Merger

February 20, 2009

Good Afternoon,

Many of you have already heard that the BPW/USA Board of Directors has recommended that the BPW Federation merge with the BPW Foundation.   Target date for the merger is July 1, 2009. There are many open questions about how this will be accomplished and what the impact will be on the state federations, locals, and individual members. Many of these questions are addressed in this message from BPW/USA President Diane Polangin.

Please remember that it is still very early in the process and the details of the merger plan are just now being negotiated between BPW/USA and the BPW Foundation.   I attended a lengthy webinar last night where all these issues were discussed. (Members can attend merger webinars beginning next week.) The proposed approaches are creative, fair and reasonable.   Look for emails from me and from our national office with specific details as they are available. Our Winter Board meeting will focus on this information.

After BPW/USA takes necessary steps to settle its liabilities, terminate existing contracts and affinity relationships and close its books, all assets and rights will be transferred to the BPW Foundation. This includes the YC and ID and other signature programs.   After the merger, access to these programs will be though BPW Foundation.

State Federations will become totally independent organizations with responsibility for all member services.   Each state must develop its own plan for collecting dues and maintaining local and membership information and developing ongoing marketing and programming.

State and local members are encouraged to continue their support of the BPW Foundation, however BPW Foundation membership will no longer be automatically included in your BPW/MA membership.   (This may be a possibility that is included in the merger plan, but it would be an option available to state federations, not a requirement.)

Rather than being the end of BPW, it is actually a new beginning. BPW's 90 years of history, tradition, and accomplishment will live on and continue in a stronger and refocused BPW Foundation. Each state and local organization now has the opportunity to reinvent itself to become a more relevant and accessible resource for working women in their communities.

Kathleen Pavelchek
BPW/MA State President




Member of Massachusetts BPW/USA