Young BPW International Congress – “Empowering Young to be Future Leaders” – September 28-30, 2012

Twinning is when one BPW club connects with another BPW club with a Twinning Charter. In the charter they agree to pursue some common interests, common goals and build a closer relationship between the two. Twinning is as varied as the clubs involved. Some twins connect to build a social exchange, others a cultural exchange and others have a common interest in an industry or profession. So for instance my home state, South Australia is a wine producing area so we might twin with a club in another wine growing area in another part of the world. Twinned clubs might visit each other, or have a member visit them, or they exchange newsletters. Most importantly they often get great ideas from each other. Twinning is an equal relationship with both clubs sharing and gaining. Beyond that Twinning is what you make of it.   My club’s twinning came out of a friendship formed at congress and we exchange ideas, have hosted a professional and trade visit, are invited to return that visit and we mutually support a women’s project.  

BPW INTERNATIONAL TWINNING GUIDELINES

* If you would like to form links with another BPW Club in another country, whether in the same region or a different one or with a BPW Club within your own country, the following guidelines should be of assistance.

THE AIMS OF BPW INTERNATIONAL TWINNING

*Foster friendship and mutual co-operation through the exchange of experiences and joint activities.
*Promote the BPW Aim of equality and the achievement of common goals.
*Increase the effectiveness of international networking between business and professional women.
*Support the interchange of developmental opportunities.

GETTING STARTED

Twinning does not have to be with a Club in a different country or region and a Club does not have to be limited to Twinning with just one other Club. However when considering Twinning it is important that the Club instigating the Twinning has given thought and time to discussing the idea with all their members so that there is future planning and on going support for the Twinning and that it is just not done on a whim.

* Write or email the Chairperson of the twinning Task force for a copy of the Twinning form. It contains areas to be filled in regarding The country/countries or towns/cities in which you would like to find a ‘twin’ Club. Information about your Club. – member’s interests/careers/activities. Why you want to ‘Twin’? Details regarding your Club’s twinning co-ordinator.

If both Clubs are clear about what is expected to start with, the twinning has a better chance of getting established and lasting. Do not worry about being too precise – the relationship will change over time as you get to know each other.

The twinning Chairperson together with the Regional member of the Twinning Taskforce will try to match you with a Club in ONE of the countries you have nominated, which has also shown interest in Twinning. (There is no restriction on the number of partnerships but it is better to concentrate on twinning with one Club at a time.)

Both Clubs will be sent a copy of the other Club’s Twinning form and asked to contact each other. Please keep the Twinning Chairperson informed of all your early contacts so that if they are not successful or are not suitable you can be offered an alternative.

Once you have established contact and agreed to ‘Twin’ a letter of acknowledgement will be sent by the twinning taskforce. A Twinning Certificate will be issued at the following BPW International conference signed by the International President and the Twinning Chairperson.

CLUBS TWIN FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.

The reasons Clubs ‘Twin’ are many and their ‘Twinning’ experiences are varied.

Friendship and Cultural reasons: Members exchange emails and letters, meet for outings or work together on projects with a common goal.

Professional Reasons: Members assist each other on BPW matters related to their areas of employment.

Support: Clubs support their ‘Twin’ with materials, information or financially.

ONCE TWINNING IS IN PROGRESS

Please let the Twinning Taskforce know what you are doing so that ideas can be exchanged, others may benefit from your experience and further assistance given if needed. Photos and storied or reports can then be placed on the BPW International website. The activities will be reported each year to the Board of BPW International and broadcast on the website.

Twinning Chair

Nellina Basile (BPW Italy)

“HAPPY HOUR & BUSINESS MEETING”

Wednesday, Feb. 1

6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

NGO CSW Office

1^st Floor, 777 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017

Open to all NGO CSW members and friends

Wine and light refreshments will be served

Tentative agenda for discussion:

6:00-6:10      Introductions

6:10-6:30      Practice session for the Consultation Day Song “Keep on Moving Forward”

6:30-7:00      NGO-CSW Young Professionals Calendar of Events for 2012

7:00-7:10      Opportunity to be an Ambassador for the Women of Distinction Awardee

7:10-7:30      NGO CSW Consultation Day, Sunday Feb. 26

7:30-8:00      NGO CSW Forum

NGO CSW Young Professionals is a network for professional development and an outlet to engage and empower young professionals in the discussion of women’s issues globally. It provides tools and a forum to identify and promote key issues within the NGO CSW and to voice these perspectives to the NGO CSW community as a collective voice. For more information visit:www.ngocsw.org/about/young-professional-members. To sign up to our listserv contact:info@ngocsw.org. For more information contact Natalia Kostus, Co-Chair at kostusn@gmail.com.

NGO Committee on the Status of Women, New York
Website: www.ngocsw.org

Following on from our successful “Women on Transatlantic Security” competition, which I have contacted you about last year, “Your Ideas, Your NATO” is an opportunity for students and young professionals to share their policy ideas on important issues that will be debated at the NATO Summit in Chicago. They could win 500 EUR and a trip to Berlin (round-trip airfare and 4 nights’ accommodation) to present their ideas at our conference on May 21 and receive feedback from NATO.

The deadline for submissions in the first category is February 23. You can find all the details here:
http://www.atlantic-community.org/index/articles/view/Your_Ideas%2C_Your_NATO

While this competition is open to everyone 35 years and younger from NATO Member and Partner countries, we continue to be committed to strengthening the role of women in the international debate and want to strongly encourage women to participate. Please join our efforts by forwarding this email to your colleagues, members, and partner organizations.

We would also appreciate if you posted this on your website and social media pages. You can “share” our Facebook post (https://www.facebook.com/openthinktank/posts/337813612905457) and retweet us (https://twitter.com/#!/atlanticcom/status/161821167727017984)

You can use the following text for posting on your website or Facebook:
Atlantic-community.org is holding a policy workshop competition for students and young professionals! “Your Ideas, Your NATO” is looking for policy suggestions on important current issues that will be debated at the NATO Summit in Chicago. Write a short article and you could win 500 EUR and a trip to Berlin to present your ideas to top decision makers! Check out the competition page for more information.

Welcomes young women and men, boys and girls and university students

 To NGO CSW Forum Consultation Day

in preparation for the UN Commission on the Status of Women meeting

  26 February 2012

9 – 5 pm

The Salvation Army

(120 West 14th Street, New York, NY)

 -         Learn about the international women’s movement and the United Nations

-         Participate in advocacy training for youth

-         Share your ideas on international issues such as rural women and economic empowerment, human rights, peace and security, and health

  Program highlights:

• Michelle Bachelet, UN Undersecretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women
• Mirna Cunningham Kain, Chair, Indigenous Peoples Forum and NGO CSW Forum Woman of Distinction Awardee
•  Bineta Diop, Peace advocate and one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world (invited)

Register online: www.ngocsw.org.

 The fee is $80 (includes lunch)

]]> http://youngbpwinternational.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/youth-consultation-day/feed/ 0 youngbpwinternational http://youngbpwinternational.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/attending-congress-through-the-years-by-dormer-ellis-toronto/ http://youngbpwinternational.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/attending-congress-through-the-years-by-dormer-ellis-toronto/#comments Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:47:54 +0000 youngbpwinternational http://youngbpwinternational.wordpress.com/?p=458 ]]> One of the advantages of becoming a member of a BPW Club is that, once every three years, you have the opportunity to participate in a BPW International Congress. The first such Congress that I ever attended was held in Montreux, Switzerland over their years ago. I was immediate “hooked” and have been a regular participant ever since. These addictive events have drawn me to Asia, Africa and New Zealand as well as to four North American cities and five locations in Europe. The most recent was held in Helsinki, Finland in June 2011 and the next Congress will be in Korea in 2014.

Click here to read Dormer’s entire article.

To join BPW International in Canada, please take a look at the BPW Canada website.

Young EPW Night out