Women Graduates-USA 8 th Annual Meeting September 25, 2015 Business Session One

Transcription

1 Women Graduates-USA 8 th Annual Meeting September 25, 2015 Business Session One The meeting was called to order by President Louise McLeod at 1:50pm EDT. Introduction of Board and Committees: Louise introduced all the members of the Board of Directors and those in off-board positions as follows: Secretary Nancy Scheer, NM Treasurer Fay Kittelson, NY Coordinator for International Relations (CIR) Kathleen Laurila, MN Program Convener Kathryn Horvat, UT Membership Convener Carolyn Cowgill, PA Communications Convener Meg Sheketoff, PA Advocacy Convener Geeta Desai, NY Florine Swanson, Board-member-at-large, Audit Committee Liaison, Development Committee Fay Weber, Board-member-at large Johanna Sterbin Board member-at-large, liaison to the Governance Committee Janet Heinicke Governance Convener non-board position Reading Committee: Louise appointed Carolyn Cowgill and Jackie Shahzadi as readers of the minutes of the Annual General Meeting. Credentials Report : Nancy Scheer, WG-USA Secretary presented the credentials report; 37 voting members, were present, no guests or speakers. The total WG-USA membership at the end of the 2 nd quarter of 2015 fiscal year was 196. A quorum, according to the WG-USA bylaws is 10% of the membership or 19 members for this meeting. President Louise McLeod declared a quorum was present. Rules for the 2015 Annual General Meeting: Nancy Scheer moved adoption of the Convention Rules as printed on page 5 of the convention booklet; seconded, approved by a 2/3 vote. Timekeeper: Louise appointed Rita Skillman as timekeeper. Minutes of the 7 th Annual General Meeting: These minutes had been read and approved by the board. The link to the website so members could read the minutes was ed to the attendees prior to this meeting. President's Address: Louise discussed the Town Hall Meeting to be held Friday evening, a time for thinking about the future of WG, and talked about the major accomplishments of WG- USA during 2015; three parallel sessions during CSW (U.N. Commission on the Status of Women) and a webinar on Women and the Peace Process. She reminded everyone that WG is an organization of Mission and Action, not a social group. WG-USA 2015 AGM Business Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 5

2 Board Members' Reports: The full reports are attached to these minutes. President: Louise McLeod sent her report via to all attendees so gave no report during the meeting. Financial Review: Florine Swanson, convener of the Audit Committee reminded the group that they committee had not done a true audit but a financial review for the time period from January 1, 2014 through the fiscal year ending December 31, The committee had made several recommendations and most of those have taken place. Financial: Fay Kittelson reported on the funds from the Esther Scher Estate. WG has received $150,000 and one more installment is expected. These monies have been placed in seven different investment funds. CIR: Kathleen Laurila started her remarks with the major change of the year, IFUW (International Federation of University Women) is now GWI (Graduate Women International) and it has obtained its non-profit status in Switzerland. GWI fellowships are available but one must be a member of a national federation or association to apply. Membership: Carolyn Cowgill mentioned the need to get new members involved. She also stated the WG-USA web site is very informative and helps to bring in new young members. Program: Kathy Horvat briefly reported on the activities of the Human Trafficking and Education Working Groups. She stated most of the Program Committee's work is planning the AGM program and the WG parallel sessions held during CSW. She also encouraged everyone to register for the November 7 th webinar to celebrate the 70 th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. Advocacy: Geeta Desai stated the Advocacy Committee works under the mandate of CEDAW (U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women). Many letters on various issues have been sent to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. A Road Map for Advocacy has been placed on the WG web site and one benefit of WG membership is training on how to approach advocacy. Communications: Meg Sheketoff reminded everyone of the importance of The Flame and the website for the organization's communications. Development: Florine Swanson reported WG-USA had raised almost $2,000 for the Bina Roy Fund, much from the silent auction held during the 2014 AGM. The 2016 silent auction proceeds will go to the Hegg Hoffet Fund which helps displaced graduate women by providing short-term grants for such items as language classes and professional requalification in a person's new country. New Business: Election Results: Kathleen Magill of the Governance Committee presented the results of the election. Tellers for the election were Shari Muscat and Lois Plotnick. Louise McLeod, President declared: Fay Weber is elected to the office of President, Rosette Adera is elected to the office of CIR, Brianna Grantham is elected to the office of Communications Convener, Cynthia Grguric is elected to the office of Advocacy Convener, Sally Chanberlain is elected to the position of at-large Board Member for a period of one year, Anita Glisic is elected to the position of at-large Board Member for a period of three years. WG-USA 2015 AGM Business Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 5

3 Louise thanked all for their willingness to serve as leaders of WG-USA and stated they would assume their positions on January 1, 2016,using the period from September 25, December 31, 2015 as a transition and learning period. There were no objections to deleting the ballots in 30 days, as is the usual procedure for WG- USA. President McLeod adjourn the meeting at 3:03pm EDT. Attachments: Reports from President, Financial Review, Finance, CIR, Membership, Program, Advocacy, Communications, Development, Teller Committee for the Election, Report on 2014 WG-USA Resolution Concerning Peace & the Sustainable Development Goals, Courtesy Resolution WG-USA 2015 AGM Business Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 5

4 Women Graduates-USA 8 th Annual Meeting September 27, 2015 Business Session Two The meeting was called to order by President Louise McLeod at 9:40am EDT. Credentials Report : Nancy Scheer, WG-USA Secretary, presented the credentials report; 37 voting members were present, no guests or speakers. The total WG-USA membership at the end of the 2 nd quarter of 2015 fiscal year was 196. A quorum, according to the WG-USA bylaws is 10% of the membership or 19 members for this meeting. President Louise McLeod declared a quorum was present Resolutions: Geeta Desai, WG-USA Advocacy Convener presented the resolutions that had been submitted by WG members. All the resolutions had been approved by the Advocacy Committee and the WG-USA Board of Directors for presentation to the general membership for voting. 1. WG-USA resolves to research the issue of the backlog of untested rape kits in the USA and devise a practical plan of action to involve members in addressing it. There was discussion as to whether the resolution was an appropriate topic for WG to pursue. Carolyn Cowgill called the question; seconded, carried. The motion to approve Resolution #1 carried with a vote of 29 in favor, 1 against and 3 abstentions. 2. WG-USA resolves to advocate to end public sexual harassment of girls and women in India. There was discussion and questions about working with the Indian Federation of University Women and why single out one particular country. The motion to approve Resolution #2 carried with a vote of 21 in favor, 4 against and 8 abstentions. 3. WG-USA resolves to advocate for affordable post-secondary education that enables students to choose the option of a college education, successfully complete their education and beyond graduation become economically independent on a sustaining basis. There was discussion as to whether WG should be the lead organization on this issue as there may be other organizations working on it and maybe WG is taking on too big a task. It was stated there are WG members ready to start working on the resolution. Carolyn Cowgill called the question; seconded, motion failed. Dot McLane moved to extend the time for debate for a point of order, seconded, carried. Dot asked for a clarification as to why we needed this resolution if other groups are already working on the issue? The motion to approve Resolution #3 carried with a vote of 28 in favor, 1 against and 6 abstentions. WG-USA 2015 AGM Business Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 5

5 4. WG-USA resolves that the members of Women Graduates-USA urge the United States Government to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). The motion to approve the Resolution #4 carried with a vote of 35 in favor, 0 against and 0 abstentions. Proposed Bylaws Amendments: Johanna Sterbin, Board Liaison to the Governance Committee, presented the bylaws amendments that had been proposed by the Governance Committee. She stated the rational for each amendment 1. Article XI. Section 1. Nominations, Elections and Terms of Office. Second sentence to add the CIR and read: No member shall serve on the Board for more than two consecutive terms except to accede to the presidency or as the Coordinator for International Relations (CIR) for one further term. After clarification by the parliamentarian, the vote was taken: 32 in favor, 0 against, 2 abstentions; motion to approve Bylaws amendment #1 carried. 2. Article XI. Section 3. Nominations, Elections and Terms of Office. Add a sentence that reads: If a dual member of WG-USA is serving on the Board of another NFA of GWI in any capacity, she may not serve in an elected or appointed position on the WG- USA Board at the same time. It was suggested all acronyms be written out. After a few questions were answered, the vote was taken: 34 in favor, 0 against, 0 abstentions; motion to approve Bylaws amendment #2 carried. Courtesy Resolution: Geeta Desai read the Courtesy Resolution, thanking the local arrangements committee and the program committee for their work in organizing the 2015 AGM, making it the informative and enjoyable event that it has been. Installation of Officers: President Louise McLeod thanked the board members who will be leaving the board at the end of December 2015 for their work on behalf of WG-USA and their support for her and her goals for WG; Geeta Desai, Kathleen Laurila, Meg Sheketoff and Florine Swanson. Louise then introduced the board members who had been elected during Business Session #1 of the AMG and who will formally take office January 1, 2016; Fay Weber, Rosette Adera, Brianna Grantham, Cynthia Grguric, Sally Chanberlain and Anita Glisic. She thanked them for stepping up to the challenge of service to WG-USA. Louise mentioned that all the WG committees and task forces are always looking for members who would like to get personally involved in the work of Women Graduates-USA and would welcome volunteers. President McLeod adjourned the meeting at 11:05am EDT. WG-USA 2015 AGM Business Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 5