Women of Achievement for 2024

East Los Angeles-Montebello BPW “Woman of Achievement” Christina Aiu-Quezada

Downtown Sacramento BPW “Woman of Achievement” Elaine Sierra

Valley Sunset BPW District “Woman of Achievement” Marjory Hopper, Hollywood BPW

Burbank BPW “Woman of Achievement” Zizette Mullins. member of the Burbank City Council

Conejo Valley BPW “Woman of Achievement” Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Captain Jennifer Seetoo

Berkeley BPW “Woman of Achievement 2024” Monique Lee, editor of the “California Woman”

CFBPW and Sierra Mar BPW District Awards for Bringing in 6 New Members 2023-24

Yvonne Ng, East Los Angeles-Montebello BPW

Woman of the Year for 2024

Berkeley BPW “Women the Year 2024” Beth Roessner

Young Careerist/Young Professional for 2024

Sierra Mar BPW District Young Professional and East Los Angeles BPW Young Careerist Elizabeth Anne Marie Mitchell

Membership 2024

Clubs that Equalized: Burbank.

Clubs that Increased Membership: Berkeley, Chico, Conejo Valley, East Los Angeles-Montebello, East Valley and El Monte.

District that Equalized Membership: BPW California North.

Women of Achievement for 2023

East Los Angeles-Montebello BPW “Women of Achievement 2023” Donna De La Rosa

Burbank BPW “Women of Achievement 2023” Laurie Bleick

Conejo Valley BPW “Woman of Achievement 2023 Lydia Duff Steadman

Hollywood BPW “Woman of Achievement 2023” Rosemary Lord

Valley Sunset BPW District “Woman of Achievement 2023” Joy Picus

Young Careerist/Young Professional for 2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

East Los Angeles-Montebello BPW Young Careerist Monique Rodriguez

Women of Achievement for 2022

Burbank BPW “Woman of Achievement” Fran Wells,
Director of Family Ministry at Burbank First United Methodist Church

Conejo Valley BPW “Woman of Achievement” Raphaelia Keene

Hollywood BPW “Woman of Achievement” Nyla Arslanian, editor of “Discover Hollywood” magazine

Valley Sunset BPW District “Woman of Achievement” Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley

Downtown Sacramento BPW “Woman of Achievement for Education” Vanessa Cudabac

Downtown Sacramento BPW “Woman of Achievement for Community” Catherine Turrill Lupi, PhD,

Downtown Sacramento BPW “Woman of Achievement for Business” Amy Gardner

Berkeley BPW “Woman of Achievement” Usha Gongal

Burbank BPW Woman of Achievement Gloria Salas

East Los Angeles-Montebello BPW “Woman of Achievement” Kathryn Foster

Hollywood BPW Woman of Achievement Sister Judy Vaughan

Valley Sunset BPW District Woman of Achievement Amy Turk

Berkeley Business Woman of the Year for 2022

Lila Owens

Berkeley Woman of the Year for 2022

Gwen Marie Austin

 

California Federation of Business and Professional Women Honors 50+ Year Members

CFBPW at its October 10th Annual Conference honored those members who have been members for 50 or more years.

Medora Allen joined BPW in 1949 in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. She belonged to Downtown Sacramento. In 1989 she was recognized as their Woman of Achievement. Medora was a 76-year member of BPW. She passed away on October 10, 2024.

 

Manjul Batra grew up in India with boys. She became a CPA. She joined BPW in India in 1968. Her mother had joined in 1963. Manjul also got married in 1968. When she came to the U.S., she had a letter from India BPW 1st Vice President, but she did not have to use it. She joined Berkeley BPW, but essentially did not do much with BPW for the next 10-15 years. In 2002-03 she was State President. She presently is Small Business Chair for the State Federation.

Shirley Campbell and her mother joined El Monte BPW in 1957 (53 years ago). They started because Shirley’s mother saw that Shirley did not have any outside interests – just work and sitting home (basically a couch potato). She decided that Shirley needed to get out and meet people and do other things. Shirley has continued in BPW because of her friends and interests. It has been something to look forward to. One of the things she got out of BPW was how to put an agenda together which she used in her job. Her advice to new members is to talk to new people. Get out there and meet as many new people as possible to enrich your BPW experience. Shirley passed away November 30, 2020.

Doris Ditmars was an 80+ year member. Doris passed away August 26, 2020. Doris is registered in the Women’s Veterans’ Memorial in Washington, D.C. Doris actively worked on the Equal Rights Amendment. She designed the new logo for the California Federation.

 

Marjory Hopper said that when she was a librarian at Fremont Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library, she was invited to the Hollywood Coordinating Council. The President of the Council mentioned BPW and invited her to a meeting of Hollywood BPW. When she attended the BPW International Congress in Helsinki, she was selected to represent North America and the Caribbean Region. Leslie Stahl interviewed her as she was the Star Polisher (Hollywood Walk of Fame) for Ronald Reagan when he was President. Her advice to new members is to get involved. Marjory was President of Hollywood BPW for many years. Marjory passed away August 31, 2024.

Sandy Sanders said that BPW changed her life. In 1966 the city of Ventura celebrated their centennial. Downtown there were information tables. One of them was for Ventura BPW. She was invited to their luncheon meeting. She was 27 years-old and very impressed with the women. She was invited to join them. She was their 105th member. She was elected as a delegate to the District meeting which included workshops. This will be the first year since she joined that she has not had a chair or office in a Club, District of State.

 

Elaine Wakeham joined BPW in 1952. She was living with her aunt at that time having graduated from the University of Arkansas. When she interviewed for jobs, she was asked if she could type and take shorthand. Yes, she could do both, but she did not want that kind of job. They didn’t ask men that. Her aunt invited her to southern California where she got a job. Her aunt brought her to a meeting of the San Orco BPW District. She was impressed so she joined BPW. She has been married to Byron for 54 years. He is a full supporter of BPW. She took over as CFBPW Treasurer in 2011 when Lila Hines, the Treasurer, passed away. In BPW you get to know people from everywhere.

 

 

Awards and Recognition: Los County Commission for Women, President’s Award 2020

Pasadena Celebrates 2020: Women Win the Vote Committee was honored with the President’s Award. The group worked on designing and funding a Rose Parade float. NFBPWC contributed more than $5,000 to this float and was one of only 12 organizations to do this. The President of the CFBPW and another member of CFBPW helped put flowers on the float. Two members walked behind the float. Marta Escanuelas, who was a member of CFBPW,  was an active member of this planning committee although she is not in either photo below. The float won the Rose Parade “Theme Award.”

 

Special Recognitions

Bay Capital District and Downtown Sacramento BPW recognized two members for their service to BPW. Bessie Hironimus joined BPW as a Young BPW in 1973. She has been involved and a contributing member at every level of BPW – Club, District, State, National, Regional and International, often holding several offices concurrently. She is presently Executive Secretary of BPW International. She is an untiring and outspoken advocate of BPW’s mission and objectives while bringing commitment to any position or task that she takes on. Betty Faye Chapman Kaupalolo joined BPW in 1956. She served her Club, District, the State Federation and NFBPWC. As sick as she was with her cancer operation and treatments she supported the creation of NFBPWC, as its Parliamentarian and counselor. Her wisdom and support was unmatched.

Sierra Mar District recognized Marie Clifton for her dedication to BPW and the Individual or Personal Development Program (ID). Marie credits the ID program and BPW for helping her greatly and as a result, she is dedicated to helping others get ahead by providing opportunities for them to learn from the Individual Development modules. For the last few years she has helped Sierra Mar District continue. She is the one who has gotten Sierra Mar officers by perhaps twisting arms. She has found places for Sierra Mar to have District meetings, taken care of getting food for the meetings and making sure everything runs according to Sierra Mar’s Bylaws and policies and procedures. A few years ago Sierra Mar District awarded her Ms BPW with a plaque. This was a well-deserved honor as this recognition is.