Re-design UNIFEM/USA website
With the assistance of PR Director, Diane Olson, UNIFEM/USA has contracted a new website development and design firm, Genvy Media, LLC, to redesign the current UNIFEM/USA website, www.unifemusa.org. The new design will include rich graphic imagery linking UNIFEM/USA to UNIFEM and will provide compelling information about UNIFEM’s programs and projects that will help promote UNIFEM/USA membership. It is designed to include a section for each UNIFEM/USA Chapter. The website will also provide security and ease for online financial transactions, and create a separate password encoded section for Board Members to access organizational and legal documents.
In addition, the new site will help to identify perspective members and connect interested parties and researchers to UNIFEM. The site will be operational in early September.
"UNIFEM In Action" Poster Series
This past year, UNIFEM/USA created a series of five posters illustrating "UNIFEM in Action." Each poster focused on one of UNIFEM’s four strategic areas (Reducing Feminized Poverty, Halting the Spread of HIV/AIDS, Achieving Gender Equality and Ending Violence Against Women). The fifth poster highlighted the story of 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Dr. Wangari Maathai, who received one of her first grants from the nascent UNIFEM.
The posters, developed by Diane Olson and Kaytee O’Neill, are intended to generate interest and inform others about UNIFEM, UNIFEM/USA and its mission of "working toward a world where women live free from violence, poverty and inequality." The posters were presented at the June 2005 Annual meeting and since have been prominently displayed at numerous events. A set of posters was mailed to each Chapter President in July. Additional sets are available upon request.
UNIFEM/USA Award of Excellence
UNIFEM/USA President Sheryl J. Swed presented Nane Annan with UNIFEM/USA’s Award of Excellence on March 2, 2006 at the Annual United Nations Luncheon in New York hosted by UNIFEM/USA’s New York Chapter. The Award of Excellence was UNIFEM/USA’s public recognition of gratitude and appreciation for Nane Annan’s dedication to improving the lives of women and girls worldwide. Over the years, this award has been given to Jane Fonda, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Tipper Gore, Dr. Dorothy Height and Bella Abzug.
UN 60th Anniversary Luncheon
UNIFEM/USA partnered with the U.S. Committee for United Nations Association (UNA-USA) for the "UN at 60" luncheon, celebrating 60 years of the UN. As one of the co-sponsors, UNIFEM/USA was recognized in various promotional materials. In addition, the luncheon afforded time to meet with Senator Paul Sarbanes and Gillian Sorensen to update them on the work of the U.S. Committee and UNIFEM. Subsequently, UNIFEM/USA’s Program Director met with UNA-USA to discuss how the organizations could be more active within the UN network in the US and collaborate on UN issues, including the Trust Fund. The standard UNA-USA membership dues for Associate Organizations are $500; however, they negotiated a mutual exchange of memberships. As of May 1, 2006, UNA-USA is an honorary member of UNIFEM/USA and UNIFEM/USA is an Associate Organization of UNA-USA.
Millennium Development Goals
UNIFEM/USA co-sponsored "Making the MDGs a Reality" Event with 17 other organizations including UNDP-USA, UN Population Fund and UN Environment at PAHO on February 24 in Washington, DC. The focus of the event was "Networking to make the MDGs a Reality for Young Professionals." Members of UNIFEM/USA’s National Capital Chapter volunteered at the event to speak and distributed information about UNIFEM/USA. UNIFEM/USA received all of the participants’ contact information and several new members have been recruited from this event.
UNIFEM’s 30th Anniversary Celebration
UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador and host of the evening, Nicole Kidman welcomed a room full of guests from over 80 countries. "UNIFEM’s 30th anniversary is a special opportunity for me to bring UNIFEM’s accomplishments to the attention of a larger audience of concerned citizens. So many people have come together this evening, not just to look back on UNIFEM’s 30 very impressive years but to look ahead – "when you’ve been blessed with a fortunate life, it is very much your duty to find the places where you can give back. I’m so proud to be part of UNIFEM’s present and future."
In honor of thirty years of commitment to women and girls around the world, UNIFEM presented its first Global Leadership Award to Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and its Global Champion Award to Terry J. Lundgren. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first woman President of Liberia and also the first democratically elected female head of state in Africa, received the honor for her commitment to promote education for women and girls, to enforce legislation to prevent sexual violence and provide training to support women’s economic empowerment. Terry J. Lundgren, Chairman, President and CEO of Federated Department Stores was recognized for the Macy’s/Rwanda Path to Peace partnership. To date, the partnership has supported more than 2,000 Rwandan women artisans, many of whom were widowed in the 1994 genocide.
Media Coverage
Every year, UNIFEM, UNIFEM/USA and its Chapters receive media attention for their ongoing programs and events. This past year, a few Chapter highlights include the Gulf Coast Chapter’s Learners to Leaders program in the Herald-Tribune and the National Capital Chapter’s UNIFEM at 30 event posted on the Women’s Calendar.
In addition, the "Ladies’ Home Journal" did a cover story on UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador Kidman, which included a reference to UNIFEM/USA that has resulted in inquiries about membership and over $3300 to support the UN Trust Fund.
Furthermore, UNIFEM/USA developed two press releases for distribution in May. The first press release focused on the current UN Reform process, urging that Women be included as a strategic pillar. The second press release highlighted UNIFEM’s 30th Anniversary Celebration. Both press releases are available on our website.
Updates and Print Materials
UNIFEM/USA has continued to develop their print UPDATES on a quarterly basis to keep their members informed of the work of UNIFEM and the U.S. Committee. UPDATES are mailed to all UNIFEM/USA members, posted on the website and are also available for distribution at events or in mailings to potential new members.
UNIFEM/USA also created a "UNIFEM Projects Around the Globe" fact sheet for the "Unforgettable Butterfly" membership campaign. This fact sheet highlights four specific UNIFEM projects focusing on each of UNIFEM’s strategic areas. Additional fact sheets were sent to each Chapter President for distribution at their Chapter events.
For the "Making the MDGs a Reality" event, UNIFEM/USA created a fact sheet on what UNIFEM is doing to help implement the Millennium Development Goals.
United Nations Representation
UNIFEM/USA’s team of representatives has continued to attend meetings and conferences throughout the year on issues concerning the work of UNIFEM. Ruth Zeller leads the team consisting of Ruth Clay Bowman, Sybil Evans, Shari Gruber and Margaret Howard.
Alliance and Coalition Building
UNIFEM/USA has been asked to host and coordinate an afternoon meeting of the Global Coalition in New York at UNIFEM headquarters in March 2007 during the first week of the meetings on the Commission on the Status of Women. The next meeting of the Coalition after this NY meeting will be hosted by the UK in May 2007.
Public Speaking Engagements
On the local level, chapter representatives and members of the Board in areas not affiliated with a chapter are often invited to speak at local events and meetings – generally about the US Committee, UNIFEM or about issues affecting women worldwide. Both the "UNIFEM in Action" poster series and The UNIFEM/USA PowerPoint presentation facilitate these types of activities. UNIFEM/USA is working on updating its PowerPoint presentation for future speaking engagements.