by SC Reporter Teresa Vazquez
Through phone calls, Zoom meetings, and conversations held standing on either end of a swimming pool, the islands’ former American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) members brewed the idea to create the Sanibel Captiva Business Women’s Association.
“We realized as a group that the passionate interest of our members group wasn’t to continue with a national affiliation,” Club President Gloria Garret said. “We needed to focus our efforts on our community getting through another unexpected crisis.”
When the coronavirus hit in March, all meetings were suspended for the ABWA local chapter. And Garret wondered what the club’s 40-plus members had to say about its future, so she called them all.
Her calls gathered an overwhelming response. The members agreed the chapter should move towards localizing the group’s efforts. Unanimously, the members voted to close the local ABWA chapter and with that came the birth of the Sanibel Captiva Business Women’s Association.
“There was the power of a group consensus and note the old quote: ‘Once you have a group of powerful women decide on a course of action, it is going to happen,’’’ Garret said.
The new organization is dedicated to supporting education and the advancement of women’s career development on the Sanibel and Captiva Islands through mentoring, continuing education, scholarships, networking opportunities and recognition, explained Garret.
To kick of its new journey, the club held its first meeting on Oct. 20 with Margie Peters, a pioneer in television who Garret described as the “perfect speaker” to initiate The Women in Leadership Speaker Series.
Peters is best known as the executive producer for the 80’s TV hit show “The Facts of Life.” Her creative mind is also responsible for the scripts of many episodes for other prime time shows including “The Love Boat” and “A Different World.”
However, Peter’s success extends further than television. She also taught at a junior high school in Massachusetts, where she developed a curriculum and was a member of her community Diversity Committee.
Finding your passion, gratitude and fearlessness are some of the many topics Peters discussed in her presentation Making a Difference – TV, Classroom and Community.
“The first thing I would say is, what’s your passion, because that’s what I had to say to me,” Peters said.
She quickly realized her passion lies in connecting with people, communicating with them, being a part of the community and, of course, making people laugh. Peters said she wanted to be useful like a “screwdriver or a wrench.”
But finding her passion was only the first step. Being fearless was the next.
When Peters got her first television script writing offer she lived in Massachusetts, but the job was in California. Instead of letting fear hold her back, she embraced the change and moved her life from one coast to the other.
“I have learned running away from change is the worst life strategy I could have,” Peters said. “I have got to walk toward the thing I fear the most.”
Once in California, Peters worked her way up the ladder and learned a lot on the way up. One of the lessons she shared with the club was the importance gratitude and remaining true to herself had on her career.
As one of the first woman writers, Peters had to pave her own path with the opportunities given to her by those who believed in her. One of those opportunities was the approval to air an episode she co-wrote which became the first ever “estrogen only” half hour on NBC.
“Say thank you to your mentor, female or male it does not matter, support is support,” Peters said. “Pay it up the food chain. Say thank you. Make sure you pay it down the food chain as well.”
Peters thanked those who gave her the green-light to pursue the ideas that sprouted from Peters’ creativity. On more than one occasion she presented ideas that she believed would result in a no or a shut door.
Nonetheless, Peters stayed true to herself despite the chance that her honesty could backfire. Take for example, when her and her partner were first presented with the idea for “The Facts of Life.” They were asked how they liked the idea, which they admitted they didn’t like.
Their honesty could have passed the job over to another, but instead they were asked what they envisioned the show should look like. Turned out her higher-ups liked their idea better, landing them the job.
“Tell the truth, speak your truth. Doesn’t matter what it costs you because if you sell out once, you will continue to sell out,” Peters said. “And all of a sudden, you won’t be driving your car on the road, you’ll be in the passenger seat.
Regardless of where you find yourself in the journey of life remain grateful, passionate, true to yourself, and keep driving.
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