Business & Professional Women’s Club Installs Officers, Awards Scholarship

The Business & Professional Women’s Club of Newtown awarded a continuing education scholarship to Charlene Maring-Sayegh, owner of The Country Patisserie, at its Cinco de Mayo meeting Monday night at the Inn at Newtown.

A pastry chef, Ms Maring-Sayegh intends to return to school for a degree in culinary management. She will attend the Institute of Culinary Arts (formerly the Peter Kump Cooking School) in New York City. 

The mother of triplets, who also battles rheumatoid arthritis, Ms Maring-Sayegh said the additional training will help her to eventually work as the manager of a corporate kitchen or as a banquet manager.

Helen Wahlstrom, a retired teacher who was a founding member of a local BPW club in 1956, noted that in 1980, working women were paid 59 cents for each dollar earned by a man; now the disparity is smaller, 71 cents.

“We’ve come a long way, but there are still many rungs on the ladder to climb,” she said.

Ms Wahlstrom then installed Margot Hall as vice president, membership for the Newtown BPW chapter.  Ms Hall installed Jeanne Malota as co-president; Kelly Urso, treasurer; Marie Sturdevant, recording secretary, Mae Schmidle, vice president, programs, and Lorraine Hurley, corresponding secretary. Jean Leonard, who was not present, will be the other co-president for 2004-05.

The evening included music by Peter Obre and Alan Johnson, and a Mexican buffet.

BPW is a nonprofit organization that promotes the interests of business and professional women, provides them with an opportunity for networking, and sponsors scholarships to help women who are changing or advancing their careers. BPW meets the first Monday of each month at 6 pm at various restaurants. For more information, call Jeanne Malota at 426-8261 or Margot Hall at 426-9101.