Member of Montana BPW/USA since 1921

 


Who We Are

BPW is a nonprofit, research and educational organization dedicated to promote full participation, equity and economic self-sufficiency for America's working women.

Missoula Business and Professional Women (BPW) is a diverse group of working women who come together for regular meetings and special programs to learn from each other, share information, contacts, career strategies and friendships and to develop the projects that make BPW work for them. BPW offers scholarships to post-secondary students, honors 'Young Careerists' (successful women or men 21-35 year old), honors women of achievement, an employer of the year who has demonstrated sensitivity toward's women's issues, and a Montana BPW member of the year.

Missoula BPW supports the Montana Women's Lobby (MWL) which works for legislation that supports Montana's women and families.

Missoula BPW participates in the Silent Witness Initiative Inc. (SWI) program which seeks to reduce domestic murders and eliminate domestic violence.

At the state and national levels BPW focuses on broad issues for working women lobbying for economic equity, health, civil rights and social security reform. Legislative issues include:

  • - Pay equity
    - Implementing family friendly policies in the American workplace
    - Balancing work and family
    - Gender and racial equity
    - Eliminating sexual harasssment and abuse against women and children
    - Reproductive choice
    - Welfare, tax and social security reform
    - Equity in pension laws and insurance

History

BPW/USA was founded in July 1919, as an outgrowth of the U.S. Government’s Women’s War Council. During the past 86 years, there have been many important milestones and BPW members played an important role in changes that have benefited working women. Some highlights of the BPW/USA efforts:

1923: Through the efforts of BPW/USA, the War Classification Act, establishing a uniform salary for each grade and class of work in the Federal Civil Service is enacted.

1928: BPW/USA establishes National Business Women’s Week

1937: BPW/USA is one of the first women’s organizations to endorse the Equal Rights Amendment.

1940: BPW/USA issues a pamphlet, “Women Need Their Jobs,” to guard against the trend of pressing women into service during a war and then sending them home when the emergency is over. BPW/USA also presses the War Department for equal pay for women called to do “men’s jobs” as part of the civilian workforce.

1945: BPW/USA shapes the future political agenda for women by organizing a conference on “Postwar Career Problems of Service Women,” with all of the commanding officers of the women’s service organizations.

1963: The first BPW/USA Legislative Conference is held in Washington DC.

1963: The establishment of “Status of Women” commissions in the US is due largely to BPW/USA efforts.

1963: President Kennedy recognizes BPW’s leading role in passage of the Equal Pay Act by giving BPW/USA’s president the first pen used to sign the act into law.

1972: BPW/USA members are instrumental in the lobbying effort that passed Title IX of the Education Amendments banning sex discrimination in schools.

1979: The BPW Political Action Committee (BPW/PAC) is formed to endorse federal candidates.

1980: By changing “women” to “individuals” BPW/USA revises its bylaws to permit male members well before men-only organizations were forced to open their membership through court action.

1987: BPW/USA begins the “Red Purse Campaign” to draw national attention to wage disparity.

1993: BPW/USA grassroots members successfully lobby for passage of “The Family and Medical Leave Act”.

Missoula BPW was formed in 1921 when Missoula's Women's Commercial Club organized a state meeting to form a federation of state Business and Professional Women's Clubs. Missoula and Great Falls were first to form local BPW organizations and the following year a State convention was held in Missoula. Convention resolutions included Equal Pay for Equal Work, Scholarships, Surveys and Recreation for Women, which are still of interest today.

Many members of the Missoula BPW have served as state officers and directors since its early history. Lucille Forkenbrock was the State Federation's second president (1924-25), Bess Reed (1954-55), Jeanette Price (1984-85) and Vickie Amundson (1997-98). Bertha Croghan served two terms as State Treasurer (1998-2000) and Judy Peasley is currently State Treasurer (2004-2006).

Vickie Amundson was selected Woman of Achievement in 2000 in recognition of her work organizing the Silent Witness Initiative in Montana. Vickie and Jerry Miller of Livingston introduced the program and have succeeded in raising the awareness of domestic violence against women. Vickie and Jerry received the International Women's Peace Foundation award for their work with the Silent Witness Program in Montana.

G.G. Weix was selected BPW/MT Member of the Year (2004-2005).
BPW member Carol Williams was elected to the Montana House of Representatives in 1999 and State Senate in 2004 and was Missoula's Woman of Achievement for 2005.