News Archive

Beginning with the American Revolution and continuing to the present, women have always volunteered in defense of our nation. Many of their contributions have been forgotten and are not recorded in today's history books. The Women's Memorial at Arlington Cemetery is changing this omission through a massive oral history and research project. Foundation Office of History & Collections collect official and personal records, oral histories, photographs, and other memorabilia to help portray women's record of service and citizenship. Growing collections include a library of nearly 1,000 books by and about military women, photograph and document archives, personal and military-issue artifacts, memoirs and oral histories.

These considerable resources serve as a leading educational resource on Women in US Military History.

Over 24,000 women served in World War I half of whom were nurses in the Navy, Army, and Red Cross. From 1942-1945, while men fought in the battlefront of World War II, over 18 million women filled the civilian and defense positions created is the country's shift to wartime productions.

Memorial Day 2018 falls on May 28th.

Karin M. Drury, Scholarship Chair

As of January 15, 2018 the applications and instructions for our $ 1,000.00 Adult Learner Scholarships will be available on the BPWEV website - www.bpwev.org

Please help spread the word at your place of work. It will also be available on the SCF website and other colleges. Articles to apply will also be published in the local newspapers.

It’s easy to apply. Any female Adult Learner who is presently enrolled or has been accepted at a college, university, technical or vocational school can apply. We also encourage female veterans or spouses of veterans to apply. The applicant has to live in either Sarasota or Charlotte County.  The scholarship money will be sent to the appropriate college/school, not to the applicant.

The scholarship committee presently has 3 members. They are Ann Wacholder, Carol Kouba and Karin Drury. We encourage our new members to serve on the committee which usually meets in May after all applications have been received. The deadline for the applications is April 30, 2018.

Women's History Month is an annual declared month that highlights the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. It is celebrated during March in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, corresponding with International Women's Day on March 8th and during October in Canada, corresponding with the celebration of Persons Day on October 18th.

Some of the leaders who struggled for equality were Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, Lucy Stone, Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Harriet Tubman, and Alice Paul.

Understanding the true history of our country will help us to comprehend the need for full equality under the law for all our people. This goal can be achieved by ratifying the 27th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which states that 'Equality of Rights under the Law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex'.

Each year a theme is established for Women's History Month and this year's theme is “Nevertheless, She Persisted: Honoring Women Who Fight All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.”

Source: Women's History Month

Morina Chmielak

January 27, 2018 - 1:00 pm
$25.00 per person
At the home of Morina and Jim Chmielak
4382 Via Del Villetti Dr. Venice, FL 34293
Phone: 941 497-1133

Join your BPWEV sisters and friends for an afternoon filled with great food, good friends and lots of laughter. What a wonderful way to get to know each other better and for others to learn about BPWEV.

Morina and a few of her friends will cook a delicious lunch for everyone, all you have to do is attend - bring your spouse and a couple of your friends along!

Food will be donated by Morina and Jim, the cost of the lunch will go back to BPWEV. Hope you can all make it, and don't forget to bring guests along! Kindly make checks payable to BPWEV, mail to Morina Chmielak and indicate "luncheon" in the memo line.

2017 presented a new challenge for BPWEV. The Salvation Army provided us with the names of 8 children whose 3 single mothers needed our help to provide a merry Christmas for their families. You rose to the challenge and I collected a total of $607.00. That was enough money to buy clothes, bedding and one wished for toy for each child. Some BPWEV sisters also bought clothes and bedding for the children. Thank you, thank you!

Your donations of food for the Helping Hands Food Bank in Englewood was also very generous and much appreciated by the Food Bank. Not only did you donate enough dollars to buy everything for the 8 children, but there was enough money left to write a check of $100.00 for Helping Hands.

Your kindness and generosity is much appreciated. May you all have a happy, healthy and blessed 2018.

Thank you all!

Karin M. Drury