“If You Don’t Know Where You’re Going, You’ll End Up Someplace Else” will be the topic of a program by Barbara Phillips at the Monday, November 6, meeting of the Business & Professional Women’s Club (BPW) of Newtown at the Inn at Newtown.

A self-employed human resources consultant, Ms Phillips will speak on the idea of transitions and changes. Whether someone is beginning a new job, developing a new business, or even contemplating retirement, these situations involve understanding the processes involved in managing the challenges that will be encountered. Ms Phillips will discuss a five-step approach that will help individuals deal with losses, renewal, and acceptance of the issues encountered in every aspect of family life and career.

Ms Phillips graduated from Skidmore with a degree in elementary education, a master’s degree at Columbia University, and did postgraduate studies at Fairfield University. Her career has been diverse. She has taught, started a Montessori school, worked at RESCUE, run a water slide in Waverly, Rhode Island, drove a truck selling flowers, became a training director in a corporation, had a position in Merrill Lynch Equity Management, then worked  her way up the corporate ladder, and finally became director of human resources for People’s Bank. She took an early retirement after 14 years with People’s Bank to become a self-employed human resources consultant.

 She is also the wife of Arthur, the mother of three children, the grandmother of four grandchildren, and is still fortunate to have her parents, who are in their nineties and going strong.

A resident of Newtown for 27 years, Ms Phillips has been involved in a variety of activities in the community, serving on the Legislative Council, the Cyrenius H. Booth Library Board, the Superintendent’s Search Committee, Charter Revision, and the League of Women Voters. Currently she is on the board of Datahr, the Danbury Commission of Child Care, Rights, and Abuse, and the Jewish Federation of Greater Danbury. She also has been appointed by Gov John Rowland to the State Rehabilitation Advisory Council, a citizen advocacy group.

The November 6 meeting will include a choice of turkey, salmon, or eggplant gratin. Reservations, $18, are required by calling Shelley Kappauf, 426-6362, by October 27.