At the 1998 Board and Annual General Meetings of CCLOW, we again
struggled with what members told us. As a Board, we again used "open-space"
technology as a means of listening to the voices within ourselves that
compelled us to be honest and confront the critical question of cclow's
continued viability. As a result of these deliberations, the board members of
cclow took bold steps towards creating the opportunity for a revitalized
organization, and passed the following motion:
We all understand the seriousness of our decision. However, while everyone wanted the work to continue, it became clear to us that the organization, as it currently functions, was floundering and could not continue. The ongoing reduction of staff has lessened our ability to undertake vital projects and discussions. The changes to funding criteria by Status of Women Canada, our major funder, also influenced our decision to close the National office. While the process of closing the national office is underway, the work of the organization needs to continue. Therefore, we are focusing our attention on the development, implementation, and evaluation of a National Congress, which will bring together women with an interest in women's education and training. From the Congress, the work of the organization has the potential to be revitalized, reorganized, and reconstituted in ways that will make it possible to keep issues about women's education and training on the agenda. Board members are prepared to guide the development of the Congress and to hand over the responsibilities of the organization to women who see innovative ways to proceed with the work. We are revitalized in our efforts to renew the organization through this mechanism. We are hopeful that some outstanding issues we have attempted to address over the past several years will be moved forward by a new generation of women who can bring greater diversity, energy, and passion to the work. Creating a New Tradition
We are passionate about the possibilities that this Congress will hold for our future. It is an opportunity for women to come together who are interested in women's education and training and who are willing to participate in the process of developing a new structure in which to pursue these issues. We invite you to participate in the Congress and join us in "creating a new tradition." Cheryl Senecal is the President of the Canadian Congress of Learning Opportunities for Women. Cathie Cookson is the President-Elect and Catherine O'Bryan is the Past-President. |
Back | Contents | Next |