In June of 2007, over 70 women met together in Phoenix at the conclusion of the AAUW Convention. How many of you were part of that meeting? Thank you for having the courage to step up early in the process. Out of that meeting you said, we want to create a new affiliate organization in the United States and the work began.
Between August and the end of October, e-mail messages provided a way for everyone to stay connected and the mission of Women Graduates-USA was determined. Our mission is “Empowering women globally through education, friendship, and mutual support to secure a better world.” A leadership team volunteered and the organization began to take shape. Behind the scenes Claire Stein began drafting the by-laws for the organization. By the time of the first meeting we were on the 5th draft. We quickly learned that almost everyone who volunteered was also active in Virginia Gildersleeve International Fund. Thus the organizational meeting took place one day prior to the semi annual meeting of VGIF last October. There were 12 women in attendance around the table in the VGIF office. Of those 12, every one has stepped up to say; yes I will help either as a board member or a committee member. Eleven of the twelve are attending the AGM this weekend. These 12 women are the true founding leaders of our organization. By January Women Graduates-USA was incorporated as a non-profit organization in the state of Iowa and had filed for affiliation with IFUW with 66 members. In April the board met in a retreat setting with consultant, Marcia Penn, in New York City. Marcia had previously served as a consultant to IFUW. In the afternoon members of the program committee joined us for program emphasis. Since that time the board has met by teleconference on two other occasions to plan the AGM and approve a policies and procedures manual and a job descriptions manual. Numerous other actions have taken place by e-mail and Goggle-docs including the appointment of committee members and a new convener of the program committee and a convener of the membership committee. In our effort to keep our members informed we have a state of the art website and an electronic e-mail newsletter called The Flame. We have also created the capability to do e-mail blasts and did our first survey of members with over 30% of the memberships participating. All of our efforts came together this past week when we received world of two special approvals. The first that our organization is classified by the IRS as a 501(c)3 non-profit. And the second news was the unanimous approval by the members of the International Federation of University Women as the newest affiliate organization. Here is what some of your fellow members are saying who could not be with us this weekend. Congratulations!! What wonderful news …. and before the AGM!! Time to celebrate not one, but two big steps forward for WG-USA. Thanks to everyone for making it happen. Carol Ann Council, New Mexico – Budget Committee member Thanks for sharing the good news. Maisha Britt, Delaware – Development Committee This is wonderful news. Congratulations to all that have worked to bring WG-USA to reality. Camille McDonald-Poloski, PA, Program Committee Excellent Ella Iams of DC It is so wonderful to be a part of this new organization. Please keep me informed about meetings and especially the international meetings. Augustine Pounds, Maryland Congratulations! What a lot of work you have been doing! I appreciate your efforts. Kathleen Zamboni, CA Wonderful news. I’m proud to be a charter member. Mary Connors – DC Good New is always welcome and two pieces of good news in one email is extra special… Evelyn Cumming – NV Wonderful news! Karen McKee – VA
In addition we have received numerous other greetings from members in the US as well as around the world. We will share these greetings at the celebration dinner this evening. As I look back over the last year I am amazed how far we have come. But when I look ahead, I know how far we have yet to go. I have often used the example of building a house when creating a new organization. So how far are we? We have the site location and the blue print. The digging has taken place and the foundation has been poured. But we have yet to put on the build the walls and put on a roof. I say that because there are two key areas that need to take place before we have a real house. One is the need to increase our membership numbers. We now have 147 members. The question is always asked, why do you want more members. Without them we can not impact the programs that we support. And so the second effort is to develop and strengthen our programs. Outstanding programs attract members and members impact program. Throughout this weekend we ask for your continued input to each of these committees. The intra-structure has been my emphasis this past year. My emphasis this coming year will be on increasing the effectiveness of our committees. But anything that has been accomplished this past year has been because of the time, talent and treasure of many wonderful women. This has been a true team effort. It’s the kind of team that wins the gold at the Olympics.
Carolyn Cowgill, Secretary Barbara Carey, Treasurer
Louise McLeod Claire Stein Fay Weber This is your organizational board who will serve through the Annual General Meeting in the fall of 2009. At that time the membership will elect the new officers. Please join me in thanking them for all that they have done in the past year. I would also like to recognize the committees. Strong functioning committees are key in the success of our organization. If you would each stand in place so you can be recognized. The Finance Committee is chaired by Barbara Carey. Members of the committee are: Carol Ann Council of New MexicoCarrie Gallagher of Connecticut The Membership Committee is chaired by Fay Weber. Members of the committee are: Kathryn Horvat of UtahRita Skillman of California Carla Sorani-Hluchan of DC
Camille MacDonald-Poloski of PA Linda Hiebert Sekiguchi of NV And Kathleen Laurlia of MN – ex-officio Communications Committee is chaired by Louise McLeod. Members of the committee are: Bev Weiler of CO – editor of The FlameAmy Lancaster of PA – Internet Resources Development Committee – Maisha Britt of Delaware
Governance Committee members – Diane HaneyKathleen Magill Ronni Nivala Caroline Sedlacek Please join me in thanking everyone for their leadership this past year. Opportunities to serve on committees include, program, membership, communication and development. If you would like to serve, please provide a resume to me. All appointments must be approved by the board. For those of you who have been active in IFUW for many years, you know that the importance of our membership is a global network that makes us unique. On August 13 I received the following message that put that point into perspective. Dear Sisters, All of you are informed about circumstances in Georgia.Georgian Association of University Women want to express it’s gratitude towards the support from the USA at very level. Georgia badly needs international support, because democratic small country, oriented to the West, it is under the pressure of a great aggressor.Many thanks with best wishes, Nina Pirtskhalava Head of the young branch of Georgian Association of University Women It is messages like this that are why I am honored to be a part of Women Graduates-USA. |
