A Publication of Women Graduates - USA

Third Edition
August2008
Meet the Leadership Team--Louise McLeod  
Greetings everyone!

I have the honor of being the Communications Convener for WG-USA, a role I very much enjoy. Web site communications for non-profit organizations are as rewarding as they are challenging. There is always something new to learn, and new tools to work with. The Internet has come a long way since I developed my first Web site 11 years ago for a non-profit organization. After that, my path into non-profit cyberspace was set. There were many more web sites to create, and many women’s groups to work with. Along the way, I have been fortunate enough to have worked with some of the most dedicated people in the arena of women’s issues you could ever want to meet.

The Communications Committee is responsible for the Web site and its content along with other communications tasks. The role of the Committee is to provide a forum for discussion and to keep WG-USA members informed and linked not only to each other, but to the rest of the world, particularly the IFUW world. The Committee needs more members, and you don’t have to be a ‘techie’ to join us. You only need to have a vision for WG-USA and how we can work to make it a truly unique and effective ‘virtual’ organization. Contact me at communications@wg-usa.org with ideas and suggestions or if you want to be a part of the committee.

The mission of Women Graduates-USA is to empower women globally through education, friendship, and mutual support to secure a better world. There is an unfinished agenda in world events today – the education and advancement of women around the world. Only by education can a woman achieve equity and gender equality. It has been proven time and again that when women are educated, the economic standards of the communities in which they live improve dramatically in terms of health and nutrition, income-earning potential and autonomy in the household.

Women helping other women… a formula that works. Come join us!

Check the Web site often for updates.
Action Items of WG-USA Board Meetings April & July 2008 
Board Meeting of April 9
  1. Determined that the Values of WG-USA are:
    • Commitment to the Mission of the Organization
    • Member Involvement
    • Communication Virtually – all members can speak
  2. Committed to increasing membership.
  3. Committed to doing an assessment of the current board.
  4. Voted to expand the board by two members at the General Membership Meeting.
  5. Will survey the membership on a regular basis by e-mail.
  6. Will provide training at the General Membership Meeting on working virtually.
  7. Set the date of the General Membership Meeting for October 17-19, 2008 in Iowa.
  8. Revised by-laws to meet the request of the Membership Committee of IFUW.
  9. Determined that 2008 will be used to gathering data and setting criteria for the program theme of Education for Girls. Program emphasis will be carried out in 2009.
Board Meeting of July 16
  1. Acknowledged the appointment of the following committee members since the last board meeting:
    Carol Ann Council, Finance Committee
    Suzanne Stutman, Program Committee
    Kathryn Horvat, Membership Committee
    Carla Sorani-Hluchan, Membership Committee
    Kathleen Magill, Governance Committee
    Caroline Sedlacek, Governance Committee
    Bev Weiler, Communications Committee and E-newsletter Editor
  2. Accepted the resignation of Myrna Brown as Board Member and convener of the Program Committee, but remaining as a member of the committee.
  3. Confirmed that WG individual membership dues are due payable on the anniversary of the first payment of dues, - always annually in 12 months after joining month intervals. The grace period for dues will be 3 months after the anniversary date.
  4. Accepted the bid for officer bonding insurance.
  5. Acknowledged that the application for WG-USA, Inc. non-profit status has submitted to the IRS.
  6. Confirmed the site and dates of the first Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Hotel Pattee in Perry, Iowa on October 17-19, 2008.
  7. Agreed to use www.regonline.com for the registration process. (Editor's Note: Registration information will be available soon and will be posted on the WG-USA website.)
  8. Determined that an e-mail survey of the membership will be developed and sent out during the month of August.
  9. Agreed to draft a Conflict of Interest Form to be signed at the AGM.
  10. Next Board Meeting - Conference Call - September 8, 2008 at 9:30 a.m EDT.
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About WG-USA Dues  
The WG-USA Board of Directors approved the following changes to the schedule of dues payment for membership in WG-USA. Please note that this is a change from the original policy statements made concerning dates of payment and the length of membership.

WG-USA will establish a system of dues collection based on the anniversary date of when each person becomes a member. Memberships will become delinquent if not paid within three months after the anniversary date.

This will mean that:
  1. Each person will be notified by email during DURING THE MONTH PRECEDING her anniversary month that her dues are payable.
  2. Your affiliation with IFUW will not be affected in any way by this scheduling, as it is WG-USA as an organization which pays the dues to IFUW, and by virtue of the fact that one is a member of WG-USA, one becomes affiliated with IFUW.
  3. She will retain her original membership number.
    4. If after three months she has failed to pay, her name will be retired to the archives. If she rejoins after that time, she will be given a new membership number but will not have to file a new application (unless the contact information is no longer valid.)
Websites You Won't Want to Miss! Letter from the Editor 
Every day millions of new bytes of information are posted to the Internet and there is no way anyone can keep up. However, as active members of the global community, WG-USA members as a group frequently find sites that would of interest to other members. In the spirit of sharing this information, each month I would like to include a few MUST SEE websites/articles in the Flame. If you have come across sites and/or information that you think your fellow members really shouldn't miss, let me know and I will highlight them in the next issue.

This month's suggestions encompass information posted in the Young Members newsletter of the IFUW, as well as an interesting program going on at the United Nations.

Being of an international nature, some of the most interesting articles in the YM newsletter are printed in their original language, however, we are currently working on a translation of the article on Rwanda for those of you whose French might be a tad rusty and hope to be able to post it in the next issue of the Flame.
http://www.ifuw.org/ym/2008-06-ym-newsletter.pdf

The second site contains information about the Focal Point for Women program of the United Nations--an effort to achieve 50% equity for women in the various offices of the Secretariat. Read more about this exciting initiative at:
http://www.wdls2008.com/about/aboutfocal.htm
Leadership Opportunities!  
Opportunities for leadership at the national level of Women Graduates-USA are still available. We are seeking members for the finance committee and the communication committee, particularly with skills in marketing and/or public relations. Contact President, Florine Swanson at: fswanson@wmtel.net
HAVE YOU UPDATED YOUR E-MAIL?  
If you have a new e-mail address or would like us to use a different address than we are currently using to send you communication from WG-USA, please let us know so that we can update our database.

Thanks!
The Communications Committee
communications@wg-usa.org
...empowering women to secure a better world

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