Conference 2008
Photographs supplied by Black Tie Portraits
Thursday night – Civic Reception in the Banqueting Room at Birmingham Council House
The Right Honourable, the Lord Mayor, Councillor Randal Brew O.B.E. welcomed BPW members to the magnificent setting of the Council House. Councillor Brew was thanked by Sue Ashmore (Action director) for the food, wine and hospitality. Sue mentioned that Councillor Brew, an accountant, entered public life because someone told him “it doesn’t involve much.” This rang a bell with those who have been persuaded to take up office within BPW with the same assurance. Far from not doing much, the Mayor served as a councillor for ten years and as a magistrate for 23 years. He was rewarded for his service to the city in 1991.
Councillor Randal described how honoured he feels to promote Birmingham, its people, industry and culture. He gave us a wonderful insight into the progress made by women over the years, explaining that at present Birmingham women hold high office in the NHS and the university as well as running major companies in the area. However, he did express regret that as yet only a handful of women have held his office since its beginning in 1889.
BPW members were treated to a guided tour of the debating chamber. In the corridor was a list of Birmingham women achievers and portraits of famous Birmingham men and women such as the suffragette Osler and Joseph Chamberlain.
BPW were thrilled that the Lady Mayoress, Sandra attended too. They have been a supportive team since marrying on July 30th 1966 as Bobby Moore lifted the Jules Rimet trophy at Wembley.
Through the magnificent windows, BPW could see the Dhrura Misty water feature whose rim is encircled by a quotation from the Four Quartets by T.S.Eliot. “and the pool was filled with water out of sunlight...” The Mayoress enthralled us with her tale of how she altered the water in one of the largest fountains in Europe (with a flow of 3 thousand gallons a minute). In the centre of the pool sits a very large woman representing life force. However, every Brummie knows her as the “Floozie in the Jacuzzi.” The Mayoress told a witty tale of how she changed the water pink to show support for Breast Cancer.
As a fellow Brummie, Sue Ashmore felt honoured to thank the Mayor and Mayoress for their interest, time and hospitality. Sue had never been in the Banqueting Hall before and hoped everyone present was enthralled and entertained.
Jackie Franklin, Sue Ashmore meet Lady Mayoress and Lord Mayor |
Joan Jury, Sue Ashmore with Mayor and Mayoress
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Mayor and Mayoress meet Nikki Bennett Willetts and Nok-international
president |
Lady Mayoress |
In the debating chamber |
In the debating chamber |
In the debating chamber |
Members |
Members |
Members |
Mayor and Mayoress with directors of BPW |
Members |
Friday morning Highlights
Pat Zadora welcomed everyone to Conference on behalf of the Midlands region.
Pat Zadora |
Finance director Elisabeth Burden delivered the finance report answered questions from the floor about the accounts and the budget.
Elisabeth Burden
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Marianne Pleavin explained how the Members’ Emergency Fund had helped members during the past year and how the Dorothy Pybus Fund money had been spent to help elderly women and younger students in the Newcastle Upon Tyne area.
Marianne Pleavin
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Sue Simpson, training director and Annette Jones reported on the Public Speaking competition.
Sue Simpson
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A very special lady was presented with her badge for 50 years service to BPW.
50th badge winner
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Motions session
Jeanette Thornton led the debate about the hundreds of men and women who daily experience violence – from husbands, partners, families, traffickers or employers. They cannot access benefits in terms of “public funds” because they have insecure immigration status. Many have “no recourse to public funds” stamped on their passport. With no public funding such as housing benefit or income support, men and women have to stay in an abusive relationship. After a short debate, the motion was passed by 58.6%.
Jeanette Thornton
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Parvin Ali then spoke about the diversity of women in the West Midlands – and joined BPW!
Parvin Ali, the speaker
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Friday Afternoon Highlights
Sanjay Shah
Sarah, from Arthur Cox in Belfast won a place on the Prime Source Life Can Be Easy course to be held on 4th July 2008, in Birmingham. Led by one of the guest speakers of the day, Sanjay Shah, Sarah will learn how to not only identify her own glass ceilings in life, but how to break through them, leaving her invincible to any challenges she might set herself in life and business.
Sanjay’s talk entitled "Breaking Through Glass Ceilings" resonated with many members of the audience as he reassured them that the challenges that limit us in business, can easily be dissolved, allowing us all to achieve the success we know we deserve.
As a recognised expert in Emotional Intelligence, Sanjay is currently speaking throughout the UK before he embarks on an International Tour. To book Sanjay as a speaker at your event, to hear either this talk or others, please visit www.theprimesource.net.
More details under the speakers section of this website.
Friday night-Gala dinner : celebrating 70 years of BPW
Saturday – highlights
Nikki Bennett-Willetts gave her President’s address to conference.
President’s Address – Conference 2008
When I addressed conference 2007 and had just taken office, I talked about 2007 being the Year of the Girlchild / Young Woman and how we could assist her. BPW UK actually went one step further than that - and had a re-birth.
Women know that birth is not without pain, suffering and unexpected change in circumstances, but we get on with it, address the change and do what needs to be done.
When I had had my own son, I was advised to listen to everyone’s advice, use the skills of the experts, and communicate my needs and experiences, but ultimately to make up my own mind about his upbringing.
I also remember a quote from that wonderful film ‘A Beautiful Mind’, when the lead character works out mathematically: ‘The best result for the group will come from everyone doing what’s best for them’.
Having travelled considerably last year – locally, nationally and internationally, I could well have focused on all the bad aspects of everything I saw and heard. However, being a positive woman thinking about the future of BPW UK, I decided to concentrate on the best of the messages I received.
One. Listen.
I have listened – to many complaints, lost dreams, memories, criticisms; much anger and sadness - and to the passion. Focusing on the passion, I heard the loyalty to BPW, the love of all the things we stand for, the commitment, the eagerness, the involvement. I knew my feelings could be no less – they had to be more. The answer when I was asked ‘How come you’re still so positive?’ was ALWAYS ‘I’m National President – what else would you expect?’ When Sir Peter Soulsby told me his grandmother used to talk about BPW and how come he was hearing about it again now, I replied ‘It’s because we’re entering a new positive era of innovation and growth.’ I have listened with full attention. I have taken many members’ requests and ideas to the Board. It is often said that people have two ears and one mouth so as to listen twice as much as speak. I request now that members listen to each other. Listen to the POSITIVE. Take it on board. As has been said to me -‘Listen and learn’.
Two. Communicate
If I had £10 for every time I’ve heard this word in the last twelve months, I would be living on Millionaire’s Row in Bath.
Well – I’ve reiterated the channels of communication many times. Here they are again:
BPW News
BPW News Bulletins
BPW Headline News
Websites
Telephone
Email
Board Buddies
Regional Presidents
Club Presidents
The Grapevine
Your friends
……………
Whatever works.
At the end of the day, if we want to know something, we find a way to find it out. So it is with BPW.
I also read a Chinese saying recently: if you find out or learn something that benefits you, it’s your moral obligation to pass that on, so someone else can benefit.
All these methods of communication are:
Vertical – down AND up
Horizontal – side to side
Circular – global communication means round ALL the world
Three. Use members’ skills
It was a really good idea I received – to go to the database and look out for women with the necessary skills to fill vacancies on the Board, the Regional Teams and the local clubs. That way, I could be sure of getting the right people in the right job. Be sure, of course, if I approached the right woman and she said yes, and it all worked out well, life would be my oyster. However, I’m not a professional headhunter. I’m a volunteer, looking out for other volunteers. The basis of volunteers is that they do exactly that - volunteer. We shall take up this suggestion, as a Board; - to look at members’ skills; but members should research for one another, too.
BPW UK Mantra for 2009: “Innovation and Growth
through listening, communicating
and using members’ skills”.
The new teams for BPW 2008
Regional presidents and representatives
And the new directors picture
