BPW Selects New President

BROOKSVILLE - A local group that promotes gender equality in the workplace has selected a new president.

JoAnne Clay, 53, of Spring Hill, was recently sworn in to head Business and Professional Women Hernando County.

The goal of the group is to "achieve equality for women in the work place through advocacy, education and information," according to its media releases.

"This year is a rebuilding year for us," Clay said of the group, which is comprised of nearly 30 members.

She hopes to boost membership by taking a more active role in the community. The good news is that there already is a lot of participation from younger working women. The average age is 35, she said.

Members work in a variety of fields, including insurance, real estate, banking and at-home businesses.

The group, commonly known as BPW, will be busy in the months and weeks leading to Election Day.

"We have a lot of programs on the agenda this year," Clay said. "We'll host a candidates' forum where we'll talk about the issues ... they types of issues that (matter) to us."

The group is nonpartisan, but they do take aim at some politically charged positions, including passage of the Equal Rights Amendment and eliminating wage discrimination.

Clay is a full-time administrative assistant for Hernando County Judge Kurt Hitzemann and runs her own at-home business - Cookie Lee Jewelry.

She moved to Hernando County four years ago from Pittsburgh. She wanted to promote her business and discovered BPW through an ad in the paper. She joined and quickly worked her way up the ladder.

Before being elected president last month, she served as the group's corresponding secretary.

Clay said BPW focuses on scholarships for local students and charity groups, particularly the Dawn Center, a local domestic shelter.

"We promote women's issues, health issues and economic issues," she said.

The group meets the fourth Tuesday of every month.

Its next meeting will take place Tuesday, July 22, at Atria Evergreen Woods, located at 7030 Evergreen Woods Trail in Spring Hill.

To make reservations, e-mail Linda McKenna at lmckenna@cwshomehealth.com.