President's Message

As I reflect upon the activities of this year, it has been a productive one organizational development, increased participation in the political process, and the development of new resource services to strengthen individual and regional networks needed at the local level.

Our A.B.E. Project consists of a survey of programs across Canada providing adult education to identify to what extent these programs address the needs of women. The project will generate an A.B.E. Resource Bank, an evaluation package for use by providers, and a final report on the information collected

The Women's Learning Resource Centre, which is currently being developed, consists of a collection of materials on women's learning training and education which are not readily available elsewhere

Along with our Skills Bank, the Women's Learning Resource Centre adds a new dimension to our networking. As we look ahead to 1985, a year of increased action, we shall be called upon to learn and exercise our skills to deal with power and influence.

This year we joined other national women's groups to successfully advocate increased funding. Through briefs and position papers-, CCLOW continued to highlight women's learning issue as a central affecting women' s social and economic status in Canadian society

The report: The National Training Act: Its Impact on Women by Heather Henderson was a major effort of our Social Issues Committee. It confirms that more men than women are taking advantage of training opportunities under the Act ... in fact, the participation of women has decrease. It recommends new initiatives to recruit women as well as structural changes with CEIC to provide women with more direct access to the decision-making process.

This is my last message in WEDF. I have enjoyed my year as President of CCLOW and wish Lisa Avedon - our next president - good luck as she steers us through a busy year

Sincerely