[WCUSP] Response Requested from WCUSP/WILPF

Sat Nov 25 02:07:36 CST 2006

Marlene,

Thank you for responding. As Mary Day can confirm on Monday when she 
returns to the office, it has been the standard protocol for all WILPF 
listservs to not use them to raise money for other organizations.

Quite frankly, we cannot afford to do this. No other organization allows 
members to use their member lists to request money for other orgs - you 
wont get an email from a  NOW mailing list asking for money to buy an ad 
page that has absolutely nothing to do with NOW.

People have plenty of other ways to reach out to their activist friends 
to ask for money, and I do not think it is unreasonable to use WILPF 
space to promote WILPF, period.

You are right that over the past two decades, we have downsized. 
However, in at least the last three years, we have not had a change in 
the number of permanent staff members. Do you think WILPF does not have 
enough staff to carry out its mission? Personally, I think we WILPF 
members have not made a concerted effort to make WILPF our primary 
activist home and to figure out a way to do all of our activist work 
through WILPF. Once we have more people who are willing to "brand" all 
of their activism WILPF, then we will have the momentum to attract more 
members, more money, and ultimately be financially healthy enough to 
expand our paid staff. In the meantime, we must protect WILPF space for 
WILPF.

The WCUSP listserv is meant to enhance a national campaign of WILPF. I 
do not think it makes us a more vital part of the movement for peace in 
the Middle East to divert our donor funds away from our own work in 
challenging US policy towards another group's effort to inform / 
persuade the public through a newspaper advertisement.

Again, feel free to send individual friends emails about other 
organizations' request for funds. All we ask is that people not use 
official WILPF listservs for that purpose. This protocol is not a 
judgment on the merits of an individual solicitation or on whether or 
not WILPF members should also contribute financially to other 
organizations. And this is not a decision that needs to be made "by all 
of WCUSP." This listserv is a resource of the national office of WILPF 
and the Executive Director has made it clear that it should not be used 
to solicit funds for other organizations. I believe this was the 
protocol on WILPF's topica list (the forerunner to the current 
constellation of WILPF US listservs), so it shouldn't come as a surprise 
to anyone.

in sisterhood,
C.J.

------------
C.J. Minster
Program Chair, US Section
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
http://wilpf.blogspot.com

~current affairs blog~
http://www.socialupheaval.com

~cultural affairs blog~
http://www.angelheadedhipster.com

Marlene Santoyo wrote:
> I wonder & am asking if CJ's announcement to not send requests for $ was
> one agreed on by all of WCUSP.
> CJ said, " We cannot afford to carry out all of the brilliant activism
> that we dream up, and we
> cannot use our resource to fund other group's activism."
>
> I do recall CJ sending this message before & I think that there may be
> wilpf members (including myself)
> who choose to hear about other actions & requests for cash & even have a
> limit as to how much she
> chooses to give to wilpf, needy & worthwhile as wilpf may be.
>
>  It is quite apparent to me that the ever constant & important need of
> raising funds & how & who does
>  it could/should be addressed.
>
> When I was on the national board I raised this issue & am doing so once
> again.
> Mary Day & I attended a fund raising workshop. WILPF has downsized staff
> & program
> yet the problem persists (as it does for other organizations).
>
> Could there be a wake-up call so that WILPF will continue to be a
> recognized leader & vital contributing
> proactive part of the movement for peace with justice & not be concerned
> that another worthy cause receive funds?
>
> Many thanks,
> marlena
> ----------
>
> From: wcusp-bounces at wilpf.org [mailto:wcusp-bounces at wilpf.org]On Behalf
> Of C.J. Minster
> Sent: 2006 November 22 Wednesday 2:45 AM
> To: wcusp
> Subject: Re: [WCUSP] Last chance to sign "AIPAC does NOT speak for US"
> ad.
>
>
> We as individuals might want to support the work of other organizations.
> We might want to donate to their efforts that we think further the
> causes of peace and justice.
>
> Please do not use a WILPF listserv to pass on a monetary request from
> another organization. The Women's International League for Peace and
> Freedom is a membership-based, grassroots organization. We cannot afford
> to carry out all of the brilliant activism that we dream up, and we
> cannot use our resource to fund other group's activism.
>
> I thank you all for your understanding and adherence.
>
> If you would like to donate money to increase the effectiveness of our
> grassroots, feminist challenge to US policy in the Middle East, please
> click here: http://www.wilpf.org/get-involved/donate.htm and write
> "WCUSP" in the memo line.
>
> In sisterhood,
> C.J.
>
> ------------
> C.J. Minster
> Program Chair, US Section
> Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
> http://wilpf.blogspot.com
>
> ~current affairs blog~
> http://www.socialupheaval.com
>
> ~cultural affairs blog~
> http://www.angelheadedhipster.com
>
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