[WCUSP] Response Requested
Barbara Taft
beejayssite at yahoo.com
Mon Dec 4 17:35:01 CST 2006
Yes, WILPF has financial troubles, as do many non-profits these days (or
is it always?). No one is saying that we should not support other groups.
Most organizations that are asking for money on their websites or are
sending emails asking for money are only asking for themselves. We
undermine our own effectiveness by including requests from other groups
for funding when we are so much in need of money ourselves. But it is
perfectly okay to let people know how to reach information on other
groups (information which may include requests for funding) by providing
links or even snail mail addresses. No one can tell anyone where they
should donate, or which causes should be most important to them.
If you look on other websites, or at other groups' email messages, you
will see that very few, if any, of them include requests that you send
money to other groups than their own. Instead, they use links so that
those interested in supporting other organizations and/or causes can do
so by contacting the groups directly. No group makes it a habit to
undermine their own cause financially.
I think that the most constructive idea so far in this exchange has been
that we need to become more effective in our fundraising. The number
one reason that people don't contribute is that they aren't asked! We
need to remember to ask. And, if you aren't already doing it, you should
carry membership brochures in your purse, backpack, or pocket so that
you can hand them out to anyone you happen to meet. Who knows when we
might meet someone who is a potential Large Donor. I handed out a few
brochures this past weekend at a sale at my church, and one couple
wanted more to send along to friends. They are returned foreign service
officers, and have friends, who have worked in the Middle East, and are
delighted that we have a Middle East campaign. We must not miss the
opportunities to beat the WILPF drum, and we must continue to work for
this organization that we love so much and believe in so well. If
we have failings, it's because we are human, and we should not berate
one another, but work to sustain each other through these hard times.
Barb Taft
--- Marlene Santoyo <marlsan at cavtel.net> wrote:
>
> WILPF has had this problem regarding a shortage of funds for MANY years.
> Staff is underpaid & some aspects of program do not take place, or or not
> even considered cuz we don't have the money. I have heard comments on
> spending much of allocated program funds to pay for planes & airfare so
> folks could better interact. I remember when different staff persons
> worked on different segments of program. I thought it was great!
> Innovative & responsive program is am inportant aspect of eneggizing &
> bringing on a diversity of mebership, including racial & youth. I remember
> being really excited about when Andrea went with WILPF members to Cuba,
> Columbia.
>
> WILPF will continue to have a shortage of funds (as it has for decades,
> maybe generations) and alternatives in which staff & mambers invest time &
> energy until & if we actually HIRE somone, a professional fundraiser who has
> experience & gets results. I have heard CJ talk a number of times about
> using not WILPF resources for other organizations. Some WILPFers were
> offended & have distanced themselves because (to be blunt) it does feel
> like being bullied & "using resources" can be open for interpretation.
>
> I and others can & will support other good work, ( be it CODEPINK or Granny
> Peace Brigade Philadelphia or SUSTAIN etc. etc.
> In my opinion, this will & should continue & we dont like the feeling (be it
> subjective or objective) of being spoken down to regarding our personal
> leaning. I chose to become a WILPF life-time member & responded, investing
> a good chunk of $ on an exciting combination of programs & individuals who
> coordinated them, including but not only staff, from the executive director
> on down who challenged, motivated & exchanged positive & exhilarating ideas.
>
> When 80 other WILPF women & I first went to Cuba, I remember feeling guilty
> cuz at 2AM, we arrived at the Federacion de Mujeres & woke up the WILPF
> Exec Dir., she cheerily greeted us - that was one powerful delegation.
> And, I will add that after the WILPF delegation, I stayed on in Cuba, &
> visited five different Quaker Meetings around the country side. I was never
> told that WILPF had to be my main priority; on the contrary I felt
> supported. Being involved with public education, unions & the role that
> Quakers might play brought to WILPF a richer more nuanced background of
> experience.
>
> Of course, youth needs to be included, and all kinds of diversity needs to
> be sitting at the table where decision making takes place. Kate Zaiden (&
> the other organizations she may work with on her own dime) is young
> bright, well informed, young, enegetic, works hard & interacts really well
> with folks of differnt backgrounds and ages,
> (a quality which I could use some work to develop.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Libby or Mort Frank [mailto:lmfrank1 at verizon.net]
> Sent: 2006 December 3 Sunday 11:04 AM
> To: JoanWDrake at aol.com; marlsan at cavtel.net; cjminster at gmail.com;
> wcusp at wilpf.org
> Cc: rbirchem at a1usa.net; afg at mcli.org; dannpowers at bellsouth.net;
> marie.boroli at wilpf.ch; Brcadwallader at earthlink.net; edibal at bluewin.ch;
> mduckles at uclink.berkeley.edu; susi.snyder at wilpf.ch
> Subject: Re: [WCUSP] Response Requested from WCUSP/WILPF
>
>
> I agree with just about everything you wrote, Joan.
>
> It was at a national WILPF Board meeting in Miami, many years ago, that
> the Board agreed to sell the D.C. building.
> I opposed it, but that was the same meeting when I resigned from being
> WILPF national Executive Director, so my support of Yvonne and the D.C.
> office didn't much matter.
>
> Glad you wrote,
>
> Libby
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: JoanWDrake at aol.com
> To: marlsan at cavtel.net ; cjminster at gmail.com ; wcusp at wilpf.org
> Cc: rbirchem at a1usa.net ; afg at mcli.org ; dannpowers at bellsouth.net ;
> marie.boroli at wilpf.ch ; Brcadwallader at earthlink.net ; edibal at bluewin.ch ;
> mduckles at uclink.berkeley.edu ; susi.snyder at wilpf.ch
> Sent: Sunday, December 03, 2006 10:55 AM
> Subject: Re: [WCUSP] Response Requested from WCUSP/WILPF
>
>
> I agree with Marla -- WILPF cannot downsize its own operations while yet
> pledging financial support to other organizations. As much as we would like
> to be members of worthy causes & projects such as, in this case, the Social
> Forum, our treasury must not be tapped to support others as our own
> organizational operations go begging for funds. I am particularly concerned
> that WILPF's Capitol Hill Legislative Office in Washington, DC, has been
> shut down for more than two years, despite the fact the Yvonne Logan's
> mother left a bequest to WILPF during the 1980's to purchase a building in
> which to permanently locate that important program -- what ever happened to
> the proceeds from the sale of the building on D Street Southeast, funded by
> that bequest, in which WILPF's Legislative Office was located? There has
> been very poor oversight of the US WILPF treasury through the years at the
> management level and an uninformed board has had the power to make poor
> financial decisions that have squandered substantial resources. It is a pity
> that we have violated a major rule of economic survival by operating on our
> principal rather than on our interest.
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
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