Woman Graduates-USA conducted its first face-to-face General
Meeting by celebrating the recent acceptance into the International Federation
of University Women (IFUW), and the approval by the US government as a
nonprofit – non-governmental – organization. In keeping with the international
spirit, Ardith Toogood, Canadian Coordinator for International Relations, spoke
at our Celebration Dinner, and the Estonian immigrant Mayor of Perry, Iowa
where the conference was held, warmly welcomed us.
Following a day of committee meetings, all attendees
participated in discussing the future for WG-USA. Although we have many issues
and procedures to develop as a “virtual” organization, we primarily focused on
programs for action, we restated our intent to educate ourselves and take
action on those global issues that affect the education of girls and
discrimination against women. With the expected change in the US government, we
are preparing to add our voices to the effort to gain US Senate ratification of
the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). It
has been sixteen years since passage could politically be considered a
possibility.
When the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) holds
its meetings next March in New York, WG-USA members will be coordinating our
efforts with the IFUW delegation, taking on whatever responsibility will be the
most effective in advancing the message of equality for all. We have also begun
planning for our attendance at the 2010 IFUW Conference in our neighboring
country of Mexico.
It was also agreed that we will pursue membership in
the National Council of Women’s Organizations, and the National Council for
Research on Women, while we also look at an opportunity to be a part of the US
Committee for UNESCO. Working in coalitions and partnerships is to be a
hallmark of our activities.
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