Monday, February 27, 2012
WCA International Caucus has new website and blog
2012 has brought much excitement and new possibilities now that the WCA International Committee has become the International Caucus. Please check out the WCA International Caucus website at www.wcainternationalcaucus.weebly.com at which you can find the new International blog, information about membership and much more.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
WCA Art & Activism Database Entry Form
Art & Activism Database Entry Form
Event/Project Title:
WCA Chapter or Committee or Member or National or International Event:
Event/Project Contact person(s) and contact information:
Person submitting this data (if different from Event/Project contact person):
Event/Project Type:
Exhibition, Installation, Workshop, Performance, Display, Panel Discussion, Training, Media Event…
Event/Project Theme/Issue(s) Addressed:
UN related (Poverty, Hunger, Universal Education, Gender Equality, Child Health, Maternal Health, HIV/AIDS
Environmental Sustainability, Global Partnerships, Violence Against Women, Peace/Security, Women’s Leadership & Participation, Women’s Economic Empowerment, Human Rights, Public Services & Policies
Event/Project Summary:
Date(s), Location, Collaborators, Number of Participants, Event/Project Target Audience/Reach, Publication
Circulation
Digitized Documentation/Web Links:
Photos, publications, media, reviews, websites, blogs, videos…
Please send data to Sherri Cornett at sherricornett@gmail.com
If more convenient, the data may be sent in another format.
WCA International Caucus connection to the UN
International Caucus/UN Connection
The International Caucus, as a UN accredited NGO (non-governmental organization) represents WCA as delegates to the UN DPI (Department of Public Information)/NGO section of the United Nations.
A non-governmental organization (NGO) is a not-for-profit, voluntary citizens’ group, which is organized on a local, national or international level to address issues in support
of the public good and UN initiatives, such as the UN Millennium Goals and UN Women Focus Areas. Some NGOS are organized around specific issues, such as human rights, the environment or health. Their relationship with offices and agencies of the UN system differs on their location and mandate. WCA is organized around women’s issues.
Through associated NGOs, UN’s Department of Public Information (DPI) seeks to reach
People around the world and help them better understand the work and aims of the
United Nations. The DPI/NGO section is a liaison between the United Nations and NGOs
and other civil society (not government or private sector) organizations. DPI organizes
NGO briefings, communication workshops, an NGO conference held each year in September in a different world city, and an annual orientation program for newly NGOs
and/or their delegates.
The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is responsible for coordinating the economic, social and related work of 14 UN specialized agencies.
The Council consults with civil society groups – including non-governmental organizations and the private sector, and is the main body that recommends consultative status to NGO whose work covers issues on the agenda of ECOSOC. NGOs with consultative status (WCA does not currently have this) are allowed to participate, present written contribution and make statements to the Council and its subsidiary bodies, in other words, have
more input in decision making processes.
*The NGO must be of recognized national or international standing
*The NGO should operate solely on a not-for-profit basis and have tax-exempt
status.
*The NGO must have the commitment and means to conduct effective information
programs with its constituents and to a broader audience about UN activities by
publishing newsletters, bulletins and pamphlets; organizing conferences, seminars
and round tables; or enlisting the attention of media
*The NGO should have statutes/bylaws providing for a transparent process of
making decisions, elections of officers and members of the Board of Directors.
Evaluation, review and accreditation process
NGOs undergo an annual evaluation, review and accreditation process data. In the WCA, the data for this process comes partly from the Art & Activism database of related national
and/or chapter WCA projects. The International Caucus maintains and updates this database annually.
In order to remain in good standing, NGOS associated with the DPI must fulfill
each of the following requirements:
*complete the evaluation and review form annually. It is important to update
contact information (WCA office, WCA president, WCA International Caucus
Chair and WCA International Caucus UN alternate representative)
*promote knowledge of the Untied Nations
*disseminate information about the principles and activities of the United Nations
*receive NGO Relations’ emails which are sent out to inform NGOs about United
Nations activities. These are sent to the WCA International Caucus Chair.
*We will ensure WCA will remain an NGO in good standing with the UN DPI/NGO
by filing the annual evaluation/review/accreditation form and meeting other stated
requirements.
*We will represent WCA at NGO briefings (when appropriate) and the annual
DPI/NGO conference.
*We will seek opportunities to expand WCA’s voice and presence with other
DPI/NGO members from around the world by participating in workshops, panels
and/or exhibitions at the United Nations and/or the annual DPI/NGO conference.
Accredited WCA representatives to the UN
Up to four members of an NGO may be named as accredited representatives and receive annual passes to participate in UN activities such as briefings and workshops. These names must be submitted during the annual evaluation, review and accreditation process.
The persons eligible are: the President/Chief Administrative Office of the NGO, the
Main Representative (WCA International Caucus Chair) and two alternate representatives (members from the WCA International Caucus chosen by the WCA International Caucus Chair). The alternate representative roles may rotate each calendar year; however it is desirable to have someone who can go to meetings at the UN when the subject matter to be discussed is relevant to WCA. An individual attending a UN meeting is expected to
write a report on the meeting to brief the rest of the committee and to submit to the WCA newsletter, Facebook page, WCA International Blog and/or WCA International website.
Expenses to attend and travel to the UN are borne by the individual.
WCA representatives to the UN DPI/NGO Annual Conference
Up to six adults plus two youth representatives (must be ages 18-24) may attend the annual DPI/NGO conference in early September. These generally include the WCA
President and the WCA International Caucus Chair. However, any WCA International
Caucus member may attend up to the maximum number. These are chosen by the
WCA International Caucus Chair and may rotate annually. If WCA is presenting a
Workshop, we may be able to bring an additional member. Expenses to attend and
Travel to the UN DPI/NGO Conference are borne entirely by the attending individuals.
International Caucus 2012 Annual Meeting Agenda
International Caucus 2012 Annual Meeting
I. Introductions
II. Brief Overview of Orientation Materials
III. Goals for 2012
A. Attendance at UN Briefings/Events
Provisional briefings/events calendar
*2/27-3/9 UN Commission on the Status of Women
*3/1 UN CSW Panel: Need for a UN 5th World Conference on Women
(open to the public)
*3/8 Empower Rural Women (International Women’s Day)
*4/12 Communciations Workshop
*4/19 Human Rights for Vulnerable People
*4/30-31 Orientation
B. Explore involvement with the UN 5th World Conference on Women
C. Attend DPI/NGO Conference in NYC in September
*explore ideas for side event, collaborating with other NGOs
D. Apply for ECOSOC status in Spring
E. Explore relationships/exhibitions with other NGOs and
International women’s artist groups
*Portland WCA Chapter?
E. WCA Art & Activism Database
*maintain and collect new projects from newsletter, facebook, etc
*identify three top projects for UN accreditation form in October
F. Set up International Caucus website to link to WCA website
G. Communication (articles/links/photos) about international
exhibitions, UN events, Art & Activism projects, opportunities
*WCA print & e-newsletters, Facebook page, Int’l caucus website & blog
H. Set up Google Group and or Webex for International Caucus?
I. Complete and submit UN accreditation form in December
J. Other ideas??
WCA International Caucus Orientation Materials
As the new Chair of the International Caucus, I welcome you to its membership and invite you to familiarize yourself with the orientation materials I have attached below and consider how you
may wish to get involved.
Purpose of the International Caucus
Further information is below, but, in general, the International Caucus maintains WCA's involvement with the United Nations, develops art exhibitions related to the UN Goals, develops
collaborative projects with other global organizations, collects data about art & activism projects and shares this information with the larger WCA membership.
This year, the International Caucus will also be creating ways to be more effective at these tasks.
Annual International Caucus Meeting
We will be having our Annual International Caucus Meeting during the WCA Annual Conference in LA, Thursday, February 23rd, 4-5 p.m., Suite 1907, Kyoto Hotel.
Here is the tentative Agenda for the Meeting during which most of our brief hour will be spent on the 2012 goals and matching members with the work for each goal.
(see International Caucus 2012 Annual Meeting Agenda in another blog post)
I would appreciate any RSVPs for the meeting, so I can have enough hard copies of necessary materials. If you cannot attend, you may still ask questions, comment on the agenda
and/or volunteer to assist in any of the goals by contacting me directly at sherricornett@gmail.com
We need one person to volunteer to take notes at this meeting so all members can be kept informed as to our progress. Thank you ahead of time to whoever volunteers!
Membership and List
If you know of others who wished to join, they need to update their own member profiles on the WCA website. Here is how: Go to the website http://www.nationalwca.org/index.php.
Login at the upper right with her email she used to when she became a WCA member. If she has created her own password, use that. If not, she was sent one in the membership acceptance
letter she initially received from the WCA office. Once in the directory, she can create her own password. Go to Member Directory. Search for her name. View her profile. In her profile, she should
look to the right. Under Internal Caucus, check International Caucus. While on that page, check to see if profile information is up to date. Save at the bottom of the page. We will be checking
the database periodically for new members, who will be added to our communications list.
Members who actively contribute to accomplishing the goals of the caucus will be considered as delegates to the annual United Nations DPI/NGO Conference
which, this year, will be held in New York City in September. They will also be considered for the rotating position of Alternate Representative to the United Nations, which gives the member a
UN Grounds Pass enabling her to attend UN briefings and trainings. They receive all International Caucus communications and may attend all International Caucus meetings/events and will have
a bigger influence on the direction of the caucus.
Connection to the United Nations
Women's Caucus for Art is an United Nations recognized NGO (non-governmental organization). The International Caucus is the liaison between WCA and the United Nations.
Look at the WCA Artwaves International blog for some stories of past UN related work. http://wcaartwavesinternational.blogspot.com/
See blog post for WCA International Caucus Connection to the UN
Art & Activism Database
Each year WCA is required to file a report to the UN to renew its NGO status. To demonstrate our "worthiness", WCA needs to document art & activism projects that support UN goals.
Debra Claffey, an International Caucus member set up a database that is maintained by her and by me. The data is also used for grant writing and for stories for WCA newsletters, facebook and blogs.
Members of the International Caucus are charged with the responsibility of collecting the documentation during the year. See blog post for Art & Activism Database Entry Form
Again, if you cannot attend the annual meeting in Los Angeles this month, I welcome suggestions, questions and comments via email at sherricornett@gmail.com
It would be helpful if you begin the subject line with WCA/Int'l Caucus so it won't be lost amidst my other emails.
I will be sending out notes from this meeting in early March. I look forward to seeing what we can create together!
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