WOMAN OF ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM

Each year the members of every local organization throughout the state have the opportunity to bestow on a woman in their organization the honor of being named “WOMAN OF ACHIEVEMENT.”

 The following criteria is recommended:

• Be an active BPW member (BPW involvement)

• Recognition of many accomplishments.

• Outstanding dedication to BPW and enthusiastic willingness to help other women.

• Contributions to the community and BPW organization

Members submit a personal profile of the candidate (up to 200 words) and list highlights that will be shared at the celebration banquet.

 INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT (ID) PROGRAM

The mission of BPW/USA is to promote full participation, equity and economic self-sufficiency for the working woman.  The Individual Development Program is one way to fulfill this mission, by helping individual workingwomen develop their public speaking skills and abilities.  Active participation in the course will help you communicate more effectively, increase your poise and self-confidence and educate you about the issues that are important to workingwomen.  Whether you are new to BPW or an established member, individual development can help you reach a new level of achievement.

Individual development is much more than a public speaking course.  It introduces you to basic parliamentary procedure, formal and informal speaking, group discussions, debating and interviewing skills.  The course will teach you how to speak more effectively and more importantly, it will give you the confidence you need to speak up in the workplace, in your community and in your own home.  It is designed to encourage and develop leaders and promotes your growth as a woman in today's society.

The individual development course can be presented by any local organization or as a district project.  A coordinator is selected to make all the arrangements, i.e., selecting the meeting place, selecting the course instructor, ordering materials, setting the class dates and fee to be charged. 

The BPW/USA Train the Trainer Course has been revised along with the ID Program materials.  Training for the newly revised ID Program is being scheduled for interested members.

THE VIRGINIA ALLAN/YOUNG CAREERIST PROGRAM  (VAYC)

Virginia Allan, a member of the Wyandotte BPW served as National President in 1963.  Virginia had a vision for recruiting included younger members. The Young Careerist Program honors young women while introducing them to a network of established workingwomen, and providing them an opportunity for personal and career growth.

Women ages 21 to 35 that have been working for a minimum of one year are eligible to participate in local, district, state and national competition that includes both an interview portion and a judged and timed public speech on one if several pre-selected topics. 

The Virginia Allan/Young Careerist Program includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Introduction of BPW structure and history to new members

• Mentor opportunities with current members

• Development of skills to give speeches and presentations

• Organizational techniques for planning and conducting meetings

• Development of negotiating and interviewing skills. 

• Recognition of personal, educational and career achievements

• Development of organization and leadership qualities

• The opportunity to experience an organization of

• Applications must be submitted by the posted deadlines

• State and national contestants must be BPW members

• Many Local organizations provide participants with membership

The Virginia Allen Young Careerist Program is an oncoming program for members.  Members may maintain Young Careerist status from year to year until they reach 35 years of age.

BPW/MICHIGAN encourages you to utilize the Young Careerist program to recruit members and provide an educational avenue for retaining members by mentoring and use of the Individual Development Program. 

Participation in the Virginia Allan/Young Careerist Program involves the following:

-      Recognition of Young Careerist achievements

-      Public speaking opportunities

-      Participation at district and state meetings and convention

-      Networking opportunities

-      Promotion of BPW in the community

-      Involvement in the BPW legislative platform issues

      -      Recruitment of new members to BPW

Signature Programs

The Signature Programs Committee is responsible for any program based on the Choices Curriculum.  This includes Reality Store events, and The University of Life Weekend Program  (formerly known as Kids Kollege)  

“Women Helping Girls With Choices” is the exciting “Choices Curriculum” used for all of our Programs.   Designed to reach girls and boys before they make the critical choices that can affect the rest of their lives, it is our attempt to help stop teenage pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse, dropping out of school and low self-esteem. 

The University of Life is a weekend event held annually. BPW members are encouraged to bring girls and participate as facilitators, and invite the community to participate both as attendees and facilitators. This program is designed for girls from 11-16, with a separate curriculum for multiple year attendees, including the opportunity for seasoned attendees to act as facilitators for the new girls.  Girls who have attended one weekend program are invited to participate in the Youth BPW Programs held in conjunction with the BPW Michigan state Board Meetings

The Youth BPW Program (YBPW) is truly leadership training in action.  Under the guidance of BPW members, the girls formulate their own activities, fund raisers, and participate in making changes in the University of Life Program based on their own needs and experiences.   As the girls reach the age of 18, them can become student members of any local BPW, and are encouraged to develop programs on college campuses and within their communities.   . 

Reality Stores present a condensed choices curriculum to middle school aged boys and girls.  In a one or two hour game format students learn the “reality” of a monthly family budget, and the value of making appropriate choices in planning for career, family and their education. Local BPW members present this “Trademark” Program throughout the state. Standardization of the format is complete and CD's are available, (for sale), to organizations  who are interested in sponsoring a Reality Store.  All materials are updated annually, so that salaries reflect state wide averages.  The first time user of the Reality Store CD pays $250.00 and signs an agreement for annual updates at a cost of $100.00.  Invoices are sent to subscribers annually when the updates are ready for distribution each fall.  Local BPW Cubs purchase the CDs at a discounted rate, with an annual renewal discount.  Purchases can be done on line at the "store." www:bpw-michigan.org

MICHIGAN ERAmerica

The Michigan Coalition for Equal Rights Studies is an outgrowth of Michigan ERAmerica.  The Michigan Coalition for Equal Rights Studies was formed in November 1985 as a 501c(3) non-profit corporation to help Michigan ERAmerica better accomplishes its educational mission.

Michigan ERAmerica was formed on June 10, 1975, in Lansing, Michigan when leaders of statewide organizations came together to establish an organization structure that would enable their members to work together toward the goal of national ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. Michigan was the first state to organize a local effort patterned after the national coalition, ERAmerica, co-chaired by Michigan's Elly Peterson and Liz Carpenter.

Since it’s founding, the organization has enjoyed the leadership of two prominent Michigan women, Martha Griffiths and Helen Milliken.  As honorary chairs for the organization they illustrate the bipartisan nature of the coalition. Over 36 organizations are part of the Michigan ERAmerica, which is a 501c(4) non-profit corporation.  MFBPW has been a member since its inception.

The goals of Michigan ERAmerica are two- pronged.  The political work has been to successfully preserve Michigan's ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment and the more illusive goal of gaining its ratification nationally.

The educational work of the coalition includes training speakers from the member organizations at four statewide ERA workshops, publishing two ERA brochures and distributing over 25,000 copies of each, and acting as a clearing house for issues relating to the ERA, its interpretation, its passage.