The Canadian Federation of University of Women (CFUW), Southport
Chapter, is celebrating 20 years of service.
The CFUW Southport has undertaken an ambitious program for the
upcoming year with a variety of speakers and more involvement in
municipal affairs. This year's theme is 'Women Around the World:
Peace, Poverty & Politics'.
The group is part of the national 10,000 member, not-for-profit,
non-partisan organization that promotes equality for women in a
non-governmental way. The CFUW also has special consultative status
at the United Nations' Commission on the Status of Women and also
holds a seat on the Education Committee of the Canadian Committee to
UNESCO.
The main focus of the CFUW is the support of education. The
organization is committed to "... advancing the status of women and
girls, promoting quality education in the public sector and active
participation in public affairs in the spirit of cooperation and
friendship".
Each year, the local Southport chapter supports three scholarships
at $500 each for three local students who are going to continue with
their education.
While the organization has several very serious mandates, it also
hosts many guest speaker evenings and sub-groups that get together
on a social basis. There is the 'Gourmet Club' that gets together to
cook various international recipes, the 'Book Mark' club where
members discuss a wide variety of writings, the 'Video Group' who
together to view and critique 'out-of-the-mainstream' films and the
newly formed Rovers that is considering organizing out-of-town trips
to attend various events.
One of the new endeavours of the local
group is to become more involved in 'hot topic affairs'. New President,
Cheryl Kryzaniwsky, said that the group had decided this year to ask
members to become more active in sending delegates, at least one to
every town council meeting, and letters to their politicians. "We want
the community to hear our voices as a collective voice of women,"
Kryzaniwsky said.
The organization is always looking for new members who want to support
the main focus of sharing the common goals and ideals of the CFUW.
Application forms are available at
www.cfuwsouthport.com
(next column)
10/09/2009 12:36 AM
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