1.       FOR URGENT ACTION : Call on your ministers for Employment and Social Affairs to support ‘Intergenerational Solidarity’ above ‘Active Ageing’!
 
The European Commission is about to announce 2012 as the European year for ACTIVE AGEING only as opposed to Intergenerational Solidarity. As part of the NGO coalition, the EWL joins with its partners to put pressure on the EPSCO Council (Ministers of Employment and Social Affairs) meeting on the 7-8 June to ensure that the issue of Intergenerational Solidarity is part of the European Year in 2012. Please find here a letter prepared by the European Platform of Older Persons (AGE) which the EWL supports. Please forward to your contact in the ministries of Employment and Social Affairs. Do not hesitate to contact Collins@womenlobby.org for any further information.
 
2.       FOR ACTION: Send us your ideas for innovative projects/activities
The EWL Secretariat has just received information about the United States Innovation Award for the Empowerment of Women and Girls. This award seeks to find and bring to scale the most pioneering approaches to the political, economic and social empowerment of women and girls around the globe.  Each year, two awardees will be selected worldwide by a prominent panel of jurists and will receive up to $500,000 to expand on their innovations. The EWL could try to apply despite the short deadline (21.06) and we are therefore asking you if you would have ideas of a project / activities that could be innovative and make a difference for you in the context our common work in the EWL. It could be either capacity building for members (training etc) or specific work on a theme or a campaign / communication work. It’s the time to dream and be creative, so please send us your ideas, even in a very short message. You can find more information athttp://www.state.gov/s/gwi/innovation/index.htm. Deadline 05 June 2010. 
 
Kind regards,
 
The EWL Secretariat

From the Executive - President’s Message

Over 300 members are coming to New York in the next 2 weeks for the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women- CSW 54 and will attend the many events that BPW has organized. The BPW International Executive Board will have its annual meeting Feb. 21-23, 2010 then the BPW International 2 day Presidents Seminar Feb. 25, 26 followed by 2 Leadership and Lifelong Learning programs Mar. 2 & 4. The highlight will be BPW International’s 80th Anniversary celebration along with the Annual United Nations Claire Fulcher dinner. If you wish to place an advertisement in the dinner journal either personally or as a club or federation to record your congratulation wishes go to the link on the website www.bpw-international.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=293&Itemid=376 where you will find the advertisement form and payment details .This historical occasion will be marked in the archives and a copy of the journal will be sent to you. The deadline is February 17, 2010 Photos and news will be placed on the website following all the events.

Liz Benham President

CSW54 Email Communications: We have already started our regular email communications to members registered to attend CSW54. Access to all emails is available from the UN Status of Women Forum pages www.bpw-international.org/index.php?option=com_kunena&Itemid=54&func=listcat

CSW54 Activities: With activities for CSW54 running from February 27 - March 12, one thing is certain ---- we are going to be run off our feet!  We have a record number of BPW activities and events planned for this year and it is still not too late to book for the Presidents Seminar, 80th Anniversary Celebrations, or the Lifelong Learning Programs. Make sure you do not miss out! www.bpw-international.org/

CSW54 Accommodation: Are you still looking for accommodation in New York? Why not visit our newly created thread "Looking to share accommodation in NY for CSW54
www.bpw-international.org/index.php?option=com_kunena&Itemid=54&func=view&catid=19&id=369

Reminder Deadline for submissions to stage 1 of the Constitutional Review and Reform

For Federations and clubs submissions to the Constitutional Reform Taskforce on the review of BPW International’s Constitution and By-laws are required by the end of March

Members will have a second chance to comment in stage 2 – the reform of the Constitution and By-laws.  The Constitutional Advisory Committee will be releasing a revised and modernised draft of the Constitution for comment later this year. The finalised version to be presented for a vote at Congress next year.  Dr Jean Murray, BPW International Executive Secretary 2008-2011

BPW Lake Geneva is the first ENGLISH-SPEAKING Club in BPW Switzerland!

The 40th Club of Business & Professional Women (BPW) in Switzerland launched on January 28 2010 with overwhelming interest from the Lake Geneva’s business and professional women. Gabriella Canonica, 1st. Vice President

BPW Activities

BPW AUSTRALIA:
March 11 Equal Pay Alliance Breakfast Forum to be co-chaired by BPW Australia and the ACTU, with guest speakers Hon. Tanya Plibeserk and Sharryn Jackson, and Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick.

BPW HAITI:
Thank you letter received from Marie Carmelle Lafontant President a.i. BPW Haiti

BPW Hanse:
invites Europeans, BPW members and their friends from all over the world to take part in our activities. In June Hanse Network Tour 2010 will start in Riga, Latvia)

Asia Pacific Regional Coordinator, Dr. Young Hai Park:
It is my great pleasure to announce that the Asia Pacific Regional Meeting in Singapore 15-17 October 2010. The venue, the program and the registration details will be announced later. Please reserve the dates in your calendar and join us!

Message from News Coordinator
BPW International e-News is dispatched 15th and 30th of each month.

To avoid delay members are requested to email copy for inclusion based on events and activities not later than the 10th and 25th of each month. Please keep the information as brief and succinct as possible giving a link that other members can click onto for the complete news. For copy received from outsourced organisations and persons please ensure the source is named. Send all copy direct to me at: coordinator.news@bpw-international.org

Members can subscribe for e-News on the BPW website

Jo-An M. PartridgeNews Coordinator
BPW International
12 Nathan Street
Ferntree Gully
VIC 3156
Australia