CANDLELIGHTINGCEREMONY2017

Protocol

Wehavecometogether toparticipate ina special tribute tooneof theworld’smost influentialorganizations, the International Federation of Business and Professional Women, which uniteswomenaround theworld.Although itsmembers speak inmany languagesand live in countrieswithdifferingtraditionstheysharethesamedeterminationofpurpose.

Morethan85yearsago,BPWwasfoundedbyDr.LenaMadesinPhillipsfromtheUnitedStatesofAmerica and a few years later she conceived the idea of the Candle Lighting Ceremony. Asweperform this ceremony, we will evoke historical memories, the many accomplishments andcelebratetoday’sachievements.

The members of the United States of America made good-will tours to Europe to share theirinterestsandtheirbeliefswithwomenofEurope.Throughtheireffortsandinfluence,groupswereorganized in several countries. In 1930,women from sixteen countriesmet in Genevawhere alongcherisheddream–theformingoftheInternationalFederation–becameareality.

Thecandlessymbolizetheambitionsandendeavorsofdedicatedwomenineverycountryaroundtheworld.

EachWHITEcandlerepresentsaFederation.EachBLUEcandlestandsforacountrywherethereisatleastoneAssociatedClub,andthePINKcandlesforIndividualMembers.

The candle in themiddle represents the oldest group of BPWAffiliates of theUnited States ofAmerica(LighttheUSAcandle).

ThetallestcandlerepresentstheInternationalFederation.(Lightthetallestcandle).Inthewarmthand glow of its tolerant light, Business and ProfessionalWomen in all parts of theworld cometogether to share memories in friendship and reflect on the founding principles envisioned byLenaMadesinPhillips, thatgovernthe InternationalFederationwhichstandsoutasabeacontowomeneverywhere.Usingourcombinedabilitiesandstrengthwerenewourcommitmentfortheattainmentofthefollowingobjectivesto:

1.Workforwomen's:

a. Economicindependence

b. Equalopportunityandrepresentationineconomic,civilandpoliticallife

2. Encourageandsupportwomenandgirlsto:

a. Developtheirprofessionalandleadershippotential

b. Undertakelifelongeducationandtraining

c. Use theirabilities for thebenefitofothers, locally,nationallyand internationally

3.Advocate:

a. Fortheeliminationofalldiscriminationagainstwomen

b. Forhumanrightsandtheuseofgender-sensitiveperspectives

4.Undertake:

a. World-widenetworkingandco-operationbetweenbusinessandprofessionalwomen

b. Non-profitprojectsthathelpwomengaineconomicindependence

c. Topresenttheviewsofbusinessandprofessionalwomentointernationalorganizationsandagencies,andtobusiness,governmentsandcivilsociety.

Letusnow light theothercandlesand rememberourmembersoneverycontinentwhowillbecelebratinginthesamemanner.Aswelightthecandlesforthem,theywilllightthecandleforourcountry.

FirstwelightcandlesforeachoftheFOUNDINGFederationsofBPWInternational(LightaWHITEcandleaseachcountryisnamed):

AUSTRIA,CANADA,FRANCE,ITALY,UNITEDKINGDOM,UNITEDSTATESOFAMERICA

Today, there are also AFFILIATE FEDERATIONS in (light the remaining WHITE candles as eachcountryisnamed):

Argentina Finland Nigeria

Australia Germany Pakistan

Bahrain Ireland Poland

Bangladesh Japan Singapore

Belgium Jordan Spain

Brazil Korea Sudan

Chile Nepal Sweden

Cyprus Mexico Switzerland

Ecuador Netherlands Taiwan

Egypt NewZealand Thailand

Estonia Turkey

WealsohonorourAFFILIATECLUBSinthefollowingcountries(lighttheBLUEcandles;nameeachcountryslowlyandclearly):

AmericanSamoa Hungary PalestineState

Barbados Iceland Panama

Benin India PapuaNewGuinea

Bermuda Israel Peru

Bulgaria Jamaica Philippines

BurkinaFaso Kenya Romania

Cameroon Kuwait RussianFederation

CaymanIslands Latvia SaintKitts

CostaRica Lebanon Senegal

Coted´Ivoire Lithuania Slovakia

Croatia Madagascar SouthAfrica

CzechRepublic Malaysia SouthSudan

Dominica Malta SriLanka

DominicanRepublic Moldova Tunisia

Ethiopia Mongolia Uganda

Greece Morocco Ukraine

Haiti Norway UnitedArabEmirates

HongKong Yemen

BPW International is a dynamic and powerful organization of world importance. Public opinionandlegislationinmanycountrieshavebeeninfluencedbyitswork.Ithasbroadenedourhorizonsandskills.Ithasincreasedourrightsandouropportunities,andithasexpandedourservicetooneanotherandtothecommunity.AsourvoiceattheUnitedNationsOrganization,itpresentstothatworldbodyinformationandopinionsobtainedfromourAffiliatesworldwide.ItenjoysCategory1,ConsultativeStatuswiththeUnitedNationsEconomicandSocialCouncil.ItalsohasConsultativeStatuswiththeUnitedNationsEducational,ScientificandCulturalOrganization,theBoardoftheUnited Nations Children’s Fund, the International Labor Office, the United Nations IndustrialDevelopment Organization and the World Health Organization. It works closely with theCommission on Human Rights and the Commission on the Status of Women, the Food andAgriculture Organization, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the Council ofEuropeandotherspecializedagencies.

As we come to the end of another Candle Lighting Ceremony, let us light the last candle–thecandleoftheFUTURE(lightthelastcandle).

Aswe light this candle, letus reaffirmouraimtogo forwardwith faith,withcourage,andwithenthusiasm, to takeourplace in economic, social andpolitical fieldsof endeavor, helpingus tobringintobeingaworldofsocialjusticeforall,andthepeacetowhichallhumanityaspires.

FollowtheceremonywiththeINTERNATIONALCOLLECTTheInternationalCollect

KeepusOLordfrompettiness;letusbelargeinthought,inwordanddeed.Letusbedonewithfaultfindingandleaveoffself-seeking.Mayweputawayallpretenseandmeeteachotherfacetoface,withoutself-pityandwithoutprejudice.Letustaketimeforallthings:makeusgrowcalm,sereneandgentle.Teachustoputintoactionourbetterimpulsesstraightforwardandunafraid.Grantthatwemayrealizethatitisthelittlethingsthatcreatedifferences;thatinthebigthingsoflifeweareone.Andmaywestrivetotouchandknowthegreathumanheartcommontousall,andOLordGodletusnotforgettobekind.

LaPrièreInternationale

Gardez-nous,Seigneur,detoutemesquinerie;quenoussoyonslargesenpensée,enparoleetenaction.

Quenousnetrouvionspasàredireetabandonnonstoutintérêtpersonnel.Quenouslaissionsdecôté nos prétentions et que nous nous rencontrions face à face sans nous apitoyer sur nous-mêmesetsanspréjugés.

Quenousnefassionspasdesjugementshâtifsetquenoussoyonstoujoursgénéreusesdansnosjugements.

Laissez-nousprendreletempspourtouteschoses:faitesquenousdevenionscalmes,sereinesetdouces.

Apprenez-nousàmettreenpratiquenosmeilleuresinitiatives,honnêtementetsanspeur.

Faitesquenousnous rendions compteque ce sontuniquement lespetites chosesde la viequiprovoquentlesdifférencesetquedanslesgrandesnousavançonsàl’unisson.

Etpuissions-nousdéployernoseffortspourtoucheretconnaîtrelegrandcœurhumain,communànoustoutes;et,Seigneur,faitesquenousn’oublionspasd’êtrebonnes.

LaPlegariaInternacional

Líbranos, Señor, de toda mezquindad, ayúdanos a ser magnánimas en pensamiento, palabra yacción.Que no busquemos defectos en otros y que dejemos de ser egoístas.Ayúdanosadesechartodapretensiónyaenfrentarnoscaraacara,sinserautocompasivasysintenerprejuicios.Anojuzgarapresuradamenteyasersiempregenerosas.

Dejaquenosdemostiempoparatodo:hazqueseamostranquilas,serenasyamables.Enséñanosaponerenprácticanuestrasmejoresiniciativas,honestamenteysintemor.

Ayúdanosadarnoscuentadequesonlaspequeñasdiferenciaslasqueprovocandesacuerdos;queenlasgrandescosasdelavidaestamosunidas.

Yesforcémonosparaalcanzaryconocerelgrancorazónhumanocomúnatodas;y,Señor,hazquenonosolvidemosdeserbondadosas.

Lapreghierainternazionale

Allontanadanoi,oSignore,ognimeschinità,aiutaciadesseremagnanimenelpensare,parlareeagire. Fa che superiamo gli interessi personali senza rilevare i difetti degli altri.Fa che abbandoniamo le nostrepretese e ci incontriamoa viso aperto senza vittimismi e senzapregiudizi.Fachenongiudichiamoastiosamenteesiamosemprecomprensive.

Faccitrovareiltempoperognicosa,echepossiamoesserecalme,sereneedamabili.

Insegnaciatradurreinazioneinostripropositiconlealtàecoraggio.Fachecirendiamocontochesonolepiccolecoseacrearedifferenzefranoi,machenellegrandicosedellavitasiamounite.

E fa che possiamo arrivare a toccare e conoscere il grande cuore umano comune a tutti noi e,Signore,nonfarcidimenticaremaidiesseregenerose.

ALTERNATIVEBPWINTERNATIONALCOLLECT

ThefollowingasanalternativeversionoftheInternationalCollect:

wasadoptedattheXXVICongressinMexicoCity

COLLECT

Weask

Thatwemeettogetheraswomen,

Notallowingbeliefs,religion,nationality,ethnicityorlanguagetocomebetweenus.

Thatthesemeetingsenableustomoveforwardandadvancethestatusofwomenthroughouttheworld.

That the value of women be recognized in our families, our communities, our workplaces, ourcountryandtheworld.

Thatweuseourgoodideas,ourknowledge,ourexperiencetopromotetheworthofwomen.

Thatwecombineourstrengthstomoveforwardinpeace,inserenityandinlove.

That women of all generations will do their part to achieve harmony and equality among allhumanbeings.

Text by Suzanne Garant, BPWQuébecMétropolitain (Canada) Translation by LeslieWest, BPWMontréal(Canada)

INVOCATIONPOURLESFEMMESD’UNCLUB

(Approuvéelorsducongrès2000delaFCCFCCP,tenuàSaultSte.Marie)

SanségardauPouvoircréateurinvoqué,

nousdemandonsd’êtreréuniesennotrequalitédefemmes

etqu’aucunecroyance,religion,nationalité,couleuroulanguenenoussépare.

Quecesréunionsnouspermettentd’allerdel’avant

etdefaireavancerlestatutdelafemmedanslemondeentier.

Quelavaleurdesfemmessoitreconnue

danslafamille,lacollectivité,lelieudetravail,lepaysetlemonde.

Que nos bonnes idées, nos connaissances et notre expérience nous permettent de défendre lavaleurdelafemme.

Quenouspuissionsalliernosforcespourprogresserdanslapaix,lasérénitéetl’amour.

Enfin,quelesfemmesdetouteslesgénérationsfassentleurpartpourquetouslesêtreshumainsaientdroitàl’harmonieetàl’égalité.

SuzanneGarant,BPWQuébecmétropolitain

TraduitparLeslieWest,BPWMontréal(Canada)

VERSIÓNALTERNATIVADELAPLEGARIADELABPWINTERNATIONAL

PLEGARIA

La siguiente es una versión alternativa de la Plegaria Internacional: fue adoptada en el 26°CongresoenCiudaddeMéxico

Pedimos

Reunirnoscomomujeres,

Sinpermitirquenuestrascreencias, religión,nacionalidad,razao lenguaje,se interponganentrenosotras.

Que estos encuentros nos permitan avanzar y hacer avanzar la condición de lasmujeres en elmundo.

Que el valor de las mujeres sea reconocido en nuestras familias, nuestra comunidad, nuestroslugaresdetrabajo,nuestropaísyelmundo.

Queutilicemosnuestrasbuenasideas,nuestroconocimiento,nuestraexperiencia,parapromoverelvalordelasmujeres.

Queunamosnuestrasfortalezasparaavanzarenpaz,serenidadyamor.

QuelasmujeresdetodaslasgeneracionespongandesuparteparalograrlaarmoníayLaequidadentretodoslossereshumanos.

TextoporSuzanneGrant,BPWQuebecMetropolitano(Canadá)

TraducidoalinglésporLeslieWest,BPWMontreal(Canadá)

ItaliantranslationofAlternativeBPWInternationalCollect

PREGHIERA

Chiediamo

Diriunircicomedonne

Senzachelanostrafede,religione,nazionalità,eticitàolinguacicondizionino.

Chequestiincontricirendanopossibilediandareavanti

Efaravanzarelostatusdelledonnedituttoilmondo.

Cheilvaloredelledonnesiariconosciutonellenostrefamiglie,lanostracomunità,ilnostropostodilavoro,lanostrapatriaedilmondo.

Cheusiamo lenostrebuone idee, lanostra conoscenza, Lanostraesperienzaperpromuovere ilvaloredelledonne.

Cheuniamolenostreforzeperproseguiréinpace,inserenitàeconamore.

Che le donne di tutte le generazioni possano fare. La loro parte per raggiungere l’armonia eL’uguaglianzatratuttigliesseriumani.

TestodiSuzanneGarant,BPWQuebecMetropolitan(Canada)

TraduzionediLesileWest,BPWMontreal(Canada)