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Fort Lauderdale Club Celebrates Founders' Day
[[image]]
From left to right, NANBPWC's Southeast District Immediate Past Governor, Charlotte Lewis; Charles Wright; and Dr. Blanca Velez, President, Fort Lauderdale Clud.
photo by R. Velez

The Fort Lauderdale Club celebrated its first Founders' Day and NANBPWC's 50th Anniversary by honoring five South Florida professionals.

The "Man of the Year" award was presented to one of NANBPWC's longtime godfathers - Charles Wright, Eastern Airlines, Manager of Market Development.

The club was organized by Dr. Blanca Velez, formerly of Brooklyn, New York.

[[image]]
Philadelphia Club - Celebrates it's 50th Birthday with a Golden Jubilee Ball.

History NANBPW was founded in the Spring of 1935 when the late Mrs. Ollie Chinn Porter, then President of the New York Club, invited the Philadelphia and Atlantic City Business and Professional Women's Clubs to establish a national organization.

When Mrs. Porter was elected the first national President in 1936, black people were politely called Negroes, Very few had businesses of professions. Most were still struggling through the economic deprivations of the Depression. That these Black women had the courage to found such an optimistic organization is astounding and is lasting testimony to their faith in themselves, their people, and their future.

The founders were owners, managers, college graduates, and other professionally licensed women who had managed to realize some measure of personal success at a time when there was no national "movement" to improve the lot of Black Americans; when there was no "Black capitalism" program nor any Black studies curriculula. Still, they were ready to lead.

Today NANBPWC, Inc. members busy, working women in clubs in the United States, Bermuda and Africa.

These women recognize the importance of sharing accomplishments with other and working together-
. To improve the quality of life in their communities;
. To create an atmosphere in which Black women are able to bring about meaningful changes in their public and private lives;
. To offer positive models to young women in their communities;
. To share their skills and knowledge with others;
. To explore alternate ways for women to meet the multiple challenges of today's world;
. To engage in profit-making economic development projects.

On the national level, NANBPWC, Inc.

. Enloys [[Enjoys]] observer status at the United Nations
. Networks with other national and international groups, such as-
The Coalition of Women in International Development
The National Council of Women of the US
The National Council of Negro Women
Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
National Coalition on Black Voter Participation
National Caucus on Black Aging
United Negro College Fund
National Association for Sickle Cell Disease
March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation

. Serves as a resource for national and international projects. Provides scholarships, job referrals and technical assistance.
. Sponsors projects and conferences on leadership training, government affairs, health, education and economic development.
. Holds conventions during which local club members join with district and national leaders to recognize the year's achievements, to gather information, to define directions for the coming year, and to renew their commitment to NANBPWC, Inc., goals.

Founding of organization

In the spring of 1935, while the late, Mrs. Ollie C. Porter was president of the New York Club, invitations were extended to the business and professional women's clubs of Philadelphia and Atlantic City to establish a National Organization. The organizational conference was held at Y.W.C.A. in New York City, July 12, 13, 1935. Mrs. Porter was elected president, Mrs. Pearl Flipping of Atlantic City, secretary-treasurer and Mrs. Effie Diton of New York City, national organizer. State organizers were also elected, Mrs. Emma Goodwin of Atlantic City for New Jersey and Mrs. Josephine Keene for Pennsylvania. The first national convention was held in Atlantic City in 1936.

Membership
There are members in more than 300 clubs in the 50 states, District of Columbia and Bermuda. There are honorary members in Africa, France, England and the Virgin Islands. the total membership is upward of five thousand.

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