 2018, no members from AZ were connected to NFBPWC and subsequently following my presentation 13 members decided to join under then President Terry Dolan.

Moving on to 2025, with current President Deb Gomez, I experienced a very warm welcome and a desire to hear more about the National and International Federations. The Conference was very well organized and run according to the traditional BPW values and governance. I was advised that my PPT presentation was a highlight and inspirational to the membership. Under the leadership of President Deb Gomez (elected at the conference for a 2nd term) there is now

Pictured Above: Friends at the Funeral

a deeper interest to connect with the National Federation and especially with the Young BPW group. A guest (young BPW) at the conference joined a local club because of the information that she experienced and is very excited to participate. Sadly, the week of June 16th BPW Arizona tragically lost Katherine Stevenson, president of BPW Scottsdale club. I have sent condolences to the BPW Arizona members.

May 17th Funeral of Past International President Sylvia Perry
I was one of 3 friends who were invited to present the Eulogies at her funeral held at her Baptist in Frenchay, UK (near the town of Bristol) on Saturday 17th May, 2025.
My very dear long time BPW friend Sylvia Perry passed away unexpectedly 11th April 2025. Words cannot describe the shock that Sylvia had passed away. The devastating news came after only a short time since we had discussed meeting up In Malta at the European Conference in May. I had missed her very much at our International Congress in St Kitts, November 2024. She had wanted to attend but had to remain home to take care of her husband Keith.

Pictured Below: 2010 IFBPW 80 Year Celebration: NY Past Presidents Sylvia Perry, Dr. Yvette Swan, Dr. Pat Harrison and Liz Benham

I first met Sylvia when she was elected president at the IFBPW Congress in Venice in 1996, which was the first Congress I attended after becoming a member. I travelled to many BPW Conferences worldwide after Venice as a keen BPW member where we continually met but at the North American Regional Conference held in St Maarten in 1997 was where our almost 30- year deep friendship began.

A major supplier of products that I imported for my business was from a factory based in Cardiff, Wales. On my business trips to the factory, I frequently stopped enroute to visit Sylvia and Keith at their home in Bristol, UK.

In 1998 Sylvia appointed me as a United Nations representative for IFBPW in New York, a position which I served in for 20 years until 2018. My home was on Long Island, New York and so I frequently hosted Sylvia during her presidency and after her term it was Dr. Pat Harrison.

I stored all the items needed for the annual CSW meetings at the United Nations in New York such as fax machines, printers and paper, tools that at that time  were  essential  to  facilitate  the  daily communications in the organization. This was also to save on rental expenses and included bedding linens (for all those BPWs sharing the accommodations) tea kettles, etc.

Pictured Above: UK President Jo Kinsey, Susan Jones, Anu Viks, and Liz Benham
Sylvia and I worked closely on so many projects and serious issues over the years, and it was always such a joy! She had invited me to Damascus, Syria when I was International President to speak at the Arab Women’s Conference that she was also passionate and connected to. This was an experience that remains vividly in my memory.

The major project that we both looked forward to work on was a commitment, (overdue from 2011 in my term as international president) to write the next segment of BPW International history from 1995-2015. Unfortunately, due to life circumstances for both of us, it was delayed a few times and now sadly I will do so without her.

In our years of friendship Sylvia was always caring, thoughtful, visionary, professional, respectful, and honest with a fierce loyalty dedicated to her passion for BPW. This was the strong bond that we shared. Although words cannot express the pain of loss that is very raw, I try to find comfort in the beautiful memories that we shared and the many hours of hard work that we invested in BPW. I, and BPW, were blessed with her leadership and unwavering strength. I will always miss her very much. Life is fragile and we never know when it ends. This loss of my dear friend Sylvia is very hard to bear.

IFBPW European Regional Conference in Valletta, Malta May 23-26,2025
The 3-day conference in the beautiful city of Valletta Malta was wonderful. The venue was spectacular, and the program packed with great content, speakers and gala dinner. I presented with IFBPW VP Advocacy Neelima Basnet on the panel and workshop “Role of the United Nations in the Past Present and Future” along with inputs from all the IFBPW United Nations Representatives and President Barbara Bozeman on Organization of American States (OAS).

Pictured Above: Gala Dinner Malta

BPW St. Kitts AGM and a change of leadership. Monday June 16, 2025 (ZOOM)I was invited to give a presentation to BPW St. Kitts on the structure and function of BPW International, including protocols communications and partnerships. This was a zoom meeting on Caribbean time.
It was a delight to engage with the members and so happy to see them functioning well.

Pictured Above: Workshop European Conference

This was the Agenda:
5:30 pm President Elect Christine Welcome and recap
5:35 pm Past International President Liz Structure and Function of BPW (PPT)
6:05 pm Q&A
6:15 pm Founding President Pam Wall BPW St. Kitts 6:30 pm Q&A
6:45 pm President Elect Christine “The way forward” 7:00 pm President Gillian Handover
The month of May concluded with a road trip of 9 days on the coast of Portugal after the IFBPW European Regional Conference. It was a lovely break and wonderful experience into the beauty, culture and cuisine of Portugal.

Elizabeth (Liz) Behnam
PAST INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT (2008-2011)
IFBPWC CAC CHAIR (2024-2027)
PAST NATIONAL PRESIDENT (2013-2018)