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AGM 2009

“Moving our Minds …to Ideas and Action,
A vision for the future of WG-USA”
Florine Swanson, WG-USA President

WOW – what a title for a luncheon speech that the Program Committee gave me! I have this Peanuts carton that hangs on the bulletin board in my office – and Linus is saying to Charlie Brown – “There’s no Heavier Burden than a Great Potential.”

That’s how I feel as the President of Women Graduates-USA. To put all things into perspective – it was June 2007 in Phoenix, AZ that a group of women filled a workshop room to say yes; we want to create a new organization in the United States to maintain our affiliation with the International Federation of University Women. Two months later 30 women met in Manchester, England during the IFUW Conference and decided that the new name of the affiliate would be Women Graduates-USA. By October 2007 a dozen women met in New York City and held the first organizational meeting of Women Graduates-USA. By the end of year over 60 women had joined and on January 2, 2008 we were incorporated as a non-profit organization in the state of Iowa. By-laws were created and sent on to the membership committee of IFUW. Thanks to the unbelievable talent of Louise McLeod, we moved forward as a virtual organization with the establishment of an outstanding professional website. And an electronic newsletter was created, called the Flame with Bev Weiler as our editor. In April 2008 the organizational board met for a face to face board retreat and established the goals to reach in the coming year. All of those goals have now been completed. A Policies and Procedures Manual and Job Description Manuals were created thanks to the leadership and hard work of Claire Stein. And one year ago this month, we received word from the IRS that we were accepted as a 501(c)3 non-profit. And most importantly we were approved as an affiliate organization of the International Federation of University Women. It was truly a time to celebrate at our first AGM in Perry, Iowa.

This past year has been spent establishing numerous working committees in program, membership, finance, communication and governance. This has provided the opportunity for 33 members from 18 states & DC to be directly involved in the activities of the organization.

Seventeen members in the United States participated in the Commission of the Status of Women meetings at the United Nations. This provided the opportunity to interact with many other IFUW members. Loretta James, one of our members as the Chair of the CSW meeting.

In June, Women Graduates-USA teamed up with Virginia Gildersleeve International Fund to share a table in the AAUW Market Place and hosted two receptions for women to stop by and interact with members of the board. This increased our visibility and brought in a couple of new members.

Just in the past two months all of the membership has had the opportunity to vote electronically for the first elected board and by proxy vote for the AGM thanks to the efforts of Governance Committee with Diane Haney as convener and the technological talents of Louise McLeod.

And thanks to the leadership of Janet Heinicke and the entire program committee we are participating in an outstanding program conference this weekend.

There are times when I think we are not making any progress. That things are going very slowly. So I have to look back first, to see the roads we have traveled before I can see what is ahead of us. As a rural woman I travel many roads. When we started I thought we were on a dirt road that gets lots of ruts and when it rains we get stuck. And we had times like that. Now with much of the organizational structure in place, we have progressed to gravel roads. I happen to live on a gravel road, which when it is dry can make everything around it covered with dust. I think that is where we are now. Fortunately I personally am only one mile from a paved highway. I’d like to think, that we are close to that paved road as well.

Earlier today the first elected board of directors was announced.

I have always believed that governance should be a team effort. Musician John Lennon once said, “A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.” So I looked at what my fellow board members wanted in Women Graduates-USA to accomplish during their terms.

Those elected for 3 years –

Kathleen Laurila – our Coordinator for International Relations said, “ To offer insight and develop strategies for the organization that will best advance its mission, to offer organizational management skills to benefit sound growth of WG-USA and to provide personal links to members of national federations and associations so that organizational and program links can be better developed.

Louise McLeod, Communication Convener wants to help WG-USA to maintain its forward momentum with IFUW and to help support women and children around the world.

Jeanne Clarke – Public Policy Director would like to see WG-USA grow in membership and become a more visible, potent organization affecting public policy in the United States and abroad.

Those elected for 2 years –

Sema Faigen, Treasurer – will work to maintain the records in good and true fashion and render reports as needed.

Janet Heinicke – Program Convener indicated that the past year the committee learned to plan and vision together ideas and strategies to reach the needs of women in today’s world and develop programs that have both intellectual integrity and relevance. More efforts will be made towards electronic discussion groups.

Barbara Carey – Board Member-at-Large indicated that WG-USA should spread awareness of our programs and increase participation in IFUW both through online discussions and attendance at the 2010 IFUW Triennial Conference in Mexico City.

Claire Stein – Board Member-at- Large sees our goals as increasing membership in WG-USA by spreading knowledge about its mission and that of IFUW, assist in offering programs that broaden members’ knowledge and present the opportunity to become involved around the world with affiliates of IFUW and the United Nations; and to partner with international organizations in addition to Virginia Gildersleeve International Fund and AAUW.

Those elected for one year terms –

Carolyn Cowgill – Secretary wants to continue to develop computer skills, work on an annual schedule of expected events and gather ideas to carry out a more solid program.

Fay Weber – Membership Convener indicates that her goals are to retain current WG-USA members, increase membership next year by 20% (that means 30 new members) and to have a WG-USA Young Member serve on the membership committee.

Evelyn Cumming – Board Member-at-Large wants to promote WG-USA as a virtual organization and to promote international cooperation and understanding.

This is your leadership team for 2009-201O.

When I looked back at what my goals were: I said to increase membership that could make possible the hiring of part time office support with data base management and technology support currently done entirely by volunteers. I also said WG-USA needs to continue to identify programs that make women want to be involved and participatory.

You heard in these goals a lot of references to:

Increased membership – A year ago we set a goal of 200 members. Last week the 190th member joined, but with not all members retaining the membership, so we still have a ways to go. And one of the inspirations of our organization, Virginia (Ginny) Palmer, passed away.

Putting together a reason on why to belong – Spreading our mission and why does it make a difference to have Women Graduates-USA. Discussion on the establishment of a marketing committee to enhance the work of membership and program.

Providing continuing opportunities for membership involvement on line.

Encouraging participation in IFUW both on line, at the IFUW Conference in Mexico City as well as other connections.

I recently came across a list of 7 things that are the responsibilities of a nonprofit leader

• To make our dreams strong. To set goals that ensure our board and members are talking about those dreams as well.

• To realize that the organization is not about me. Your dreams and membership are key in supporting the organization.

• To be transparent. To keep all members informed. The best way to do that is to go to the website. Every day those of us who are officers have questions about I didn’t get this or I didn’t know that. The answer should always be – “Have you been to the website?”

• To understand that the world is flat. Women care about not just their neighborhood but also nationally and internationally. This provides us a leg up that other organizations don’t have because of our mission and connections.

• To be open to change. And even though we are only 2 years old we need to continue to strategize at all times on working more efficiently and effectively.

• To use appropriate technology. We already do a great job with the web site and e-mail as well as conference calls. We have learned very quickly that once a member’s email address doesn’t work it requires a personal connection by phone to reconnect. We’ve tried a blog with no results. But we will continue to try new ideas. (The board has approved the 2010 AGM will be done electronically. Date – September 25 at 11:00 AM EDT)

• To keep members engaged. Large-scale dreams require participation and innovative ideas.

Well, I was dreaming the other night. I sometimes I think I get my best ideas when I dream. In that dream I’ve watched WG-USA evolve over the next 25 years and I’m now 90 years old. That’s how long my mother and her mother lived so I believe the odds are I’ll get there, too.

We are now WG-USA is one the top four affiliates in membership in IFUW. Our members are again active leaders at the international level. We are making impact on legislation in Washington, DC and at the United Nations through IFUW as well as Women Graduates-USA.

So how could that happen. We need to continue to articulate a strong vision – those large scale dreams.

Let me give you one idea that may work. At least it was in my dream. As we link globally we need to meet locally. There is still something about a group of women meeting in small groups that can make the most impact. Groups that aren’t bogged down with organizational structure, but with ideas that make a difference public policy wise or for themselves and their communities locally. The fastest growing organization in the United States has been the “Red Hat Society”. Part of their success is not getting absorbed with agendas. So we need to keep it focused.

Or it might be groups of women meeting around a common issue globally. As a farmer and Home Economist I believe in the need for good nutrition for all children. If this is going to happen world wide, I believe it is women who will do it. Or if we really want to stop conflict within countries or between countries, I believe it is women who will do it. Just think of all those times that we stopped the conflicts between our children as they were growing up. I know since I had 3 sons.

I recently heard a presentation by Bjorn Lomborg from the University of Copenhagen who was speaking at Iowa State University on where we could have the most impact for the dollar spent. The highest impact was on HIV-AIDS elimination followed by micro nutrition malnuitrion. Others in the top included water quality, elimination of malaria, free trade and education. For every dollar spent the return was positive. For HIV-AIDS prevention the return is $40 for every dollar spent. For nutrition the return is $30 for every dollar spent. Global warming/climate change on the other hand was number 16 on the list in terms of economic return with .30 cents for every dollar spent. If we look at economic impact we can definitely look at education which is in the top 10. Education for girls and women continues to be a key to economic growth as well as security. What can Women Graduates-USA and IFUW do that will make sure every girl has at least a high school education world wide?

Tomorrow’s board meeting will include a time for visioning and setting goals. Each board member has been asked to bring five ideas that they would like to see accomplished in the next two years. Throughout this afternoon I ask you to provide input as well. Write down on the cards at your table 3 ideas you would like WG-USA to accomplish. DREAM BIG!

Share your dreams so they can become reality. Together we can make a difference.