BPW Brampton’s
Club Focus newsletter
February 2010
President’s Message
Barb Hore
President
BPW Brampton
Newsletter Highlights
President‟s Message
Member Focus
Euchre - Golf
Membership
Resolutions
BPW Canada
Community Partner
Did you know?
2010 District AGM
Young BPW
2009-2010 Executive
Dates to Remember
Since this is the very first focus on 2010, I would like to wish all of our members
and recipients of this publication a very happy and prosperous New Year on
behalf of the BPW Brampton board. 2009 was a tough year for all of us and
2010 will continue to challenge us for a while. However, being a part of our
group gives us the advantage of exchanging ideas, business practices and
helpful suggestions with one another. We are a caring club as was clearly
evidenced by the generosity of our Christmas gift giving again this past
December.
It was with sadness that I read an article in the December 20 th issue of the
Brampton Guardian regarding the dire circumstances that the Sexual
Assault/Peel Rape Crisis Centre currently finds themselves dealing with. The
article suggested that they are very close to having to close their doors due
to lack of funding and donations. Since they are one of our community
partners, I contacted Rita Kohli, the Executive Director for the agency, who
assured me that they will not close. They will be forced to downsize and
drop some of their existing programs. She told me the women will “find a
way to remain open”.
They currently receive $400,000 per year from the Attorney General and
$80,000 from the United Way. Their overhead is $600,000 annually. What
surprises me is that THEY DO NOT RECIVE ANY MONEY FROM THE REGION OF
PEEL. Frankly, I find this less than satisfactory. They currently have 31 women
on their waiting list who desperately need their help. Fifteen years ago, this
money was adequate but with their workload increasing by nearly 20% since
1996, due to Peel‟s rapid growth, funding no longer matches up. They
receive 350 calls per month on their 24 hour help line. They also provide safe
shelter to women in crisis, counseling and deal with settlement issues for
refugees and victims of war. Surely we have women in our organization or
within our networks who can offer some suggestion as to how we, as a
women‟s advocacy group, can assist. I welcome any ideas.
On a happier note, our membership drive continues to be very successful
and we do offer a very warm welcome to our new members. We will do
inductions at our March meeting.
Regrettably, I will be on vacation and miss our International night festivities,
but will be thinking of you all. We do have an exciting speaker lined up so I
know you will enjoy it.
Remember, we succeed by DOING IT OUR WAY!
Kindest regards,
Barb
BPW CLUB FOCUS
Member Focus Snigdha Malik
ALLISON LUCAS
Allison has been involved in the graphics, printing and
promotionals industry for over 8 years. Currently, she is the
Operations Manager at Minuteman Press on Rutherford Rd. in
Brampton. Minuteman Press was recently awarded the
distinction of being the Brampton Board of Trade‟s Small Business
of the Year for 2009. An avid hockey player, Allison has been
playing the game for over 24 years. She grew up playing in the
Mississauga Chiefs system until the age of 18. She currently plays
with the Toronto Phoenix Sr. Women‟s “B” team out of York
University in the Golden Blades league and also plays in the
Brampton Cougars Women‟s Hockey Association. Allison is also
a past member of Visual Arts Mississauga and the Art Gallery of
Mississauga. She is a new member of BPW and is looking forward
to participating in all that BPW has to offer.
Member Focus Snigdha Malik
LORI ROBINSON
For the last ten years, I have been Vice President of Access
Career Solutions and in Dec 2004 Temporary Measures. Both
companies I co own with another Sheridan Alumni Linda Ford.
My Husband Garry and I live will celebrate our 25th wedding in
May 2010 and live in Caledon and our two wonderful boys
Christopher 22 and Matthew 20. Who have now flown on to
spread their wings.
Currently I am President Elect of the Zonta Club of BramptonCaledon. My community involvement has ranged from the
Caledon Girl Guides, and Boy Scout groups, to the BBBS of Peel
Luncheon fund raisers, Three year Chair of the Brampton Board
of Trade Gala Committee the largest fund raising activity and
two year Co chair of the William Osler Golf committee and a
long time member of the BPW of Brampton. I have also been a
member of the Wellspring Gala committee for the last three
years. My most recent love is being a member of the 2008 and
2009 Sheridan College Big Picture Gala
I love to ski and spend time with my family.
BPW CLUB FOCUS
Euchre Pat Dowling
Welcome to the Year of the Tiger. Are you feeling lucky? Well get
your card playing skills sharpened, as we are hosting our 6th Annual
PROGRESSIVE EUCHRE CHARITY TOURNAMENT on Friday March 26,
2010. We have changed the location to the Hansa Haus – German
Canadian Club, at 6650 Hurontario St. Mississauga located just north of
the 401, on the west side. Tickets are $20.00 which includes a light
snack, prizes, raffle draws and cash bar. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and
play starts promptly at 7:30 p.m. Get your groups together early as
seating is limited to 80 players. This event will sell out quickly. The
proceeds will go to support the SEXUAL ASSAULT/RAPE CRISIS CENTRE
OF PEEL. Gals and Guys are welcome. Please contact Linda Barker for
ticket information at 416-343-9124 or [email protected].
Golf Tournament
Pat Dowling
Next Up on BPW‟s calendar of major events is our 15th
Annual Charity Golf Tournament which is being held once
again at the Caledon Country Club. The date is Thursday,
June 10, 2010. Registration is at 12:00 pm and tee off is at
1:00 pm sharp. There will be lunch available at an extra
cost. We will have raffle prizes and a live auction with this
year‟s proceeds going to The Chinguacousy Wellspring
Cancer Support Centre, The Salvation Army‟s Honey
Church, The Sexual Assault/Rape Crisis Centre of Peel and
BUDDYS „n BOWS FOUNDTION. Hole sponsorships are
available too. This is a fun filled day of great golf,
camaraderie and giving back to our community. Take
advantage of our early bird registration for your day to be
paid for!
Membership Linda Barker
Welcome to our new and renewing Members during January 2010:
Cassandra Baccardax
Wendy Humphreys
Heather Moogk
Charmaine Partridge
Indira Persaud
Kimberly Supper
Anisa Trotta
Andrea Valentine
Please remember our Membership Drive and special rates are in effect till April of this year.
Bring out your friends to see what BPW is all about!
BPW CLUB FOCUS
Resolutions
Olga Gil
Are there women‟s issues you would like the Provincial Government
to act on? Are there others you wish the Federal government to do
something about? Divorce? Child care? Elder care? Education?
Then you can help BPW to continue to lobby government on behalf
of all women. These are all topics that your Resolutions Committee
can look into and form Resolutions on. Just contact me or Camilla
Bignell or Carrie Andrews.
And don‟t forget that we will all be discussing Resolutions to go to
government this year.
BPW Canada Sue Calhoun
Message from BPW Canada president Sue Calhoun
February is international month for BPW
February is always a special month for BPW clubs in Canada as
well as around the world. It is the month that we light candles
for our sisters in more than 90 countries. I‟ve watched and
listened to our Candle Lighting ceremony on many occasions,
and each time, I still find it very touching. Conceived more
than 80 years ago by BPW founder Dr Lena Madesin Phillips,
the ceremony is both a look back, at our many
accomplishments over the years, and a look forward –
encouraging members “to go forward with courage and
enthusiasm ... to bring into being a world of social justice for
all, and the peace to which all humanity aspires.”
I encourage BPW members to think in particular about our
sisters in Haiti this year, who have undergone devastation and
destruction that we, here in Canada, can only imagine. The
BPW Canada Board of Directors has sent $500 to assist our sister
club there, and we encourage all members to do what they
can to help.
Finally, I would like to congratulate BPW Brampton for its hard
work, for being one of the largest and most dynamic clubs in
Canada, for being “the place to belong” for business and
professional women in the area. Keep up your great work!
BPW CLUB FOCUS
Community Partner Rita Kohli
Because You Believed…
It‟s 8:00 p.m. everyone has left to go home. Even as I sit in the quiet solitude of the Centre,
contemplating and wrestling with the struggle ahead to ensure that the doors of the
SA/RCCP continue to remain open long after many of us have gone, my spirit is lifted by the
felt sense and presence of the courage of the many women survivors for whom SA/RCCP
was and is still a haven, a refuge. A place of safety, security, a sanctuary that resonates with
the resiliency of survivors, who survived against the greatest odds; when no one believed,
the SA/RCCP staff and volunteers assisted them to shed the shame, guilt and blame –a
burden wrongfully placed on the psyche and being of survivors. I can only be inspired,
rejuvenated with such a healing energy and reconnect with my own personal strength as a
survivor, rekindle and keep the hope alive that SA/RCCP will survive and thrive.
Hearing today that the sisters of BPW will be donating the proceeds from the euchre
tournament and a donation from the golf tournament and because the ladies of BPW have
heard our pleas and dared to speak up for survivors I can only say that my moistened eyes
and tightened throat bears testimony to the “hope” reignited to carry the struggle forward.
Two things survivors say that they need to recover and heal i.e. firstly, hope that someone will
believe and some day the pain will become manageable for violations that were not their
fault and without which they would die and secondly that people care. In this giving you
have given us both as an agency and also as survivors...Because You Believed we can
continue the struggle to make survivors count.
All proceeds will go towards providing supports to survivors in our counseling, crisis supports
and sexual violence prevention through education.
Thank you for caring….
Rita Kohli, M.A., M.Ed. Executive Director S.A/R.C.C.P. www.sarccp.org
Did
you know? Snigdha Malik
S.A/R.C.C.P.
Did you know that BPW Canada has an Ad-hoc Task Force on Employment Insurance?
Many reports have documented the fact that EI is not working for women. Since the reforms of the
mid-1990's, only 32% of unemployed women qualify for regular EI benefits compared to 70% before
the cuts. Currently 40% of men qualify. BPW Canada has had a number of resolutions on EI over the
years, including one urging the government to provide access to maternity/parental benefits for selfemployed women. This newly-established BPW Task Force will develop a comprehensive position
statement for BPW Canada. If you have expertise and or interest in this area, and would like to be a
member of the Task Force, please contact us at [email protected]
BPW CLUB FOCUS
2010 District AGM Barb Hore
The Brampton Club has been asked to host the 2010 Golden
Horseshoe and Brampton District AGM this October. Although
it seems a long way off, plans are currently underway to find a
location that is convenient for all four clubs in our district. The
clubs are Niagara Falls, St. Catherines, Halton and Brampton.
We are undecided as to whether it should be a Friday night
event with a dinner and guest speaker or a Saturday event
with lunch and a workshop.
Your suggestions as to your preference will be very welcome.
Please pass on your thoughts to myself or any board member.
Young BPW Snigdha Malik
What is Young BPW?
Young Business and Professional Women are BPW members who are
35 years of age or younger. The purpose of Young BPW is to develop
activities of interest for young members and make BPW in general
meaningful for them and to engage young women between 18-35.
Young BPW seeks to encourage young women to learn about BPW,
embrace its objectives, and become active, valuable members of
BPW.
What is the role of the Young BPW Committee?
Young BPW is part of a training and mentoring program for young
members within BPW clubs. A Young BPW Committee is formed in
each club (wherever possible). The purpose of the committee is to
develop activities of interest for the young members, and to offer
these activities to all BPW members. The role of the Young BPW
Committee is to make BPW meaningful for young members, so that
they stay with BPW, learn about the organization, embrace its aims
and objectives, renew their membership, and become long term
valuable members of BPW.
For more information regarding Young BPW please visit
www.bpwcanada.com and look for Young BPW.
If you know of young women who are passionate about women's
advocacy, ask them what would get them engaged to make a
change in the lives of women of this world. Invite them to come and
attend one of our meetings.
\
BPW CLUB FOCUS
BPW Brampton
10 George Street North
Suite 154
Brampton, ON
L6X 1R2
Phone
905.450.0070
E-mail
[email protected]
Your 2009-2010 Executive
President
Immediate Past President
1st Vice
2nd Vice
Treasurer
Recording Secretary
Corresponding Secretary
Membership
Programs/Projects
Publicity & PR
Diversity/YBPW
Resolutions
Fellowship
Emblems Chair
Club Focus
BARB HORE
SNIGDHA MALIK
SUSAN CLARK
open
EILEEN MORRIS
JEAN EDWARDS
PAT DOWLING
LINDA BARKER
VIRGINIA TAMBLYN
LINDA BARKER
SNIGDHA MALIK
OLGA GIL
PADDY SILVERTHORNE
CAMILLA BIGNELL
ANGEL MASSEY-SINGH
Dates to Remember
UPCOMING MEETINGS:
More information will be provided at the dinner
meetings and in upcoming Club Focus editions.
In the meantime, mark your calendar for these great
events!
Euchre Tournament
March 26, 2010
Golf Tournament
June 10, 2010
Women Working for Women.
2010 Provincial Conference/National Convention
June 18-20, 2010
Horseshoe Valley Resort, Barrie