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| Phyllis Scott
Vancouver,
Canada
Age: 60-69 |
Nominated as:
Nominated by: |
President
Canadian Federation of University Women |
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| Professional
Field and/or present occupation |
Teaching at Secondary level (USA and Canada)
Retired |
| Skills
and experience (volunteer and professional) that have prepared you to be an IFUW Board Member |
Voluntary:
__ Twice elected as a Vice President to the IFUW Board of
Officers (2004 and 2007).
__ Participated in all Board meetings carrying out regular
duties
__ Board liaison to the Resolutions Committee and assisted
in revision of the Constitution and By Laws. (2004-2007)
__ Board liaison with Status of Women Committee (2007) where
I was involved in its many duties particularly programme
planning both for the NFAs and for the Mexico Triennial
Conference. I arranged a parallel event on Sustainable Cities
at the Manchester Conference
__ Was President of the 10,000
member Canadian Federation of University Women with a Board
of 32. During my administration Board restructuring took
place reducing the Board to a more manageable 14. Our outreach
Committees remained as part of the Board (Resolutions, Legislation,
Status Women and Human Rights, Education)
__ Was called upon while President to speak publicly locally
and regionally and CFUW was called upon frequently by Federal
Ministries to give opinion to Federal government on issues
of importance to women and girls.
__ From 1995-2000 I was a member of the Federal Government
National Steering Committee on Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking
of Youth.
__ Co Chair and then Chair of the IFUW Way Forward group
which sought and received input to difficult challenges
regarding structure and finances.
__ Organizer and presenter at many local public meetings
at which IFUW policies were presented, adaptable to community
efforts.
__ Attended, as a representative of the NGO community, a large conference of women CEO's who were planning to increase
opportunities for women to gain access to leadership positions.
My leadership skills have developed over time and with many
mentors' assistance. I try to pass along those skills I
have found to be valuable to others just venturing into
the positions of leadership.
Professional:
My main area of teaching evolved into that of working with
students with learning and emotional disabilities. I have
always maintained that I learned from them. Most had to
struggle so hard but their efforts usually paid off. I
learned valuable life skills ie determination and the use
of alternatives for problem solving. |
| Experience or knowledge of the United Nations, its specialized agencies and their national commissions |
__ Attended the United Nations Commission on the Status
of Women(CSW) meetings, New York since 1997, as delegate
for CFUW (CIR) then for both CFUW and IFUW from 2004 to
the present.
__ Presented , cochaired or moderated four parallel events
at the UN CSW.
__As an IFUW leader to CSW, encouraged delegates to use
our policies for sharing with others, and arranged meetings
with delegates to share our observations as meetings progressed.
Led IFUW delegation to CSW 2009
__Have specific knowledge of other UN agencies and their
mandates.( ILO, Human Rights Council , UNICEF, UNESCO)
__ Am Board liaison (2007-2010) for the UN representatives
in all four UN centres working closely with the IFUW Status
of Women Convener to ensure that our NFAs were aware of
UN activities of interest to IFUW and to assist our IFUW
representatives and committees when needed.
Canada.
__Was CFUW representative to the Canadian Commission for
UNESCO, Education section' (1985-2000)
__Led the IFUW delegation to the 3rd UN Habitat Conference
2006, in Vancouver and arranged for CFUW attendees to work
in the UNESCO booth to promote UNESCO's mission to all delegates.
CFUW CIR for 4 years. Currently serving as a special advisor
to the CFUW International Relations Committee. |
| Other relevant skills and experience from the last 10 years relevant to this position |
__Chair of Municipal Community Service Advisory
Committee West Vancouver advising the local Mayor and Council
on issues falling within the mandate of Community Service
(social issues, ) and deciding upon distribution of monies
to 50 organizations that worked within the community. (1998-2002)
__ Member of community group advocating for shelters and
reasonable low cost housing and assisted in writing of material
to draw attention to the facts, frequency and solutions
to homelessness.
__Am member of the Canadian International Council (Vancouver
Branch) which seeks to promote knowledge of and gain input
to Canadian Foreign Policy from all sectors of Canadian
society, particularly the ordinary citizen. |
| Goals for this position and the contribution you believe you can personally make if elected or appointed |
As an experienced President
/Chair of both large and small Boards, I can efficiently
organize Board work to accomplish the Federation's mission.
I will
__ Continue to expand opportunities, for input from our
most valuable assets, the members. We must continue the
efforts to engage in discussion with all, especially the
grass roots who are on the scene and thus give all of us
a vivid picture of challenges in areas some of us have never
experienced. Our programme and actions should be geared
to all possibilities allowing for difficulties experienced
with our main mode of communication, the internet.
__ Explore opportunities for Board members to represent
the Board at various meetings., International and National.
__Publicize and utilize the fact that we are multi generational
in makeup. This means that we must adapt our own material
taking into account that each generation responds to suggestions
for action and/or information in a unique manner.
__A determined all encompassing membership drive is more
than ever necessary. Our emphasis should be on implementation
of the many ideas inherent in the Membership Committees'
published ideas, those in Planning for Change , the recent
changes in Membership qualifications and other successful
well researched plans.
__ During the world wide recession, we must monitor carefully
our approach to establishment of annual dues.
__ We should be alert to those who have notable leadership
qualities encouraging them to stand for office. IFUW offers
excellent opportunities for leadership skill practice.
Our continuing
emphasis on the value of education for all ages, particularly
for women and girls and our constant vigilance regarding
the status of women and girls (educationally, legislatively
and socially) is not to be taken lightly. We must seek out
other groups and/or other NGO and or UN partners (not wait
to be asked) with similar missions. We must make connections
and partnerships to draw attention to the issues about which
we are so passionate.
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| What do you see as the role of the Board? |
The terms of reference for the Board as found at
www.ifuw.org/nominations/descriptions/board.shtml well describes
the activities of our Board of Officers.
However I would like to expand upon some of those those
mentioned .
1. The Board represents the collective effort of accomplished
individuals.
2.The Board must include its community in the design and
implementation of policy and programmes at all levels.
3. It must maintain a focus on issues of importance as outlined
in its priorities, while being open to change priorities
if so warranted by its members.
4.The Board must acquire and protect its assets making sure
that they are being used to fulfill its mission.
5. The Board must understand the scope of its work and be
able to speak of that work to the NGO community.
6. The Board will realize the inestimable value of its staff
knowing the limitations of time in regard to each person's
tasks. It should seek out suggestions from its staff on
issues and responses as it is the staff members who are
the first line in our members' queries.
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Board members serve as committee liaisons or have special responsibilities in the following areas: international advocacy, programme, projects, membership, communications, finance, resolutions, fellowships and assistance to displaced women graduates.
For which of these roles are you most suited and why? |
As President I would be an ex officio member of all
areas of responsibilities as mentioned.
I have been liaison with 4 of the areas and so have a first
hand knowledge of them.
The Conveners must always be given the lead responsibility
of their committees with the President and the Board liaison
made well aware of developing issues. They can then act
as well informed advisors. |
| Education: |
Bachelor of Physical Education (Majors in PE and History)
1962
Bachelor of Education Equivalent Specializing in Special Education
(teaching of students with learning and emotional difficulties)
1972 |
| Mother
tongue: |
English |
| Ability
to speak English: |
Excellent |
| Ability
to understand spoken English: |
Excellent |
| Ability
to read English: |
Excellent |
| Ability
to write English: |
Excellent |
| Other
languages: |
French Ability
to speak moderate
Ability to read Good |
| Computer
skills: |
Considerable experience sending e-mail and using the
Internet |
| Internet
Access: |
Regular access to e-mail at home or the office |
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