Member of TN BPW/USA

The History of Jackson BPW

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.

Projects of Continuing Interest

^*new* Globalnet GNP Domain Hosting and BPW/USA partner in their Web Presence Rewards programs which will provide all  local organizations nationwide with their own individual website at no charge. Members who refer new web hosting clients to GNP will reward their local organization with scholarships and a 25% lifetime monthly donation on all revenue from each client. For more information, please visit www.bpwonline.com