Sandy Thompson, immediate Past President of the National Federation of Business and Professional Women (NFBPWC), will discuss the Convention for the Elimination of All Violence Against Women (CEDAW) at the Fall Conference of the Sierra Mar District of Business and Professional Women on Saturday, October 16, 2021 via Zoom. There is no cost to attend this Zoom meeting, but registration is required to receive the Zoom address. The meeting will start at 9:00 a.m. The conference is open to all interested people. Call or E-mail Marie Clifton (626) 287-5306 or MarieClifton40@gmail.com to make a reservation or for questions.

CEDAW is an international treaty adopted in 1979 and ratified by 189 countries. The United States is one of only two countries to sign, but not ratify the treaty. It has been
described as an international bill of rights for women. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held hearings on CEDAW in 1988, 1990, 1994 and 2002. It reported CEDAW favorably, and subject to certain conditions, in 1994 and 2002. The treaty has never come before the Senate for a full vote. Sixty-seven votes or 2/3rds of the Senate is required to ratify the treaty. In nations that have ratified the treaty, CEDAW has proved invaluable in opposing the effects of discrimination, which include violence, poverty, lack of legal protections, along with the denial of inheritance, property rights and access to credit.

Sandy Thompson, the keynote speaker, continues to serve on the Board of NFBPWC and is Past President of the California Federation of Business and Professional Women (CFBPW). She is a native Californian. She graduated from San Diego State University with a BA in Social Science and a MA in Special Education. She was employed by Amtrak for 35 years where she held a variety of positions including being a Train Manger responsible for the on-board services of three trains, Manager of Union Station in Los Angeles and Director of Operations Management dealing with finances. She was a presenter at the NFBPWC North America-Caribbean Regional Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Hollywood BPW honored Sandy with its Susan B. Anthony Award.

The CFBPW State Representative and speaker is Rosemary Enzer, who is a volunteer with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). Enzer volunteered with CASA for eight years working with children and teenagers in the foster care system. She has also served as a Peer Coordinator, mentoring new CASAs and as a speaker at outreach recruiting meetings. A retired educator Enzer worked as an elementary principal and teacher and as a university instructor. She has also served as a consultant to underperforming schools. Her credits include authoring an Independent Living curriculum manual for transition age youth. Her other volunteer activities include the Los Angeles League of Women Voters and Hillview Mental Health Center, where she is a member of the Board of Directors. Enzer joined BPW more than 30 years ago and has held numerous officers and chairs at the Club, District and State level including President of the California Federation of Business and Professional Women. Currently, she serves as President of the CFBPW Education Fund.
CASA helps to improve the lives of children in the dependency system by pairing them with trained advocates who advocate, support, investigate, report and recommend solutions for the children. CASA is often the sole consistent adult anchor in the child’s life—and an adult who is not paid to care about her—and remains at the child’s side to ensure that she receives the services that she needs and deserves. This program also needs volunteers and will provide training for those involved.
The mission of Sierra Mar District of the California Federation of Business and Professional Women is “to promote and support equity for working women in all phases
of their lives and to promote personal empowerment and professional development.” Our objectives are “to advocate on state and national legislative issues of importance to women, to promote personal and professional development for women and to foster connections among women to promote BPW and its members.” Membership is open to both men and women who support this mission and these objectives. Those who are members also belong to NFBPWC and BPW International. For more information about membership, contact Linda Wilson (626) 307-5650 or lindalwilson@juno.com.