Page 3 - Wayne Dispatch Pages

More than a 9 to 5

Wayne Business and Professional Women looks back on 92

years of service and success - and embraces what’s to come.

By Courtney Conover
Wife.
Mother.
Sister.
Daughter.
The roles of women in our society
today are varying and wide-ranging.
Still, it is not at all uncommon for
women to be thought of—at least ini-
tially—within the confines of the
roles above.
And there’s a good reason for
that: The contributions that women
make in their capacity of wife,
mother, sister, or daughter are un-
doubtedly unique and cannot be de-
nied.
But, wait, there’s more.
There is so much more that is in-
extricably woven into the fabric of
what it means to be a woman.
And sometimes those individual
fibers identify themselves as feel-
ings—gratifying ones. Wayne Business and Professional Women, fashion show at the Wayne Recreation Center.
That’s how Helen Glandon de- and the roots of the organization run driving force of BPW/Wayne. And the in Providence, Rhode Island.
scribes her longtime involvement deep. Its objective is to serve as the women have spread their energy far “One of our members follows her
with Wayne Business and Profes- leading advocate for working women, and wide through the years, having on Instagram, and she says that
sional Women, which entered her life and the group’s mission is to achieve assisted First Step, which provides she’s really enjoying college life and
during a time of unprecedented equity for all working women support and assistance to survivors is involved in many things,” Glandon
change. through advocacy, education, and in- of domestic and sexual violence, as adds. “And we love to hear that.”
“It was right after my divorce, and formation. well as local high school students by The two high school scholarships
it was just a good feeling to, you Beyond BPW/Wayne resides the sponsoring Reality Store, which might not be possible without
know, be with women,” Glandon re- Michigan chapter, which got its start opened students’ eyes to the reality BPW/Wayne’s annual Christmas Tea
calls. “Previous to that, I was my in 1920 and marked 100 years of of dealing with real-world finances. Party, which provides the lion’s share
kids’ mother, I was a wife, but when service in 2020. Much like The group’s biggest yearly en- of the money for the scholarships.
I joined [BPW/Wayne], and I was— BPW/Wayne, BPW/Michigan also deavor is the distribution of two The event makes two things evi-
me—Helen. And it just felt good.” champions itself as the voice of work- scholarships—$1,000—each to two dent.
Glandon, who currently serves as ing women and aims to promote is- deserving Wayne Memorial High The first is that, for the women of
president of the Wayne chapter of sues that matter to the lives of School female students who are sen- BPW/Wayne, giving knows no
Business and Professional Women, working women state-wide. Per the iors. Applications from qualified ap- bounds.
joined the organization back in 1980. web site, bpw-michigan.org, plicants are provided to BPW/Wayne The second is that the level of fun
Having worked in real estate for over BPW/Michigan’s objective is to edu- by WMHS counseling staff. and excitement these women gener-
40 years, Glandon became aware of cate and advocate for social, political, “We consider [a variety of factors ate—while giving back—is off the
BPW/Wayne through a chance en- and economic issues facing women— including] community and school in- charts as well.
counter with another BPW/Wayne and their families—at each stage of volvement and whether [the stu- The latest tea fete, which was
member who was just embarking on life. dents] work; we’ve had girls whose held in December of 2021 at Wayne’s
a career in real estate. And while the City of Wayne is far mother or father was incarcerated,” St. Mary Catholic Church, was no ex-
And Glandon hasn’t looked back. from the largest in the Great Lakes Glandon explains. “Basically, we try ception.
Says Glandon of her impression State, the city has represented itself to look at the whole picture.” “We had such a great turnout!”
of the club—and the support it pro- well within BPW/Michigan over the Whomever is chosen this year says Glandon, her voice powered by
vides its members, “I said to myself, years: three women from the Wayne will be joining the ranks of an es- enthusiasm. “I was overwhelmed; we
‘I need this in my life.’” chapter have served as officers at the teemed few, indeed: One of the orga- had nearly 80 women in attendance.
Glandon was—and continues to state level in the last seven years. nization’s most recent scholarship And [at first] we were worried that
be—in good company. The organization’s philanthropic recipients is currently bettering her we didn’t have enough door prizes,
The history of BPW/Wayne, which efforts, which are primarily in the education at Brown University, a pri-
launched in 1930, is a storied one form of fundraising, serve as the vate Ivy League research university See Wayne, page 4

The Wayne Dispatch · March 2022 · 3