The Business and Professional Women's Association of Bermuda will celebrate its Charter Day and its 30th anniversary on Sunday.

BPW Bermuda received its charter in 1975 by the late Dame Dr. Marjorie Bean and was established to further the rights of women in the community.

Founding BPW member Mrs. Dorothea Butterfield said the anniversary means "Expansion and integrating all nationalities in the spirit of womanhood and we are encouraging men to come and join us. We are a part of the global village that exhibits the same motto around the world."

BPW president Barbara Lewis-Mills said the current goal of the organisation involves mentoring young women to work for high standards of service in business and professions.

She also said the BPW wants to ensure the continuation of these high standards of service by the development, training, encouragement and participation of girls and young women.

"BPW Bermuda was responsible for bringing to the attention of the Government the inadequacy of Race Relations Act, having women serve in the Senate and the Corporation of Hamilton," BPW recording secretary Lynette Wilson said.

"The organisation made recommendations that a Women's Bureau or Commission on Women's Affairs be established to investigate the inequities suffered by women and draft measures that would ameliorate these inequities led to the formation of the Women's Advisory Council."

Ms Wilson also said BPW Bermuda organised and held a public seminar on rape which stimulated the formation of the first crisis group under the auspices of the Department of Community Affairs.

Other seminars have been held on Women and Our Laws, Immigration and Bermuda Law which opened the way to the amendment of the Immigration Act so that non-Bermudian spouses of both women and men were given equal treatment under the law.

There are several events which BPW Bermuda sponsors, including a heritage recital held each year in May. The proceeds from that recital go towards our scholarship fund.

Annual scholarship awards have been granted since 1981 to females pursuing higher education, including the Dr. Iris Marsh Award.

In May, BPW saluted an Administrative Professional of the Year 2006, Ms Belinda Darrell and candidates with a luncheon at Coco Reefs in Stonington, Paget.

On Sunday, BPW will worship at a service at St. James Church in Somerset at 10.30 a.m.

After the service BPW members will have lunch at Fourways Inn, where retired member, Dr. Elisabeth Mayall, will speak on the topic of Bermudian Women in the 1970s.

The organisation will also present a scholarship to Shawnette Brangman, a promising young student.