Speakers on July 15, 2025

Linda Bone

I moved to Florida from Las Vegas, Nevada in November of 2017. While living in Las Vegas I was involved, through my Church, in assisting with a safe house for victims of Human Trafficking.

I am currently retired and enjoy serving my community and Church. During my working years I was involved in Administrative management, being heavily involved in Accounting, Operations and Training. The last eleven years I worked in the technology field for a software company as a Project Manager and Senior Trainer.

In Florida, I volunteered for a local Pregnancy Care Group for a year and a half. But felt God tugging at my heart to get back involved in the fight against human trafficking. With some research and help from a friend I found and got connected to Restoring Oaks. Restoring Oaks is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization that is fighting human trafficking through a three pronged approach which is education, advocacy and survivor care. I have been a board member or this organization for about 2 years. I am currently involved with fundraising, networking and events that support this wonderful organization and helps survivors of human trafficking.

Linda Henry

After spending 51 years in the mortgage banking industry, I retired and decided to spend the rest of my life pouring it forward with a non-profit organization. I was brought to Restoring Oaks through a church friend and it became my mission to bring awareness about human trafficking within Charlotte County. I am the co-chair to the Event, Networking and Fundraising Committees. My job is to provide education and advocacy for people in need through trafficking. My personal goal is to be a light to others and bring them to Jesus.

Make a Dinner Meeting Reservation

July 2025 - President's Message

It was a real joy to welcome all our new members at the June meeting, and our scholarship recipients for 2025. Congratulations to Kayla Lyles and Megan Canevari, both candidates are in the medical field. Our members relished in the fact that our hard work at the Wine Tasting has a direct effect on these women's lives.

We have (2) wonderful speakers, Linda Bone and Linda Henry, from Restoring Oaks, a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization, that is fighting human traffic through a three pronged approach which is education, advocacy and survivor care. Please make your reservation and your menu choice prior tby Saturday, July 12th on the bpwev website.

At the June Board Meeting we discussed ways to raise more funds for scholarships and operating funds. The Board is working on dates for a women's educational seminar as well as the wine tasting event. Any speakers that you feel would be an interesting topic for our members, please contact Cyndy Fredricks or myself.

Happy Fourth of July to All,

Sue Hogrefe
President BPWEV

2025 BPW Adult Learner Scholarships

Christine Davis Memorial Scholarship

For those of us who never knew her, I’d like to take a moment to introduce the lady our scholarship awards are named after.

Christine Davis was a BPW member for over 50 years, first in New York State and later in Florida.  Her energy to promote BPW was astounding. She served in every office the organization had to offer, short of State or National President. She served on many committees and especially enjoyed being chair of the scholarship committee until ill health required her to resign from too many obligations. Her beautiful smile, her eagerness to be always willing to help and her efficient handling of any task she elected to do or help with, will not be forgotten by the BPWEV members, but will be missed.

The Christine Davis Memorial Scholarships will preserve the love and devotion she championed to achieve equality for all women.

Public Policy Platform 2023-2024

At the BPW Florida State Conference in June, 2023, the Proposed Public Policy was presented and approved. The new Public Policy for 2023 – 2024 is below:

Introduction:

Since the inception of BPW/FL in 1919, BPW/FL has always supported women’s rights. BPW/FL continues to support the ERA as a basic foundation of our Public Policy Platform, even as we understand that passing the ERA grows more difficult with the passage of time. BPW/FL firmly believes that equality of rights under the law should not be abridged or denied by the United States or by any state on account of sex, and the rights of women require constant vigilance.

Item 1: Economic Equity, Opportunity and Self-Sufficiency

BPW/FL supports public policies that:

• ensure pay equity and equal employment opportunities for all women
• promote opportunities for women-owned businesses
• promote affordable, quality dependent care
• promote Social Security and retirement reform options benefiting women
• guarantee a workplace free from harassment and discrimination

Item 2: Health Care

BPW/Fl supports public policies that:

• support the expansion of affordable care, including Medicaid, in Florida
• support funding and initiatives the cover women’s health care needs
• ensure women’s access to all health care and family planning needs, including full access to all forms of reproductive health services, education, and prescriptions

Item 3: Voting Right and Access

BPW/FL supports public policies that:

• promote free and fair elections
• are aimed at expanding voters’ access to the polls
• are designed to protect the right of all American citizens to vote in fairly drawn legislative districts