Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-05-23
BUSINESS And
PROFESSIONAL
WOMENS CLUB
The Virginia Division Hold
Their Annual Meeting
at Danville
Many Prominent Speakers-RepOrts
of Committees and of Clubs Were
Most Encouraging.
(For the Gazette)

| The apparently contradictory Terms
of Realism and Idealism seemed to go
hand in hand, at the recent State Con-
vention of the Virginia Federation of
Business and Professional Women
Clubs. The speakers, coming from
widely separated regions of country
and State, brought the same thought
and message. ExtemporaneOus speak
ers had a word from the women of
each city that deepened and intensi-
fled the spirit Of the gathering. Nir-
ginia women have seen the vision glo-
rious of Service, in its fullest sense
and have translated this ideal into
terms of practical success in the bus
mess and professional world.
At the very opening of the Conven-
ton, the President Of the National
Federation of Business and Profess
sional Women's Clubs. Mrs. Lena
Lake Forrest, sounded the keynote of
the gathering. Mrs. Forrest. nation
ally known as a successful business
woman, President of the Massachus-
etts Mutual Life Insurance Company,
brought to the Virginia Federation the
message of "Big Vision, Self Giving,
Faith and Loyalty. These, said Mrs.
Forrest. are the attributes of the sue
cessful business woman In every State
and country. the qualities which, added
to her business training and ability,
make not only the companion but the
honored leader in the business world.
Mrs. Forrest spoke at length on the
kinship of the South to the entire
country. The women of the South
were handicapped from the start by
wears of sheltered living and by tradi-
tions stronger even than living hands
to build wall against progress. And,
because of this, the Southern woman
has been more truly a pioneer than
her sisters who had less of opposition
to combat. All women are working
together now for the common good
and each section Of the country must
bring as its gift the best characters
tic of it's women to help and sustain
the whole. The Southern women bring
the softening touch. without which
women can not he true to their best
selves. Mrs Forrest brought the mes
sage to the Virginia Federation that
the women Of the South have brought
to the nation the greatest gift yet
made by any group.
Rev. DR.. Galloway Robertson, pas
tor Of Mount Vernon Church, set a
high standard for the women of the
world when. in his welcoming address,
he told the Federation that "There is
nothing women touch that they can
not make better" Mrs. !. X. Bow
man. of Richmond, President of the
State Federation. took this as the
theme of her onening speech and urged
upon the Federation faithfulness to
this ideal
DR.. Glenn Swiggett, United States
Commissioner of Commercial Educa-
ton, addressed the Federation and
presented the practical needs Of the
successful business and professional
man or woman. DR.. SwigPett gath
cred these under three headings:
Technique. Information and Attitude
of Mind He stressed the Importance
of all three and their interdependence.
L-sinc a practical illustration. ne said
that here are many Southern business
men who fail to appreciate the i'm
portance of trade with South Ameri-
can countries. These same men have
fullest information TN conditions and
necessities of the business world. per-
feet technique in the administration of
their affairs, and vet. lacking the
equally necessary Attitude OF Mind
saw: "What's the use Of South
American trade? THEY'RE only a
bunch of DagoeS!" Elaborating on
this. he showed how imperative it is
70 approach the problems of the bust.
| ness and professional life with ar
omen mind and with a profound re
spect for the other man. Information
must he had frst. and as fully anC
deeply as possible Technique must he
added. and for this the course ot
business trainir" is necessary: h"+
both must fail # the rrorer attitude
of mind is la"kirp. for without thai
thore is no wide vision.
The Omen Forum luncheon was un
dor the direction of Nv. Orie Latham
Hatcher. President Of the Southerr
Women'S Educational Alliance anC
National Vice-PreSident Of Business
ard Professional Women's Clubs. Or
Hatcher presented both the practice
aud ideal side &C the Educational Al
lliance. rs it arnlies To the Brsinoss nnr
Professional Women of the South. He