BPW still seeks equity for women in the workplace

To the editor:

The week of Oct. 15 marks National Business Women's Week. This week was first observed in 1928. At that time, the president of the Business and Professional Organization, Lena Madison Phillips, stated the purpose of the week was "to focus public attention upon a better business woman for a better business world."

The first national organization for professional women was formed as a result of the United States entering World War I. In 1918 the War Department established a Women's War Council guided by the YWCA and financed by a federal grant of $65,000. The purpose of the War Council was to organize the resources of professional women. In July 1919 a national convention was held in St. Louis to establish the Business and Professional Women's Organization. The first president was Gail Laughlin, a California lawyer. BPW was instrumental in gaining passage in 1920 of the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote.

There are 58 BPW organizations in Missouri. River City BPW meets at 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month at the Holiday Inn in Cape Girardeau. Any interested person is invited. We can be contacted on the Web at thebuzz.semissourian.com/43. This site will also link you to the state and national Web pages. As always, our mission remains to achieve equity for all women in the workplace through advocacy, education and research.

SHIRLEY SEABAUGH

Vice President

River City BPW

Cape Girardeau