Fall l-2002 Newsletter IN THIS ISSUE: Message from the President Announcements and Events · Concerning Women's Caucus · On Campus · In the Community at Large Caucus Members' Activities Speakers on Feminism and Gender Issues on Campus Contact your Caucus Caucus Memberships
****************************** * MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT * ****************************** Message from the President, Tracy Isaacs
It's great to be back for one more year as Caucus President. I've got a wonderful group of women to work with on the executive this year. I'd like to thank retiring executive members Margaret Kellow, last year's past President and President for two years before that, Sylvia Burrow, who did an excellent job maintaining the Caucus website, and Samantha Brennan, last year's NAC representative. Thanks also to Letitia Meynell for her excellent work on the newsletter for the past several years. Letitia will stay on as our archive liaison. This is Frances Bauer's first turn as our new newsletter editor. Thank you Frances for your efforts to keep us informed.
There are many more women on campus than there are members of Caucus, so this year we are going to step up our efforts to reach women who may not know about us yet. All women are welcome, but we are especially hoping to bring in more graduate students, staff, members of PMA and recently appointed faculty. Debra Dawson will be working with Carolyn McLeod and Kelly Olson on recruitment this year. If you know anyone who may be interested in joining, please bring her/them to the Fall General Meeting on September 25, request a brochure for her/them from Deb or me, or direct her/them to our website .
The executive has already met this year, and we are in the midst of planning some more casual activities to provide opportunities for our members to get together in between our two general meetings. Frances Bauer and Gloria Leckie will be leading a bird walk on September 17, Lori Davies and Lisa Campbell will be organizing a dinner later this fall to welcome new faculty, and Carolyn McLeod will be organizing a bowling night. Letitia Meynell is going to organize a Caucus contingent to walk together for Take Back the Night (September 19). Bonnie MacLachlan and Kelly Olson are going to organize a Showcase of Women’s Research, to highlight the research projects of our members. This event will take place in the spring, and is provisionally scheduled to coincide with International Women’s Day. Letitia Meynell will be keeping us apprised the continuing task of getting our archives together. The University archivist, Robin Kierstead, is in the process of preparing a donation agreement .
Caucus continues to have a presence on important University Committees. Gloria Leckie will sit on the President’s Standing Committee on Employment Equity (PSCEE), and chair the PSCEE Subcomittee representing women. Andrea Purvis will set on the President’s Standing Committee on the Safety of Women on Campus.
I’m requesting input from the membership about the nature and use of our e-mail list. In recent years, Caucus has maintained a public e-mail list of the membership. For the most part, we have used this list to circulate newsletters, information about general meetings, and information about other events that are relevant to the Caucus community (see Caucus Constitution, By-Law 8).
Please extract and respond to the following QUESTIONNAIRE ABOUT CAUCUS'S EMAIL LIST:
1. The Caucus email list is a public list and anyone from the UWO community can go to the ITS Public Mailing Lists siteand see the names of all members of Caucus. Are you comfortable with your name being available as part of the public list? Yes/No
2. It might be possible for Caucus to have our mailing list made private. Would you prefer to have it private if this is possible? Yes/No
3. What kinds of material should be sent out on a Caucus email list? Indicate all the kinds of material you deem appropriate: a) Announcements and notices and Caucus Newsletter b) Proactive stances on various issues c) In-depth items of general interest to UWO women d) Other [please describe]
4. If there was a separate discussion list, would you subscribe? Yes / No
5. Any other comments?
Please think about these issues and send your Questionnaire and views to me. . We are hoping to publish a selection of views in the next newsletter and/or on the website, so please indicate in your response whether you are willing to have it excerpted and printed in the newsletter (with or without your name).
Our Fall General Meeting will be on Wednesday September 25 at 4 p.m. in University College room 224a. The business meeting will begin promptly at 4, followed by Alison Lee, Director of Women’s Studies’s talk, followed by a reception. I look forward to seeing continuing members, and to meeting new members.
Yours sincerely, Tracy
***************************** * ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS * ****************************
Concerning Women’s Caucus
1. Fall General Meeting: Wednesday September 25 4 pm UC 224a (for details, see President’s Message, above) NOTE: it is time to renew your membership. Bring a cheque to the Fall General Meeting – see fees list, below.
2. Take Back the Night: On Thursday, September 19, 2002 there will be a rally and march to Take Back the Night. The Women’s Caucus will have a small but rowdy contingent and all Caucus members are invited and encouraged to join us. Members of the Caucus will be identifiable through our petite, but potent, Women’s Caucus sign (though if anyone suspects that they have the Women’s Caucus banner in their hall closet they are warmly reqested to bring it!). We will meet in Victoria Park for rally and speakers at 6:45pm and the march will start sometime thereafter. There will be a post-march party at Kokopelli’s, on Richmond between Dundas and King at 8:30pm with the Strap Ons providing entertainment.
On Campus ********* THE CENTRE FOR WOMEN¹S STUDIES AND FEMINIST RESEARCH
Gender and Society Workshop 2002-03
CALL FOR PAPERS ____________________________________
This workshop functions as an interdisciplinary forum for the presentation of faculty and graduate student work on topics relating to the study of gender. Proposals for individual papers or works-in-progress (20-40 minutes) are sought on all aspects of this subject, including (but not limited to), gender in history and society, feminist/gender theory, queer/sexuality studies, feminist economics, psychology, or biology, and categories and constructions of gender in world art and literature. The workshop¹s aim is to promote university-wide discussion on issues of gender, sexuality, and society. _________________________
Those interested in presenting should contact Dr. Alison Lee, the Centre for Women¹s Studies and feminist research (alee@uwo.ca) or Dr. Kelly Olson, Department of Classical Studies (kolson2@uwo.ca) with a short (250 word) abstract by October 11, 2003.
In the Community At Large ********************** 3. London Abused Women’s Centre 1st Annual Literary Competition for Women 2002
"I rise up singing!"
The London Abused Women’s Centre (LAWC) is a feminist organization that supports and advocates for personal, social and political change directed at ending violence against women. Public education and awareness of women’s fundamental right to live without violence is one of our main goals. This literary competition is in celebration of the strength of women’s words and their wisdom.
Although LAWC is an advocacy and counselling service for women who are or have been abused in an intimate relationship, the writing DOES NOT have to be focused on woman abuse.
Open to women of all ages. Entries must be original, unpublished work. The competition is not restricted to geographical location.
Prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each category (poetry and prose) $100, $50, $30 will be awarded respectively
All entries will be considered for prizes and publication in a hapbook. Not all entries will be published; however, all entrants will receive a copy of the published compilation. All proceeds from the sales of the book will benefit LAWC.
LAWC will not be responsible for any entries not received. The decision of the judges will be final.
Theme: "I rise up singing!"
Deadline: Entries must be received no later than November 1, 2002
Submission Fees: $15.00 for the first story or poem and $2.00 each for any additional story or poem. Cheque or money orders are to be made out to the London Abused Women’s Centre and mailed to: LAWC’s Literary Competition 69 Wellington St. London ON N6B 2K4
Winners will be announced on January 1, 2003 at an afternoon cocktail party at The Arts Project, 205 Dundas Street, London from 2:00 to 5:00.
Rules: 1. Entries must be received no later than 5:00 pm on November 1, 2002. 2. Authors retain the copy right; however; LAWC reserves the right to repeat publication of the piece(s). 3. Submissions will not be returned. 4. Entries must be accompanied by a cheque or money order made out to LAWC in the appropriate amount for the entry fee. 5. Entries must be typed on 8 1/2 x 11? Paper, double-spaced in 12- point font size. The entrant’s name, address and phone number must be on the cover sheet; however, no name shall appear anywhere on the story or poem so we may achieve blind judging. 6. Electronic entries will be accepted at info@lawc.on.ca, but payment must be received by the November 1 deadline. Electronic entries must be sent as email attachments in the following formats: MS Word file, PDF file or text only file. 7. Short fiction cannot exceed 1,500 words. 8. Poetry entries cannot exceed 45 lines. 9. Failure to comply with any of the above stipulations will disqualify the entry. 10. The winners’ names from each category will be published in the January 2, 2003 edition of the London Free Press.
Caucus Members’ Actvities ************************* Ruth Brouwer has published a new book: MODERN WOMEN MODERNIZING MEN: THE CHANGING MISSIONS OF THREE PROFESSIONAL WOMEN IN ASIA AND AFRICA, 1902-69 (Vancouver: UBC Press, 2002); available now in hardcover and in paperback in Feb. 2003.
**************************************************** * SPEAKERS ON FEMINISM AND GENDER ISSUES ON CAMPUS * ****************************************************
THE CENTRE FOR WOMEN¹S STUDIES AND FEMINIST RESEARCH
Gender and Society Workshop 2002-03
Presents
Dr. Bonnie MacLachlan Department of Classical Studies
"Girls Becoming Women at a Cave of the Nymphs"
At 4:00 PM UC 289 Tuesday September 24 All Welcome
*********************** * CONTACT YOUR CAUCUS * *********************** Tracy Isaacs, President
******************* * MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL TIME!!! * *******************
Anyone employed either part-time or full-time by the university or its affiliates is eligible for membership. The current membership includes staff, graduate students and faculty members representing most academic and non-academic departments.
Membership fees are annual and the Caucus membership year begins in September each year. If you would like to join the Caucus or have let your Caucus membership lapse, here are the fees for membership:
Graduate student $5.00 Modest income $10.00 Regular member $20.00 Sustaining member $30.00 Charter member $50.00
The membership fees are used to support Caucus programmes and special initiatives, such as student awards and Caucus events.
If you have questions or would like to join, please contact Deb Dawson, Membership Co-ordinator.
*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>* If you have comments or concerns regarding the format or the content of the Women’s Caucus Newsletter, please feel free to contact me, Frances Bauer. |