We are just completing a membership drive and will have quadrupled the number of Yukon members by the time this is published. We telephoned women from a prospect list and asked them to join CCLOW to protest the budget cuts and raise funds for the organization. All but one agreed to join; we sent out membership information packages and collected (in person) any forms not returned by mail. A more detailed outline of the drive and samples of the information package will be sent out to networks by the national office.

We are continuing to fundraise for the Julie Cruikshank Bursary with an excellent marketing plan developed by Liz McKee, a member with a background in media and public relations. We have also: nominated another member, Betty Irwin, for the Person's Award; sponsored three delegates to the annual Yukon Women's Conference; participated in "New Angle on Careers", a job fair put on by the Women's Directorate; and networked with other women's groups at the last meeting of the Yukon Advisory Council on Women's Issues. Finally, we've been accepted as workshop presenters for the northern CRIAW "Creating Connections" Conference in Yellowknife in November, to talk about our mentoring project for high school girls completed in 1987.

CCLOW Board Meeting and 10th Annual General Meeting June 23-25 .

Women at the CCLOW conference in Halifax

CCLOW's last Board meeting and 10th Annual General Meeting were held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in conjunction with a conference, "Celebrating our Herstory," sponsored by the Nova Scotia network. The conference was a great success. Women came from across the Maritimes to attend workshops on global feminism, women and aging, literacy, stress and Black women in Nova Scotia, among others. A celebrator gala included the best of Nova Scotian music, humour, theatre and good times.

Like many women's group across Canada, CCLOW has been affected by the $2 million budget cut to the Women's Program of Secretary of State. Our operational funding has been decreased 15% from the amount it was last year. Some significant changes have been made to deal with the cut, specifically: that the Board of Directors will meet only twice in a year instead of three firms, that Women's Education des femmes will be published three times a year unless funding can be located for the fourth issue, and that only half the funds normally allotted to the networks will be available. These changes were discussed and agreed upon through consultation of the President's Advisory Committee, and approved by the Board. All indications are that a concerted fundraising effort is needed now more than ever.

CCLOW's 1988-89 president Susan Witter reported that CCLOW has been invited to participate in a consultation on EIC's Labour Force Strategy which proposes to shift a portion of UI funds to training. Representatives from 15 national groups including labour, business and four special interest groups will be involved in the consultation. Six different Task Groups were formed in July and CCLOW has been asked to recommend names for each of the groups. Invitational consultations will be held in six major Canadian cities later this year.