INTERNATIONAL CORNER

Camille Macdonald-Polski, International Relations Liaison
internationalrelations@aauwpa.org

Branch IAR Request:
To remain well informed about what is happening in AAUW International Affairs it is important that branches appoint an International Affairs Representative (IAR). This individual would be in communication with the state International Affairs Liaison, Camille Macdonald-Polski, so that there would be information exchanges between the branch and the state in international AAUW matters. Please make every effort to ensure your branch has an IAR and have that individual contact Camille to introduce herself and provide future contact information.

Women Graduates-USA

At the August 2007 IFUW Triennial Meeting in Manchester, an organizational meeting was held to form a new US affiliate of IFUW. The organization is called Women Graduates-USA and will be open to all women graduates with a recognized degree.  For more information about this organization and how to join, visit their website, http://www.wg-usa.org/. This group is not associated with AAUW. 

AAUW International Programs and Partnerships

International Museum of Women (www.imow.org)
The Museum was founded as the Women's Heritage Museum in 1985 which operated as a museum without walls for 10 years. In 1997, in response to growing support, the Museum’s Board began plans for a single destination museum in San Francisco and changed the name to the International Museum of Women. In 2005, the Museum embarked on a global strategy to reach women around the world leveraging advanced technology, collaborative strategic partnerships, and a physical presence in San Francisco and in key regions around the world. In 2006, the Museum launched Imagining Ourselves, A Global Generation of Women, the Museum’s first interactive, multi-lingual online exhibit designed to reach a global audience.
AAUW has become a partner in the International Museum of Women's Imagining Ourselves: A Global Generation of Women. The project reaches out to a new generation of women – one billion women between the ages of 20 and 35 – to answer the question, "What defines your generation?" It draws upon the thoughts of young women worldwide to reveal a generation of women poised to take the reigns of global leadership like no other generation in history – a generation of women who believe that anything is possible for young women today. Imagining Ourselves is a platform for young women to create change in their lives, their communities, and their world. (Imagining Ourselves)

One Shared World (www.onesharedworld.org)
One Shared World encourages American women to learn more, connect more and do more to support United States development assistance efforts and demonstrates how when we support progress in one area, it pays off in others. Educating girls, for example, helps to foster more resilient families, prevent diseases like HIV/AIDS and open up better jobs that pay higher wages – making communities, societies and the world we share healthier, safer and richer.

This shared aspiration moved AAUW to become a key partner in a new campaign – One Shared Worldsm – to celebrate women around the world whose grit, ingenuity and dignity are an inspiration and a force for change. Focusing on health, education and economic progress, One Shared World aims to connect American working women to the many public and private efforts that help people in developing countries overcome poverty, hunger, illiteracy and disease. It highlights the similarities between American women and those in cities, towns and villages in every corner of the globe.

Women’s Edge Coalition (www.womensedge.org)
The Women’s Edge Coalition advocates international economic policies and human rights that support women worldwide in their actions to end poverty in their lives, communities and nations. The program raises awareness about women’s roles in development and in their economies among policymakers in Congress and in the Administration; with others in the development community; and with the general public. The Women’s Edge Coalition actively works to increase the U.S.’s investment in international assistance programs, especially programs that invest in women and girls, so that we tap women’s full potential to reduce poverty in their families, communities and ultimately, their countries. The Women’s Edge Coalition also monitors current U.S. international assistance initiatives and works with Congressional leaders to provide accountability on how programs benefit women and girls and how they invest in local women’s organizations.

AAUW International Connections
    AAUW International Affairs Committee
    AAUW Representative to the United Nations

International Affairs for Branches – Resources for Programming Global Issues (AAUW)

Open World Russian Leadership Program (AAUW) (National Peace Foundation)

Virginia Gildersleeve International Fund (VGIF)

IFUW Unofficial Donations

AAUW members may contribute to IFUW as individuals or groups in a private, non-AAUW capacity -- they are not official AAUW funds and do not count towards the current arrearage of AAUW dues.

There are two ways to contribute to IFUW:

1. Bina Roy Partners in Development Fund (BRPID). http://www.ifuw.org/brpid/donor-partner.htm The fund enables national affiliates with limited funds to be a member of the International Federation while carrying out project work to improve the status of women and girls in their own countries. The site contains a BRPID contribution form that can be printed out, completed and mailed to the IFUW Assistant Treasurer – USA Karen McKee with the contribution. (There is no need to send a copy to headquarters as Ms. McKee will do this.) Checks should be made payable to IFUW.

2. Contribute to the IFUW General Fund. The contribution will go towards the ongoing costs of IFUW. To contribute to the Fund, an individual or branch can mail a check payable to IFUW and indicate in the memo field that it is for the general fund.

The donation check and form (if applicable) should be sent to the IFUW Assistant Treasurer-USA, Karen McKee. Ms. McKee’s contact information is provided on the Association website – go to Member Center > Leader Corner > National Boards, Committees, and Panels > AAUW Leadership Directory > Association Board of Directors > Other Committees > International Federation of Women Officers [USA]) OR Contact Dot McLane for this contact information.