The AGM was opened at a reception on Thursday evening. Greetings were extended from the Region, by Karen Dunnett, Atlantic Vice President and from Joyce Noseworthy, the St. John’s Club, hosts for the AGM.



The Minister of the Status of Women for Newfoundland, Susan Sullivan, brought greeting from the Premier, Kathy Dunderdale, and quoted the Premier as saying ‘Women are tired of knocking on the door, asking to be let in; they are now knocking the door down.



Shannie Duff, Deputy Mayor of St. John’s, brought greetings from the mayor of St. John’s Dennis O’Keefe.





Barbara Clancy, Grace Stapleton, and Grace Hollett, co-chairs of the AGM, thanked the over 70 volunteers for all of their work.

The opening reception was a time for friends to meet and to introduce your sisters to the organization. Celine Kear, past president of the Winnipeg Club, brought three of her sisters to join her. Grace Hollett took the opportunity to give them all membership applications.



Brenda Wallace, president of CFUW, opened the AGM. She spoke of the many accomplishments of the last year and the exciting year ahead. She announced that CFUW had given over $1,000,000 in scholarships across the country this year and had a goal of establishing a $100,000 endowment for the 100th Birthday celebrations. (see attached press release). She also announced that the establishment of CFUW had been recognized as an event of national historic significance, and that one of our early members, Alice E Wilson, had been recognized as as person of national significance. (see attached press release)

Marianne Haslegrave, president of the International Federation of University Women (IFUW), spoke of IFUW.

What does IFUW do?

The IFUW program is developed by the members and it is those members that determine the program for IFUW.

Current program is promoting the power of education in developing countries.

• Education for employment and leadership
• Education for freedom from violence
• Education for financial independence, employment and entrepreneurship
• Education for sustainable futures

The program is the based on the belief that education is the underpinning in the struggle for the rights of girls and women. If they do not go to school they will never be able to improve their status

IFUW has important relationships with ECOSOC, UNICEF, ILO, UNESCO and is able to have representatives to speak in at important meetings in New York, Geneva, Paris and Vienna. In all of these the primary focus is on secondary education for girls. The website is www.ifuw.org

IFUW is involved in fellowships and grants. The next Triennium is in Istanbul in 2013.

Robin Jackson, ED of CFUW
What does IFUW do?

CFUW’s ED talked about the importance of providing services to members. She noted the successful campaign against the cancelling of the long gun registry has taught the National Office a great deal about how to deal with Clubs – where materials are useful and under what circumstances different types of supports are required.

Work with the Coalition of Women – advocated for the inclusion of child care in the federal election.

Over 582 applications were received for 15 fellowships and awards

Complete report on the website www.cfuw.org

Carol Hare, Treasurer, presented a balanced budget but noted that there are challenges facing CFUW in the upcoming years. Complete Financial report is on the website.





Lynn Franklin, Treasurer of the Charitable Trust . The financial situation of the Trust was outlined. The investment strategy for the Trust is sound and performing in an acceptable manner. Donations, however, have not been as robust as is required to ensure that the awards that are disbursed by the Trust be increased to reflect cost of living increases.



Panel: Wind in Our Sails: Women at the Helm
Speakers: Dr. Alice Collins (moderator), Noreen Golfman, Jocelyn Greens, Lana Payne,

Lana Payne raised concern about the state of the advancement of women – there is a need for women to raise their voices. Sense that within the current environment the rights of women are under threat. The labour movement has had good results for women but the glass ceiling is still there – sustaining change is only possible if structure changes as well. Our rights are worth fighting for – rights are never given – they are fought for by women who are willing to make a difference. She quoted Rita Bouliveau, an aboriginal woman from Saskatchewan who said, “ Tonight I am tired – I am tired – Rosa Parks was tired - of giving in to polite conversation”. She urged the delegates not to be polite but to be willing to fight for rights.

Jocelyn Green talked about some of the tipping points – the importance of building from the experience and believing that you can change policies if there is the need. She also talked about the importance of being innovative and of using a social entrepreneurial approach when you are dealing support for vulnerable populations. Her motto/lessons learned – ‘infiltrate and conquer’. In the non-profit sector – excellence is fundamental – it is the message that is given – we are all in this together, you deserve the best and we will all work together to achieve this.

Noreen Golfman, talked about the St. John’s Women Film and Video Festival and its importance for building the community of women. We don’t do this alone we have to be educated, and mentored to carry on. Although the number of women in production roles have not significantly grown - women need opportunity to showcase their work. Slowly building a community beyond St. John – it takes time and patience.

Panellists - Talked about the difficulties that the next four years will bring – and we have to work with men as well. It is going to have to be on all fronts and we need to be bold. We need to push back.

The Charitable Trust Breakfast, Speaker Dr. Robin Whitaker,, was a prior winner of a CFUW 1989 Polytechnique Commemorative Award. Her studies are in the area of the Women’s Collation Northern Ireland peace process.



Patricia DuVal, Vice President Membership, outlined three major initiatives:

• Member Services Survey
• Membership Trends
• Membership Campaign

Existing Services – Most Popular

• Advocacy materials
• Publications (Except for Blogs & Facebook)
• Certificates

New Services – The Winners

• Fundraising toolkits
• Programme assistance
• Technology assistance
• Resolution, Advocacy and Parliamentary Procedure training

Comments received were around:

• Concern for costs
• Website needs to be simple to use and current
• Want services available over the internet
• Toolkits for club executives
• More modern promotional materials
• More national branding
• More national contact

She gave an overall picture of the Clubs

• Clubs with Decreasing Members = 70
• Remote/Isolated Clubs
• Clubs with older/inactive members
• With clubhouses
• Clubs with Increasing Members = 42
• Active Clubs
• Areas with recent retirees and empty-nesters
• Turnaround Clubs = 13
• Involved members who made a focused effort
• Reborn Clubs = 1

She outlined a retention and a recruitment campaign and told participants to expect more information in September.

Retention

Member services feedback
Club recognition
Member recognition
Small Club AGM Grant
“Sisters” for new members
Exit interviews
Toolkits for clubs (how to ........

Recruitment

Phase 1: Newly retired and empty-nesters
Peer recruitment
“Partnering” with other groups
Toolkits for clubs (sample ads, PR advice, how to get free ads, etc.)
Resolution on women and aging, with input from other organizations
Signature Event
Mob event

Phase 2: Young mothers (at home or working)

Survey of members’ daughters to determine needs
Possible “young mothers’ groups

Phase 3: Students & recent grads

Use interns to work on an issue or a project

Susan Russell, Coordinator for International Relations (CIR) ,Announced the CFUW’s International Women’s Day support for the upcoming year - CARE and the Maternal and Child Care project. With more than 65 years of experience in maternal, newborn and child health programming, CARE is at the forefront of the movement to safeguard women’s health during pregnancy and childbirth. CARE’s knowledge and comprehensive experience in the poorest communities of the developing world is used to identify and implement best practices to reduce maternal newborn and child mortality, and improve women and children’s overall health. CARE has made maternal and newborn health a key priority through the Mothers Matter signature program. Working with a global coalition of public and private partners, CARE has committed to making pregnancy and delivery safer for 30 million women in Africa, Asia and Latin America by 2015.

Three key paths have been identified:

1. Strengthening health services to improve health service delivery and train more health workers.
2. Improve nutrition by increasing access to healthy and nutritious food.
3. Addressing leading diseases and illnesses that are killing mothers and children.

Kathy Wong, CARE Canada, Manager, Ambassador Relations and Events , talked about the partnership with CFUW and the importance of this relationship. Over the past three years CFUW has helped raise over $30,000 for CARE. This year funding will be matched on a $1 to $3 basis (ww.care.ca) for any funding by September 16. Brenda Wallace ‘passed the hat’ and promised to personally match any funds raised. She also asked each club to pass the hat at their first meeting to raise money in this way.

VTAWP – Afghanistan – thousands of women – vocational training
SAHABHAGITA – peace building and women’s rights in Nepal
Haiti – support after the earth quake in Haiti
Zambia – programming

CARE officially recognized Wolfville as a top club fund raiser and a plaque was presented to the them.





Teri Shaw, Vice President of Advocacy , outlined the changes to Advocacy and the strengthened role of Advocacy. The September issue of the Communicator will be devoted to Advocacy. All advocacy starts with policy, initiated through the Resolution process, voted on and adopted at the Annual General Meetings.



The Resolution Process was introduced by Judith Kashul, chair of CFUW Resolutions Committee. The following resolutions were passed.

RESOLVED, that the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) urge federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments to create and enforce standard limits, through education, signage, and by law and regulation, to control the idling of motorized vehicles for the protection of human health and the environment.

RESOLVED, that the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) urge the Government of Canada to amend, immediately, the Criminal Code of Canada to include torture committed by private individuals and organizations, (non-state actors) as a specific and distinct criminal offence.

RESOLVED: That CFUW urge the Government of Canada to:

• Exercise due diligence by initiating into Canadian policies and practices without delay, all appropriate measures to ensure that no person is subjected to torture by non-state actors;
• Respect the priority of gender sensitive frameworks on the United Nations agendas, given that women and girls are disproportionately affected by extreme forms of violence; and
• Uphold Canada’s commitments to United Nation human rights instruments to which Canada is a signatory.

Eileen Grant, Chair, Constitution and Bylaws

The voting body considered a complete revision of the constitution and by-laws. The revision did not receive the two thirds majority required to pass.

Awards to Clubs were presented at the Saturday night banquet

2011 Membership Awards

Special Project Awards Richmond

• Community Garden project as part of their Food Security advocacy

Vancouver (3)

• Lunch and Speaker in honour of the 100th anniv. of International Women's Day
• Health Series of 5 dinner/lectures
• Free Wellness Series for seniors

Nanaimo

• Women's Day Free Community Pot Luck

Edmonton (2)

• U. Of Alberta Food Bank - collection
• Black History Month Presentation on Black Pioneers of Alberta

Lethbridge

• Scientists in Schools

Perth (3)

• Open Forum on Youth and Opiate Addiction
• Open Forum on Treasuring the Tay as part of a water campaign
• Women's Day project on Women and Education

Ottawa

• Membership Marketing Video

Owen Sound

• Presentation by I Shall Not Hate author- part of Community Diversity event

Orillia

• Student Mentorship Programme

Parksville/Qualicum

• IWD 100th Anniversary Joint Celebration

Kanata (2)

• Kind Deeds With Kraft Dinner
• Pioneer School Days Tour

Prince George

• Public Forum on Polygamy: Right or Wrong

Membership Increase - 10% or more

New Westminster	10%	BC
Vernon	24%
Cowichan	26%
Regina	27%	SK;
Prince Albert	30%
N. Toronto	12%	ON
Montreal Inc	14%
Milton	15%
Kinkardin	16%
Kanata	18%
Vaughan	20%
Cape Breton	43%	NS

New Members - 10% or more

Club Name	% Increase	% New Members
West Vancouver	0%	10%	BC
White Rock Surrey	0%	12%
Richmond	0%	14%
Edmonton	2%	14%	AL
Welland & District	6%	13%	ON
Ottawa	1%	17%
Montreal South Shore	4%	16%	QC
Wolfville	2%	11%;	NS

Special Membership Award
Perth - 26% increase in membership this year
Doubled their membership in the last 5 years