History of Business and Professional Women (BPW)
@ 2007 Business and Professional Women Columbus - All Rights Reserved.
Mission Statement: To achieve equity for all women in the workplace through advocacy, education, and information.
Business and Professional Women/USA, founded in 1919, promotes equity for all women in the workplace through advocacy, education and information. With 1,500 Local Organizations across the country and members in every congressional district, BPW/USA is the leading advocate for millions of workingwomen on work-life balance and workplace equity issues. BPW Local Organizations provide members with professional development programs, networking, participation in grassroots activism, and opportunities to support scholarships for disadvantaged women.
One of the first women’s organizations to endorse the Equal Rights Amendment in 1937, BPW/USA has been a successful leader in promoting and supporting legislation affecting workingwomen ever since. In addition, BPW educates its members on policy issues and provides them the tools to become effectively involved in policy development in their own workplaces and in grassroots efforts at the local, state and federal levels. BPW/USA members not only work at the grassroots level but support their beliefs financially. BPW’s Political Action Committee (BPW/PAC) provides contributions and endorsements to women and pro-women federal candidates who support the BPW legislative agenda.
History of Business and Professional Women (BPW) - Columbus Chapter
Columbus BPW was chartered in December of 1920 with 93 members, meeting at the YWCA on South Third Street and charging dues of $2, of which 10 cents was for BPW/OHIO and 25 cents for BPW/USA. Soon after, the Nineteenth Amendment to the US Constitution was passed giving women the right to vote! The members circulated petitions to obtain the Columbus Municipal Airport and helped promote the Columbus Symphony Orchestra.
Although the Depression caused a drop in membership, Columbus BPW hosted the Ohio Convention in 1931, 1934, and 1939! A bill in the Ohio Legislature to prohibit married women from working was defeated with the assistance of Columbus BPW members. This chapter participated in promoting war bonds for World War II, for which it was presented an award. Some of the members were elected to public office and others were supported by the membership. At the 1950 national convention, Columbus BPW was given a national citation for “Practical Results Growing Out of a Small Business Clinic” recognizing that Columbus was the first chapter to have such a clinic.
At the National Business Women’s Week dinner in 1960, Mrs. Ray Blester, the first women superintendent of the United States Mint, was guest speaker. Columbus BPW assisted in the governor’s Committee on the Status of Women study which resulted in the creation of the Women’s Division of the Ohio Bureau of Employment Services and a Women’s Division Advisory Council. Columbus BPW joined with the other regional clubs to host the 50th anniversary convention of
BPW/OHIO in 1970, followed by the celebration of the club’s own 50th anniversary that December. More recently, many of Columbus BPW’s members have been recognized as community leaders and award recipients. Many of the Past Presidents of the Columbus Chapter have gone on to preside over BPW/OHIO, and even BPW West Virginia! As a part of Region 6, Columbus BPW hosted the BPW/OHIO annual convention in Columbus in May of 2000 with the motto, “Light the torch, lead with pride!” and will be responsible for the 2005 conference.
BPW Columbus celebrated its 80th anniversary in December of 2000, and in July of 2003 we joined other locals of BPW Ohio to host the BPW/USA National Conference in Cleveland where we pledged to TURN UP THE VOLUME!
