HISTORY OF TENNESSEE FEDERATION

of BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL WOMEN

 

In June 1919, approximately one hundred business and professional women met in the YWCA in Nashville, Tennessee, to stimulate interest in attendance at the organizational meeting in St. Louis, Missouri, for the purpose of establishing the National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Inc. Present from four clubs in Tennessee were Miss Florence Arp, Knoxville; Dr. Elise Rutledge, Memphis; Miss Mattie Lou Alford and Miss Fletcher Farris, Columbia; and Mrs. W.A. King of the Altrusa Club of Nashville.

 

As an outgrowth of that meeting, Fletcher Farris of Columbia was elected delegate and Dr. Elise Rutledge of Memphis, alternate, to represent Tennessee in St. Louis at the organizational meeting of the National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, at Hotel Jefferson in St. Louis, July 14‑17, 1919. In addition to Miss Farris and Dr. Rutledge, those attending from Tennessee were Miss Leora Fellate, Memphis; Mrs. W.A. King, Nashville; Miss Louise Neilson, Knoxville; and Miss Bertha Childs of Nashville. History reveals that Miss Childs was elected a vice‑president of the national federation.

 

Early in 1920, Mrs. Ethel Crabtree of Chattanooga became interested in forming a state federation and had much correspondence with business women in Tennessee. By reason of the interest expressed, a call went out to all the business and professional women's clubs in Tennessee (about twenty at that time) to convene in Chattanooga in July.

 

On the afternoon of July 3, 1920, a group of women representing seven business and professional women's clubs of Tennessee met in the Hotel Patten, Chattanooga, Tennessee, and agreed that a state federation should be formed. By seven o'clock that night the group was having dinner together at "The Hitching Post," a rustic tearoom in Chickamauga Park, and the Tennessee Federation was an accomplished fact. The seven charter clubs of the Tennessee Federation were Chattanooga Business and Professional Women's Club, Chattanooga Business Women, Columbia Business and Professional Women's Club, Jackson Business and Professional Women's Club, Knoxville Business and Professional Women's Club, Memphis Business and Professional Women's Club, and Business and Professional Women's Club of Nashville.

 

During the years, in addition to Miss Bertha Childs, elected vice‑president at the organizational meeting, Tennessee has given to the National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Inc., two outstanding national presidents, Miss Charl Ormond Williams and Miss Osta Underwood; two national treasurers, Mrs. Sara C. Bruce and Miss Wanda Carter (Bates); recording secretary and 2nd Vice President, Miss Ann Scott; an executive secretary, Miss Elinor Coonrod; a national parliamentarian, Miss Margaret Heath; and several national committee chairmen and members.

 

In 1921 the first convention of the Tennessee Federation was held in Nashville. In 1922, Tennessee entertained a highly successful national convention in Chattanooga. In July 1984, National Area 3, of which Tennessee is a member, hosted a dynamic national convention in Nashville.

 

The Tennessee Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Inc., has gained prestige and power for the business and professional women of Tennessee; has taken part in affairs affecting women, along with a long career of state and community usefulness, which completely justifies the vision and hopes of our great federation.

 

Federation Objectives

 

To elevate the standards for women in business and in the professions.

To promote the interests of business and professional women.

To bring about a spirit of cooperation among business and professional women of the United States.

 

To extend opportunities to business and professional women through education along the lines of industrial, scientific, and vocational activities.

 

These objectives are of the National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Inc., of the United States of America, known as and hereinafter referred to as BPW/USA, and of all local organizations in the state federation.

 

Federation Mission Statement

 

The mission of BPW/USA shall be to achieve equity for all women in the workplace through advocacy, education, and information.

 

The Collect

Keep us, O God, from pettiness; let us be large in thought, in word, in deed.

Let us be done with fault‑finding and leave off self‑seeking.

May we put away all pretense and meet each other face to face, without self‑pity and without prejudice.

May we never be hasty in judgment and always generous.

Let us take time for all things, make us grow calm, serene, gentle.

Teach us to put into action our better impulses, straightforward and unafraid.

Grant that we may realize it is the little things that create differences, that in the big things of life we are at one.

And may we strive to touch and to know the great common human heart of us all, and O Lord God, let us forget not to be kind!

. . . Mary Stewart

 

History of the Collect

Mary Stewart wrote the collect in 1904 as a member of the Fortnightly Clubs, the forerunner of the Longmont, Colorado BPW Club. The collect was written as a prayer to instill a sense of unity among women working together with wide interests and important goals.

Mary Stewart worked for women's suffrage nationally and attended the meeting in St. Louis in 1919 at which the national federation was launched. She was elected its first corresponding secretary and thereafter took an active part in the growth of the young organization by service as chairman or member of a number of national committees.

The collect was reprinted in many forms around the world. Miss Stewart, who until 1910 signed the collect with her pen name, "Mary Stuart," remained involved in BPW until her death in 1943.

 

The Emblem

In 1920, at the St. Paul National Convention, with Gail Laughlin as president, a committee was appointed to select an emblem typifying the emergence of women in the business world, with vision and courage for unlimited possibilities and growth in an organization of business and professional women. This committee was composed of Fern Bauersfeld of Kansas, Nina B. Price of New York, and Georgia Emery of Michigan.

In February 1921, under the leadership of Lena Lake Forrest, second national president, the committee selected from a number of designs the one we now use.

 

Emblem Symbols

The emblem of BPW/USA consists of the following symbols:

Nike ‑‑ The Winged Victory of Samothrace; symbol of strength, progress, freedom, triumph, facing squarely the winds and waves of prejudice and other limitations.

Torch ‑‑ symbol of light, wisdom, principle, and leadership.

Wand ‑‑ winged staff of Mercury; herald of a new day for women and symbol of opportunity, equality, cooperation, healing, harmony, and power.

Ship of Commerce ‑‑ symbol of activity and growth, economic independence, and adventures in friendship.

Scroll ‑‑ symbol of achievement; typifies our faith, ideals and accomplishments, while denoting our obligation to the future.

These symbols, over the inscription NFBPWC, are within the Golden Circle. The circle, representing the globe, signifies unbroken harmony and endless friendship. The components of the completed circle are illumination, vigor, tranquility, development, and victory.

 

Emblem Pins

An emblem pin may be worn by any local organization member. Local Organization presidents wear the emblem pin with gavel guard attached and, at the end of the presidency, the gavel guard is replaced by a bar guard bearing the inscription "past president."

The state president's pin has TENNESSEE inscribed across the bottom of the pin, with gavel guard attached. At the close of term as state president, the gavel guard is replaced by a bar guard inscribed "past president."

The customary way to wear an emblem pin is about six inches below the left shoulder.

Any emblem item, including pins, guards, scrolls, and other jewelry may be purchased through the official supplier of BPW/USA. The foundation pins may also be purchased from the same source.

 

Emblem Benediction ‑‑ May be sung to the tune of "Blest Be the Tie That Binds"

 

This emblem binds us all

In one great sisterhood

It bids us heed our conscience call

For nobler womanhood.

God guide us when we wear

This emblem o'er our heart,

And keep us true and always fair

God bless us as we part.

 

Federation Pledge

 

I hereby solemnly pledge my allegiance to this local organization and do promise:

To be governed by the rules and regulations in the bylaws;

To be faithful in attendance, trying always to be on time;

To be generous, not alone of my money, but of my praise, my time, and my talents;

To be tolerant and friendly, knowing that friendliness gives and finds happiness and health;

And to be honest with myself, my fellow members, and my local organization.

 

Federation Colors

 

The colors of BPW/USA and of the Tennessee Federation are green and gold. Green was chosen to symbolize victory, growth, activity, and strength.  Gold was chosen to represent the sun, faith, and fruitfulness.

 

Tennessee Official Flower

 

The flower of the Tennessee Federation is the purple iris. It is customary that the Tennessee delegation to national conventions wear lavender or purple dresses at the first business meeting and at any other time requested by the state president.  At the expense of the Tennessee federation, all members of the delegation to the national convention are furnished a purple iris to be worn during the entire national convention.  The purple iris is the official designation of the Tennessee delegation.

 

The Region

 

The Tennessee Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Inc., is divided into three (3) regions for the purpose of promoting state and national programs, promoting membership work, and assisting the district directors in organizing new local organizations and assisting existing local organizations.

 

Each region shall have a director, who shall be elected at the annual convention after the endorsement of her local organization.  Regional directors shall be members of the state executive committee and the board of directors.  A  term of office shall be one year or until a successor is elected.

 

The District

 

Each region is divided into such districts as set up by the board of directors and approved by the convention body.

 

Each district shall have a director who shall be elected at the spring regional meeting after the endorsement of her local organization.  District directors shall be members of the board of directors.  A term of office shall be one year or until a successor is elected or appointed by the state president.  No person shall serve more than three (3) consecutive terms as District Director.