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JOIN BPW AND MEET THIS YEAR’S FOUR DESERVING AWARDEES
Twenty-three years later and we’re still going strong in spite of fires and smoke, the pandemic and the sad fact that we haven’t been able to meet in person for over a year. We hope you have all stayed in touch via the newsletter. Despite the challenges, your scholarship board has continued to meet on Zoom, reach out to applicants, read applications and decide who shall receive a scholarship.
This year’s batch of applicants were worthy and shone with perseverance and dedication. We are awarding scholarships in the total amount of $4732 to four women who have been through major challenges and emerged with strong intent, excellent grades, and a focus on the future. Three are receiving the Dolores “Dee” Eldridge Scholarship and one the Helga Rohl Encouragement Award. Veronica Ponzio overcame domestic violence and addiction and is now going forward toward a certificate as an ultrasound technician. She has received a HREA. Erin McGee is headed toward a degree in Business after overcoming domestic violence and being a single mom. She will finish in the summer of 2022 and then enter a four-year college. Jolene Mulligan is attending Chico State and is currently enrolled in 12 units with a major in business. She is a single mom and has already received one of our scholarships. We encouraged her to apply again, and she did! Ashley Carpenter is attending American River College in its Registered Nursing Program; from there she will enroll in Sacramento State’s RN to BSN Program. She has two children and is a single mom whose passion is supporting reproductive choice.
The awards program will take place over Zoom this year on Wednesday, September 15 at 6PM. We wish we could all join together for dinner and celebration but alas, it is not yet possible. Please do join us over Zoom so you can hear the awardees read their essays and meet them, at least virtually. They will appreciate the support. The link to join the meeting is above. Please attend and show these amazing women the encouragement they so richly deserve.
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Essay topic : "A WOMAN'S ISSUE THAT CONCERNS ME MOST"
 VERONICA PONZIO ESSAY
I feel it is important for all women to understand and recognize the signs of domestic violence. Also, to know what steps to take to protect themselves from getting stuck deep in an abusive relationship. Especially, all of the red flags of domestic violence. I know personally about all of the affects it can have on a woman and how hard it is to get myself back to the confident and happy woman I once was. I’m currently dealing with the aftermath of letting myself get too comfortable in an abusive relationship and not being able to free myself from the horrible trauma.
This year has been difficult for us, but I see the light at the end of the tunnel. The housing situation is very different now than it was three years ago. It has been a struggle to find us a place to call home. I know I deserve someone who cherishes our intimacy and wouldn’t lie to me and cause my son and me so much pain. I admit I cry often, thinking of the man I thought I knew and where did that man go that would never hurt me.
I am not anywhere close to being able to date again nor do I want to. I am at square one again and am looking for a place to call home for my son and me. That is okay and I accept it. I will accept it to be the last time I push that inner voice to one side. I vow from now on to trust my instinct and not let anyone tell me otherwise. In the end I am the only one who will do what is best for my son and me.
Veronica is currently attending Sierra College, taking Bio 5-Human Anatomy and Allied Health 20. She is working toward being an ultrasound technician, working with pregnant women and the dying. She plans to attend the Yuba College Sonography Program. The scholarship board is pleased to award her a Helga Rohl Encouragement Award [HREA]. Veronica currently lives in Penn Valley with her 13-year-old son
 ERIN McGEE ESSAY
A woman’s issue that is of concern to me is support and prevention of domestic violence. I was in a domestic violence relationship for nine years. Leaving a domestic violence situation is extremely difficult. Due to the emotional abuse, you have little belief that you can do it all. Initially, I did not wish to share my story with anyone else due to the shame I felt. However, I got some advice from someone, “You are a victim until you talk about and deal with your trauma, then you are a survivor.” These words have lived with me since then. I no longer hesitate to share my experience and how, although what I went through has left many scars, I survived and now I flourish.
My career goals include obtaining my MBA and then starting a non-profit that focuses on creating a place for people to come to gain financial planning support. This would include budgeting, gaining financial literacy and financial planning for the future. I feel one of the areas many domestic violence victims struggle with is finances due to financial abuse or a lack of experience managing finances. I want to take the fear and misunderstanding out of personal finances and show people that you can have control over your money and achieve the goals you set, no matter your income.
Erin A. McGee is currently attending Sierra College majoring in Business Administration. This summer she took 12 units and maintained a 4.0 GPA. She currently owns and runs her own business, operating a soap company called Broadfork Farm soap. Her product is carried by a number of local businesses. She intends to obtain a Master of Business Administration and open her own non-profit. She credits her parents with influencing her, especially her mother who entered law school at 57. Erin lives with her 13-year-old son in Grass Valley. The scholarship board is pleased to award her a Dee Eldridge Scholarship.
 JOLENE MULLIGAN ESSAY
A woman' s issue that concerns me most would be the debate over reproductive rights.
Sexual and reproductive health and rights include the right to life, the right to be free from torture, the right to health, the right to privacy, the right to education, and the prohibition of discrimination. I find it heart breaking that woman are being forced to face such a reality when motherhood should be chosen rather than forced. By taking away these rights, women will be left at risk of endangering their health and their lives. The choice for a woman to bare children is a right that should be protected just as all other individual's rights are protected through the Constitution of the United States. My biggest fear is that if abortion were to be made illegal that it would not necessarily stop abortion but rather make it a more complicated process that would involve high risks that no woman should ever have to undergo. It is my opinion that birth control, educational resources, and abortion should be a natural given right to any female regardless of the situation at hand and that these services should be safe, accessible, and free. I recognize that it takes both a man and a woman to create a child; however, I do not believe that a man should be able to control or change women' s reproductive rights. It is a woman's right that should not be taken away as with pregnancy comes parenthood which creates a responsible duty to another human being. I believe only the person who is carrying the child can determine whether they can take on such responsibility.
 ASHLEY CARPENTER ESSAY
A year ago, my good college friend told me she was pregnant and was struggling with her decision of whether to choose abortion or not. She was also concerned with something have personally taken for granted, the loss of dignity she had felt in her previous births and her own life. She described to me a world of judgmental hospital personnel who didn't take her health care concerns seriously and family members and friends of hers who had had horrific birth experiences where their children were harmed or delivered early. I told her that I would support her no matter what decision she made regarding her pregnancy and that she should not feel pressured in any way.
I then took the initiative to educate myself on the plight of Black women like herself and how they are treated in the American health care system. What I learned was astonishing. Black women are three to four times more likely to die than white women in childbirth. In general, people of color are more likely to have their serious health concerns ignored, to have their level of pain dismissed and to have negative health outcomes.
Why are women of color suffering and dying in higher numbers and what can I do about this? The answer is complex and boils down to the fact that they are undervalued being women and not being white. I can personally attest to the fact that health care workers are undertrained in how to identify major health conditions in people of color. Most common health conditions were researched from white male patients, and we do not know how these conditions may or may not appear in people of color. Health care workers often misunderstand cultural cues. We see someone going through a medical procedure and see no tears, we assume no pain. This is not necessarily the case! Some medical trainees still believe medical biases like black people experience less pain and thus need less pain medication.
The medical community is failing these women and I desperately want to not just help my friend but help all women, especially women of color have their medical conditions heard, diagnosed, and treated accurately so we can prevent as many unnecessary outcomes as possible. Nevada County is growing in diversity and needs more healthcare personnel who understand these dangerous biases and are actively working to prevent it.
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PLEASE RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP
Though we have not been able to have in person meetings in the past year, BPW has continued to have monthly newsletters, interesting and informative monthly presentations on zoom, advocacy for women, and awarding scholarships to deserving women in Nevada County.
Please continue to support our organization by renewing your dues for 21-22 membership.
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Employment Opportunity
Women's Health Specialist is hiring for the clinic in Grass Valley
NP CNM or PA-C - 32 hours per week - salary is negotiable
For further information please go to Nevada County Citizens 4 Choice job openings.
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Club Business
Now that we have more home time help get the word out. Please send names and email addresses of your friends and family to Phyllis porzalli@att.net. to join the growing list of friends of BPWNC. They will receive our monthly newsletter which will inform them of all the good stuff happening with our organization. No need to be living in Nevada County
Thank you
~ Membership, Deb Armanino 415-786-1160
*** Please add Phyllis Orzalli e-mail (porzalli@att.net) to your address book to ensure it does not go to junk!
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Mission Statement
The mission of the Business and Professional Women of Nevada County
is to support and promote equity for women in all aspects of their lives.
Objectives
~To promote personal and professional development for working women.
~To advocate on National, State, and Local legislative issues of importance
to working women.
~To support the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls.
~To promote the education of our members and the community in matters of women's equality as it relates to economics, employment, health, education, housing, civil rights, and other issues of equal opportunity.
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Interested in joining our dynamic group of women?
Want to take on a lead role in our organization?
We need active members who have time and interest
in being a board member: president, vice president, secretary,
treasurer or program committee.
For only a few hours a month you can guide future endeavors of our great group. Please contact Deb Armanino LeBlanc
415.786.1160 or email her at debarmanino@aol.com to discuss the great possibilities!
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