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Club Action Newsletter
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Club Action Newsletter:

September 10, 2020
This publication contains time-sensitive information generally directed to Club Executives and members and pertains to CFUW activities and events. Please send relevant pieces to all Club Members. 
    
  • President's Message
  • Maintaining Member Engagement
  • Welcoming Charlotte Akin, Advocacy Coordinator
  • CFUW Charitable Trust Webinar
  • Sharing Corner:
    - Gun Control in Canada Webinar

President's Message

How many of you remember the back to school Labour Day nightmare? You are in the wrong class or forgotten to get dressed or can’t remember how to read or write.  My back to school nightmare continued well into retirement from teaching but this year’s back to school really is the thing bad dreams are made of.  As schools, colleges and universities are adjusting to the reality of re-opening in a pandemic, CFUW is keeping track of the issues across the country and seeking to hold the various levels of government accountable through our advocacy work.  It is especially disconcerting that women and children are being disproportionately affected by the pandemic and there is obviously a need for strong women’s voices. While CFUW has been challenged by the pandemic, it is also something of an opportunity.  It is difficult to meet in person but many Clubs have adapted to holding virtual meetings and National is supporting this through our ten Zoom accounts and free teleconferencing.  We now know we can make effective use of technology; virtual meetings mean that members can stay connected if (when!) they travel or if they are housebound for any reason. We never have to cancel a meeting because of bad weather.  We are also increasing our presence on social media where CFUW will be visible to a younger age-group. As CFUW Clubs re-open, decisions have to be made as to how interest groups and meetings are organised and in this newsletter is an article about organising meetings and keeping connected and also a waiver that can be personalised for Club use and in-person meetings. Please continue to share with National any activities or meetings that could be attended by other members across the country.

In the last newsletter, I mentioned that the Board is developing a strategic plan and also that we have accepted the Mediation Report. In the next couple of weeks, Clubs will receive a survey through their Club President as we try to create a profile of our organization: Who are we? What do we do? Who do we serve? Clubs will also be asked to consider sharing their database with National Office. In the past when this has been raised, there have been some objections but as we are moving very much to a virtual organization, it would be beneficial if we could contact members individually and share items that might be of interest in a timely manner.  Once the surveys are returned, we will be holding consultation sessions with Club representatives across the country. At the same time, we continue to work on the implementation of the Mediation Report and the first meeting of the Communication Committee will be held next week. The Board is committed to keeping the membership updated and involved in both the strategic plan and the Mediation Implementation. 
 
Finally, I’d like to welcome our new advocacy coordinator, Charlotte Akin, who joined the staff this week and to thank our Executive Director Robin Jackson for organizing such a smooth transition.  I wish you all well as you resume your fall activities.  National Office is here to assist you and the VPs and Committee Chairs are working to keep us all connected and involved.  Look out for news about the new virtual book club that is about to launched, watch for information about upcoming speakers, continue to share your stories and keep safe.

Kathryn,

 

Maintaining Member Engagement

CFUW National has created a waiver for maintaining member engagement to be signed for Club's that are participating in any CFUW activity during the Covid-19 pandemic. View the form here.

Welcoming the New Advocacy Coordinator, Charlotte Akin

                             

Charlotte Akin is thrilled to join the CFUW as the Advocacy Coordinator.
Charlotte, a dual citizen of Canada and the United States, recently graduated
from Queen’s University with a Master of Arts in Global Development. Her
Master’s research focused on the rights of child asylum seekers in Greece,
explored through the framework of the United Nations Convention on the
Rights of the Child. Charlotte also holds an undergraduate degree from Mount
Allison University in International Relations and Political Science.

Charlotte has a background in global human rights advocacy and a passion
for intersectional feminism. During her work with the Canadian Voice of
Women for Peace (VOW) and Amnesty International USA, Charlotte focused
her advocacy work on nuclear disarmament, gun violence, migrant rights, and
sexual and gender-based violence. Charlotte represented Canada on the
Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme from 2018 to 2019.
Charlotte worked in Nagasaki prefecture promoting foreign language and
culture education in elementary and junior high schools. She believes that the
empowerment of women and girls is the key to justice and equality. Charlotte
is committed to furthering CFUW’s mission of promoting the rights of women
and girls in Canada and around the world. She looks forward to working with
CFUW club members and partners in their advocacy pursuits

CFUW Charitable Trust Webinar, Friday October 16, 2020

                                  
See the advertisement for the Charitable Trust Webinar, "My Journey As a Neuroscientist" presented by Diane Lagace on Friday, October 16, at 1:30 p.m. ET click here. 

Reminder: "Gun Control in Canada” Webinar with Dr. Wendy Cukier

OCTOBER 6 1PM ET

CFUW Nepean invites CFUW members across Canada to join CFUW Nepean to hear Dr Wendy Cukier speak on advocating for more effective gun control. Dr Cukier, a professor at the Rogers School of Management, co-founded the Coalition for Gun Control, a network of more than 200 organizations ranging from police to women's groups, in the wake of the Montreal Massacre and has since been engaged in the Coalition's advocacy for evidence-based gun control in Canada. Dr. Cukier co-authored the book The Global Gun Epidemic.

To join the webinar, register at the link below.

"You are invited to a Zoom meeting organized by CFUW Nepean. 
What: "Gun Control in Canada” Webinar with Dr. Wendy Cukier, co-founder of the Coalition for Gun Control and a Professor at Ryerson University.
When: Oct 6, 2020 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) 

Register in advance for this meeting here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIvdeupqj4iGdR_oJYSAQbNgoCnKaWE1Tsj

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting."

International Equal Pay Day on 18th September 2020 at 9:00 a.m. ET

On the occasion of the first International Equal Pay Day, and in the midst of the fallout from the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Equal Pay International Coalition (EPIC) will host a virtual global event and Call to Action to encourage all labour market actors to take the necessary steps to ensure that equal pay is at the heart of recovery efforts worldwide. The live event takes place on 18 September at 9 am EDT. Learn more here.

AFDU Québec
Kelowna
Nepean
Sudbury
UWC Winnipeg

 
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