Anniversary celebration planned by YBPW

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Special to The Vindicator ON A MISSION: Assuming leadership roles in Youngstown Business and Professional Women’s Club and continuing the club’s mission of achieving equity for all women in the workplace, are, from left, Judy Kovalan, corresponding secretary; Marianne Barron, treasurer; Tracie Schmidt, vice president; Traci Miller, president; Megan Phillips, president-elect; and Karen Raghanti, recording secretary.

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown Business and Professional Women’s Club will be celebrating its 90th anniversary on Jan. 26 at the meeting room in Poland Library. The event will begin with social networking at 5:30 p.m. and a dinner at 6.

The program will focus on the past, present and future of YBPW and past presidents will be honored. Dorothy Peron, who served as president from 1989 to 1991, will be a special guest.

The cost for the evening is $20. Reservations are due by Jan. 20 and can be made by mailing a check, payable to YBPW, to Judy Kovalan, 3697 Mahoning Road, Lake Milton, OH 44429, or by contacting her at (330) 744-8636, ext. 111. The public is welcome.

The chapter was chartered Jan. 8, 1920, with 40 members as an affiliate of the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Club.

Jean Frey, dean of girls and director of social science at South High School, was the first president of the YBPW and served from January 1920 to June 1923. The club’s 56th president is Traci Miller, owner of The Growth Coach and Color 3 Embroidery.

In 1939 the club presented Eleanor Roosevelt in a lecture at Stambaugh Auditorium, and in October of 1966 the group presented the Woman of the Year Award to Esther Hamilton, columnist for The Vindicator. Since the 1900s the YBPW has held a seat on the Distribution Committee of the Youngstown Foundation.

From 1962 to the present time the club has awarded many scholarships to female students, currently to those at Youngstown State University. Funds for the scholarships are raised at an annual fashion show.

YBPW has also sponsored a student to attend Buckeye Girls State, promoted International Women’s Day in March, Equal Pay Day in April, and National Business Women’s Week in October.

The three major issues that have shaped BPW’s legislative platform agenda through the years are: the elimination of sex discrimination in employment, the principle of equal pay and the need for a comprehensive equal rights amendment.

The continuing mission of the YBPW is to achieve equity for all women in the workplace through advocacy, education and information.

For more information about YBPW and how to become a member, contact Megan Phillips at (215) 284-6076, or at meganlphillips@yahoo.com.