THE Business & Professional Women’s Association of Bermuda (BPWA) held, in typically grand style, its 31st anniversary banquet, together with its annual candle-lighting ceremony. The banquet was held in the ballroom of the Riddell’s Bay Golf & Country Club.

BPWA became a member of the 75-year-old International Federation of Business and Professional Women in 1976, through the efforts of the late Dame Marjorie Bean.

The impressive candle-lighting symbolically was intended to be in sync with clubs doing likewise around the world speaking in their many languages with differing traditions but sharing the same determination of purpose.

President of the Bermuda Chapter is Mrs. Barbara Lewis-Mills. Mistress of ceremonies was Mrs. Lauren Bell. The guest speaker was Dr. Glen Bascome, staff development officer of Sandys Secondary Middle School. His topic was “New Dimensions of Leadership”.

Featured among the several highlights of the celebration were the induction of four new members, and the naming by BPWA of its Woman of the Year for most outstanding service in the business and professional world.

The honour fell to Mrs. Arlene Swan, At present, she works full time as a senior school counsellor at the Berkeley Institute and is the consultant executive director of the Physical Abuse Centre (PAC).

Mrs. Swan has had more than 28 years’ experience in the field of social services and counselling; she holds a BSW, MSc in Counselling Education and an Art in Human Resource Development master’s.

Her expertise in the area of domestic violence comes from more than 17 years’ experience co-ordinating a continuum of programmes, services and leadership for the agency as they assist women and children in the Bermuda community who are victims of domestic violence.

Programme services also include a batterers’ programme, “Abuse Free”, for persons identified as perpetrators of abuse.

In being presented her BPWA honour, it was noted that Mrs. Swan’s accomplishments were too numerous to mention. But the two noteworthy events cited were her representation of PAC and the Bermuda BPWA at a conference on women in Beijing, China, and a presenter on “Workplace Violence: Women the Primary Target” at a summit held at Breckenridge, Colorado for the World of Wellness Institute.

Our pictures show some of the BPWA highlights.

Bottomght<$>: Third from right is BPWA president Mrs. Barbara Lewis-Mills, with some of her executive officers.

On her right is Mrs. Doris Corbin, who in her 90s is the oldest active member of BPWA.

Far left is former Senator Dr. Yvette Swan who brought distinction to Bermuda by being elected in Tokyo, for a three-year term as president of the BPWA International Federation.

Guest speaker Dr. Glen Bascome is on the right.

Belleft<$> are members of the committee that organised BPWA’s 31st celebration, Mrs. Freda Roderick, Mrs. Judith Morgan-Swan and Dr. Norma Hendrickson.

right<$>, the BPWA Woman of the Year, Mrs. Arlene Swan, fourth left, was well supported by family and friends who came to see her honoured.

From the left are her mother, Roslyn Woolridge; aunt Anita Swan; daughters Alandra Swan and Akilah Swan. Akilah, an architectural student in Boston came home especially for the event; sister Andrea Sing; mother-in-law Elois Swan and aunt Elizabeth Davis.

Not seen are friend Julie Thomas and Physical Abuse Centre board members and staff.

BPWA marks another milestone in style