Over four days in March, I had the privilege of attending the Federation of American Women’s Clubs Overseas (FAWCO) annual international conference in Boston. Representatives from North and South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia attended this riveting gathering to learn from sister clubs best practices in non-profit management.
Briefly, the highlights from the conference are as follows:
Starting this year, FAWCO members were asked to vote on a Target program that would bring a critical global issue to the attention of FAWCO Clubs, their members, and the world. This year’s winning submission is Water: increasing the sustainable access to safe drinking water globally.
The FAWCO foundation is asking clubs to submit ideas for hitting the target, (known as the Bull’s Eye Project). The various Bulls Eye project proposals will be assessed by the FAWCO foundation and the winning idea announced in November 2010. FAWCO asks clubs to keep their members committed to the target proposal and actively fundraise for the Bulls Eye project. FAWCO notes that the Target program is “a great opportunity for all our organizations around the world to focus on an issue we are all passionate about and to work together within our clubs and communities to make an impact.”
In other areas, FAWCO reported on various United Nations projects in which it is involved. FAWCO notes that it continues to speak out and participate in global issues such as violence against women, racism, gender equality, sexual exploitation of women and girls and continues to urge the White House to sign the Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
FAWCO also represents the interests of Americans living abroad to the United States Congress. FAWCO’s U.S. Liaison noted that its biggest effort in 2009 was passage of the Ground-breaking Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act (MOVE), which at last set deadlines for sending overseas ballots. The result: many states now must change their legislation and move up primaries to comply with a new 45-day requirement for ballot mailings.
AWG Paris encourages its members to learn more about FAWCO. To do so, please log on to www.fawco.org and register. There’s a wealth of information available to Americans who live abroad, and for those who are vitally interested in the stewardship of the world’s resources and the rights of women and children everywhere.
Usha Viswanathan
President, AWG Paris
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FAWCO
