Business and Professional Women of Englewood/Venice has grown more than 66% since June of 2020. Therefore, we are going to use our monthly dinner meeting as an opportunity to honor our newest members and to give them the opportunty to introduce themselves to the other members of our organization. The new members will speak on any topics they wish to share about themeselves for 2-3 minutes.. Everyone attending should prepare themselves for laughther and an enjoyable time, since the real purpose of the evening is to have fun and enjoy one another's company. Please feel free to join us as we welcome our new members and get to know them better
All members who have joined our organization since June, 2020 - present include: Larisa Birman, Ellen Briggs, Lisa Capell, Stacey Chaisson, Helena Cao, Carol DeGulis, Karen Helmick, Sue Hogrefe, Josephine Infantino, Jennifer Mechling, Madeline Salerno, Karen Udiskey, Bianca Vales, Laura Williamson, Pamela Wright, Debby Wolfe, and Sharon Zitrin.
Sign up no later than Sunday, March 14-5:00 p.m.-register here
Karin Drury and Jennifer Mechling
February 13, 2021 will be remembered as a day of celebration for the record number of 74 women who attended the H’Attitude Luncheon at Plantation Golf and Country Club, organized by the Business and Professional Women of Englewood and Venice, (BPWEV). Every woman attending wore a beautifully decorated hat and was dressed up ’trés chique’ and a joyous, celebratory mood filled the large room. The fun hat parade was well organized, one table at the time walk around as special music played, displaying their fancy hats. Chances for gorgeous gift baskets and silent auction items were available and the lucky winners proudly received them. The best part of the whole program was the presentation by Dr. Christopher Cortman as he delivered his speech on the ’three attitudes’ that were the theme for the luncheon: Attitude, Fortitude and Gratitude. Dr. Cortman had been a speaker before at BPWEV events and his well received presentations made him a popular speaker for this luncheon too.
Special thanks go out to Jennifer Meching for chairing the event and to her committee of Morina Chmielak, Esther Bird, Tonya Cher and Helena Cao. Thanks also to Irene Slattery, Joyce McCaffrey, Madleine Salerno and Debby Wolfe who helped with last minute details such as selling raffle tickets, checking in guests and helping pass out the baskets and auction items. And of course, thanks to those members who donated baskets for our raffle or were sponsors. This fundraiser was very successful due to the wonderfully generous members of our local organization.
Thanks again to our Platinum Sponsors:
Aston Gardens at Pelican Pointe
Michael Saunders & Company-Tonya Cher & Irene Slattery
Eyes on You-Joyce McCaffrey
Senior Living Selections-Andre Santamaria
Freedom Health-Scot Ritchie
Thanks again to our Gold Sponsors:
Professional Travel Srvices-Morina Chmielak
West Coast Realty Venice-Ann Wacholder
Thanks again to our Silver Sponsors:
Tony and Carol DeGulis
Esther Bird
HOLIDAY GIFTING TO SENIORS EVENT
By Esther Bird
On December 18th at 3:30 pm our local organization celebrated Christmas by gifting to low income seniors at the Friendship Center in Venice where I am employed.
Nineteen seniors were blessed with gifts from various members and all were very appreciative. A few of our members selected two seniors to buy for and a few seniors were unable to attend. The gifts were still purchased and given to them directly and privately. If our member was unable to attend, the gifts were given to me early and I made sure their senior received them at the party. Many members and others donated so many door prizes for the event that every senior received at least one of the prizes.
Masks and social distancing were enforced for safety and protection of our guests. Waitresses served directly at the tables (one person per table) and provided beverages and snacks donated by Pauline from Griffin and Griffin Law Firm, who sponsored the event. Pauline was a great bar tender and gave a brief description about how her law firm can serve the needs of seniors helping with estate planning.
Fran Valencic attended the event and took photos. I expect that she will be reporting about the event in the Gondolier very soon.
The evening was magical - everyone was in the holiday spirit with great music playing softly and holiday activities to be enjoyed by all. This was another of our service projects for 2020 and a great way to make the difference in the lives of some seniors who are often alone and who don't always receive gifts.
The Business and Professional Women of Englewood and Venice (BPWEV) held a well attended workshop ‘Jewels of Business’ at Plantation Gold and Country Club on December 5, 2020. The speakers in the morning were: Veronika Winsky - Owner of “The Dream Life Formula Coaching”, a dynamic, inspiring presenter who left the ‘rat race’ corporate world after 8 years, determined tofulfill her own calling. Now a speaker and coach she speaks on virtual and live stages globally and teaching her clients how they can get re-energized and clear on their own purpose driven path, not some day but NOW!
Mark Rizzo addressed the subject “How to Stay Safe Online”. His background of 37 years of experience supporting the DoD Intelligence Community, IT platforms, ISSO for Genco Engineering Services, Inc. and his developing and managing securityplans and guidelines to establish a safe and protected operational environment, certainly gave him the knowledge and experience togive advice and suggestions on how to stay safe online. Mark currently is assisting the North Port Police Dept.’s IT department. He is also teaching mobile phones, tablets, and PC’s at the Senior Friendship Center of Venice.
William C. Mechling concluded the morning program with his presentation on "Improving your personal Health/ A Health Insurance Perspective”. William (Bill) is an Ohio licensed attorney who spent over 33 years working in the health industry. Bill began his career,after graduating from Law School, in the health insurance industry with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Central Ohio where he held the position of General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and President. After his 25 year career at Blue Cross, Bill accepted market lead roles with UnitedHealthcare in both their northern Ohio and Central Ohio markets. During his 8 years at UnitedHealthcare, Bill became intimately involved in the market introduction of an innovative product named RealAppeal which aimed at reducing overall health care costs by improving the individual health of UnitedHealthcare's insured. As a member of the RealAppeal test market and a spokesperson for the product, Bill has become an advocate for the importance of personal health and how to empower individuals to achieve and maintain lifelong wellness. His motivational presentation and narration of his personal journey to good health will inspire other people to follow his lead.
After lunch the program continued with 3 more presentations. Dr. Christopher Cortman, renowned Florida Psychologist and author of 3 books, talked about “Dealing with Personal Challenges”. Awarded a Doctorate of Psychology in San Diego, CA in 1983, Dr. Cortman has practiced in Florida since 1985. He received the 1st place Reader’s Choice Award by the Venice Gondolier Sun for “Best Psychologist” in the years 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2917. He also won the award for “Outstanding Contributions to Psychology in the Public” in 2015 in the state of Florida. He appeared nationwide on talk radio and television, including Disney Radio, MTV, and ABC. Dr. Cortman continues to maintain a successful private practice while pursuing projects that enable him to meet a larger need for psychological expertise in the community. These projects include frequent public speaking with the use of ‘edu-tainment’, as he prides himself on providing an ‘educational’ experience riddled with humor that keeps the audience involved and ‘entertained’.
Dr. Karen Helmick, LAc.DOM, educated the audience about “Cosmetic Options for Women”. Dr. Karen grew up in Maryland, always wanting to become a successful professional athlete. She had the desire and work ethic, just not the genetics. So she changed her tactics and started to coach others and reveled in their successes. She coached track and field athletes until the strain of constant travel became too much for her. She left coaching and moved into being a collegiate professor. During that time her debilitating migraine headaches that had already started while attending college, became unbearable. Nothing seemed to work for these headaches that conventional medicine had to offer her. Finally she tried acupuncture. It changed her life so significantly that she decided immediately to change careers and study Oriental Medicine. As practicing Acupuncturist and Doctor of Oriental Medicine she is happy that all her previous knowledge and careers meld so beautifully together - encouraging her patients toward better health. In her free time, Dr. Karen enjoys riding her horse, Omega, and spending time with her 4 rescue mutts!
Cynthia Fredericks talk about “How Do I Get It All Done” was very informative and educational with excellent advice to the audience on how to function more efficiently, skillfully, effectively in order to get your “to do list’ accomplished as originally planned, rather than procrastinating! Cynthia is an excellent example on doing what she preaches. Not only is Cynthia the treasurer for BPWEV, but she is also a star member of the EnglewoodChamber of Commerce. She is the co-founder of Triple S Englewood, a support group for business people. Her husband and Cynthia currently own and operate the "Quick Signs” shop in Englewood, where they live with their dog, Max. Cynthia moved from Kansas to Englewood in 2015. While in Kansas Cynthia served as the Director of the Volunteer Center at Hutchinson Community College where she coordinated with over 100 non-profit organizations throughout the community to place and support volunteers. She sent the audience home witha “To Do List Self Appraisal”, with great advice on that list.
Karin Drury
BPWEV is a 501(c)(3) Tax Deductible Non-profit Corporation, Florida Solicitation License #CH30762. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. Division of Consumer Services may be reached at 1-800-HELP-FLA or www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com.
Business & Professional Women of Englewood and Venice
P.O. Box 611, Englewood, FL 34295
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