Events and Activities

Legislative Day 2009 will be scheduled at a later date. The day provides an opportunity for BPW members to learn about legislative issues and to meet with their legislators and express their views.

 As a leading advocate for pay equity, BPW recognizes Equal Pay Day every year in April, on the date on which the average woman reaches the earnings the average man earned in the previous year. According to the 2006 Census Bureau, women on average earn 77 cents for every dollar paid to their male counterparts. For minority women, the wage gap worsens as African American women make 66 cents, Latinas make 55 cents and Asian American women make 80 cents. In 2009, the National Committee on Pay Equity asks that women wear red on Equal Pay Day to symbolize how far women and minorities are "in the red" with their pay.

August 26 of each year is designated in the United States as Women's Equality Day. Instituted by Rep. Bella Abzug and first established in 1971, the date commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, the Woman Suffrage Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which gave U.S. women full voting rights in 1920. 

The Virginia Allan Young Careerist Program recognizes the accomplishments of successful women or men and introduces them to the mission and vision of Business and Professional Women/USA (BPW/USA).

The program, begun in 1964, involves a competitive selection process within local organizations, districts/regions, and 53 state federations, resulting in the selection of a Young Careerist to represent each state federation at the BPW/USA annual conference. The winner of the national competition will serve as the National Representative for BPW/USA and may attend functions in her official capacity. To participate in the program, a Young Careerist must:
     * Be between the ages of 21 and 35
     * Have been employed with at least one year of full-time work experience in her/his career area
     * Support the goals and objectives of BPW/USA.

Young Careerists benefit from networking opportunities, opportunities for personal and professional development, opportunities to learn about the issues of concern to working women, educational programs and visibility.

Through a curriculum developed by the BPW/USA, the Individual Development (ID) program enables local organizations to offer training classes on various topics, including:
     * media relations
     * public speaking and interviewing
     * networking
     * negotiating
     * recruiting
     * leadership
     * and more.

Many local organizations offer ID classes to their members and the community. Like the Young Careerist Program, the ID program includes a competition, but individuals who participate in ID need not participate in the competition if they don't wish to.