PS: I have to admit on reading what I wrote - I realise that not all my comments were answered (or even good English) BUT still it is a response!! As usual I have an idea - type it out - and engage my BRAIN later!!
From: Marianne Sladowsky
Subject: ACWW Dear Eileen, Thanks for your email on ACWW.While it is true that the Board decided not to send an official rep to the conference, they have nominated a member who is going to vote on behalf of the NFWI. This official vote, along with the presence of a number of other members at the event, means that the WI will have a strong presence.
As you mention, we are holding a pre-conference event at the NFWI offices, where we will hear from ACWW spokespeople and have sessions on the resolutions being debated. We will certainly let all members know about this event in WI life and we will also get the member who will vote for the WI to write an article about her experiences afterwards.I hope you can understand that for financial reasons, it was felt that it would not be sensible to send a delegate to the event. It would have cost us about two thousand pounds, which they felt was money better spent on printing campaign leaflets and holding events for all members.I hope that makes the situation a little clearer. We are well aware of how important ACWW is to members and will do all we can to publicise the conference to all members.
Best wishes,Marianne
Marianne Sladowsky
Head of Public Affairs
National Federation of Women's Institutes (NFWI)
104 New Kings Road,
London SW6 4LYT: 020 7371 9300 ext 21007980 449 145
www.theWI.org.uk
eileen.hurd@btinternet.com PostCode: BA3 4TY WI Name: Binegar Comments:
Dear Ruth - from recent correspondence with Joy Thomson, NFWI ACWW Rep, I understand that NFWI are not sending a representative to the ACWW conference in the USA this April. We were discussing this at our BOT meeting today and I was told that DFID have given sponsorship to a national union because they have a good network system and could cascade what they have learnt to members. Could the WI apply for a grant to send all ACWW Reps to future ACWW Triennial or European Meetings - our national network is countrywide, information could easily be cascaded to our local WIs and this would improve international links, which we advertise on the website but are sadly only supporting through members who have subsidised their own travel to the USA and previous Triennials.
I appreciate that it is a little late for the event this year - but in future years it could be a very worthwhile project and through the Reps who go out giving talks in their own counties genuine links could be made with women worldwide.WI members work hard at fund-raising for many ACWW projects it seems very sad that their hardwork and dedication is not recognised through occasional articles in WI Life. Will the Pre-conference meeting to be held at NFWI in March receive any publicity - what will members countrywide think when they learn that NFWI will not be represented in Hot Springs!!
(personal opinion)
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