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Meeting in the Jackson Library in
April, 1919, a group of twenty-five women organized the Jackson Business and
Professional Women. Miss Alice Drake called the meeting and was elected
president.
In May, 1919, the Tennessee Federation was
organized in Chattanooga, with seven local
organizations represented. Bertha Childs of Nashville was elected president. In
July the National Federation of Business and Professional Women was founded in
St. Louis with Gail Laughlin of California as president. The Jackson
organization was a charter member of both federations and later was affiliated
with the International Federation.
The Frances Owen Memorial Fund was created to
help finance education for women. A College Loan Fund was established to assist
women in completing their college education. Combined these two funds now
provide an annual scholarship to a woman preparing for a business or a
professional career and or displaced homemaker who must reenter the workforce.
The local organization has sponsored a number of
leadership seminars, workshops and a community-wide prayer breakfast. The
Jackson BPW is a member of the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce, and it has
participated in many community endeavors. The local BPW assisted in hosting the
2001 State Convention in Jackson, Tennessee with their own member Beth S. Bates,
who was State President, presiding. Several Jackson BPW members have served as
district and state officers. Annually the Jackson BPW sponsors the Brown Bag
Luncheons in recognition of National Business Women's Week. During this week,
the Jackson BPW names a local Woman of Achievement who is chosen from
nominations received from the general public.
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